China will fund 12,000 students for overseas study next year, offering favorable scholarship policies for learners majoring in arts, foreign language and international affairs, according to the Ministry of Education Friday.

Among the 12,000 students, 6,000 seats are saved for postgraduates while the other 6,000 are for senior scholars, including postdoctoral researchers.

According to the ministry, those in fields of energy, resources, environment, agriculture, manufacture, life science, space science, oceanography and nanometer enjoy high priority during the application.

Statistics from the ministry show that from 1996 to November 2009, China supported a total of 58,419 scholars for overseas study, among which 97.16 percent returned to the country.

In 2009, a total of 12,715 applicants were granted the scholarship, among which 44 percent were pursuing PhD degrees.

The application is scheduled from February 20 to March 20 next year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2009)