Yu Liang, a postgraduate student admitted through extra-budgetary recruitment, was awarded a competitive scholarship by the Government of China to continue his studies at Altai State University. The monthly stipend he will receive over the next two academic years will provide valuable support for his essential scientific research.
Yu Liang completed his undergraduate education at Heilongjiang University in China, where he also began studying archaeology and the Russian language. For his master’s degree, he chose to pursue further education in Russia, selecting Altai State University due to its reputation for offering one of the highest standards of archaeological training in the country.
“Yu Liang initially intended to pursue archaeology, but as Altai State University was not offering that program at the time, he instead enrolled in "Museology and Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage." His master's thesis bridged museology and archaeology, focusing on archaeological collections within Chinese museums pertaining to the Rouran Khaganate, an Inner Asian entity predating the Turkic period. Last year, Yu Liang commenced his doctoral studies, where he can benefit from his background in museology. His current research, which examines the history of studying Altai monuments from the Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran eras, necessitates extensive museum work and his prior understanding of museum systems and source management will facilitate this process,” says his academic advisor, Professor Alexey Tishkin, Head of the Department of Archaeology and Museology, Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Working on the Candidate’s Degree thesis demands a significant investment of both time and money. The collections Yu Liang requires are housed in museums across various cities in Russia, as well as in Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. Consequently, the scholarship would be an invaluable support, Yu Liang explains:
“The competition for this scholarship is extremely fierce; only 40 students and postgraduates studying outside China are awarded it. Nevertheless, I decided to apply and submitted my documents in March. To be successful, you need a strong reference and a proven record of academic achievement in Russia. Having a reputable supervisor is crucial. Alexey Tishkin is well-known in China – he frequently lectures at universities, collaborates with numerous institutions, participates in conferences, and publishes books and scientific articles. Moreover, the subject of my postgraduate research is highly relevant: I am investigating the monuments of the Altai region from the Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran period, a topic that remains relatively unexplored in China. My work involves studying archaeological collections related to ancient peoples in various museums, as well as examining excavation reports in archives. So far, I have conducted research in Gorno-Altaisk and Moscow, and we are planning a trip to the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg. This scholarship would be of great assistance in supporting these efforts.”
Alexey Tishkin notes:
“Yu Liang faces a challenging task. He should synthesize a substantial amount of information related to his dissertation topic, which has a museological focus – one of the outcomes will be a database of numerous archaeological objects housed in museum collections. This will represent a significant contribution to the field. The scholarship he has been awarded will enable him to complete his work within the timeframe set for his postgraduate studies.”
Yu Liang received the following official congratulatory letter from the Board of the China Scholarship Council (CSC):
“Dear Mr. Yu Liang,
Congratulations on successfully passing the competitive selection process and being awarded a state scholarship for study abroad.
Board of the China Scholarship Council (CSC), June 2025”