If you want to study in Shanghai with major costs covered, the Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) at Donghua University (DHU) is one of the strongest options for the 2025/2026 cycle (2026 intake). It’s designed to attract high-performing international students into Bachelor’s (Chinese-taught), Master’s, and PhD programs at DHU.
Below is a clear, practical breakdown of what you get, who can apply, and how to submit a clean application that actually has a chance.
What is the Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) at DHU?
The Shanghai Municipal People’s Government has offered SGS since 2006 to support outstanding international students studying in Shanghai. DHU participates in this scholarship and uses it to fund degree students across eligible programs.
At DHU, SGS is offered in two main types:
Type A (Full Scholarship)
Type B (Partial Scholarship)
The scholarship is competitive, but if your academics are strong and your documents are organized, it’s absolutely doable.
Programs You Can Apply For (at DHU)
According to DHU’s official scholarship page, SGS can be used for:
Chinese-taught Bachelor’s programs
Master’s degree programs
Doctoral (PhD) degree programs
So if you’re aiming for a Master’s or PhD taught in English, SGS can still apply, as long as you meet the university’s language requirements and program rules (more on that below).
Scholarship Coverage (What You Actually Get)
✅ Type A (Full Scholarship)
DHU lists Type A as covering:
Tuition fee waiver
Medical insurance fee waiver
On-campus dorm fee waiver
Monthly stipend
Bachelor’s: CNY 2,500/month
Master’s: CNY 3,000/month
PhD: CNY 3,500/month
This is why people call it “fully funded.” In most cases, your biggest remaining costs are personal spending, visa-related costs, and sometimes deposits or optional upgrades (like off-campus housing).
✅ Type B (Partial Scholarship)
Type B at DHU covers:
Tuition fee waiver
Medical insurance fee waiver
So you would usually cover accommodation and living expenses yourself if you receive Type B.
Duration of Study (and Scholarship Length)
DHU publishes the standard study durations as:
Bachelor’s: 4 years
Master’s: 2.5–3 years
PhD: 4 years
Important detail: DHU notes that the actual scholarship duration depends on your Admission Notice and usually can’t be extended.
Eligibility Requirements (Simple Checklist)
DHU’s SGS requirements include:
Non-Chinese citizen, in good health
Age limits:
Bachelor’s: 16–25
Master’s: under 35 (must hold a bachelor’s degree)
PhD: under 40 (must hold a master’s degree)
Strong academic + extracurricular performance
You cannot be holding another China-based scholarship from government/institutes/organizations at the same time
Language requirements (DHU program requirement)
For postgraduate programs, DHU’s 2026 application guides list language standards such as:
Chinese-taught: HSK 5 (with a minimum score requirement mentioned by DHU)
English-taught: typically IELTS (Academic) / TOEFL iBT minimums per DHU guide
Even if the scholarship is your focus, language eligibility is still a make-or-break factor for admission.
Application Period (2025/2026 – 2026 Intake)
DHU’s SGS page states the application window for the 2026 intake as:
December 1, 2025 to April 15, 2026.
So if you’re writing an article for “2025/2026,” the clean way to describe it is: “2025/2026 cycle (for September 2026 intake)”.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step, DHU Official Method)
Here’s the part many students get wrong: DHU specifically says you apply through DHU’s own online application system, and you do not need to submit a separate application on the Shanghai scholarship website for SGS in this process.
Step 1: Choose your program first
Pick your Bachelor’s / Master’s / PhD program at DHU and make sure you meet its requirements. DHU recommends checking the program list and application guide for the current year.
Step 2: Apply on DHU’s admissions portal
Submit your application at DHU’s official portal: admissions.dhu.edu.cn.
When filling out the funding section, DHU instructs applicants to choose:
“CGS-Category Type B or SGS” under “Source of Funding.”
Step 3: Pay the application fee
DHU’s Master’s and PhD guides mention an application fee (800 CNY) and that your application can become invalid if it’s not paid.
Step 4: Upload documents (proper format matters)
DHU emphasizes that uploaded files should be clear color scans, and most documents should be PDF.
Step 5: Track your application status and respond fast
DHU’s guides explain status updates like “Submitted,” “Returned,” and “Under Review,” and they warn that if your file is returned and you don’t fix it on time, it may become invalid.
Commonly Required Documents (What to Prepare Early)
Exact document lists vary by program level, but DHU’s Master’s/PhD guides clearly include items like:
Passport scan (plus China visa/entry pages if applicable)
Degree certificates + full transcripts (with grading scale explanation)
Language certificates (HSK/IELTS/TOEFL depending on program)
Recommendation letters (PhD guide explicitly mentions two)
Translations/notarization if documents aren’t in Chinese/English
For many DHU postgraduate majors, you may also need to contact a supervisor and prepare program-specific materials—so don’t wait until the last week.
Final Tips to Improve Your Chances
Apply early inside the window (don’t aim for the last week).
Make your PDFs clean and readable (blurry scans kill applications).
Match your language proof to the program language.
For Master’s/PhD, start supervisor contact early if your major requires it.
Check email constantly after submission (interviews, corrections, pre-admission steps may come via email).
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