The Chinese government has decided to offer overseas study scholarships for 12,000 students in the country next year, including 6,000 postgraduates and 6,000 researchers and scholars, according to the Ministry of Education.

Key fields for scholarships include manufacturing, information, bio-technology, new materials, aviation, education, financial and accounting, among others.

These state-funded scholarships will be provided and managed by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), which was first set up in 1996 under the Ministry of Education.

Figures from the CSC show that, from 1996 to 2009, the country supported 78,524 students for overseas study, among whom 44,555 returned home after completing their studies.

According to the CSC, the selection, based on individual applications, will be reviewed by experts in a fair manner.

The submission for these scholarships will last from Feb. 20 to March 20, 2011. Further details will be posted on www.csc.edu.cn on Jan. 5, 2011.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2010)