A 30 million yuan (US$3.7 million) government scholarship has been launched for overseas students in Beijing.

The scheme, the first of its kind established by a municipal government in China, will benefit an estimated group of 1,500 foreign students annually, according to the city's education commission.

"The aim of this scholarship is to attract more overseas students to the capital," said Song Lijun, head of the commission's International Co-operation and Exchange Department. "And further policies will be made to facilitate studies and living for foreign students in the city."

Any overseas student, either in or out of the country at present, will be able to apply for the scholarship if they have offers from colleges or universities in Beijing.

It will exclude those, however, who have received other sources of funding, such as the Chinese Government Scholarships.

Each undergraduate student will be granted 20,000 yuan (US$2,470) a year if chosen, and postgraduates will get 30,000 yuan (US$3,703). Doctorate students may be given up to 40,000 yuan (US$4,940).

Song said the scholarship would mainly be used to cover tuition fees for those with outstanding academic performance. "The student's performance will be evaluated at the end of each academic year, so that we can decide whether to give them the award the next year," she said.

Junichi Kosemura, a Japanese student who is taking a master's degree at the University of Business and Economics in Beijing, said the new scholarship sent a message that the Chinese Government welcomed more overseas students.

"I will apply for the scholarship if possible," said the 24-year-old International Business student. "It can cover all of my tuition fees, which amounts to 25,000 yuan (US$3,100) a year."

Commission figures show that about 40,000 overseas students from 172 countries are studying in Beijing this year, an 85 per cent increase compared to 2000.

Source: China Daily