Dear Colleagues

The International Scholarships Directorate is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Chinese-Government Short-Term Training Programmes scheduled for July 2026.

The Chinese short-term training programmes are fully funded monthly capacity building opportunities offered by the Chinese Government to public officials in South Africa and other eligible countries in various fields of study under the Economic & Commercial Office HR Development Cooperation Programmes. These training seminars are provided on a continuous basis for a period of at least a week to three weeks in China (Offline) or virtually (Online) depending on the seminars on offer.

Participation on the training seminars will be fully sponsored by the Chinese Government through the training organizers. The organizers will be responsible for the expenses of the training programme including return flights, ground transport in China, accommodation, accidental insurance, medical assistance for acute diseases (chronic diseases excluded) and a daily living allowance for the duration of the training programme. Prospective applicants through their respective Directorates/Branches (on approval) will be responsible for costs for the medical tests, visa related costs for officials travelling on ordinary passports, local airport transfers, flight rescheduling fees and personal incidental costs during the training programmes in China.

Officials are encouraged to submit application documents as soon as possible as these programmes fill up fast.

The application documents including the list of the limited training programmes for July 2026 are attached for your consideration.

The eligibility criteria of the programme is determined by the Chinese government.

 Who can apply?

1. These programmes are open only to individuals currently employed. Applications from students will not be accepted.
2. Programmes are intended primarily for government officials, researchers, and similar professionals.
3. Age limitations - under 45 for officials at or under the director’s level and under 50 for officials at the Director and above.
4. In good health with a health certificate issued by the local public hospitals/recognised medical practitioner without diseases with which entry to China is disallowed by China’s laws and regulations (please familiarise yourself with excluded conditions and use the attached physical examination form).
5. Recommendation letters must be signed by an official at the Director level or above. Letters signed by a Deputy Director or Acting Director will not be accepted. If the Director is unavailable, please seek the signature of the Chief Director.
6. To ensure that all participants can complete the training safely and smoothly, the Embassy is unable to consider applicants with certain long-term or transmissible health conditions, even if these are under control.
7. Officials MUST apply for courses that will directly contribute to their personal development and/or the Department’s and broader Post School Education and Training Sector’s objectives. The Embassy reserves the right to decide if you are eligible for the seminar that you are applying for.

NB: Please note that previous participants will not be given priority. The final decision regarding enrolment rests solely with the Embassy, and no appeals will be considered.

How to apply?

To apply for any of the training programmes, officials need to discuss the desired training programme with their manager and/or branch head to secure permission to apply. Colleagues may apply for up to three (3) programmes. Following the provisional approval by manager/branch head, applicants must complete the attached information form of participant (If applying for more than one programme, colleagues can list all programmes on the Name of the seminar/training course section according to priority), visit a medical facility for the practitioner to complete the foreigner physical examination form and attach the blood/physical tests report, attach a passport copy and the signed recommendation letter by manager and/or branch head.

Submission of documents

Kindly note that the Chinese Embassy has new requirements for submitting documents, the application documents must be submitted in the format below in their separate scanned documents.

The Directorate will only submit fully completed forms with all supporting documents which contain the following:

1. Fully completed information form of participant (scanned separately and named accordingly)
2. Fully completed foreigner physical examination form not older than 3 months from the date of visit by a registered medical officer/practitioner. (scanned together with the blood tests results/xray/ECG and named accordingly)
3. A passport copy (scanned separately and named accordingly)
4. Recommendation letter (signed by Director or higher-level management) (scanned separately and named accordingly)
5. Complete your details in the List of Participant template and send as excel document. Please make sure you complete the template in the format that is required.
6. Employment contract/letter for Interns.

All the above documents must be emailed to BilateralSeminars@Dhet.gov.za for onward transmission to the Chinese Embassy. The information provided upon application will be treated sensitively and in confidence, as such do not copy any other email address except the BilateralSeminars@Dhet.gov.za mailbox.

All applications must be submitted as per the due dates stipulated in Programme List (excel sheet). Late applications will not be considered. Timeous submission of applications does not guarantee a spot. Applications will be treated on a first come first served basis.

All successful participants will be required to submit a short report on return. The template will be shared with officials upon their return from China.

The International Scholarships Directorate is available to provide guidance to the nominees on the process if required.

Enquiries:

Ms Shumani Nelufule – 012 312 5278

BilateralSeminars@Dhet.gov.za