UNESCO/People’s Republic of China (The Great Wall) Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 2026/2027

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Application Deadline: 23 January 2026

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026/2027 cycle of the UNESCO/People’s Republic of China (The Great Wall) Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme. This initiative aims to foster human resource development and strengthen capacity building in developing nations while promoting international cooperation and exchanges across the domains of education, culture, communication, science, and technology. Additionally, it seeks to enhance friendship among peoples worldwide.

In partnership, UNESCO and the Government of the People’s Republic of China will jointly offer a total of seventy-five (75) fellowships for advanced academic pursuits at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels during the 2025-2026 academic year. Out of these, twenty-seven (27) fellowships are allocated for fresh candidates hailing from 135 developing Member States spanning Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Europe, and the Arab States.

The fellowships will be hosted by a select group of Chinese universities and are designed for students and researchers who intend to undertake degree-oriented studies at the postgraduate level or conduct independent research projects under the periodic supervision of assigned mentors in China.

Applicants may choose between a one-year Visiting Scholar program (available as either General or Senior Scholar) or opt for a Master’s or Doctoral degree track, with program durations varying from two to five years. Depending on the programs offered by the selected institutions, courses may be delivered in English or Chinese. Candidates applying for programs taught in Chinese are expected to have attained a certain level of proficiency in the language before starting their research or studies.

Eligible Member States

Africa (46 Member States): Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Arab States (13 Member States): Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, State of Palestine, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Yemen

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be nationals of the aforementioned invited Member States and meet the following criteria:

Age, Language, and Academic Qualifications:

One-Year Visiting Scholar Programmes:
- For General Scholar category: applicants must hold a high school diploma and be no older than 45 years.
- For Senior Scholar category: candidates should possess a master’s degree or hold a position as an associate professor or higher, and must not exceed 50 years of age.
- English proficiency is mandatory. Candidates applying for Chinese-taught programs in these categories must have at least HSK Level 3 Chinese language proficiency.
Degree Programmes:
- Applicants for Master’s Degree programs must have earned a bachelor’s degree and be no older than 35 years.
- Applicants for Doctoral Degree programs should hold a master’s degree and be under 40 years old.
- English proficiency is required. For Chinese-taught degree programs, candidates must demonstrate a minimum of HSK Level 4 in Chinese.

Meet the admission standards set by the chosen universities, including academic merit, language ability, and any other specified criteria.
Applicants must be in good physical and mental health.

Application Procedure

Step 1: Carefully review the Application Guidelines for the 2026-2027 UNESCO/China Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme. This document provides detailed information on eligibility and application submission procedures.

Step 2: Reach out to the National Commission for UNESCO in your country to learn about the national-level application process. Click here to access contact details of all National Commissions for UNESCO globally. Applicants are encouraged to establish communication with their preferred Chinese universities and secure admission into their targeted study programs. Those holding admission letters, pre-admission notices, or invitations from professors should include these documents with their application as such candidates receive priority consideration.

Step 3: Submit your application and all supporting documents through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System, accessible at https://campuschina.org, following the instructions outlined in the Instructions for Online Application for UNESCO/China – the Great Wall Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme.

Step 4: Forward your completed online application and all related documents to the National Commission for UNESCO in your home country no later than Friday, 23 January 2026.

Step 5: Once you receive nomination confirmation from your National Commission, send your online application form and supporting documents directly to the UNESCO email at ccfellowship@unesco.org. Only applications nominated by the National Commission will be accepted by UNESCO. It is essential that each nominated applicant completes their online submission via the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System prior to the deadline. Applications missing online registration will not be processed.

Step 6: The National Commissions must submit the nomination letters along with all application materials to UNESCO by no later than Tuesday, 10 February 2026. Applications that are incomplete or submitted past this deadline will be excluded from consideration.