Q1 What is the School Ambassador Scholarship and how does it work?

The School Ambassador Scholarship is a competitive award that recognises outstanding students who will act as official ambassadors for the programme. Each Scholarship covers 50% of the standard £1,600 programme fee, reducing the amount payable for the programme to £800. Upon successful completion of the programme, scholarship students also receive a personalised recommendation letter and an official Scholarship Recipient certificate that can be used for university applications. Beyond this, they will receive priority consideration for future global opportunities offered by Elite Journey, including mentorship programmes, volunteer camp roles, and work experience placements. In return, scholarship holders serve as student ambassadors during and after the programme.

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Q2 Who can apply for the School Ambassador Scholarship and how are students selected?

The Scholarship is open to all applicants to the programme. If you wish to be considered, you need to indicate this on the application form. 

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To apply, students must:

• Submit the online Camp China application form (click here for application form), which includes a couple of short scholarship questions

• Send us a two-to-three-minute self-introduction video

• Provide the name and professional email address of a nominated teacher. Elite Journey will contact that teacher directly for reference. A Mandarin teacher is ideal where one is available, but applicants who do not study Mandarin may instead nominate another suitable teacher or school leader.

• Attend an online interview.

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The deadline for student materials is 23:59 GMT on Friday 11 December 2026. 

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Q3 What are the selection criteria?

Selection is based on the qualities we know make a great Camp China participant, and a great ambassador:

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• Initiative and leadership potential: a willingness to step forward in group settings, support younger or less confident peers, and contribute to college life, whether or not you hold a formal position.

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• Communication and expressive confidence: clear, warm communication in English; genuine engagement with people from different backgrounds; and comfort speaking to an audience - from leading a discussion to presenting to a panel.

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• Cross-cultural openness and curiosity: a real, specific interest in China and a readiness to engage in two-way learning about Chinese culture while also proudly and thoughtfully sharing your own.

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• Independence and resilience: readiness to live away from home for two weeks in a fast-paced, culturally unfamiliar environment; the ability to look after yourself, adapt to the unexpected, and stay positive.

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• Ambassador mindset: enthusiasm for giving back through: testimonials, short videos, school assemblies, or information events for future students. Enthusiasm for being a visible, positive representative of the programme.

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Please don't be put off applying because you don't think you are "the scholarship type". You do not need to be a prefect or a head of year, study Mandarin, or consider yourself the loudest person in the room. What we are looking for is potential and willingness, and those show up in all kinds of students. Many of our previous participants arrived quiet and unsure, and grew into confident leaders over the two weeks; that growth, not a finished CV, is what this award is for. Academic results give useful context but are never, on their own, the deciding factor.

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Decisions will be emailed to students and their parents or guardians by Friday 8 January 2027. If a scholarship application is unsuccessful, the standard Camp China application is still considered separately. Students may still be offered a place at the standard programme fee.

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Q4 What would a student be expected to do as a School Ambassador?

Scholarship holders are designated as official student ambassadors and are expected to:

• Participate in content creation (e.g. testimonials, videos, social media content about their experience)

• Act as positive role models for all other camp participants

• Represent the programme's values of cross-cultural exchange, leadership and personal growth

• Actively participate, where possible, in sharing their experience with future prospective participants (for example, on online webinars, or school assembly)

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Q5 When must I accept, and what happens if I need to withdraw?

Scholarship decisions will be emailed to students and their parents or guardians by Friday 8th January 2027. To accept the award, a non-refundable £500 deposit is required within 14 days of receiving your offer. The remaining balance of £300 (the 50% scholarship reduces the total fee from £1,600 to £800, minus the £500 deposit) is due by Wednesday 31 March 2027. 

 

If your circumstances change and you need to withdraw after accepting, our standard cancellation and refund policy applies (see "Fees and Booking", for the full tiered schedule). In brief:

• If Elite Journey cancels the programme, you receive a full refund of all payments, including the deposit.

• If your visa is refused despite a complete and timely application, we refund all payments except the £500 deposit, on receipt of the official refusal letter.

• For withdrawals due to personal circumstances, refunds are calculated on a sliding scale based on the date we receive your written notice; the £500 deposit is non-refundable in all cases.

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There is no refund for non-attendance, late arrival, early departure, or dismissal for breach of the code of conduct. If you are unsure whether you will be able to attend, please speak to the programme team as early as possible. We will always try to offer you a place on an alternative session where one is available.