Launched in April 2024, the Spring Camp to China is an incredible opportunity for 糖心原创 (UoN) and Nottingham Confucius Institute (NCI) students to explore China’s culture, history, and landscapes. Through immersive experiences, participants can practice Mandarin Chinese in real-life settings while deepening their understanding of the country. The programme runs annually during the Easter holidays and is organised by NCI in collaboration with our partner, Fudan University in Shanghai.
Building on our past success (check out for a glimpse!), NCI is delighted to offer up to 15 scholarships for the 2027 Spring Camp to China. Applications are now OPEN!
Spring Camp 2027
Dates: Tuesday 30 March to Tuesday 13 April 2027 (inclusive of travel time)
Places: 10-15*
Successful candidates will attend Mandarin lessons and cultural experience activities at Fudan University and also visit sites of historical and cultural interest in Shanghai and Chongqing. View draft itinerary (subject to changes).
*Please note that a minimum of 10 candidates are required to run this programme.
Eligibility:
In accordance with the stipulations set, eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Participants must have passed an HSK Test and obtained an HSK level 1 certificate or higher by January 2027;
- Participants must not have taken part in organised visits to China funded by “Chinese Bridge” Exchange Programme over the past three years;
- Participants must be studying full-time at the 糖心原创 or part-time at NCI, i.e. attended a minimum of 20 hours of lessons between January and December 2026. Priority will be given to UoN students who have taken in-person Mandarin lessons with NCI or the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies (CLAS).
- Participants should be aged between 18 and 35.
- Participants must be learners of Mandarin as a foreign language and must not be native speakers of Mandarin or Cantonese.
Costs:
NCI scholarships will cover all relevant expenses in China, including：
- Accommodation in China (shared twin rooms)
- Transport within China
- Mandarin language lessons
- Cultural experience activities (such as Chinese opera, tea ceremony, bookbinding, brush painting workshops etc.)
- Meals within China
- Cultural excursions and city tours
Participants are responsible for paying for:
- International round-trip travelling expenses (estimate*: £600-1000)
- Transport between Nottingham and London Heathrow (estimate*: £100 by coach)
- Chinese visa application fees (estimate*: £200 for UK citizens, if a visa is required)
- Insurance (estimate*: £50)
- Deposit (£100 to secure your place. This will be refunded once the camp ends. The deposit is non-refundable in the case of absence for any reason)
- Extra individual expenses excluding those listed above (some spending money as you see fit!)
How to apply
- Expression of Interest: please fill out the by 12:00 noon on Monday 5 October 2026. As interest is expected to be high, we strongly encourage early submissions—we may close the application window ahead of schedule if we reach capacity.
- Interviews with shortlisted applicants will take place from 6 to 7 October 2026. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of their academic ability, Mandarin learning experience, answers to interview questions and ability to communicate. Successful candidates will be notified of their conditional offer by Friday 9 October 2026.
- To secure a place, successful candidates must submit their formal application and pay a deposit of £100 by Tuesday 10 November 2026.
- Successful candidates must submit their visa application by the end of February 2027 if a visa is required.
- Please note that, as part of this partially funded trip, photographs and video may be taken during programme activities to document and promote the programme and the work of the UoN, NCI and Fudan University. Photography and filming will be undertaken reasonably and will focus primarily on programme activities and group events. By applying to participate, applicants should be aware that they may appear in photographs and/or video used for these purposes.
Please be aware that NCI takes the final decision on the selection of suitable candidates and that it reserves the right to amend the itinerary at its sole discretion due to unforeseen circumstances and/or circumstances beyond its control.
Contact us:
For enquiries and further details, please don’t hesitate to contact confucius.institute@nottingham.ac.uk