Educational Exchange

Fulbright Grants for Chinese Citizens

The China Scholarship Council (CSC), authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Embassy of the United States in China, is responsible for the promotion and organization of the selection process for the Fulbright Program for Chinese Scholars.  A Fulbright grant embodies the principles of binational governance, equitableness and open competition. The objective of the grant is not only to enable the grantees to pursue a particular field of study but also to develop professionals who can contribute to promoting better understanding between China and the United States.  Upon returning to China, Chinese Fulbrighters are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the relationship between the two countries through their professional and personal activities.

In 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Education and the U.S. State Department agreed to expand the U.S.-China Fulbright Program to send up to 50 Chinese Scholars per academic year to do research in the U.S. Beginning in the fall of 2004, both the U.S. Government and the Government of the People's Republic of China shared in the cost of funding individual Chinese Fulbright grants. 

The Fulbright Program for Chinese Scholars, including the Visiting Research Scholar Program (VRS) and the PhD Dissertation Research, awards up to 50 grants. Currently, the grants are only available to applicants affiliated with one of the 125 participating Chinese institutions.  Eligible Chinese scholars from the social sciences and humanities doing research in the fields of study are welcome to apply. Please visit the CSC website for more information

Visiting Research Scholars (VRS)
The Visiting Research Scholar Program (VRS) provides opportunities for up to 40 mid-career scholars to independently undertake advanced research in at American university in the fields of American studies, broadly defined.  Visiting Research Scholars travel to the U.S. not only for the purpose of academic research, but also to learn more about the country, its people and its culture through direct interaction with Americans in order to better teach others about the U.S. upon their return to China. VRS grantees contribute to improved understanding of the U.S. by publishing their research results, developing undergraduate and graduate curricula, and expanding faculty expertise within American Studies programs at Chinese universities and institutes.  Many VRS grantees establish permanent links with American colleagues, through whom they continue to exchange ideas and information.

Ph.D. Dissertation Research Program
Beginning academic year 2007-08, the Fulbright China program will begin providing up to 10 Chinese Ph.D. candidates with an opportunity to conduct dissertation research for one academic year at an American university.  This program replaces the retiring Graduate Student program.

Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)
In the 2005-06 academic year, the Fulbright Program in China expanded to include the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program. The FLTA Program, begun in 1968, seeks to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. educational institutions. The program also gives young, international teachers of English a chance to refine their teaching skills, increase their English proficiency and extend their knowledge of the cultures and customs of the United States while engaging in non-degree studies.