Tianjin University has been running the Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship for several years now, and it remains one of the more straightforward fully funded options for international students who want to pursue a Master’s or PhD in China without the competitive pressure of the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) pool.

This guide covers everything — who qualifies, what the scholarship actually pays, which documents you need, and how to apply step by step. The 2026 application is open now, with a deadline of May 31, 2026.Quick Overview

University: Tianjin University (TJU)
Levels: Master’s & PhD
Funding: Fully Funded
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Nationality: All non-Chinese citizens
Application: Online — tju.at0086.cn/student

What Is the Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship?

The scholarship is funded and administered directly by Tianjin University through its School of International Education (SIE). “Peiyang” (北洋) was the original name of the university when it was founded in 1895 — it is widely cited as China’s first modern national university — and the scholarship takes its name from that legacy.

Unlike the CSC scholarship, which is managed centrally by China’s Ministry of Education, the Peiyang scholarship is a university-level award. You apply through TJU’s own portal, and selection decisions are made internally by the university and its academic departments. This also means the process can vary somewhat by department, which is worth keeping in mind when you contact potential supervisors.

The scholarship is open to graduate students from every country, covers both Chinese-taught and English-taught programs, and supports study across all of TJU’s academic schools.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship is fully funded at both the Master’s and PhD level. Here is what it includes:

Benefit Master’s Program PhD Program
Tuition subsidy 30,000 RMB per academic year 38,000 RMB per academic year
Monthly living allowance 3,000 RMB / month 3,500 RMB / month
On-campus accommodation Free Free
Duration 2–3 years 4 years

To put those numbers in context: 3,500 RMB per month is enough to live reasonably well in Tianjin. The city is considerably cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai. Most scholarship holders report that between the stipend and free accommodation, day-to-day expenses are covered without needing additional income.

Annual review requirement: All scholarship holders must pass an academic review each year. If your performance falls below the required standard, the scholarship can be suspended or cancelled for the following year. This is standard practice at Chinese universities — maintain a solid academic record and you will not have a problem.

The scholarship does not cover international flights, health insurance, or personal expenses. TJU does offer group health insurance for international students at a modest annual cost — you arrange this at registration.

Who Can Apply

The eligibility criteria are straightforward. You must:

  • Be a non-Chinese citizen holding a valid foreign passport. If you were formerly a Chinese citizen and later acquired another nationality, you must meet the conditions set out in Document No. 12 (2020) of China’s Ministry of Education.
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree if applying for a Master’s program, or a master’s degree if applying for a PhD.
  • Be under 35 years old for Master’s programs, or under 40 for PhD programs, at the time of application.
  • Be in good physical and mental health — a physical examination is required after admission.
  • Be willing to comply with Chinese laws and TJU’s own regulations.

There are no nationality restrictions. The scholarship is genuinely open to applicants from any country.

Language Requirements

Program Type Required Proof Minimum Score
Chinese-taught programs HSK Level 5 certificate 180 points minimum
English-taught programs IELTS or TOEFL iBT IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80
Chinese-taught — exemption Native Chinese speakers, or applicants who completed their Master’s in Chinese HSK not required
If you do not have an IELTS or TOEFL score, some departments at TJU accept an English Proficiency Certificate issued by your home university. This is not guaranteed — confirm directly with the department or with SIE at [email protected] before relying on this.

Required Documents

Prepare all of the following before you start your online application. Missing documents are the most common reason applications are delayed or rejected.

  • Completed Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship Application Form, signed (download from the TJU SIE website)
  • Scanned copy of your valid passport (photo/information page)
  • Highest degree certificate — notarized copy (bachelor’s for Master’s applicants; master’s for PhD applicants)
  • Official academic transcripts — notarized copies from your bachelor’s and/or master’s programs
  • Study or Research Plan — minimum 800 words in English or Chinese, specific to your proposed research area
  • Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors, using TJU’s official template
  • Language proficiency certificate — IELTS/TOEFL for English programs, HSK-5 for Chinese programs
  • Resume / CV — continuous from senior high school, no gaps; use TJU’s official template
  • Foreigner Physical Examination Form — completed by a licensed physician
  • Acceptance letter from a TJU supervisor (strongly recommended for PhD; optional for Master’s)
  • Bank deposit certificate or income certificate — required for partial scholarship applicants and self-funded students (TJU template available)
  • Published papers or journal acceptance notices, if any (upload to the system if available)
  • If you are currently studying in China: scanned copy of your visa and a Transfer Certificate from your current university
  • Architecture applicants only: an E-Works Collection and Video Presentation
Degree certificates and transcripts must be notarized copies. Documents not originally in English or Chinese must include a certified translation. Take care with this — submitting unnotarized copies is a common mistake.

How to Apply

The application has two parts: admission to TJU and the scholarship application. Both happen through the same online portal, and you handle them together.

  1. Contact a TJU supervisor before anything else. For PhD applicants especially, reaching out to a professor in your field before submitting your application makes a real difference. Departments give weight to applicants who already have a supervisor willing to take them. You can find professor contact details on TJU’s academic department pages.
  2. Open the TJU online application at tju.at0086.cn/student. Create an account, choose your intended degree level and program, and fill in your personal and academic information.
  3. Select “Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship” as your scholarship type. This links your scholarship application to your admission application within the same form.
  4. Download the official templates. The application form, recommendation letter template, resume template, and financial guarantee template are all available on the TJU SIE website. Do not use your own formats — TJU requires its own.
  5. Collect, notarize, and scan all required documents. Work through the checklist above. Give yourself time — notarization can take several weeks depending on your country.
  6. Upload everything to the portal. Double-check each file is in the correct section and is legible. A blurry scan of a transcript has caused more than one application to fail.
  7. Submit and save your application ID. You will need this to follow up on your application status. Check your email regularly after submission — some departments request an interview.
  8. Wait for the admission and scholarship decision. TJU typically issues admission letters and scholarship notices between July and August. If accepted, use these documents to apply for a Chinese student visa (X visa) at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

Apply Now at the TJU Official Portal →

Deadlines and Key Dates

Stage Date
Application portal opens November 2025
Application deadline May 31, 2026
Department review and interviews June – July 2026
Admission and scholarship letters issued July – August 2026
Visa application period August 2026
Registration at TJU September 2026

Some PhD programs have earlier internal deadlines set by individual departments. Check with your prospective supervisor or contact SIE directly to confirm the deadline for your specific program.

Eligible Programs

The Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship covers all Master’s and PhD programs at TJU. The university has particular strength in engineering and applied sciences — its School of Chemical Engineering and Technology is one of the highest-ranked in Asia, and the School of Architecture is among China’s oldest and most respected. But the scholarship is available across all schools, including Management and Economics, Law, Life Sciences, Computer Science, and Foreign Languages.

For the full and current list of programs, visit sie.tju.edu.cn/en or contact the admissions office directly.

About Tianjin University

Tianjin University was founded in 1895 as Peiyang University — the first modern national university in China. It is located in the Nankai District of Tianjin, about 120 kilometres southeast of Beijing, with direct high-speed rail connections to the capital taking under 40 minutes.

TJU is a “Double First-Class” university under China’s national ranking system — the equivalent of what used to be Project 985 — and appears in the QS World University Rankings. The cost of living in Tianjin is noticeably lower than in Beijing or Shanghai, which means the scholarship stipend goes further here than it would at comparable programs in those cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for both the Peiyang Scholarship and the CSC Scholarship?

No. You must choose one when submitting your TJU application. You cannot hold both scholarships simultaneously.

Is IELTS mandatory?

For English-taught programs, yes — IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 is required. Some departments accept a university-issued English Proficiency Certificate as an alternative. For Chinese-taught programs, you need HSK Level 5 with at least 180 points.

Do I need a supervisor’s acceptance letter?

It is not formally required for all applicants, but it matters. PhD applications without one are at a disadvantage in most departments. Reach out to professors before you submit — the template for the acceptance letter is on the TJU SIE website.

Can I apply if I am already studying in China?

Yes. You also need to submit a copy of your current visa and a Transfer Certificate from your present institution.

Does the scholarship include health insurance?

Not directly. TJU requires all international students to be insured and offers group insurance that can be purchased at registration. It is affordable — confirm the current cost with SIE when you receive your admission letter.

What happens if I fail the annual review?

The scholarship can be suspended or cancelled for the following academic year. If you are struggling academically, speak with your supervisor before the review period rather than after.

Can undergraduate students apply?

No. The Peiyang Future Scholar Scholarship is for graduate students only. Undergraduate international students at TJU should look at the Tianjin University International Student Scholarship instead.

Contact and Official Links

All questions about applications, documents, and program eligibility should go to TJU’s School of International Education:

Always verify details directly with TJU before you apply. Scholarship amounts, deadlines, and document requirements are updated each year. This post reflects information current as of April 2026.