CSC Official Guide: How to Use campuschina.org Step by Step

Every Chinese Government (CSC) Scholarship application passes through one website: campuschina.org, the official Study in China portal run by the China Scholarship Council. Many Pakistani students search for a "CSC guide official" because the portal has many screens, unfamiliar terms and a few steps that are easy to get wrong. This guide walks you through the portal in the order you will actually use it.

The portal's layout and labels can change from year to year. If anything below looks different from what you see, follow the instructions on the portal itself and in the official notice of the university or agency you are applying to — those always take priority.

Before you open campuschina.org

The online form asks for a lot of information at once. Prepare these first so you can finish in one sitting:

• A valid passport (scan of the photo page).
• Your highest degree and transcripts, notarised or attested as required.
• A study plan or research proposal written for your target program.
• Two recommendation letters from teachers or professors.
• The completed Foreigner Physical Examination form, if your agency asks for it at this stage.
• The agency number of the university or institution receiving your application.
• A recent passport-style photo in digital form.

These match the documents listed in our CSC scholarship record. Your target university may ask for extra items, such as an acceptance (pre-admission) letter from a supervisor or an English proficiency certificate.

Step 1: Create your account

Open campuschina.org and choose the option to register as a new applicant. Use an email address you check daily — all messages about your application will go there. Write your name exactly as it appears in your passport. A spelling difference between your passport and your application can cause problems later at the visa stage.

Step 2: Choose the right program category

The portal asks you to choose a scholarship program. For most Pakistani students there are two common routes:

Bilateral program (often called Type A)

This is the government-to-government route. In Pakistan, applications are handled by HEC, which shortlists and nominates candidates. Choose this only if you are applying through HEC's official call. Our HEC Chinese Government Scholarship page explains the process.

Chinese University Program (often called Type B)

In this route you apply through a Chinese university that has CSC places. The university reviews you and nominates you to CSC. Many Masters and PhD applicants use this route, sometimes alongside the HEC route.

Step 3: Enter the agency number

The agency number tells CSC which institution should receive your application. Each university (and HEC for the bilateral route) publishes its own number on its scholarship notice. Copy it exactly from the official notice. A wrong agency number sends your application to the wrong place, and it may never be reviewed.

Step 4: Fill in the application form

The form covers personal details, education history, work experience, language ability, your intended program and university choices. Take care with these points:

• Choose the degree level (Bachelor, Master or PhD) that matches your target program.
• Pick a discipline and program that match your previous degree and your study plan.
• List your university choices in the order you prefer them, following the portal's rules.
• Be honest about language ability — say whether you will study in English or Chinese.
• Save your progress often; sessions can time out.

Step 5: Upload documents

Upload clear scans in the formats and sizes the portal allows. Name files sensibly, such as passport.pdf or transcript.pdf. Check every page is readable — blurred or cut-off scans are a common reason for delays.

Step 6: Submit, download and send

Review everything, then submit. After submission the portal generates your application form, usually as a PDF. Some universities and agencies also ask you to email or post the printed form and documents to them, so read the official notice. Keep a copy of everything you submit.

Step 7: Track your application

Log in to check your application status. Results come from the agency and CSC; universities then send successful applicants an admission notice and the JW201 visa form. Our China student visa guide explains the next steps.

Common campuschina.org mistakes

• Name spelled differently from the passport.
• Wrong program category (choosing the bilateral program without applying through HEC).
• Wrong or missing agency number.
• Study plan that does not match the chosen program.
• Submitting on the last day — portals are slow near deadlines.
• Forgetting the university's own application, which is often separate from the CSC form.

When is the deadline?

In our records the CSC application window is usually January to April each year, but every university and HEC sets its own closing date. Write down the date from each official notice and aim to submit at least two weeks early.