Chinese government scholarships for Kenyans: what the Ministry of Education required in the round that closed on 28 November 2025

In the round that closed on 28 November 2025, Kenyan applicants for a Chinese government scholarship had to go through the Ministry of Education's preliminary selection first, then apply online to the China Scholarship Council at www.campuschina.org. The Ministry's call told them to send it a Standard Scholarship Application Form, a medical form and certified copies of their documents by 5:00 pm on 28 November 2025.

That call came from the State Department for Higher Education after the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Kenya told the Ministry of 10 Chinese government scholarships for Kenyan students in the 2026/2027 academic year. They cover undergraduate, master's and PhD study at Chinese universities. As of 3 November 2026 the Ministry had posted no Chinese government scholarship notice for the 2027/2028 year on its circulars and guidelines page.

The Ministry is the dispatching agent for the scholarships, and every applicant must go through its preliminary selection. Its September 2026 guide, "How to Apply for a Government Scholarship", says open scholarships are listed on www.education.go.ke under Services, then Scholarship.

The requirements below are those of the 2026/2027 call, for study starting in September 2026, in three parts: who could apply, language and tests, and the steps. The Ministry's September 2026 guide says applications are due "on the date stated on the advert" and that age limits may vary by scholarship.

Who could apply. Undergraduates needed a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of at least B (Plain), the original KCSE certificate, strong grades in the subjects key to the chosen field, and secondary school completed in the last three years. They had to be no older than 25. Master's applicants needed a bachelor's degree of at least Second Class Upper Division and had to be under 35. PhD applicants needed a relevant master's degree from a recognised university and had to be under 40.

Language and tests. Chinese-taught undergraduate and general scholar programmes required HSK Level 3, the Chinese proficiency test; Chinese-taught master's and doctoral programmes required HSK Level 4. Those studying the Chinese language were exempt. Bachelor's applicants also had to take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and upload the score report. For entry in September 2026 the sittings were 21 December 2025 and 25 January 2026. Candidates the Ministry nominated were to sit a written examination and an interview organised by the Chinese Embassy.

The steps, in order:

1. Create an account on www.campuschina.org, click Scholarship Application for Students, choose programme category Type A and enter Agency Number 4041. Universities and courses are listed at www.campuschina.org/universities/index.html.
2. Upload the application form for the Chinese Government Scholarship; the passport home page, valid beyond 1 March 2027; notarised certificates and transcripts in English or Chinese; language certificates (HSK, or for programmes not taught in Chinese a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, as the university requires); the CSCA report for bachelor's applicants; pre-admission documents from the universities applied to; a study plan or research proposal of at least 200 words for undergraduates and 800 words for postgraduates; and a Certificate of Good Conduct. Postgraduate applicants add two recommendation letters from a professor or associate professor.
3. Collect the Foreigner Physical Examination Form from the Directorate of Higher Education, Room 2701, and have a medical practitioner fill it in. Keep the original and submit a copy.
4. Send or deliver to the Ministry, together with the CSC application form, the Standard Scholarship Application Form (downloadable from www.education.go.ke), the completed medical form, certified copies of ID, academic and professional certificates, transcripts, birth certificate, passport and other testimonials, and, for postgraduates, the study plan and recommendation letters.

The Ministry's address for step 4 is The Director, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Telposta Towers, P O Box 9583 – 00200, Nairobi. Papers can also be delivered to Telposta Towers, 27th Floor, Room 2701.

Academic certificates from foreign institutions of higher learning must be recognised by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Uploaded documents must be clear, authentic and valid.

The Ministry's contacts are Jogoo House "B", Taifa Road, P.O. Box 30040-00100, Nairobi, and [email protected].