Each year, the People's Republic of China offers numerous Scholarships for tertiary education, vocational training, as well as professional development seminars to a number of Bahamians. Through these various offerings, many Bahamians are able to benefit from advanced education and training in China. Technical Assistance offered by the PRC to The Bahamas is administered through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which publishes all scholarship and training opportunities. Chinese Scholarships 2015 - 2016 At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a notification advising that the Government of China has invited Bahamian nationals to submit applications to become recipients of scholarships to study or continue studies in China for the next academic year. Scholarships for this academic year have been awarded. Before submitting an application, interested persons should review the Ministry's brochure "Bahamian Studying in China Guide" by clicking "Documents", which is also available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) receptionist desk. The Ministry encourages only serious applicants to apply. As the deadline for the submission of scholarship applications changes yearly, prospective applicants should contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the deadline for 2015 scholarship applications. Application Criteria & Eligibility - Bahamian Nationals - In Good Health - Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.00 or above - Willing to study in Chinese at any University chosen by the Chinese Government - Applications for the Bachelor's Degree should be 25 years or younger - Applicants for the Master's Degree should be under the age of 35, and have a Bachelor's Degree - Applicants for the Doctoral Degree should be under the age of 40 You may visit the following website for additional information on the Chinese Government scholarship: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua Scholarship Benefits - Full scholarship tuition inclusive of room and board, medical insurance, textbooks and monthly living allowance. - Roundtrip economy-class tickets to China and from China (upon graduation) Application Proceedures All interested persons may complete the scholarship application form online at: http://laihua.csc.edu.cn When completing the application form, the agency number 0441. The agency name is: Embassy of P.R. China in Bahamas. Preferences of Chinese University must be included on application form. You may visit the following websites to facilitate your search for a Chinese University: http://en.csc.edu.cn/laihua and http://www.cucas.edu.cn For additional information, please feel free to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Technical Assistance Division via telephone at 1-242-356-5956/502-0013/27 or email charmainemckenzie@bahamas.gov.bs and c.c. copies of emails to frankdavis@bahamas.gov.bs. Completed applications, in triplicate, are to be delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Technical Assistance Division by 6 March, 2015. The following application documents should be submitted to the Ministry for processing: - Copy of US visitors/transit visa (if applicable) - Copy of relevant passport pages - 4 passport photos - Original application form for Foreign Students Scholarship (in triplicate) - Study or research plan (1,000 words or more, in triplicate) - Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form (in triplicate). (Applicants should keep original) - Three (3) letters of recommendation from professors (in triplicate) - Copy of diploma of most advanced studies (notarized and in triplicate) - Applicants for music studies and fine arts must submit a CD of their own work. Fine arts submissions should include two (2) sketches, two (2) color paintings and two (2) other works. General Application Process - Applicant completes Chinese scholarship application online. - Applicant submits completed application with supporting documents (in triplicate) to MFA by the published deadline. - MFA forwards applications to the Chinese Embassy, who in turn forward the applications to China for consideration. - The Chinese Embassy notifies MFA of the successful scholarship recipients typically around the 1st week of August each year. Application Instructions STEP 1: Log on to http://laihua.csc.edu.cn. The applicants should register for a username and password before logging on. STEP 2: After logging on to the system, please read the "ONLINE APPLICATION GUIDANCE" and follow the steps. STEP 3: Click the button "NEXT" and select the scholarship you want to apply for. (Please select the Chinese Government Scholarship, unless you are applying for the other Cooperation Programme Scholarship). STEP 4: Please note that the "AGENCY NO." is one of the most crucial parts of your online application. It is listed in the first blank under the "PERSONAL DATA". Please make sure that you fill it in correctly, otherwise you will not be able to continue your online application. Your "AGENCY NO" is 0441. STEP 5: Please fill in the online application form truthfully, correctly and completely following the steps listed on the left of the page. The applications are required to select the disciplines before choosing their majors. For inquires about the disciplines and majors, please refer to the "Disciplines Index", which can be downloaded from "HELP". STEP 6: Preview the application form after completion, and submit it online. STEP 7: Please download the finished application form by clicking the button "DOWNLOAD APPLICATION" and print it out. STEP 8: Please prepare other supporting documents as required, and submit the full package of application documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Technical Assistance Division in triplicate.