Chinese universities run two main intakes per year: September (the primary intake, with the most programs and scholarships) and March (secondary, mostly master's, Chinese-language, and short-term programs). For September 2027, rolling applications open from November 2026, competitive programs close by March-April 2027, and CSC scholarship deadlines cluster in January-April 2027. Bachelor's applicants: a CSCA score is required for CSC scholarship applications and by many universities — sit the exam in November 2026, December 2026, or January 2027 (next confirmed dates on our CSCA exam dates guide). March 2027 intake deadlines fall roughly September-December 2026. Plan 9-12 months ahead.
Key takeaways
- Two annual intakes: September (primary) + March (secondary)
- For September 2027: rolling applications from Nov 2026; competitive programs close by Mar-Apr 2027
- CSC scholarship deadlines cluster in January-April 2027 (varies by channel and university)
- Bachelor's applicants: CSCA score needed for CSC and many universities — next sittings Nov/Dec 2026, Jan 2027 (see https://cscaprep.academy/exam-dates)
- March 2027 intake deadlines typically September-December 2026
- Plan 9-12 months ahead: research + language test + documents + supervisor match
China academic calendar explained
Chinese universities follow a two-semester calendar with intake windows in September (Fall) and March (Spring). PhDs and most master's programs run on a Fall-only cycle. Bachelor's programs are predominantly Fall; some Chinese-medium bachelor's accept Spring intake.
- September (Fall) intake — the primary intake at all Chinese universities: the widest program selection and most scholarship money (CSC, provincial). Applications run from November of the prior year (rolling) through summer (late apps at less-selective universities). Plan 9-12 months ahead for the smoothest path.
- March (Spring) intake — the secondary intake, offered by many but not all universities. Most Spring-start places are master's, Chinese language, and short-term programs. Application deadlines typically September-December. Fewer scholarships are available for Spring intake (some university-specific waivers still apply).
- Bachelor's intake — predominantly September. Some programs (especially Chinese-medium) accept March intake. Verify with each program. Bachelor's applicants: a CSCA score is required for CSC scholarship applications and by many universities — see https://cscaprep.academy/exam-dates for the next sittings.
- Master's intake — September at the large majority of universities; a subset also accepts March. Master's programs are more flexible on intake timing.
- PhD intake — September-only at most universities. Some offer Spring PhD intake if a supervisor has funding available. Email potential supervisors 6-9 months ahead to confirm.
- Chinese language program intake — March + summer + September (most flexible). Many universities offer rolling admissions for language programs with start dates every few months.
- Summer school / short-term programs — June-August. Separate application process; deadlines typically March-May. Open to currently-enrolled university students.
When in doubt, plan for the September intake. It has the most programs, the most scholarships, and the broadest range of supervisor availability. Use the March intake as a backup plan if September applications don't land.
September 2027 intake deadlines — by program type
September is the primary intake at all Chinese universities. Application deadlines vary by program type and university tier. Use this table to plan your application timeline.
| Program type | Earliest deadline | Latest deadline | Recommended timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (English-medium) | Nov 2026 (rolling) | Aug 2027 (mid-tier) | Apply by Mar 2027 |
| Bachelor's (Chinese-medium) | Nov 2026 (rolling) | Jul 2027 | Apply by Feb 2027 |
| Master's (English-medium) | Nov 2026 (rolling) | Aug 2027 (mid-tier) | Apply by Feb 2027 |
| Master's (thesis track) | Dec 2026 | Apr 2027 (most selective) | Apply by Jan 2027 |
| Master's (research grant positions) | Open year-round | Position filled | Email supervisor 6-9mo ahead |
| PhD (English-medium) | Dec 2026 | Apr 2027 (most selective) | Apply by Jan 2027 |
| PhD (with supervisor pre-match) | Open year-round | Until position filled | Email supervisor 9-12mo ahead |
| MBBS / Clinical Medicine | Nov 2026 | Jun 2027 | Apply by Mar 2027 |
| Chinese Language (1-year) | Open year-round | ~2 weeks before start | Apply 6-8 weeks ahead |
| CSC scholarship (parallel) | Jan 2027 | Apr 2027 (varies by channel) | Apply by mid-Mar 2027 |
Practical advice: for the most selective universities (Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, USTC), submit your PhD/master's thesis-track application by January 2027 for September intake. After March, admission slots fill up and remaining spots go to later-round applicants.
Bachelor's applicants targeting CSC or universities that require the CSCA: November registration closed on 21 Oct 2026; next sittings 19–20 Dec 2026 and 23–24 Jan 2027. Sit December 2026 or January 2027 so the score exists before January-April 2027 scholarship deadlines. Full calendar: https://cscaprep.academy/exam-dates
March 2027 intake deadlines — by program type
March intake is offered at many Chinese universities, concentrated in master's and Chinese-language programs. PhD and bachelor's March intake is rare.
| Program type | Typical deadline | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Language (1-year / 1-semester) | Nov-Dec 2026 | Widely offered | Most flexible intake |
| Master's (English-medium, coursework) | Sep-Dec 2026 | Many universities | Check program-by-program |
| Master's (thesis track) | Sep-Nov 2026 | Subset of universities | Stronger at well-ranked universities |
| Master's (research grant positions) | Open year-round | If supervisor has funding | Contact the supervisor directly |
| Bachelor's (Chinese-medium) | Oct-Dec 2026 | Limited | Varies by university |
| Bachelor's (English-medium) | Rare | Very limited | Most English-medium bachelor's are Fall only |
| PhD (with funded position) | Open year-round | Limited | Pre-match with supervisor required |
| Short-term certificate programs | Rolling | Varies | Often 3-6 month programs |
| Summer school | Mar-May 2027 | Varies | June-August 2027 start |
For the March 2027 intake, plan 6-9 months ahead: applications open around March-April 2026, peak in September-October 2026, and close by November-December 2026. Late applications (December) go to less-selective slots.
Application preparation timeline (12/9/6/3 months out)
Use this month-by-month checklist to plan your application. The same timeline works for Fall or Spring intake — just shift the dates by 6 months.
| Months out | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Shortlist 5-10 target universities + programs | Target list |
| 12 months | Take language test (IELTS/TOEFL/HSK) | Test scores by month 9 |
| 9 months | Draft personal statement / study plan / research proposal | First draft ready |
| 9 months | Request recommendation letters | Letters ready by month 7 |
| 6 months | Refine personal statement + study plan (per program) | Tailored 3-5 versions |
| 6 months | Begin CSC scholarship search if pursuing | CSC sub-program identified |
| 6 months | Contact potential PhD supervisors | Email exchanges begin |
| 3-4 months | Finalize supervisor pre-match (PhD) | Confirmed match |
| 3 months | Submit university applications (first wave) | First admits by month 1 |
| 3 months | Submit CSC scholarship application | CSC under review |
| 2 months | Submit university applications (second wave) | Most admits decided |
| 2 months | Prepare for interview (PhD/master's thesis) | Research presentation |
| 1-2 months | Receive admission + funding offers | Decide + confirm |
| 1-2 months | Apply for X1 visa | Visa in hand |
| 2-4 weeks | Book travel + dorm | Move-in date set |
| 0 | Arrive in China + orientation | Begin program |
Intake windows across SICA partner universities
Live view of the intake periods SICA partner universities currently advertise. Use it to see which September / March / rolling windows are open right now.
| Intake | Start | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August (fall); January (spring) | August (fall); January (spring) | Active | Annual |
| September | September | Active | Annual |
| September (Fall) | September (Fall) | Active | Annual |
| September (Fall), March (Spring) | September (Fall), March (Spring) | Active | Annual |
| September (main); February (limited for some programs) | September (main); February (limited for some programs) | Active | Annual |
| September (main); February (limited) | September (main); February (limited) | Active | Annual |
| September (main); February/March (limited) | September (main); February/March (limited) | Active | Annual |
| September (main); March (limited) | September (main); March (limited) | Active | Annual |
Intake windows change through the year as universities open and close application periods — if you don't see your target intake here, contact SICA for the latest opening dates + deadlines.
Rolling admissions + late-application strategy
If you've missed the standard Fall/Spring intake deadlines, you still have options. Many Chinese universities accept rolling admissions through the summer for September intake, especially at less-selective schools.
- Rolling admissions — many universities (especially at the tier-2/3 level) accept applications on a rolling basis from November through August for September intake. Acceptance probability decreases over time as slots fill, but a strong application in June-July can still land at universities ranked 50-300 in China.
- Spring intake backup — if Fall intake is full at top-5 universities, pivot to less-selective programs + Spring intake. Spring intake is more flexible and accepts later applications than Fall.
- Language program bridge — enroll in a 1-year Chinese language program (Spring or Fall intake, rolling admissions). During the language year, prepare and apply for a degree program starting the following September.
- Master's thesis-track research grants — universities continuously fund research-grant positions as PIs secure new grants. Email supervisors in May-August for Fall intake — funded positions can open mid-summer.
- PhD late applications — not recommended for top-5 universities (slots filled by April), but possible at tier-2 universities year-round if supervisor has open funded position.
- Apply to 8-12 programs in parallel — strong backup strategy. Most successful international students apply to 3-5 top-choice + 3-5 mid-tier + 2-3 safety schools in the same intake.
Late applications (after May for Fall intake) accept only at universities ranked 50+ in China, and admission becomes increasingly conditional (higher language requirements, less scholarship funding). For competitive programs + scholarships, plan ahead.
When to apply for scholarships
Most scholarships track the Fall (September) intake deadline cycle. Spring scholarships exist but are less common. Plan scholarship applications 6-9 months ahead of your target intake.
| Scholarship | Sept intake deadline | March intake deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC scholarship | Jan-Apr (varies) | Aug-Oct (varies) | Most prestigious; bachelor's needs CSCA |
| University-specific waivers | Rolling (apply early) | Rolling | Often automatic with admission |
| Provincial government scholarships | Mar-May | Sep-Nov | Region-specific |
| Confucius Institute Scholarship | Open year-round | Open year-round | 1-year Chinese language |
| Home country government scholarships | Varies by country | Varies | Fulbright, DAAD, Commonwealth, etc. |
| External international foundations | Jan-Apr | Jul-Oct | Varies by foundation |
Practical advice: CSC and provincial government scholarships share the September intake cycle (apply January-April). If you miss the Fall scholarship cycle, the March intake has fewer scholarship opportunities but more relaxed admissions at some programs.
How to plan your application timeline
- 1
Identify your target intake (Fall vs Spring)
Fall (September) intake has the most programs + most scholarships. Spring (March) intake is the backup if Fall applications don't land. PhD applicants: target Fall only (Spring PhD intake is rare). Master's: most programs accept both.
- 2
Set the application timeline 9-12 months out
Working backward from your target intake: September 2027 intake → start prep now (October 2026). March 2027 intake → prep should already be underway (started by June 2026). The 12-month horizon covers language test prep, document gathering, supervisor matching (PhD), and statement drafting.
- 3
Take the language test 6-9 months before applying
IELTS 5.5-6.5+ / TOEFL 60-90+ for English-medium programs. HSK 4+ for Chinese-medium. Book your test 9 months out to allow retake if needed. Most programs accept scores within 2 years.
- 4
Shortlist 5-10 target universities + programs
Use /universities and /programs to filter by discipline, degree, language, city. Verify each program's intake + deadline on the university's international student office website. Build a spreadsheet: university, program, deadline, language, scholarship availability, city tier, tuition.
- 5
Draft personal statement + study plan (6 months out)
500-1,500 words: why China, why this program, why this university, career goals. Specific to each target university (mention faculty, labs, facilities). PhD applicants: also draft a 1,500-3,000 word research proposal.
- 6
Request recommendation letters (6-9 months out)
Academic referees (PhD: research supervisors; master's: professors) + work referees (master's thesis-track: supervisor; MBA: manager). Provide each referee with: your CV, the program's research areas, the specific letter requirements (1-2 pages). Allow 4-6 weeks for letter writing.
- 7
Contact potential PhD supervisors (9-12 months out)
PhD + thesis-track master's admission depends on supervisor pre-match. Email 5-10 potential supervisors with: CV, research interests, a research-proposal sketch. Iterate based on replies. Confirm supervisor pre-match 3-4 months before deadline.
- 8
Submit university applications + CSC scholarship in parallel
For Fall intake: submit university applications November-March (rolling + early-deadline universities); submit CSC by mid-March. For Spring intake: submit university applications July-September; submit CSC by mid-October. Apply to 3-5 top-choice + 3-5 mid-tier + 2-3 safety schools.
Book a free 10-minute consultation
Talk to a SICA admissions counsellor on Zoom, WhatsApp, or WeChat (Beijing time) — get a straight answer on your universities, scholarships, and the CSCA before you commit to anything.