International students awarded Chinese Government Scholarships are receiving increased financial support following a change in the way the system works.

The ministries of finance and education announced last month that the amount paid to an undergraduate has been increased to a maximum of 66,200 yuan ($10,660) a year. Master's students receive up to 79,200 yuan, while doctoral students collect up to 99,800 yuan.

The Ministry of Education said the new financial support standard applies to all scholarship recipients who have been studying in China since September, and arrears will be paid to reflect the increase.

However, many universities have not yet taken any action in response to the change because of the winter holiday, which lasts from January to March.

Previously, those awarded scholarships usually received free tuition, accommodations, textbooks and sometimes flight tickets, and were given a monthly stipend ranging from 1,400 yuan to 2,000 yuan.

The increase was prompted by a number of factors, including the rising costs borne by Chinese higher education institutes that receive international students, the ministries said.

The new standard divides scholarship holders into three types according to their majors: students majoring in philosophy, economics, the law, pedagogy, the liberal arts or management; those specializing in science, engineering or agriculture; and those studying literary theory or medicine.

The level of support students receive varies depending on their major and stage of learning.

Universities will keep some of the money to pay for tuition, accommodations and medical insurance, and give some to students each month to cover their living expenses. The latter amount ranges from 2,500 to 3,500 yuan a month after the increase.

Shao Jiani, who is in charge of recruitment and management for the scholarship program at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said the school was aware of the change but had not received any details.

"I believe more information will come after the new semester begins in March," she said.

Sun Yuhong, deputy director of the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank in Beijing, welcomed the increase.

"The CCG has been calling for an increase in the financial support standard for some time, but we didn't expect the change to come so soon," she said.

"The increase will definitely attract and encourage more international students and young scholars to study or carry out research in China, which will in turn promote the development of many fields of study in China."

(China Daily 02/27/2015 page6)