ANU-CSC Scholarship — PhD Scholarship

The China Scholarship Council – Australian National University Joint Funding Program sends researchers from the People’s Republic of China to ANU in Canberra for doctoral study or research visits. Each year the two partners jointly fund up to 20 PhD scholarships, and separately support up to 20 visiting PhD students, up to 10 visiting postdoctoral fellows and up to 10 visiting scholars. ANU carries the tuition through an HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship, while the CSC pays the living allowance, insurance, visa fee and airfare.

Candidates must first win an ANU place and an ANU nomination, then apply to the CSC, which makes the final decision and notifies successful candidates itself. Recipients are expected to return to China at the end of the funded period.

Benefits & funding

PhD recipients receive an ANU HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship covering all tuition fees for a maximum of four years.
The CSC provides a living allowance as prescribed by the PRC Government, Australian student visa application fees, mandatory student health insurance for the term of the visa, and a return international airfare to Australia.
Visiting PhD students are funded for up to 24 months, with a living allowance currently AUD 20,400 per annum or more depending on academic level.
Visiting postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars are funded for up to one year, with a living allowance currently AUD 21,600 per annum or more depending on academic level.
ANU provides visiting researchers with the resources needed for their work, including office and laboratory space, computer access and library access.
Up to 20 PhD scholarships are awarded each year.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a citizen and permanent resident of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application.
Applicants must meet all ANU admission requirements, including the English proficiency requirement, and hold either an unconditional offer for an ANU PhD program or an offer conditional only on completing their current program.
Admission to an ANU PhD normally requires an Australian bachelor’s degree with at least second-class honours, or the international equivalent; some programs require upper first-class honours. Another degree with a significant research or thesis component, or a combination of qualifications, research publications and professional experience in the field, can also qualify.
Applicants must be selected by their ANU College or Research School for an HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship, which is the ANU nomination for this program.
Applicants must be eligible for an Australian student visa and must return to China at the end of the period of study.
Applicants must also satisfy the CSC’s own selection criteria; the CSC makes the final decision on every application.
Supported fields include engineering, communication and information technology, life sciences and public health, material sciences, energy and environment, agriculture, applied social sciences, economics, public policy, and other areas approved by the CSC.
The visiting routes are for current PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and established scholars who will return to their home institution afterwards.

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Eligible nationalities
China
Residence required
China
Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD

Appears to have an age limit “up to 20”
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Application process

1
Identify a potential ANU supervisor through the ANU Researchers website and confirm the pre-application requirements of the relevant ANU College or Research School.
2
With college and supervisor approval, submit the ANU postgraduate research application through Programs and Courses, including academic transcripts and graduation certificates, a draft research proposal and at least two referee reports.
3
In the application, select the Quarter 4 (Spring) Session and the “CSC - ANU PhD Scholarship” option, and submit by 1 December for an intake beginning the following year.
4
ANU assesses the application, usually in six to eight weeks, and notifies nominated candidates by 1 March.
5
Apply directly to the CSC with the documentation issued by ANU, within the CSC window that indicatively runs from 20 March to 5 April.
6
The CSC selects the final recipients and notifies successful candidates directly.
7
Visiting students, postdoctoral fellows and scholars contact a prospective ANU adviser at least three months before the CSC closing date to agree a research plan, then apply to the CSC by the indicative deadline of 20 March for a start in the same year.

Program timeline

ANU application deadline for an intake beginning the following year.
Dec 1, 2026
ANU notifies nominated candidates by this date.
Mar 1, 2027
Indicative CSC application window for PhD candidates.
Mar 20, 2027 to Apr 5, 2027
Indicative CSC deadline for visiting students, postdoctoral fellows and scholars starting the same year.
Mar 20, 2027
After CSC selection
The CSC notifies successful candidates directly.
Funded PhD study runs for up to four years; visiting research runs up to 24 months for PhD students and up to one year for fellows and scholars.