With a view to promoting the human resource development and capacity building of developing countries and to enhancing international exchanges in the fields of education, culture, communication, science, and technology and the friendship among peoples of the world, UNESCO and the Government of the People’s Republic of China will co-sponsor a total number of seventy-five (75) fellowships for advanced studies in various fields, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, during the academic year 2025-2026. Among these fellowships, twenty-seven (27) vacancies will be open for new recruitment of candidates from 135 developing member states in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Arab region. The 2026-2027 edition is now open for applications.

ELIGIBILITY:

Candidates must be nationals of the above-mentioned invited Member States, fulfilling the following requirements:

Meeting the eligibility requirements in age, language and academic qualifications for the chosen study programme:

One-year Visiting Scholar Programmes

Candidates applying for General Scholar Programmes must hold a high school diploma and should not be older than the age of forty-five (45); whereas those who apply for Senior Scholar Programmes must hold a master’s degree or an associate professor position (or above) and not be older than the age of fifty (50).

English proficiency is required. For a candidate applying for a Chinese-taught programme as General or Senior visiting scholar, her/is Chinese proficiency must reach HSK Level 3.

Degree Programmes

Candidates applying for Master’s Degree Programmes must hold a bachelor’s degree and should not be older than the age of thirty-five (35), whereas those who apply for Doctoral Degree Programmes must hold a master’s degree and should not be older than the age of forty (40).

English proficiency is required. For a candidate applying for a Chinese-taught degree programme, her/is Chinese proficiency must reach HSK Level 4.

Meeting the admission requirements of the applied universities in terms of academic ability, language proficiency, and other relevant criteria.

Be in good health, both mentally and physically.

Candidates should submit their applications to the National Commission of their home countries no later than Friday, 23 January 2026.

Official nominations should be submitted by the National Commissions of invited Member States by Tuesday, 10 February 2026.

Given the high priority that UNESCO places on Gender Equality, Africa and SIDS, women candidates and candidates from Africa and SIDS are strongly encouraged to apply. 

BENEFIT:

Fully Funded