Canadian-Funded Scholar Exchange Program in Canada Requires Support for Chinese Regime

The link to the Chinese governmental agency’s website specifying these requirements for the current academic year is prominently featured on the website of the Canadian agency in charge of promoting the program, as of this writing. The Canadian government issued a notice about this year’s program earlier this month.

On the Chinese side, the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program is managed by the Chinese Scholarship Council, an agency under China’s Ministry of Education that oversees international academic exchanges. On the Canadian side, the program is administered by the Canadian Embassy in Beijing and promoted by EduCanada, a federal organization under Global Affairs Canada that collaborates with the provinces to help international students looking to study in Canada.

Under the program, which usually lasts four to 12 months, candidates are placed as visiting scholars in programs at Canadian universities without formal enrollment. From the Canadian side, candidates receive $2,200 per month in living expenses and are provided health-care coverage. The Chinese side foots the bill for the flight and travel expenses as well as visa application fees.

In its “Selection Notice“ for the 2024-2025 academic year of the program, the Chinese Scholarship Council outlines several requirements for applicants. These include upholding academic standards and ethics, being of good physical and mental health, being less than 50 years old, intending to return to China to put acquired skills to use, and committing to support the CCP’s ideals.

“[Candidates should] support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, love the motherland, have good moral character, abide by laws and regulations, have a sense of responsibility to serve the country, serve the society, and serve the people, and have a correct world outlook, outlook on life, and values,” the website says in Chinese.

The Canadian government sent out the notice about this year’s program on April 9.