Great Britain China Educational Trust

The Great Britain-China Educational Trust (GBCET) is a registered charity (no.269944) administered by the Great Britain-China Centre. The Trust was set up in 1975 with proceeds from The Genius of China exhibition held at the Royal Academy in 1974.

The GBCET Trustees meet twice a year, in spring and autumn, to discuss support for:


Spring Meeting 2024

The spring meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th April 2024.

The call for applications opens on Monday 1st January 2024.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 10th March 2024 @ 23:59hrs UK time.

Autumn Meeting 2024

The autumn meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th November 2024.

The call for applications opens on Monday 19th August 2024.

The deadline for applications is Friday 18th October 2024 @ 23:59hrs UK time.


Chinese Students Awards

Awards are granted up to £3,000 but the most common amount awarded is between £1,500-£2,000.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Chinese nationality (from the PRC inc. Hong Kong) studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university. Students must have started their third year before they are eligible to submit their application.
  • Applicants must have attended at least one institution of higher education in China.
  • Students may apply twice for the award, but must wait a year before trying again. Successful awardees cannot apply again. Awards are not renewable.

The Trustees will not consider applications from:

  • Undergraduates, or postgraduates enrolled on a taught course e.g. MA & MSc, or students requiring funding for the first two years of a PhD.
  • Chinese nationals attending or giving papers at conferences, conducting fieldwork or taking research trips

The Trustees will also not consider requests for funding intended for research materials (e.g. books, lab equipment, software). The awards are meant to contribute towards applicants’ university tuition fees, and living expenses.

The HTML documents will open in the browser, and the word documents will download automatically once you click on them.

Instructions for Chinese Student Award Application (Word)

Chinese Student Award Application Form (Word)

Supervisors Comments Form (Word)


Small Grants for British PhDs Researching China 

This award is intended for British PhD students who need a top-up grant to help them through the final stages of their degree, especially during the writing-up period.

British PhD China Research Grant Guidelines and Instructions (Word)

British PhD China Research Grant Application Form (Word)

British PhD China Research Grant Supervisor Comments Form (Word)


Chinese Language Awards

Awards are granted normally up to £2,000 each.

Eligibility requirements:

  • British nationality postgraduate students (in any subject) who are normally resident in the UK and enrolled in a British university.
  • Candidates must be seeking funding for the study of the Chinese language (spoken or written) as a taught element of their degree OR for Chinese language training which is not built in to their degree but which would aid their research, e.g. PhD courses. In the latter case, funding is considered for British PhD students giving conference papers in China, or travelling to China to pursue essential doctoral research.
  • Applicants whose principle degree course does not include language training as integral to the course (usually PhD courses) must also provide proof of enrolment on to a language course.
  • Language instruction will be undertaken in Britain, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Singapore.
  • British nationality students enrolled on a postgraduate course in a PRC, Hong Kong, or Taiwanese university will be considered but preference will be given to applicants enrolled and based at a British university.
  • Applicants must have started their degree and provide proof of their matriculation.
  • No previous knowledge of Chinese is required to be eligible.
  • If unsuccessful, after a year candidates may re-apply for the award, once only. Successful awardees cannot apply again. Awards are not renewable.

The Trustees will not consider applications from:

  • Undergraduates, postdoctorates, or those without British nationality.
  • Those undertaking private tuition or informal language swap arrangements.
  • Applicants with an undergraduate honours degree (single or combined) that included Chinese language as a major component of the degree.

The PDF and HTML documents will open in the browser.

Instructions for Chinese Language Award Application (PDF)

Chinese Language Awards Application Form (Word)