Feeling adventurous? Want to discover China for yourself? If you are 16, a British passport holder and are taking GCSEs / N5s or IB in the summer, then a two-year boarding school scholarship at a school in China could be for you. We believe in the potential of young people and, since 2023, we have partnered with a number of international schools in China to provide a life-transforming, unique educational experience that will open up future prospects. Scholars can choose their A-levels from the wide range on offer and participate in activities beyond their dreams.
Engage with China scholarships, founded in 2023 in partnership with International Schools in China have enabled 35 teenagers so far to embark on their A-level studies in China. We are delighted to be working with two additional international schools in China widening the opportunity for young people.
“China is a great country with a longstanding history. It has produced some of the best inventions & works of art. It is a huge power on the world stage. The Engage with China scholarship programme is a unique & tremendous opportunity that will be life-transforming for those young people,”
– Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Patron of Engage with China
WHAT TO EXPECT
Engage with China scholarships provide an A-level boarding school education alongside Chinese peers in international schools in China with all 6th form subjects taught in English. Schools are run by British Headteachers, with native English speaking and bi-lingual pastoral and academic staff. The campuses are new – under 7 years – boasting modern and sophisticated facilities and what you would expect of schools with an international brand name.
“When I received my email offering me a 2024 Engage with China Scholarship to Hangzhou, I knew from that moment that I was in the front seat for an amazing opportunity that would change my life forever. Fast forward 183 days, I am now living in China with other fantastic scholars. I have been given so many opportunities to strive to be the best version of myself … I am so thankful”
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Scholarships are generously funded by our partner schools and generally* include the items listed below. [Please check the final Terms & Conditions from the receiving school before you accept your scholarship place as they may differ].
- 2 x Annual return flights (including at the start and end of the academic year and at Chinese New Year in January or February)
- Meet & greet and transfer from the airport to school
- Boarding accommodation
- Food
- Tuition
- 2 x Extra-curricular activities
- Cultural visits
- Weekly Mandarin lessons
- Uniform
Your parent/carer may be required to pay a deposit to cover incidental expenses (eg for stationary, new shoes, ice creams on outings etc) at the beginning of every academic year.
A-LEVELS / EXTRA-CURRICULAR ON OFFER
The majority of A-level subjects on offer will be in the STEM subjects. Both schools offer the core subjects below:
Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Computer Science, Chinese Language. Chinese lessons will be taught every week to develop your mandarin skills.
Schools also offer a choice of 100+ enrichment activities and clubs during the week so that you can get really stuck into team sports, music and other hobbies and interests.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
If you have read this far and are excited by the opportunity to spend two years in China, then why not consider applying? You do not need to have any mandarin language learning experience (although it may help at the beginning as you make friends and settle in). The transition to life in China will be made straightforward by your host schools but culture shock is real, exacerbated by the time difference and the limited communication with your family back home, food, a different pace of life with long study-filled days, sports and activities at the weekends.
You will need to be outstanding academically (predicted grades 7-9) with the following additional characteristics and skills:
- Sense of adventure
- Independent yet with the desire to be a team-player
- Aspirational and driven
- Desire to immerse yourself in Chinese culture
- Kind and capable of being a good friend
- Willing to make the most of this opportunity
- With a desire to give back and volunteer for EwC / your host school
- Keep yourself to excellent standards of behaviour and are respectful of cultural boundaries
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR SCHOLARS
Engage with China provides the UK- China bridge; it is up to us now to cross it!” Ivan, 2023 scholar
Becoming an Engage with China scholar is a rare privilege. To date, only 35 young people have won this life-changing opportunity from the UK. With so much on offer, we have high expectations of you to:
- make the most of the opportunity and to give back where you can. This may take the form of volunteering in the school (perhaps reading in the kindergarten) or at an Engage with China event back in the UK
- share regular bulletins and photographs with us so that we can celebrate your milestones and support you where issues or concerns arise. We also expect you to adhere to our code of conduct and to that of your receiving school. [Pupil handbooks will be given to each scholar to be signed by them and their parent(s)]
- consider making a donation to support the work of Engage with China as we expand the programme and build an alumni platform to create even more opportunities into the future for you and other fortunate young people. Talk to your parent/carer about this. Perhaps you could run a fundraiser in your ‘sending’ school prior to departure to help you fundraise: this could be staging a concert, doing a sponsored run or organising a clothes swap.
Accepting an Engage with China scholarship is a big commitment, a serious step – but an exciting one. We do expect scholars to stay for the two-year period and to complete their A-levels in China.
This kind of things only happens in the movies. Thank you so much to Engage with China for this amazing opportunity! – Calista A, 2023-25 Scholar
WHAT TO DO NEXT
– Talk to your family. You will be away for the best part of two years. You will experience homesickness and your family will miss you very much
– Consult with your teachers and ask for their support
– Like and follow us on our social media to be notified about the application process, including interview timetable, pre-departure workshops and ‘on-boarding.’
– Consider your family holiday plans. There are two semesters in the Chinese academic year with the Autumn term starting at the end of August with various week-long breaks during the term, including Christmas. Chinese New Year is usually two-three weeks long in January or February and you will likely come back to the UK for that period
– Collate all the required documentation
– Register your interest to apply
Email us to confirm your application, attaching your CV. Email address can be found on the application form.
Keep an eye on our website and social media posts for bulletins and updates about the scholarship application process and deadlines. [ FB, TikTok and LinkedIN @Engage with China]
We look forward to hearing from you and good luck with your China journey! 加油！
Engage with China 