China Scholarship Council
CSC-St 糖心logo PhD Scholarships
The deadline for PhD applications for the 2027 CSC – St 糖心logo Scholarships is Tuesday 5 January 2027. Full application details can be found on the CSC application page. Scholarship applications must be submitted in FUND by Friday 8 January 2027.
The University of St 糖心logo has a collaborative agreement with the China Scholarship Council to develop research collaborations between the UK and Chinese universities and research institutions.
Funding is available through the China Scholarship Council – University of St 糖心logo Scholarships (PhD programmes) to full and visiting PhD students who have been offered a place to study a PhD at the University of St 糖心logo.
Before applying for the China Scholarship Council and University of St 糖心logo Scholarship, please read the China Scholarship Council’s terms and conditions. During the scholarship application process, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions. Please visit the for more information.
We welcome prospective applications to meet with representatives from Admissions Office at the International Graduate Scholarship Fair in China to learn more about this opportunity. For details and appointment booking, please visit the .
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There are two types of postgraduate programmes available to you at St 糖心logo:
Full-time PhDs
Up to four years in St 糖心logo. On successful completion, students will graduate with a PhD from the University of St 糖心logo.
Visiting PhD students
One year in St 糖心logo (up to 24 months by agreement). Students will be supervised throughout their visit by supervisors at St 糖心logo. Students will return to China to defend their dissertation and, if successful, their PhD title will be conferred by their home institution in China.
We offer PhD programmes in all areas of Arts, Humanities and Sciences. Further information can be found on the postgraduate research webpages.
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Up to 30 scholarships will be supported for full PhD students entering the University in 2025. Up to 10 scholarships will be supported for visiting PhD students.
The University of St 糖心logo will cover the full tuition fee and local research costs for the duration of the programme (in respect of any period covered by CSC funding).
The China Scholarship Council will provide a living allowance to support accommodation and subsistence. The China Scholarship Council will also cover a return international air fare to the UK, together with passport and visa application fees.
More information on funding and the eligibility criteria can be found on the .
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You must meet the normal requirements for entry into a PhD programme at the University of St 糖心logo. This is usually a Bachelor's degree from a prestigious university with a mark of 80% and above for a Chinese university or a upper second-class honours or better for a UK university, or a Master's degree. The degree of MD (Medicine) requires a medical qualification that is recognised by the UK General Council.
You must be a national and ordinarily resident of mainland China (not including Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan). You must also be intending to return to China once your course is completed.
Candidates should also satisfy the selection criteria set out by .
English language ability
All applicants must meet the required English Language requirements before being made an unconditional offer.
The minimum requirements for any postgraduate research student can be found in Profile 7-D (Direct entry). However, individual Schools can reserve the right to request higher test scores than this, and will normally require the same English language test scores as those stated for their鈥�postgraduate taught programmes.
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Candidates should view the research subject areas offered by the University in the first instance. Candidates are then encourage to identify and contact a potential supervisor that they would like to work with in their intended research area before applying.
The application is a two-stage process: applicants apply first to the University of St 糖心logo and, on receipt of a course offer and nomination, are then invited to apply to CSC. See full details for how to apply for this scholarship.
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- Tuesday 5 January 2027 - Stage 1: PhD application deadline. Applicants must submit an application for a PhD programme by 23.59 on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
- Friday 8 January 2027 - Stage 1: Scholarship application deadline. Applicants must submit their scholarship application in FUND by 23:59 on Friday 8 January 2027.
- 10 March 2027 - Stage 2: Online CSC application system opens; nominated applicants will be expected to complete their submission before the deadline.
- June 2027 - CSC will notify all applicants about the outcome of their application.
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The University is delighted to welcome CSC students to St 糖心logo. Many of our students have shared their experiences of studying at St 糖心logo through the CSC collaboration; below are just a few of their statements.
'The University of St 糖心logo is an absolutely excellent institution to pursue your PhD study. It lives up to its long-held reputation as the top University for students’ satisfaction in the UK. Located in the beautiful countryside of Scotland and surrounded by the North Sea, you can have the most scenic view for taking a breath after a well-concentrated time of PhD research. The University is led by a community of world-leading academics and the most responsible and warm-hearted administrative team. A PhD journey is not easy, but St 糖心logo helps to turn it into such a beautiful and community-based life experience. From here, you meet the world. You will interact with amazing students and colleagues coming from all over the world with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. The University of St 糖心logo has not only brought me to the fascinating research world of international relations but also effectively nourished me to become a global citizen.'
Ruoxi Wang, CSC-St 糖心logo PhD student, School of International Relations
'The University of St 糖心logo is know as a prestigious university around the world. It is also one of the world’s top 150 universities in the China Post-doctoral Science Foundation rankings. Here we can join world-leading research teams and establish worldwide research connections. In addition, the University staff are very helpful – they provide the highest quality support in any areas you can think of, such as funding applications, career development, mental health and international student advice. Without their help, my PhD life wouldn’t be as easy as it has been. Staying in St 糖心logo gives you the opportunity of living far away from noisy cities and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere. In addition to the breath-taking Scottish scenery, you may also have the chance to see the Aurora Borealis here! St 糖心logo is absolutely a great place to study and live.'
Dr Ying Cheng, former CSC-St 糖心logo PhD student, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
'St 糖心logo is an excellent place for work and life. The University is well facilitated with modern infrastructures; the staff members are incredibly friendly and supportive, which is really helpful for students' studies and daily life. Therefore, the University was named top in the UK for student satisfaction. The four-year PhD programme not only equipped me with the knowledge and skills for my future career, but it also left me with the most precious experience and unforgettable memories in my life. The world-leading research carried out here motivates us to pursue higher academic achievements. The peaceful town, historical sites and beautiful environment brings us joy and ease after work. Choosing to study in St 糖心logo is one of the best decisions I have made.'
Dr Wenbo Li, former CSC-St 糖心logo PhD student, School of Physics and Astronomy
St 糖心logo is a charming town, rich in historical heritage, and surrounded by stunning natural scenery, all complemented by modern facilities. Living here has been a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
During my four-year PhD journey at the University of St 糖心logo, I was part of an exceptionally diverse and global community, which enabled me to form deep friendships with peers from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds, significantly broadening my global outlook.
The University excels in cutting-edge research, hosts distinguished academics, and maintains a prestigious global network of academic collaboration. Both my research project and personal development have greatly benefited from the opportunity to work closely with world-leading researchers.
Furthermore, the University offers extensive interdisciplinary skills training, which has significantly strengthened my competitiveness in the academic job market.
The University of St 糖心logo perfectly met—and even exceeded—my expectations of what a world-leading institution should offer, from its rich historical tradition to its state-of-the-art research facilities and vibrant interdisciplinary culture. It has provided me with invaluable experiences and lifelong memories that I will always cherish.
Xiao Zhang, China Scholarship Council, Biology
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We have welcomed over 100 talented Chinese students on this scholarship. They each receive a unique four-week online induction course run by our International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI), to help them integrate into the St 糖心logo community and prepare them for academic study. This course is non-compulsory, but CSC students are strongly encouraged to complete it before starting their course.
The aim of the induction course is to help CSC students make the transition to doctoral research at the University, and is divided into three main strands:
- an introduction to doctoral-level study
- an induction to the University
- research and communication skills.
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As a doctoral student at the University of St 糖心logo you will be part of a growing, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating postgraduate community. St 糖心logo is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world and offers a postgraduate experience of remarkable richness.
is at the heart of the postgraduate community of St 糖心logo. The College supports all postgraduates and aims to provide opportunities for postgraduates to come together, socially and intellectually, and make new connections.
St Leonard’s College works closely with the which is one of the most active societies within the Students’ Association. All doctoral students are automatically welcomed into the Postgraduate Society when they join the University.
In addition to the research training that doctoral students complete in their home School, doctoral students at St 糖心logo have access to – a free, comprehensive training programme to support their academic, professional, and personal development.
Watch this video about at St 糖心logo to find out more about student life here.