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This scheme provides funding for one-year of research for visiting PhD students from China. Two awards are available for the 2025/26 academic year.
Key information
Value: Full tuition fees (for one year)
Available to: Visiting PhD students
Selection criteria: Academic merit
Eligible fee status: Overseas
Eligible programmes: Visiting, full-time research degrees
Additional eligibility criteria: Students must be Chinese nationals and independently secure co-funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to cover maintenance stipend and return travel.
Deadline: Friday 31st January 2025
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Have submitted a completed application for admission at UCL as a visiting PhD student for the academic year 2025/26 and be in receipt of an offer of admission by the deadline of 31st January 2025.
- Independently secure co-funding from the CSC to cover maintenance stipend and return travel before the start of the academic year.
- Meet the following eligibility requirements of the CSC, please note that these are subject to change and students should check directly with the CSC:
- Candidates will be citizens and permanent residents of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application.
- Candidates must satisfy the selection criteria relating to current study and employment as set out by the CSC on their website, and complete any relevant CSC application and employer reference forms.
- Successful candidates must return to China upon completion of their one-year studies and/or research.
- Candidates must hold an unconditional offer letter from UCL. They must, therefore, fulfil the relevant academic entry requirements set by UCL, including a high level of English language proficiency.
- Candidates should be intending to pursue study/research in one of the priority academic areas identified by UCL and CSC. However, applicants to other study/research areas will also be considered.
- Candidates must have secured or submitted an application for fee funding for MPhil/PhD research at UCL (see How to Apply details below).
Value, benefits, and duration
The scholarship award is jointly funded by the CSC and UCL. UCL will provide full tuition fees for one-year of visiting research and the CSC provides economy air travel to and from the UK, a living allowance, and visa application fees.
Selection
Scholarships are awarded on academic merit and the basis of CSC priorities.
How to apply
Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria must first apply for tuition fee funding from UCL before submitting an independent application to the CSC for co-funding.
Applications for a CSC-UCL Visiting Research Student Award are made by the host department at UCL on behalf of the visitor. Students should get in touch with their host department in advance of the deadline to discuss their application.
Host departments should submit a completed online application form on behalf of the visitor by 4pm on Friday 31st January 2025.
Results
Candidates (and their host departments) that secure a provisional fee funding award from UCL will be notified by mid-March 2025. An official funding letter will be provided which must be used to complete their CSC online application for co-funding.
The CSC will publish the results of the scholarship award, for those who submitted their application for co-funding by July 2025. To view the outcome, please log into your CSC application portal.