Confucius Institute for Scotlands SchoolsCISS Scholarship

The CISS Scholarship is the only one of its kind in Europe.

Each year, we facilitate scholarships for school leavers in China. Scholars will study for 9 months in China. 

The highly competitive scholarship is open to applicants from 6th year pupils in Confucius Classroom Hubs. Applicants must be from a local authority with a Confucius Classroom Hub. The CISS Scholarship includes tuition fees, shared accommodation costs and monthly food allowance for the academic year. CISS also covers the cost of one HSK test fee.

How to apply

CISS and our partners in Tianjin, China are delighted to offer the opportunity for S6 school leavers to take part in a scholarship programme to study Mandarin for one academic year at university in Tianjin. The scholarship is open for any current S6 pupil who attends a state school in a local authority that has a Confucius classroom hub. 

This is more than just a gap year or a language course. This immersive, life-changing experience can broaden young people's horizons, develop their intercultural competences and open their eyes to endless possibilities for their future. They will have the chance to really master the Chinese language, as well as foster friendships that will last a lifetime and grow and develop as responsible, global citizens who will be effective contributors to society.

Applications for September 2025-June 2026 will open in Autumn 2024. 

Watch this video to hear about the experience from some of our previous scholars.

For a scholarship opportunity external to CISS please see below.

2019-20 Scholar Blogs

The 2019-20 CISS Scholars partnered with schools across Scotland as part of the Language Linking Global Thinking Project. They shared their experience in China and Mandarin language learning with Scottish school pupils.

Each scholar wrote updates to their partner school prior to returning early due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Read those blogs here.

 

2018-19 Scholar Blogs Archive

You can read the blog archive of the 2018-19 CISS Scholars here.

 

Opportunities external to CISS

British Council

Through Generation UK, the British Council have opened up a range of opportunities in China, giving you the chance to experience this unique country while gaining valuable skills for the future.

Find out more about studying, working and creating in China with the British Council.

Centre for Language Education and Cooperation

The Confucius Institute Headquarters in China offers a 1 year academic scholarship to young people over the age of 18. Applications for this scholarship are made directly with the Confucius Institute HQ in China. Anyone submitting an application for a CI HQ scholarship must be recommended by a Confucius Institute in their home country. This scholarship is very different from the scholarship CISS facilitates. The only involvement from CISS would be as the supporting Confucius Institute at the application stage. We would have no input into the selection process, the content of the teaching, or where the young person studies. There would be no pastoral support from CISS and youngsters are expected to engage with their chosen university’s international department by themselves. As you know, the global Covid-19 pandemic is still having an impact on international travel, so there can be no guarantee at this point that study in China will be possible. In order to apply for a CI HQ scholarship through CISS, applicants must currently be in 6th year in a local authority with a Confuicus Classroom hub. Applicants must be 18 years old and hold HSK 3.

Find out more about studying in China with the Centre for Language Cooperation and Education

 
CISS Alumni Logo

CISS Alumni

Discover the work of the CISS Alumni, a network of former scholars from all year groups collaborating to develop as Chinese language ambassadors and inspire future scholars and language learners.