How to Get a Pre-Admission Letter for the Chinese Government (CSC) Scholarship

For the 2027/2028 round, every applicant for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) needs a pre-admission document from a Chinese university. Without one, your scholarship application is incomplete. This guide explains what counts, how universities issue it, and when to ask.

What counts as a pre-admission document

The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia's notice for the 2027/2028 round says every applicant must upload at least one pre-admission document from the universities they apply to. It lists:

• a pre-admission notice from the university's international student admissions office
• an invitation letter from a school (faculty) or a professor

A guide from the China Scholarship Council, republished by the Shanghai government in August 2026, adds supervisor acceptance letters. It says these documents show that you meet the university's basic academic requirements and that it is willing to admit you under certain conditions. Pre-admission notices are usually printed on the university's official letterhead and carry its official seal.

The letter is not the final admission. USTB says its pre-admission letter "does not equate to the final admission letter". Sun Yat-sen University says the final decision depends on the CSC's expert review.

How universities issue it

Each university has its own procedure, so read its international admissions page first. These are the ones we checked:

Dates marked "last round" or "2026 round" are from the 2026/27 cycle. Check the university's page for 2027 dates.

Type A and Type B work differently

• Type A (through your country's embassy or government agency): many universities run a separate pre-admission request for Type A. USTB says Type B applicants should not use its Type A request. Universities usually ask you to list them on your CSC application: USTB requires it and recommends listing it first, and Xi'an Jiaotong asks to be your first choice ("Application Institution I").
• Type B (straight to a university): the university's own review is the pre-admission step. At Southwest Jiaotong, applicants who pass the academic review receive a pre-admission notice, then log in to the CSC system again to upload it.

Not sure which channel to use? See how to apply for the CSC scholarship.

What universities ask for

USTB's list for a Type A pre-admission letter is typical:

1. Passport copy
2. Degree certificate, or a certificate from your current school with your expected graduation date
3. Transcripts with all courses, grades and the grading scale
4. A study plan naming the degree and major
5. HSK or English certificate; if you don't have one yet, explain in your email
6. A CSCA score for bachelor's applicants

Prepare the full CSC set at the same time. For 2027/2028 the study plan must be at least 200 words for bachelor's, 500 for non-degree and 800 for master's and PhD, and graduate applicants need two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. The full list is in our application documents checklist.

Step by step

1. Choose universities and programs on campuschina.org and compare them on our scholarships page.
2. Read each university's CSC page for its pre-admission procedure and deadline.
3. Apply the way it says: its online system, or the email address it gives. If you want a supervisor, read their lab pages first and write to them about their research.
4. Check your email and the application system often. Universities send interview invitations and letters there.
5. Upload the document to your CSC application on campuschina.org, together with your other documents, before your embassy's or university's deadline.

Timeline for 2027/2028

The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia's notice gives this timeline:

Universities' own pre-admission deadlines often come earlier, like Sichuan University's 15 December 2026. Your country's dates are on our application deadlines page.

Avoid paying for a "guaranteed" letter

Request the letter only through the university's own system or the email address on its official website. Southwest Jiaotong University does not allow any person or agency to handle CSC applications for it. Some universities charge an application fee; pay it only through the university's own system. See how to check an admission letter.

Free help from us

If you would like help choosing universities and asking for pre-admission documents, ask for free application help. Advice and application help are free for students, and we send your details to a university only after you agree.