You are not alone when you are a student of arts, with an aspiration to study abroad but are financially restricted. I have come across numerous art-loving painters, designers, musicians and performers who felt that only science or technology students could receive scholarships in other countries. However, this is not the case.

CSC Scholarship in China is not limited to the scholarship being granted to engineers or researchers but goes farther to spend full funding on creatives. It is created to assist the international students, arts majors in particular, to study undergraduate, master, or even doctoral degree in China.

You do not require having an impeccable resume or influential people. All you require is that you have got it straight on how this whole process works and I will be taking you through this guide.

Understanding the CSC Scholarship

We begin with the simplest things. The Chinese government sponsors the CSC Scholarship by the use of the China Scholarship Council. It is intended to recruit bright students all over the world to pursue education in Chinese universities.

Here is what you will be offered in case you are accepted:

What Makes This Scholarship Unique for Arts Majors?

When compared against the others, the funding programs are more research-and-STEM-oriented, but CSC is different since it gives you the freedom to pursue any degree and any school. No matter what field of study you want: ink painting in Hangzhou or modern theatre in Shanghai, there are the programs that can suit you.

China also respects the traditions of art. Some of the best arts programs in the world are in institutions like the China Academy of Arts, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the academy of arts and design in Tsinghua University who receive CSC scholarship students.

Are You Eligible to Apply?

We mentioned eligibility before we jump into the process. This is the area where most students fail to write or misinterpret and this may end up losing them an opportunity of being considered.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

In order to take part in the CSC Scholarship you should have the following conditions:

• Be a non-Chinese citizen in good health.
• Be less than 25 years of age in undergraduate education, less than 35 years in a masters program and less than 40 years in a doctorate program.
• Hold the correct academic qualification:
  • • High school diploma for undergrad
    • Bachelor’s for master’s
    • Master’s for PhD
• Attain the language necessity of the program, either Chinese or English, according to the course and institution.

Besides that, you have to show your devotion to the field of arts that you have chosen. In most arts programs, you will be requested to send a portfolio of your creative work, that is, your portfolio, and may be need to pass an interview or audition also. Do not worry about this, this is supposed to indicate how you are growing and how much you are passionate.

Choosing the Right University and Program

There are hundreds of universities in China that take international students on CSC Scholarship. Not every one of them has good programs in the arts. This is you need to be savvy.

Instead of picking a university at random, do some research. Read their course build, get a glimpse of the type of teachers they possess and even whether they have given rise to worthwhile alumni in your discipline. Assuming you are a student of graphic design, schools such as Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University will be more useful to you compared to a college with more of the sciences.

One could develop a list of about three or five universities that are appropriate to your artistic objectives. Go to their international admissions sites. You should also determine whether they accept CSC-funded students (some universities are not participants of the program).

The Application Process in Simple Terms

Let us get this straight and simple step by step. There are three channels, or types, through which the CSC Scholarship can be made:

Types of CSC Application

• Type A: You submit using the Chinese embassy back in your Country. This is often the best opportunity as it has a high probability of securing one even when you apply to several institutions.
• Type B: You simply apply to a university that admits CSC students. This is awesome in case you already decided which certain program or school you want to enter.
• Type C: You use other agencies or organizations that are involved in student exchange programs.

Here then is where you begin.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Step 1: Choose Your University and Program

Visit the universities that you are interested in the degree and the major. Find out whether they are part of the CSC scholarship program.

Step 2: Prepare Required Documents

The following will be the normal documents you will require:

• CSC application (Exam online)
• Study plan or personal statement
• Transcripts and school certificates
• Language exam results (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, HSK)
• Two letters of reference
• Medical examination form
• Passport copy
• Portfolio (arts applying)

Other universities might need more hence you should inspect their websites.

Step 3: Submit Application

You can apply under the embassy (type A) and this should be done as directed in their official site. They might need hard copies

When the application is to a university (Type B), you should apply through the online portal of the university and also apply through the CSC portal.

Be sure that everything is posted or mailed on time. The biggest concentration of deadlines is found during the period between December and April, though it also depends on the country and university.

How to Write a Strong Study Plan as an Arts Major

This is what makes you stand out. It is not that a study plan or personal statement should only be about good writing in English. It has to do with the story you will share.

Explain to them why you followed your discipline. Talk about my creative journey. Ask how the program in China will assist you to develop as an artist. And what you want to pay back upon your studies. Be honest. Be specific. Demonstrate to them that you love it.

When you are applying to visual arts or music, remember about your portfolio that should correspond to your study plan. The two ought to complement each other in the form of a visual and verbal resume.

What Happens After You Submit the Application

You have done all the pieces of advice you could, have triple-checked everything and have finally clicked the submit button. Now what?

This is where patience will be your best friend. Your application is then screened through several levels after the submission. Your data will first be looked at by the university you have applied to. When it is processed by the embassy, your home country can be screening process before sending your application to China.

You may have to wait weeks, months during this time without a response. What it signifies, by that silence, is not rejection. The majority of the final outcomes are declared between June and August in accordance with the university and the type of scholarship.

In case you are short listed, you can be contacted to have an online interview especially in cases of arts programs. This may entail presenting some of your portfolio or even doing a live performance basis the major. Stay ready and confident and check all your mails, spam included.

Tips That Can Increase Your Chances of Being Selected

The CSC Scholarship is not easy to get, however, it is not impossible to be selected. Indeed, it is observed that a number of students are denied places just because they ignore minute yet crucial details. This is what to do to be a standout.

Be Clear and Specific in Your Study Plan

This is no moment to be abstract. Be clear about what you want to research and why that research is best fit to be conducted in China. In case you want to learn classical Chinese calligraphy or a painting with ink, be open about it. In case you wish to harmonize between western and eastern music theory, clarify that.

Demonstrate that the university has what your future goals demand. Keep in mind that CSC is also seeking serious students who want to make the best of this opportunity.

Customize Your Application for Each University

Always avoid cutting and pasting the copy of your application even when you write to several universities. Customize every personal statement, recommendation letter and study plan to program and school. Include details of specific courses, lecturers or something on campus or the campus that attracts your interest.

Such attention to details has a remarkable impression.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Some of them are errors which can decrease your candidacy in no time despite your great academic record. This is what you need to look out for.

Incomplete or Wrong Documents

Requirements should be checked twice. There are schools that would need notarized copies and there are schools that would simply take scans. In some cases, some are asked to present documents in Chinese, and others do not mind English. Delivery of the incorrect format is capable of doing months of work.

Ignoring the University’s Website

CSC portal is not the only source that they should check. You should always look to the international admissions page at the university. They generally possess other types or particular portfolio directions of students of the arts.

Applying Too Late

Do not leave it to the last week. Portals crash. Embassies are overcrowded. Certain colleges also reduce their application period in case they achieve a limit. Applications that are submitted early are also taken seriously.

What Life Is Like in China for Arts Students

Suppose, for the moment, that you are now lucky enough to have succeeded. You have arrived in China, you are strolling through the gates of the university and your life as a CSC scholar has started. What are you supposed to get?

A Blend of Traditional and Modern

Living in Beijing, Hangzhou, or XiAn, you will find the mixture of traditions and avant-garde culture. With the arts student being based here, it is gold. It has easy access to museums, exhibitions, and art festivals, and cultural institutions.

You will be thrown into a culture that highly values art, be it hundreds of years old silk painting or the contemporary graphic design.

Academic Expectations

The idea to take “arts” as an easy task is not true. Critiques, collaborative work, and research-based course assignments will challenge you regularly. The professors in the Chinese universities are very strict yet fair. They also require an equal amount of commitment, yet they allow you to develop.

Language and Lifestyle

Although your program may be conducted in English, the everyday life will be in Mandarin. On first hearing this can be intimidating, but in fact many students come away after their first year using conversational Chinese. It also makes you feel like a local and find your way around in every part of your life including food and art materials.

You need not worry about meals, transport, or essentials because your stipend provides all of it.

What to Do If You Are Rejected

Success is not guaranteed in every application and that is all right. It is not a rejection. Most of the successful applicants are actually admitted when they apply the second or even the third time.

Here’s how to bounce back:

• Request Feedback: Ask some of the embassies or schools to give you a reason. Use it in the future to give your next application more power.
• Improve Your Portfolio: Build new work, attend some short courses or have some exhibitions. The positive indication is the growth between applications.
• Apply Through a Different Channel: Are you used to one type of use? Try the other one. This will give you a better chance of diversifying your route.
• Start Early: Become an early bird next time, give yourself more time to research, write and prepare.

Just remember that part of the process is persistence.

Final Steps Before You Board the Plane

Best wishes in case you are chosen. But your work is not finished yet. That in a nutshell is what will happen:

Visa and Documentation

You will require student visa (X1 or X2) and you will obtain it by submitting your admission notice and visa application form (JW201 or JW202). Go to the nearest Chinese consulate or embassy and take all the necessary documents.

Health Check and Insurance

Go to a physician to do a complete physical before you leave- this is compulsory. You will get local health insurance in China, that is why do not forget about your medical records.

Arrival and Registration

Upon arrival in China, your university will take care of airport reception, accommodation in the dormitory, and registration as students. You will have your student ID and you would officially start.

Conclusion

Once you have read up to this point, you are already concerned about your future. CSC Scholarship is much more than a source of funding; it is a starting point. You are an arts student who probably has never gotten the opportunity to learn, explore and experiment and so this might be your opportunity of a lifetime to learn, explore and experiment in a place that supports your talent.

Bring out the finest work that you can, plan ahead, and put all of your money into it. Your effort on the application can result in life changing experience.

And when you feel like it is that way every now and then; just recall the fact–you are not alone. This is the path taken by many creative minds and now, it is your time.