CSCA Scholarship Explained: How the CSCA Test Connects to the Chinese Government Scholarship
September 28, 2026 · CSCA Gateway Team
Many people search for "CSCA scholarship" assuming CSCA is the name of a scholarship. It isn’t. CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment, 来华留学本科入学学业水平测试) is an academic test for international undergraduate applicants, organized by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) — the same body that runs the Chinese Government Scholarship. Because they share an organizer, the two are often confused.
How Is CSCA Connected to the CSC Scholarship?
Starting with the 2026/2027 academic year, undergraduate applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship must take the CSCA and upload a valid score report to the application system. In other words, without a CSCA score, your undergraduate scholarship application is incomplete.
CSCA for Chinese Government Scholarship Applicants (Undergraduate)
- Status
- Required
- Required Subjects
- Mathematics + Professional Chinese
- Conditional Subjects
- Physics / Chemistry
Whether Physics and Chemistry are required depends on your target university and major. Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry can be taken in Chinese or English, while Professional Chinese comes in two versions: Humanities (文科中文) and STEM (理科中文).
Example From the Previous Cycle: The Embassy Track for Indonesian Applicants
For reference, the Chinese Consulate General in Medan’s notice for the 2026/2027 academic year set out the following for the embassy (bilateral) track:
- 20 full scholarships for undergraduate study
- Priority fields: marine studies, medicine & health, tourism, and education
- Maximum age of 25 for undergraduate applicants
- Online application via campuschina.org, with Indonesia’s dispatching authority code 3602
- Application deadline: February 8, 2026
The notice for the 2027/2028 cycle has not been published yet, so quotas and dates may change. But the pattern is clear: the deadline falls early in the year, so you ideally want your CSCA score in hand before then.
Documents Requested (2026/2027 Cycle)
- Passport
- Highest diploma or proof of education, with academic transcripts
- Proof of language proficiency
- CSCA score report
- Pre-admission documents from the target university
- Study plan
- Physical examination form
- Certificate of no criminal record
A Realistic Timeline for September 2027 Entry
- Now – early October 2026: choose your university and major, and check which CSCA subjects they require
- October 15–21, 2026: register for the November 14–15, 2026 CSCA session on csca.cn
- November 14–15, 2026: take the test (the December 19–20, 2026 session can be your backup)
- Early 2027: once the 2027/2028 scholarship notice is out, apply via campuschina.org with your CSCA score attached
The January 2027 session may still work, but it sits close to deadlines that usually fall early in the year. Taking the November or December session leaves room to retake the test if your score isn’t where you want it.
Does a High CSCA Score Guarantee a Scholarship?
No. The CSCA score is one important input in the selection, but reviewers also weigh your academic record, study plan, language ability, and other documents. Still, with limited quotas, a strong score makes your application far more competitive.
To explore scholarship routes beyond CSC, read Types of Scholarships to Study in China (With How to Apply for Each). For the stage after the document review, see Tips for Acing the CSC (China Scholarship Council) Scholarship Interview.
Since Mathematics and Professional Chinese are required for scholarship applicants, those two subjects deserve priority in your practice. CSCA Gateway offers real exam-pattern questions for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry with explanations in Chinese, Pinyin, and English — which also trains the academic Mandarin you will need.