Confucius Institute for Scotlands SchoolsTianjin Scholarship

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

 

Each year, we facilitate scholarships for school leavers to study Mandarin for 9 months at Tianjin Normal University in China. 

 

 

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

How to apply

The Scholarship is open for any current S6 pupil who attends a state school in a local authority that has a Confucius classroom hub. If your school is in an authority which does not have a hub, you are still eligible to apply if you are participating in the Discovering China National Qualifications courses. This Scholarship is intended to provide an immersive learning experience for pupils with no previous connections to Chinese language and culture. Therefore, applicants must be non-Chinese nationals from a non-native Chinese-speaking background.

Applications for the 2025-26 Scholarship are now closed. Successful applicants will be informed by mid-November and invited to an interview in Glasgow during the week commencing November 18th, with successful interviewees being informed by the end of November.

Applications for the 2026-27 Scholarship will open in Autumn 2025. 

 

Scholarship Blogs

Each year, scholars write or record blogs about their experiences on the Scholarship. View these blogs 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

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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.