The ocean, covering about 71% of the Earth’s surface, plays a primary role in addressing the climate change and supporting the global economy, trade and livelihood. The sustainable ocean development has direct impact on the development and prosperity of all coastal countries now and in the future. And it has become an inexorable trend worldwide that through international cooperation and exchange we should deepen our understanding of the ocean and promote sustainable ocean development to enhance regional and global economic prosperity. Under this consideration, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and the Ministry of Education of China jointly initiate the program of Marine Scholarship of China (hereinafter called the Scholarship) for the purpose of providing financial support to outstanding students from the coastal countries or regions around the South China Sea, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans and African developing countries to study in China for a master’s or doctoral degree in oceanography or other related specialties, cultivating advanced professionals of the related fields for developing countries, enhancing international marine cooperation and exchange, and promoting the harmonious ocean development in the region and around the world. China Scholarship Council (CSC) is in charge of the admissions and routine management of the Scholarship.

I. Enrollment Candidates

i. The applicant should be a citizen of non-Chinese nationality in good health, from a coastal/island country of South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and its surround island countries, or an African developing country.

ii. The applicant must apply for the Master or Doctoral degree program of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (NAOE)-related specialties.

iii. Any applicant who is currently engaged in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (NAOE) and relevant sectors will be given high priority.

II. Eligibility

i. The applicant for master’s degree studies is required to have a bachelor’s degree and be usually under the age of 35, 

ii. The applicant for doctoral degree studies is required to have a master’s degree and be usually under the age of 40.

III. Duration of the Scholarship

i. Candidates for master’s degree: 3 years of study with the Scholarship

ii. Candidates for doctoral degree: 4 years of study with the Scholarship

iii. Scholarship awardees who choose Chinese as the teaching language and request Chinese language training prior to their formal academic studies will receive one-year training and have their scholarship funding extended correspondingly for one year.

iv. The duration of the Scholarship will be defined upon the student’s admission to the university, and will not be extended in principle. If a student is unable to finish the program for some special reasons, his or her scholarship may be extended until graduation with prior consent of SOA, the university and CSC.

IV. Scholarship funding details

i. Tuition covered

ii. Free accommodation on campus

iii. Living allowance: RMB 3,000 per month for master’s students, and RMB3,500 per month for doctoral students

iv. Comprehensive Medical Insurance

Notes:

1. Living allowance is to be granted by the university on a monthly basis, starting from the date of entrance of the student. For the first month, the students who register before or on the 15th day of the month will receive the allowance in full, and those after the 15th day of the month, in half. The allowance will extend half a month after the specified graduation date designated by the university. As for those who suspend, quit or complete their academic program and return to their own country, the allowance will stop from the next month. The allowance covers the holidays recognized by the university. Those who are away in the holidays and unable to get their allowance in time may receive their dues when return to the university. And as for those who are late for the registration or stay away from the school without any formality of asking for absence for a time longer than one month, the allowance for that month shall be cancelled.

Those who have to suspend their program because of pregnancy or severe disease must return to their own country for delivery or recovery, and the travel must be at their own expense. Those who have been approved by the school authority to suspend their program, their qualification for the Scholarship may extend for no longer than one year and the allowance will stop during the suspension. But those who suspend their program on other excuses will be disqualified from the scholarship.

2. For more detailed information, please check the website of China Scholarship Council at http://www.csc.edu.cn