China Scholarship Council (CSC) - China Scholarship Council Scholarships

What you get

You will receive a full PhD scholarship to carry out research for up to 48 months (4 years) at the University of Bristol in the UK. The university will cover your tuition fees in full. In addition, the China Scholarship Council (a Chinese government agency) will pay you a monthly living allowance and cover the cost of a return flight between China and the UK. The exact monthly amount is set by the Chinese government and is not made public. Sixty of these scholarships will be awarded. One condition you should bear in mind in advance is that, upon completion of your studies, you must return to China for two years.

Who can apply

• Level: You are about to start a new PhD programme. If you have already started your PhD programme at Bristol, you cannot apply.
• Subject: Any field of research is an option. Bristol offers more than 80 PhD programmes across six faculties.
• Where you study: At the University of Bristol.
• Nationality: You are a permanent resident of China. Chinese students who are already studying abroad may also be eligible to apply, depending on the circumstances.
• Age: You are 35 or younger.
• Grades: You have a track record of outstanding academic achievement.
• Previous degree: If you are applying from China, you must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or be about to complete one. If you have already obtained a Master’s degree, you must be in employment and your employer must support your application with a letter of reference. If you are applying from abroad, you must have obtained your Master’s degree within the last 12 months or be about to complete it.
• English: You meet the University of Bristol’s English language requirements. You may need to take a language test.
• Visa: You meet the UK visa requirements.

How to apply

Apply directly to the University of Bristol for a PhD place by 12 noon UK time on 1 December 2025. Select the joint CSC-UoB scholarship as your source of funding and specify 100% as the funding percentage. Your valid English language certificate must be submitted before the deadline. If Bristol offers you a place, you will be automatically nominated. You will then submit a second application to the China Scholarship Council in the spring of 2026, and the final scholarship recipients will be selected in June 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very restrictive. You must be resident in China, be aged 35 or under, and have a track record of outstanding academic achievement; furthermore, you must first have been admitted to a PhD programme at Bristol. This alone rules out the majority of applicants. With a total of 60 scholarships available across all disciplines, well-suited candidates who meet Bristol’s entry requirements have a genuine chance. Make sure you prepare a compelling PhD proposal and your English language certificate well in advance, as the application deadline in December and the two-stage selection process leave no room for catching up on any shortcomings.