Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation (hereinafter referred to as “SUISF”) is a dedicated foundation established by Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government with specially raised funds to support the international students with a view to carrying forward the spirit of the Universiade Shenzhen 2011 and promoting cultural and educational exchanges among international young people.
At the opening ceremony of the World University Presidents Forum during the 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen in 2011, Liu Yandong, then Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, highly spoke of the establishment of SUISF, as it reflects the expectation of Shenzhen to make a contribution to cooperation of universities all over the world and the exchanges of international students, which is a new highlight of the Universiade, as well as a new initiative for exchanges among universities around the world. On this occasion, the leaders of Shenzhen Municipal CPC Committee and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government announced the formal establishment of SUISF, and issued the Funding Certificate to the first group of representatives of funded students.
The purpose of SUISF is to implement the strategy of giving priority to the development of education, to cultivate international talents, to provide opportunities for the outside world to know about the Chinese culture, and to promote exchanges and cooperation between Shenzhen and the world in the fields of education, culture, and science and technology. In light of its spirit, SUISF has hereby begun the selection of international students to be funded in 2023, as follows:
I.Funding Programs, Number of Funded Students and Qualified Candidates
(I) Funding Programs and Number of Funded Students in 2023
1. To fund 75 overseas students receiving full-time education of bachelor’s degree or higher at colleges and universities in China (the number of funded students per educational level to be determined by the number of applicants).
2. To fund 30 international students studying Chinese language and literature at colleges and universities in Shenzhen (for more than half a year); To fund 10 overseas students receiving college degree’s education at higher vocational and/or polytechnic schools in Shenzhen.
3. To fund 40 Chinese students receiving full-time education of master’s degree or higher at foreign colleges and universities (the number of funded students per educational level to be determined by the number of applicants).
4. To fund 10 full-time students from colleges and universities in Shenzhen (including senior technical schools) going overseas for short-term exchange and research activities.
5. To fund 10 full-time students from overseas universities for short-term exchange and research activities at colleges and universities in Shenzhen.
6. To fund those who have been previously funded by SUISF, either coming to China or going overseas to continue their study (excluding restudy) or to receive full-time academic education at a higher level (“Continuing Application”), and the number of funded students is included in Programs 1 and 3, respectively.
7. To fund needy overseas students who receive full-time education of bachelor's degree or higher at colleges and universities in China, and no specific number of funded students is set for this program. Students applying for this program are not entitled for other funding programs.
(II) The Qualified Candidates for Funding Programs in 2023
1. To openly select candidates of international students studying in China and Chinese students studying overseas (including “Continuing Application”).
2. To openly select full-time students, either going overseas or coming to Shenzhen for short-term exchange and research activities. The Program will be collectively applied by the colleges and universities in Shenzhen, on a basis of one student or more students for one program. All colleges and universities will include their funded students in the short-term exchange and research programs of 2023 before application according to SUISF’s procedures and requirements. The exchange and research programs approved for funding upon review will be valid for one year (From September 2023 to August 2024).
3. To openly select international students to be funded to study Chinese language and literature at colleges and universities in Shenzhen (for more than half a year) or overseas students to be funded to receive college degree’s education at higher vocational and/or polytechnic schools in Shenzhen.
4. To subsidize needy overseas students studying in China. This program is subject to unified application after approval by full-time colleges and universities on the documentary materials submitted by the applicants (the relevant regulations of the government of the country or region or the colleges/universities on the standard of poverty-stricken families, and the certificates proving the financial conditions of the applicants’ families).
II.Selection Criteria and Applicant Qualifications
The students to be funded in 2023 will be selected by giving full consideration of such elements as Universiade, Chinese culture, science and technology, “Belt and Road” and the reality of Shenzhen, to award good performers and help the neediest.
(I)The funded international students studying in China should be friendly to China with good character, outstanding academic performance as well as a good image. They should be in good health, be globally allocated by continental demography, and be in an appropriate ratio of male to female students. International students from the countries along “Belt and Road”, Sister Cities of Shenzhen and majors related to Chinese culture will be given priority, mainly undergraduate students in the second year or more.
(II)The funded students for overseas study from China should love the motherland with good character, outstanding academic performance, a good image as well as good health. Priority will be given to the applicants ranked as top 8 athletes at Olympic Games studying abroad, the students from the western China, Shenzhen and financially difficult families, the students who have a strong will to return to China after completion of study, and the students enrolled in the world’s top 100 universities.
(III)Applicants who are international students receiving full-time college education or higher in China must have already studied in China, or else they will not be accepted. For the program of learning Chinese language and literature at colleges and universities in Shenzhen (for more than half a year), the applicants can apply for full-time undergraduate education after being openly admitted by the colleges and universities in Shenzhen.
(IV)Students who are filing a “Continuing Application” must submit their academic transcripts and reports on their academic performance of the previous academic year or at the previous level (in printed or electronic version). Applicants who are overseas students studying in China should also submit their recently published news report promoting Chinese culture and the development of Shenzhen together with said materials.
(V)The students entitled to scholarships (subsidy) in China of the same kind (e.g. the Scholarship for Overseas Students offered by the China Scholarship Council and the Scholarship for Overseas Students Studying in Guangdong offered by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province) will not be included in the applications.
(VI)Four circumstances are not considered for the programs with full-time students from colleges and universities in Shenzhen applying for short-term exchange and research activities, they are: International students and exchange students with foreign (overseas) colleges and universities; Students who study overseas during the period of joint education programs; Chinese students who have conducted exchange and research activities abroad for more than one year (inclusive); And students who have gone overseas before September 1, 2023.
III.Selection Procedures
(I)Individual or Collective Application
1. Students who are qualified for funding programs 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 should individually apply and submit application materials to their colleges/universities (companies) within the specified time as required; After announcement by these colleges/universities, such application materials will be submitted to the Secretariat of SUISF (hereinafter referred to as “the Secretariat”).
2. For students who are qualified for funding programs 4 and 5, the applications should be made collectively by their colleges/universities. These colleges/universities should collect the information related to short-term exchange and research activities (program name, list of team members, etc.), and submit such information to the Secretariat within the specified time after announcement.
(II)The Secretariat will conduct a prequalification of the applicants, and the candidates who are qualified for application (hereinafter referred to as “the Candidates”) will be referred to the review experts for evaluation.
(III)SUISF’sReview Panel will hold ameeting to review the candidates.
(IV)The Board of SUISF will deliberate and determine the final list of students to be funded.
(V)Online publicity.
(VI)The funded students and their recommending colleges and universities (companies) will be notified.
(VII)The funded students will be granted funds and issued certificates.
IV.Requirements on Application Materials
(I)Requirements on Application Materials for Overseas Study Programs in China
Applicants for overseas study programs in China include: International students who come to China for full-time education of bachelor’s degree or higher (including funding “Continuing Application” and applying for subsidy to needy students), international students who come to Shenzhen for full-time education of college’s degree at higher vocational and/or polytechnic schools, and international students who come to Shenzhen to study Chinese language and literature. Application materials include:
1. Front cover of application materials for selection of funded students in 2023 (Appendix 1-1).
2. Submittals by individuals: ① Application Form for Funding Overseas Students to Study in China (Appendix 2-1); ② Valid ID Card; ③ Letter of Admission; ④ Supervisor’s Recommendation Letter; ⑤ Academic Transcripts; ⑥ Certificate of Chinese Proficiency; ⑦ Credentials of Awards in the Last Three Years; ⑧ Published Academic Papers and Patent Certificates; ⑨ Materials related to Applying for Subsidies for Needy Students; ⑩ Video Presentation (See Appendix 3 for “Requirements for Producing the Introduction Video of Funding Program”). Items ⑥, ⑦ and ⑧ are non-compulsory materials; Students applying for scholarships for needy students must submit Item ⑨, but do not need to submit Items ④ and ⑩.
Personal submittals include paper documents, electronic documents (PDF documents created by scanning paper documents, MP4 format video).
3. Submittals by colleges/universities (companies): ① “Recommendations by Colleges/Universities” should be given in the individual application form; ② “Recommendation Form for Funding Overseas Students to Study in China” (Appendix 4-1), "Recommendation Form for Funding Overseas Students to Study Chinese Language and Literature in Shenzhen” (Appendix 4-2); ③ “Consolidated Form of Overseas Students from Poverty-stricken Families Applying for Subsidies to Study in China” (Appendix 5) and Review Comments; ④ Announcements of Colleges/Universities (Companies).
The specific requirements on the above application materials are detailed in “Instructions on Application Materials” on page 2 of Appendix 1-1. When submitting application materials, the applicants and the recommending colleges/ universities (companies) should conduct self-examination and preliminary examination of the same respectively.
(II)Requirements on Application Materials for Chinese Students Participating in Overseas Study Programs
Applicants for overseas study programs are international students from China who go abroad to receive full-time education of master’s degree or higher (including “Continuing Application”). Application materials include:
1. Front cover of application materials for selection of funded students in 2023 (Appendix 1-2).
2. Submittals by individuals: ① Application Form for Funding Chinese Students to Study Abroad (Appendix 2-2); ② Valid ID Card; ③ Letter of Admission; ④ Supervisor’s Recommendation Letter; ⑤ Academic Transcripts; ⑥ Certificate of Foreign Language Proficiency; ⑦ Credentials of Awards in the Last Three Years; ⑧ Published Academic Papers and Patent Certificates; ⑨Certificate of Poverty-stricken Family; ⑩ Video Presentation (See Appendix 3 for “Requirements for Producing the Introduction Video of Funding Program”). Items ⑥, ⑦, ⑧ and ⑨ are non-compulsory materials.
Personal submittals include paper documents, electronic documents (PDF documents created by scanning paper documents, MP4 format video).
3. Submittals by colleges/universities (companies): ① “Recommendations by Colleges/Universities” should be given in the individual application form; ② “Recommendation Form for Funding Chinese Students to Study Abroad” (Appendix 4-3); ③ Announcements of Colleges/Universities.
The specific requirements on the above application materials are detailed in the “Instructions on Application Materials” on page 2 of Appendix 1-2. When submitting application materials, the applicants and the recommending colleges/universities (companies) should conduct self-examination and preliminary examination of the same respectively.
(III)Requirements on Application Materials for Programs of Short-term Exchange and Research Activities
The programs of short-term exchange and research activities include: Exchange and research activities at colleges and universities in Shenzhen, and Chinese applicants going abroad for overseas exchange and research activities. The application materials will be collected and bound into one volume by the college/university per program and submitted uniformly. Application materials include:
1. Front cover of application materials for selection of funded students in 2023 (Appendix 1-3).
2. Funding Application Report for Short-term Exchange & Research Activities in 2023 (Appendix 6).
3. Funding Application Form (Appendix 2-1 or Appendix 2-2) of program team members.
4. Valid identity documents of program team members.
5. A copy of Invitation Letter from the destination university (in bilingual translated text in English and Chinese).
6. Video introducing the funding program by the college/ university (See Appendix 3 for “Requirements for Producing the Introduction Video of Funding Program”)
7. Announcement of the College/University.
The specific requirements on the application materials are detailed in the “Instructions on Application Materials” on page 2 of Appendix 1-3. Recommending colleges/universities should check the application materials when submitting them.
(IV)Other Requirements
1. The applicant shall be recommended by the colleges /universities (companies) or the education administration department above the prefectural/municipal level in China, and be presented the recommendations in the Funding Application Form (Appendix 2-1, Appendix 2-2). In addition, the colleges/universities (companies) should undertake to handle the relevant matters in accordance with the Management Measures of Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation for Issuing Funds, Certificates and Subsidies to Fund-receiving Students (hereinafter referred to as the “Management Measures”), manage the qualified students for funding, and assist SUISF to properly track and pay return visits to the funded students.
The graduate schools in University Town of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Tourism College of Jinan University, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences may give referee opinions at the level of colleges and universities.
Referee opinions presented by the internal organizations of the municipal and district education administrative department, secondary schools, branches/departments and offices (divisions) of colleges and universities will be rejected.
2. The recommending colleges/universities (companies) should set up a recommendation review mechanism, fill in the Recommendation Form (Appendices 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3) according to the requirements of funding programs, and attach a copy of Recommendation Report and the text of the announcement. Those who continuously apply for funding should indicate “Continuing Application” in the “Comments” column.
Recommendation Formis a supporting document for the recommending colleges and universities to verify the authenticity and validity of the applicant’s application materials, introduction video and the unit’s good-faith evaluation and recommendation. The total number of students recommended by each unit for the programs should not exceed the total number of students funded by SUISF for the programs in 2023, and the number exceeding the quota is regarded as invalid recommendation.
3. Each recommending university/college (company) should designate one contact person with SUISF and the applicants.
4. The application materials must be submitted to the Secretariat within the specified time, and overdue submittals will be dismissed. The application materials will not be returned upon submission.
5. At the end of the funded academic year or the end of the short-term exchange and research activities, the funded students should submit an overall report on their own (or this program) study performance during the funded period or the short-term exchange and research activities according to the requirements of the Management Measures. Submission of the overall report is compulsory.
V.Funding Criteria and Allocating Methods
(I) Funding Criteria
1. Funding criteria for overseas students to receive full-time education of bachelor’s degree or higher at colleges and universities in China are RMB 40,000 per undergraduate student per year, RMB 45,000 per postgraduate student per year, and RMB 48,000 per doctoral student per year.
2. Funding criteria for international students to study Chinese language and literature at colleges and universities in Shenzhen is RMB 10,000 per student for more than half a year; funding criteria for overseas students to receive college degree’s education at higher vocational and/or polytechnic schools in Shenzhen is RMB 28,000 per student per year.
3. Funding criteria for Chinese students going overseas is RMB 50,000 per postgraduate student per year and RMB 55,000 per doctoral student per year.
4. Funding criteria for students participating in short-term exchange and research activities is RMB 20,000 per student.
5. Funding criteria for subsidy to needy students is RMB 6,000 per student.
(II) Methods of Allocating Subsidy
1. The subsidy under Items 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the funding criteria will be allocated to the recommending college/university in one lump sum, which will be given out and managed by the recommending college/university in accordance with relevant provisions of the Management Measures.
2. For the subsidy under Item 4 of the funding criteria, the college/university may go through the fund allocation procedure with SUISF against the copy of the visa (check the original) after the applicant has applied for the visa.
VI.Timing and Contact Information
(I)Announcement of selected students will be published on April 20, 2023. The applicants and the recommending colleges and universities (companies) can download the relevant application forms attached to this announcement from the official website or WeChat Official Account of SUISF (https://suisf.org.cn).
(II)Applications will be accepted from April 21 to May 30. The applicant and the recommending colleges/universities (companies) should deliver the application materials to the Secretariat by May 20 as required (in case of express delivery, the date of dispatch should apply).
(III)Review of applicants will be arranged in mid-to-late June.
(IV)The Fifth Session of the Second Council Meeting of SUISF will be held in July to finalize the list of funded students (funding programs) and go through relevant procedures.
(V)The list of funded students (and funding programs) will be published online in August (for 7 days).
(VI)The funded students and their recommending colleges and universities (companies) will be notified in September, the funds will be allocated and the certificates will be issued.
(VII)Address and Contact Information of SUISF
Address:Room 1401, 14/F, East Block, Greater China International Exchange Square, Fuhua Middle Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518048, China
Hotline:0755-88107614 or 88107605
Office Hours:From 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. - 17:00 p.m. (weekdays)
Annex：
1.Appendix1-1 Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation (SUISF).doc
2.Appendix1-3 Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation (SUISF).doc
3.Appendix 2-1 Application Form for Scholarship of Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation for Overseas Students Studying in China(For Study in China, Study Chinese in Shenzhen).doc.doc
4.Appendix 3 Requirements for Producing the Introducing Video of Application Programs of Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation.doc
Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation
April 20, 2023
