Online application & document submission

Check which systems your route requires

Use the current route notice as the checklist. It may require CGSIS alone, CGSIS plus a university portal, or submission through a dispatching authority.

Many university-route notices require both the official CGSIS application, reached through campuschina.org, and a separate university application. Some embassy or dispatching-authority routes use a different submission sequence. Follow the current official notice for your route and complete every system it names; do not assume a second portal is required or optional from a general guide.

Fill in every field carefully and make sure your name, date of birth and passport number match your passport exactly across both systems and all your documents. Mismatches cause delays and can invalidate an application.

Walkthrough of CGSIS

In CGSIS, select the program category and enter the agency number specified by the current route notice, then complete the fields and uploads shown in the live system before reviewing and submitting.

Register for a CGSIS account and log in, then choose your application type. For Type A (embassy/bilateral) you enter the agency number of the relevant embassy or dispatching authority; for Type B (university) you enter the university's 5-digit agency number.

This number routes the application to a receiving agency. The official CGSIS instructions warn that an incorrect number can prevent the host university from processing the application. Confirm it against the current route notice and the receiving name displayed by the system, rather than relying on a blog alone.

Complete the fields and document uploads shown in the current system. File types, size limits and required sections can change, so use the live instructions instead of a fixed section count from an older guide. Review the generated application before submission.

Below are verified 5-digit codes for flagship universities as a reference.

The university's own application

If the current university notice requires its own portal, complete it with the exact program and documents requested, and pay or courier material only through the official process it identifies.

If the route notice names the university's own application portal, complete it after or alongside CGSIS as instructed. This may be where you upload documents again, select the exact program and pay an official application fee if the notice requires one.

If the current checklist requests them, adapt the [motivation letter](/templates/motivation-letter) and [bank statement affidavit](/templates/bank-statement-affidavit) templates to the university's exact wording and evidence requirements.

Some universities also require hard copies of certain documents - for example original transcripts or the physical examination form - to be couriered to admissions by a stated date. Read the notice carefully and send materials early to avoid missed deadlines.

The maximum-three-applications rule

CSC application route limits and application caps are set by current notices and can change by year and country. Confirm the current official guidance before you submit.

The allowed number of applications and route combinations is route-specific and changed over time. Always check the latest official CSC notice, embassy guidance, and your university admission instructions before final submission. Do not submit blindly to the maximum you think exists: misrouted applications can be rejected before review.

After you submit: tracking, review and results

Review and result timing varies by university, route, and intake cycle. Keep login details for both systems and monitor status, but avoid repeated follow-ups unless the result-date window has truly passed.

Once submitted, keep your login details and check your application status periodically in both systems. Some universities and programs may interview shortlisted applicants, increasingly with online calls.

Do not panic during the long quiet period between submission and results - no news is normal. Avoid emailing the admissions office repeatedly; one polite status enquiry is fine if a stated deadline for results has clearly passed.

From acceptance to arrival: visa and prep

Once admitted, follow your university's admission packet for visa documentation. Many scholarship routes use the Admission Notice plus JW201, while others use route-specific visa forms.

If your route uses JW201, the university provides Admission Notice and the form, then you apply for a long-term student visa at your local Chinese embassy/consulate using the visa guidance in that route. Some scholarships and programs use different forms, including route-specific versions. Plan for medical checks, document delivery, and one or two original-set checks after visa approval.

Prepare early: gather originals, book flights once your visa is issued, arrange initial funds for the first few weeks before your stipend begins, and confirm your on-campus accommodation arrangement with the international office.