China Scholarship Council and University of Leicester joint PhD scholarships

Funding

The CSC will provide each scholarship recipient with a living stipend (including. medical insurance) as prescribed by the Chinese Government and an international roundtrip airfare of economy class between China and the United Kingdom.

The University of Leicester will provide each scholarship recipient with an overseas tuition fee waiver and cover bench fees for laboratory based subjects (where relevant) up to £5,000 per annum.

The above joint funding for each scholarship recipient will be up to 48 months.

Entry requirements

Applicants should be citizens of the People’s Republic of China. Overseas Chinese students may be eligible for application subject to CSC policy. Must be under 35 years of age (CSC requirement).

Domestic applicants (applying from China)

Applicants are required to hold a UK Bachelor Degree 2:1 or better in a relevant subject or overseas equivalent or hold/ expect to hold a Master's degree in a relevant subject (or be in the process of completing one).

Overseas applicants (applying from outside China)

You must have received a Master's degree in a relevant subject (or be in the process of completing one).

Applicants who have yet to be receive their Master's degree outcome can be considered with a conditional offer.

All applicants must meet the entry requirements for study within the School or College at University of Leicester: For applicants apply to study within the School of Business and the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities a Master’s degree is a University of Leicester entry requirement. 

For applicants applying to study within the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Life Sciences a Masters degree is preferred.

Please refer to the subject pages for any specific entry requirements.

If you are currently employed, please ensure your employer will support your CSC application and is willing to provide a reference to the CSC.

Evidence of English language proficiency must be provided at the point of application or an English test booked with results expected before end of December 2025. (see requirements below).

English language requirements

The University of Leicester English language requirements apply. Refer to the relevant subject for English requirements.

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent tests/qualifications

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Geology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics

IELTS 7.0 or equivalent tests/qualifications

• Education
• English
• Law
• Population Health Sciences

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent tests/qualifications

• All other subjects not listed above

Informal enquiries

Please contact potential supervisors to discuss your research before applying.

Please contact pgrapply@le.ac.uk  for application advice.

How to apply

To submit your application, please use the apply link at the bottom of the page and select September 2026 dropdown menu.

Refer to our research supervisors and identify potential supervisors for your chosen research.

Include with your application:

• CV
• covering letter explaining why you want to study for a PhD at Leicester
• Download and complete the Research proposal form outlining the area you want to research. Upload the completed proposal form to your online application.
• Make sure to include the names/s of the proposed PhD supervisor/s, Subject/Department and your project title in the space provided on the proposal page.
• Degree certificates and transcripts of study already completed and if possible a transcript to date of study currently being undertaken.
• Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable.
• In the reference section please upload letters of reference (on signed headed paper) if already available or enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the text boxes provided and we will request references direct to your referees. Supervisors for your proposed PhD project cannot act as referees.
• In the funding section please specify CSC Scholarship.

We recommend you do not wait until the deadline to apply.

Incomplete applications, applications with no research proposal form and applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered

University of Leicester Year 1 self funded PhD students/applicants already holding an offer of a PhD place for September 2026/applicants who have already submitted an application that is pending decision can also be considered alongside new applicants. If this is you: Please email pgrapply@le.ac.uk  In the subject line put: UOL/CSC 2026 and your application/student ID number.

Include with your email a statement of why you should be considered for the funding and the name of your PhD supervisor/proposed supervisor, project title and academic department. Send your email no later than 11 December deadline. Incomplete or late emails may not be considered.

Eligibility

Candidates should be citizens of the People’s Republic of China.

Overseas Chinese students may be eligible for application subject to CSC policy at the time.