China Announces Fully Funded Scholarships for Kenyan Students

The Ministry of Education has announced the availability of 15 Chinese Government Scholarships for Kenyan students seeking to pursue undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies at universities in China during the 2027/2028 academic year. The opportunities were confirmed through communication received from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya.

In an official notice issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, the ministry stated that the scholarships are tenable at Chinese universities and will enable successful candidates to undertake higher education programmes across the three academic levels. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their preferred institutions, including academic ability, language proficiency and any other criteria set by those universities.

Interested candidates are required first to apply for admission to their chosen Chinese universities and obtain admission letters or relevant pre-admission documents. The overall selection process will begin with preliminary screening by Kenya’s Ministry of Education, after which shortlisted candidates will undergo further assessment by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. Nominated applicants will sit written examinations and interviews organised by the embassy.

Undergraduate applicants face an additional requirement. They must register for and sit the China Scholastic Competence Assessment (CSCA) examinations. Registration is done through the official website www.csca.cn. The tests will cover compulsory Chinese Language and Mathematics, with optional papers in Physics and Chemistry scheduled for December 19, 2026. Candidates must obtain a CSCA score report, which is mandatory for undergraduate scholarship applications. Prospective students have been advised to contact their preferred universities in advance to confirm the exact examination subjects required for their intended courses.

Eligibility criteria differ by level of study. For undergraduate programmes, applicants must hold a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of at least B (Plain) or its equivalent. They must be aged 25 years or below and should have completed secondary education within the preceding three years. Strong academic performance in subjects relevant to the chosen field of specialisation is also required.

Master’s degree applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree with at least a Second-Class Upper Division and be under 35 years of age. Doctoral candidates must hold a relevant master’s degree from a recognised university and be below 40 years of age. All applicants, regardless of level, must satisfy the admission, language proficiency and academic requirements of the Chinese institutions they wish to join.

The application process is conducted online through the China Scholarship Council (CSC) website at www.campuschina.org. Candidates must create an account, select the Scholarship Application for Students option, and complete the Chinese Government Scholarship application form. During submission they are required to select Programme Category Type A and enter Agency Number 4041. The CSC platform also provides a directory of participating Chinese universities and available academic programmes. Applicants are urged to identify suitable institutions and secure the necessary admission or pre-admission documents before finalising their online applications.

Supporting documents that must be uploaded include a copy of the passport information page valid for more than one year from the expected start of studies, notarised academic certificates and transcripts, and admission or pre-admission documents issued by Chinese universities. Undergraduate applicants must additionally upload their CSCA score reports.

Study plans or research proposals are required, with undergraduate candidates submitting at least 200 words and postgraduate applicants at least 800 words. Master’s and PhD candidates must also provide two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. Other mandatory items are a completed Foreigner Physical Examination Form and a valid Certificate of Good Conduct.

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Academic certificates obtained from foreign institutions of higher learning must be recognised by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Candidates applying for art and design-related programmes may submit portfolios or samples of their work both through the online system and directly to their preferred universities. The ministry has emphasised that all uploaded documents must be clear, authentic and valid.

In addition to the online CSC application, applicants must complete Kenya’s mandatory preliminary selection process. They are required to submit a copy of the completed CSC application form, the duly filled Standard Scholarship Application Form, and a copy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form completed by a medical practitioner. Certified copies of identification documents, academic and professional certificates, transcripts, birth certificates, passports and other relevant testimonials must also be provided. Postgraduate applicants must include their study plans or research proposals and copies of recommendation letters.

All hard-copy documents should be addressed to The Director, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Telposta Towers, P.O. Box 9583 – 00200, Nairobi. Alternatively, applicants may deliver the documents in person to Telposta Towers, 27th Floor, Room 2701, by 5:00 p.m. on November 18, 2026.

The scholarships represent a continued channel of educational cooperation between Kenya and China. By covering tuition and related costs at Chinese universities, the awards offer Kenyan students the opportunity to gain advanced qualifications in a wide range of academic fields. Prospective applicants are encouraged to carefully review all eligibility conditions, examination requirements and document checklists before beginning the dual online and hard-copy submission process.

With the deadline for the Kenyan preliminary stage set for mid-November 2026 and the CSCA examinations scheduled for December, interested students have a limited window in which to prepare applications, secure university pre-admission documents and complete the necessary medical and academic formalities.