American Short-Term Study in China Initiative
ASSCI provides funding and support through AASCU and the Embassy of China to facilitate partnership building through institutional based faculty-led study abroad programs in China.
Apply by Oct. 31.
ASSCI supports faculty-led study abroad programs.
The American Short-Term Study in China Initiative (ASSCI) is a scholarship program offered by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America and administered by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The scholarship will support students enrolled in institutional-based, faculty-led study abroad programs in China. Faculty members with existing China study abroad programs, faculty interested to adding a study abroad component to a pre-existing course, or faculty interested in developing a program for studying abroad in China, are encouraged to submit a funding proposal.
Who should participate?
- Faculty from accredited U.S. institutions
- Faculty from all disciplines interested in adding a study abroad component to their course /curriculum
- Faculty members with existing study abroad programs with Chinese institutions
- Faculty members interested in creating study abroad programs, but require assistance to identify matching partners
How will you benefit?
- Scholarship support for students’ expenses in China
- Support for identifying Chinese university partners and developing robust academic exchange programs
- Opportunity to partner with an extensive range of Chinese institutions
- Opportunities for U.S. faculty to teach abroad
Applying to ASSCI.
Proposals should be submitted by faculty on U.S. campuses, with support from the provost, along with accompanying approval and signatures from the individual responsible for study abroad programs on each campus.
The ASSCI program focuses on joint efforts between U.S. and Chinese partner institutions. Chinese partners must be Double First-Class universities. AASCU can assist with identifying Chinese institutional partners. Applicants requiring assistance with identifying a partner to apply for the scholarship should indicate this when completing the application form.
Proposals will be accepted through October 31. Submitted proposals will be reviewed and rated by the selection committee organized by AASCU and recommended to the Chinese Embassy for approval. Applicants will be notified by December 15.
- Program fee, AASCU member: Fee waived
- Program fee, non-AASCU member: $1000
Approved program will be funded to cover the following items at a rate* of RMB 2500 per student per month:
- Tuition at the Chinese institution
- On-campus accommodation
- Health insurance during program stay in China
*If the program is designed to be less than one month in duration, the fund will be reduced in proportion to the number of program days.
The funded program does NOT cover:
- Faculty-related expenses
- Tuition at the US institution
- Airfare and other travel expenses to China
- China visa application fees
Applicant must be a:
- Faculty in any discipline who teaches a course that requires students to study abroad in China
- Faculty who are interested in developing a course for students to study abroad in China
The proposal must meet the following requirements:
- Co-designed and co-taught with a Chinese partner institution, with at least 50 percent of the content delivered by the Chinese partner on-site in China
- Offers academic credits for all the students
- Has a duration of no less than two weeks and no longer than three months in China
- Starts no earlier than May 15 and no later than September 1, 2026
- Minimum enrollment of 6 students
- Maximum enrollment of 30 students
- Each partnership needs to submit a proposal which meets the requirement above, i.e. if you are working with more than one Chinese partner institution, a separate proposal for each partnership needs to be submitted respectively.
The selection committee will use several criteria when reviewing applications:
- The proposed program will be measured for clarity of learning goals and the extent to which the program’s activities contribute to those goals.
- The proposed program includes faculty leadership at the US institution.
- The proposed program uses the resources of the Chinese partner, such as academic strengths, location in China, and connections outside the institution.
- The proposed program involves students from the Chinese partner institution.
Complete and submit the Proposal Form, Nomination Form, and Institutional Approval Form before October 31, 2025.
- Submitted proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee comprising Chinese embassy staff, AASCU staff, and non-applicant faculty who have led past faculty-led programs in China. The Chinese Embassy will finalize the approval and send notice to AASCU.
- Applicants will be notified by December 15, 2025.
- Once an American institution has received notification of its successful application, the applicant will need to work together with the Chinese partner on student visa and logistics required by both institutions.
- Faculty-led group study abroad in China will take place from May to September 2026.
Instructions for students who are admitted in a study abroad in China program on your campus and the teaching faculty will work with you to fill out the ASSCI scholarship application.
ASSCI application instructions. Student Visa Application and Process Instructions. China Visa Application Information.Visit the China Scholarship Council website for more information about the scholorship.
China Scholarship Council.
Proposals and nominations are due on October 31, 2025.
If you have questions, please contact Sufei Li.
Frequently asked questions
The approved program in China will be funded for tuition cost, room and board (at a rate of 2500RMB per student) and health insurance (400RMB-800RMB). The total payment will depend on the length of the program.
You will need to work with both your home institution and your Chinese institutional partner to build a budget for your program. We suggest that you complete this as early as possible. If you already have a Chinese partner in mind, you should work with your partner to prepare a budget before submitting it to AASCU. If your program includes extra activities like field trips or tourism, please discuss on how to best cover the additional expenses with your partner.
Yes, as long as your Chinese partner agrees to host your students at that time. However, please be aware that the funding is approved annually, so the earliest time to receive funds is likely to be summer 2026.
Yes. You will need to state that you have no partner and you’re requesting assistance in the proposal form. AASCU will work with the Chinese embassy to find a matching partner for the program. Once you accept our recommendation and work out the articulation plan with the recommended partner, we will continue to work on your application for funding.
Once your proposal is approved, all students registered for the course are qualified to apply. However, the student applicant must be a full-time student who is not a Chinese citizen.
Yes. You need to apply for the program every year. If nothing has changed in your approved program, you can renew it by emailing Lis@aascu.org with your name, institution, program title, and number of students. If there are any changes, like new faculty, course updates, or different teaching methods, you must submit a new proposal. Students also need to apply for the CSC scholarship online each year to receive funding.
Only eligible students can apply for the scholarship. The leading faculty member is responsible for all of their personal expenses, including international travel, room, and board in China. It is possible that your partner university will be able to cover room and board. However, these costs are not considered part of the scholarship program.
There are no limits and restrictions for institutions, but language training programs will not be prioritized. We welcome faculty members in any major as long as the proposal reflects the goals, and the teaching curriculum involves joint activities of the program that contribute to those goals. Multiple faculty members from one institution could submit individual proposals for separate funding as long as they have partners in China.
Yes. One institute should be the leading institute and sign with the Chinese partner.
Yes. But we will need both forms ready when you start to recruit students.
Have questions about the American Short-Term Study in China Initiative? Let us know.
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