The Atomic Energy Scholarship (AES) Program of China (Phase 1) was jointly initiated by the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) and the Ministry of Education of the People' s Republic of China (MOE) with the aim of fostering outstanding young talent working in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy from developing countries. The first phase of five years has seen an annual enrollment of 40 students to study for nuclear engineering and nuclear science and technology related Master' s and Doctoral degrees in China with full scholarship provided by the Chinese government. To date, over 200 high-calibre professionals from over 30 countries have been educated and trained, with tangible results and wide recognition from various countries.

Based on the success of the AES Program (Phase I), the CAEA and the MOE decided to launch the AES Program (Phase 2) in 2023. It is planned that in the coming five years (2023-2027), full scholarships will be awarded annually to 100 students from developing countries who pursue study in China for nuclear energy and nuclear technology applications related Master' s and Doctoral degrees. A total of 13 top universities in China have been accredited under the program to provide such curricula as nuclear infrastructure, nuclear fuel cycle and material, nuclear reactor engineering, nuclear and radiation safety, nuclear medicine and nuclear agriculture.