he Mechanisms and Behavioral Impacts of University Scholarship Systems on Undergraduate Students

This paper first defines the university scholarship system as a financial aid framework jointly established by the state and universities to recognize students with exceptional academic performance and those in specialized fields of study. The system aims to implement educational policies, cultivate a positive academic culture and campus environment, and support students’ holistic development. The paper outlines key scholarship categories, including the President's Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship, and Individual Merit Scholarship. It also specifies the institutional authorities responsible for their evaluation and allocation, such as the university's scholarship and financial aid committee and the student affairs office. The evaluation process is guided by the principles of comprehensive assessment, fairness, and transparency.This study adopts a qualitative and comparative research approach, integrating policy review, theoretical analysis, and cross-national comparison to examine the mechanisms by which scholarship systems influence undergraduate behavior.The paper further analyzes the significant role and evolution of this system, emphasizing its status as a central mechanism for cultivating high-level innovative talent. Through a comparative analysis of relevant strategies implemented in developed countries,the paper examines the evolution and core functions of China's national scholarship system since its establishment in 2002.From a theoretical perspective, the study applies Skinner's reinforcement theory to illustrate the positive reinforcement effects of scholarships. It employs Weiner's attribution theory and the concept of learned helplessness to examine students' behavioral responses to scholarship attainment and absence. In addition, Maslow's hierarchy of needs is employed to demonstrate how scholarships address students' needs for esteem and self-actualization.The analysis reveals that China’s scholarship system has evolved into a merit-based, policy-driven mechanism that not only provides financial support but also significantly shapes student motivation, learning strategies, and value orientation.The paper proposes strategies to optimize the university scholarship system with the objective of reinforcing ideological and political education while exerting a systematic impact on undergraduate students’ behavioral development. These strategies are articulated across three dimensions: deepening recognition of the system's strategic significance, refining its structural framework, and optimizing its functional efficacy.The research reveals that the scholarship system is an indispensable part of a university's incentive mechanism. By enhancing awareness of this system, refining its design, and fully leveraging its functions, universities can effectively advance their ideological and political work.Theoretically, this study enriches the field by integrating behavioral science with policy evaluation, offering a new interdisciplinary framework to understand the educational role of scholarships.Practically, it provides actionable recommendations for universities to optimize their scholarship systems, helping to enhance talent development and advance ideological and political work.