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.
Contact us.
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 recognized by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) [Search Universities & Regions_Universities & Programs_留学中国 (campuschina.org)]. 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 November 1. Submitted proposals will be reviewed and rated by the Selection Committee organized by the Chinese Embassy and recommended to CSC for approval. Applicants will be notified by December 15.
- Program fee, AASCU member: Fee waived
- Program fee, non-AASCU member: $1000
Students in the program will be eligible to receive the ASSCI scholarship. The scholarship covers the following expenses for each participating student:
- Tuition at the Chinese institution
- On-campus accommodation
- Health insurance
- Monthly stipend
The scholarship 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 course must meet the following requirements:
- Co-designed and co-taught with a Chinese partner institution, with at least 50% 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 one academic year in China
- Minimum enrollment of six students
- Maximum enrollment of 30 students
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 and Nomination Form before November 1, 2024
- Submitted proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee comprising Chinese embassy staff, AASCU staff, and selected faculty who have led past faculty-led programs in China. They will then recommend proposals to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for approval.
- Applicants will be notified by Dec. 15, 2024.
- Once an American institution has received notification of its successful application, participating students, under the supervision of the leading American faculty, will complete individual scholarship applications on the CSC website during Jan.–March 2025.
- Faculty-led group study abroad in China, May–July 2025.
Visit the China Scholarship Council website for more information about the scholarship.
China Scholarship Council
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.
Applications are officially closed.
If you would like to be considered for the next program cycle, please contact Sufei Li.
Frequently asked questions
Faculty in any discipline can apply for the ASSCI program. The students in the program are qualified to apply for the scholarship automatically once the program is approved.
The scholarship for each student covers tuition paid to the Chinese partner institution, accommodations, a monthly stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance. The value of each scholarship for a four-week program could be approximately $10,000 or more.
Part of the scholarship, such as tuition fees, accommodation fees, and comprehensive medical insurance, goes to the host university directly. The student receives a monthly stipend upon arriving at the Chinese campus.
- ￥2500 per month for undergraduate students
- ￥3000 per month for master’s students
- ￥3500 per month for doctoral students
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.
You will need to renew your program with the embassy if there is no change to the previously approved program. The renewal process is simple. The purpose of renewal is for the embassy to have a record of the program each year. If there are changes at the partner institutions in China, such as different teaching faculty, altered course description or delivery methods, etc., you will need to submit a new proposal for approval. Your students will also need to apply for the scholarships through CSC’s online application every year to participate and receive the scholarships.
Only eligible students can apply for the scholarship. The leading faculty member is responsible for all the 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. 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.
Have questions about the American Short-Term Study in China Initiative? Let us know.
"*" indicates required fields
