You see “full scholarship” and want to cross study costs off your list. Open the coverage details first. One award may include tuition, housing and a monthly stipend; another may use “full” to describe the first year’s tuition fee alone.
A budget answers two separate questions: what you will pay yourself and what you may need to pay before support arrives. Here is a way to examine an offer without guessing one universal amount for every Chinese city and university. The official examples were checked on 24 October 2026; your own award terms still determine your funding.
Find out what “full” refers to
For example, the China-AUN award for 2026/2027 lists tuition, a university dormitory or accommodation subsidy, a stipend and comprehensive medical insurance. This particular programme is for master’s and doctoral applicants from ASEAN member countries, not every prospective student.
By comparison, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China describes its Nottingham Global Full Scholarship in its undergraduate FAQ as equivalent to the entire first year’s tuition fee. That does not establish coverage for later years, housing or daily spending.
Write down the award’s exact name, intake and funded items. For a Chinese Government Scholarship application, compare the notice for your route, the university’s instructions and your funding decision. A general scholarship page cannot settle every detail of your own offer.
Covered does not always mean cash in your account
A tuition waiver reduces the university bill. A dormitory place provides a particular form of housing. An accommodation subsidy works differently, while a stipend follows its own payment arrangements.
That matters before arrival. If the offer says “subsidy”, ask whether you must pay for housing first, who receives the support and when. If it provides a dormitory, find out which room type is included and whether there are separate charges.
Conditions can differ between residence halls. Ask about the actual building and room you are offered rather than relying on a description of accommodation elsewhere on campus.
Make a list of costs still to check
The rows below are questions for your own offer, not compulsory payments for every scholarship student.
| Item | What to find out |
|---|---|
| Flight and travel to campus | Are tickets included, purchased for you or reimbursed? |
| Documents, translations and exams | What does your application require, and who pays? |
| Visa and arrival procedures | Which costs appear in the instructions for your situation? |
| Moving into accommodation | Is there a deposit, advance payment, bedding or other initial purchase? |
| Food, transport and phone service | Which funds will cover them, and when will those funds be available? |
| Insurance | What are the coverage terms, limits and reimbursement procedures? |
| The following academic year | Does the award continue, and under which renewal conditions? |
Do not assume a flight is included because the scholarship is called full. Find the relevant term or ask for written clarification. Until an unlisted item is resolved, leave room for it in your plan.
Budget separately for the period before the first payment
An award letter may state a monthly stipend without telling you when it will become available after arrival. Ask which steps must happen before the first payment and what timing applies to your circumstances.
Make a short calendar: documents before departure, the ticket, check-in, initial purchases and the expected funding date. Add an amount and a source of confirmation beside each expense. Mark an uncertain date as a question rather than choosing a convenient day.
Consider a planning example: your dormitory is covered, but you do not yet know whether check-in requires a deposit. That remains an unanswered budget item even if you expect the stipend to cover food comfortably. First establish the payment, then calculate how much you need available on arrival.
A normal monthly budget and money for the move serve different purposes. Our guide to planning study and living costs in China provides a broader set of budget categories.
Check how long the support lasts
Find the start and end of the funded period. Is a preparatory year included? What happens during holidays, an interruption of study or an extension? What must you do to keep the award for another year?
For a specific example, Shanghai Maritime University’s Shanghai Government Scholarship guide for the 2026 intake sets out an annual evaluation linked to continued support. That is one programme’s policy. Find the renewal section for your own award.
Before booking the flight, put the confirmed coverage, pre-departure payments, money needed before the first stipend and remaining questions on one page. If an amount or date rests on an assumption, begin with a short enquiry to the university. The reply will make your travel plan much easier to assess.
