Study in China from Pakistan: CSC Scholarship via HEC, Deadlines and Degree Recognition

Pakistani students reach Chinese universities by two routes: a Chinese Government Scholarship place, mostly through the Higher Education Commission (HEC), or a self-funded application straight to the university. This guide covers both, the deadlines, what to prepare, and how to get your Chinese degree recognised when you come home.

The Chinese Government Scholarship through HEC

HEC is the nominating agency for Pakistan's Type A places. For 2026-27 the China Scholarship Council (CSC) offered 75 places: 35 bachelor's, 25 master's and 15 PhD.

• Apply twice. On the HEC scholarship portal (choose "Learning Opportunities Abroad") and on campuschina.org as Type A, agency number 5861. HEC says failing to submit on both portals means disqualification.
• USAT or HAT score of at least 50/100. USAT for bachelor's, HAT for master's and PhD. HAT results stay valid for two years, USAT for one.
• Age and education. Bachelor's: 12 years of education (intermediate, A-level, FA/FSc), under 25. Master's: a 16-year bachelor's, under 35. PhD: an MS/MPhil, under 40. Dual nationals cannot apply.
• Review. The Culture Office of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan reviews applications first and may hold written tests or interviews; it recommends qualified candidates to the CSC.
• Chinese preparatory year. HEC says bachelor's students must take it unless they hold a valid HSK 3 certificate.
• No paper. Do not send hard copies to HEC or the embassy at the application stage.

Type B (applying for a scholarship directly through a Chinese university) is outside HEC's process: HEC says applicants on that route handle their own applications.

Deadlines: last round and this round

Last round, the HEC portal closed on 5 January 2026 at 4 pm Pakistan time. When we last checked, HEC's page still showed the 2026-27 call; this table and our application deadlines page change when the 2027-28 call is posted. Universities set their own Type B and self-funded deadlines; the deadlines page lists the ones we have checked.

Self-funded: apply to the university directly

You can apply to any Chinese university that admits international students on its own online system and pay only its own fees. See how applying directly works, what it costs and the official fees on our tuition fees page.

Documents and test scores to prepare

HEC's checklist for nominated candidates:

1. Notarized educational documents, CNIC, domicile, birth certificate, and IBCC or HEC equivalence certificates where they apply
2. A study plan or research proposal in English or Chinese: at least 200 words for bachelor's, 800 for master's and PhD
3. Proof of language: IELTS, TOEFL or HSK, as your program requires
4. Passport (for 2026-27 it had to be valid until 1 March 2027)
5. Foreigner Physical Examination Form with blood tests, valid for six months
6. Police clearance certificate issued within six months before the deadline
7. A pre-admission letter from a Chinese university
8. Two recommendation letters (master's and PhD), an employer's NOC if you work, and a guardian's documents if you are under 18

Two tests matter on top of USAT or HAT:

• CSCA. HEC says the China Scholastic Competency Assessment is mandatory for every bachelor's applicant, on Type A, Type B or any other Chinese Government Scholarship program. See our CSCA guide.
• HSK. Chinese-taught master's and PhD programs need HSK 4. English-taught programs need proof of English; see studying in China without IELTS and HSK requirements.

For the full list with examples, see our application documents checklist.

Getting your degree recognised in Pakistan

• Choose a recognised university. HEC recognises degrees from foreign chartered universities that are listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database and recognised in their own country.
• Apply for equivalence online at eservices.hec.gov.pk after you graduate. For a foreign master's, HEC also asks for your HEC-attested bachelor's degree.
• Professional degrees. For medicine, engineering, nursing, architecture, law or veterinary medicine, HEC tells applicants to first confirm accreditation with the relevant council: PM&DC, PEC, PNC, PCATP, PBC or PVMC.

MBBS in China: what PM&DC requires

The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) changed its rules in 2025 and 2026:

• 8 September 2025: graduates of foreign institutions that PM&DC has not recognised will not get provisional registration, and the list of foreign institutions on PM&DC's website is no longer valid. No foreign graduate may do a house job or internship in Pakistan without provisional registration.
• 22 October 2025: PM&DC has started recognising foreign medical and dental institutions and updates its website as it goes. To sit the National Registration Examination, the standard is recognition by the foreign country's regulator plus the institution's accreditation by ECFMG, which you can check at ecfmg.org.
• 5 October 2026: passing the MDCAT is no longer required to apply to foreign medical and dental institutions.

Before you accept an MBBS offer, check the university's status with PM&DC and ECFMG. Our MBBS guide lists the universities on China's MBBS list and their checked fees.

Free help with your application

You can apply on your own using the steps above. If you'd like help choosing universities or preparing documents, ask for free application help. Help is free for students.