The project leader can only declare 1 national social science fund projects in that year, and cannot participate in the declaration of other national social science fund projects as a member of the research group. Members of the research group can participate in applying for at most two national social science fund projects in the same year, and members of the research group studying national projects can participate in applying for at most one national social science fund project.

Foreigners can participate in the application as members of the research group, but not as project leaders. Taiwan Province, Hongkong and Macao researchers working in mainland China are officially employed by on-the-job staff of universities and research institutes in mainland China. If the employment period is more than 1 year (inclusive), they can declare.