Warwick-China Scholarship Council - Joint PhD Scholarships for Chinese Students

China Scholarship Council-Warwick Joint Scholarship

You will receive a fully funded PhD scholarship at University of Warwick in the UK for up to 4 years. The University of Warwick will cover your full tuition fees and supplement your living costs up to the UK standard rate for research scholarships (UKRI rate). The China Scholarship Council (CSC), a Chinese government agency that funds study abroad programmes, will pay a monthly living allowance and cover the cost of a return flight between the UK and China. You will also receive up to 40 days’ paid leave per year and, depending on your visa, have the option to study full-time or part-time. If you need to take a break from your studies, this is possible. Warwick and the CSC support up to 30 students each year. Any semesters you have already spent at the University of Warwick prior to the start of the scholarship will be deducted from the 4 years.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a Chinese national and hold a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China. Applicants from Hong Kong or Taiwan are not eligible to apply.
• Where you live: You live permanently in China or are studying abroad. If you are working abroad, you are not eligible to apply.
• Degree: You are applying for a PhD programme, an MPhil/PhD programme, an EngD programme or the PhD phase of an MRes+PhD programme at the University of Warwick, or you are in the first year of such a programme there.
• Offer: You have been offered a full-time PhD place at the University of Warwick starting in October, or are about to be offered one.
• Field of study: All fields of research are eligible. The CSC lists 12 priority areas, including computer science, engineering, mathematics, business administration and management, environmental sciences and political science.
• Prior study abroad: If you have already studied abroad, including in the UK, you must meet the CSC’s requirements regarding overseas experience.

How to apply

First, apply for your PhD programme at the University of Warwick. You should then submit a single scholarship application via the university’s online portal. This single application will be considered for all funding opportunities for which you are eligible. The application deadlines for both the programme and the scholarship are in early December, and results will be communicated by email at the end of February. The next application round for the October 2027 intake begins in October 2026. Start preparing well in advance, as it is realistically not possible to complete a full application in the last day or two.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is narrowly defined: you must be a Chinese national holding a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China, have been admitted to a PhD programme at the University of Warwick, and meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria. As a result, the pool of eligible applicants is smaller than for open scholarships. With up to 30 places available each year, the prospects for a well-suited applicant are good, particularly in one of the 12 CSC priority areas. A compelling research proposal and an early, complete application make all the difference.