This joint scheme supports up to 15 full-time PhD students at University of Galway, with no subject restrictions. The University provides tuition-fee waivers, while the China Scholarship Council covers living costs and flights.
Recipients undertake doctoral research in Galway with an approved supervisor and a jointly developed project plan. The completed 2026 round was for studies beginning in September 2026.
Benefits & funding
- University of Galway provides up to 15 full PhD tuition-fee waivers across all subjects.
- The China Scholarship Council covers recipients’ living costs and flight tickets.
Eligibility
- Hold a Chinese passport.
- Undertake full-time PhD study at University of Galway.
- Meet the University’s doctoral admission requirements; Irish collaborative-degree guidance normally expects a high-honours Bachelor’s or Master’s qualification, or other evidence accepted by the relevant academic unit.
- Secure a Galway supervisor willing to supervise if CSC funding is awarded.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Eligible nationalities
China
Education required
Bachelor · Master
Appears to have an age limit “up to 15”
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Application process
- 1Find a University of Galway supervisor and obtain conditional agreement to supervise the proposed research.
- 2Develop the required project plan with the supervisor; for the 2026 round, the supervisor submitted it to the relevant College by 27 February 2026.
- 3The University committee ranked candidates and issued conditional College offers by 13 March 2026.
- 4Selected applicants obtained the supervisor’s one-page CV, translated the research plan into Chinese, and arranged the required signatures.
- 5Apply through the CSC portal between 10 and 31 March 2026, selecting University of Galway as the institution.
- 6CSC announced final results in May or June; successful candidates then applied for PhD admission, while supervisors requested the fee waiver.
Program timeline
Supervisor’s College submission deadline.
27 February 2026
CSC portal opened.
10 March 2026
Conditional College offers due.
13 March 2026
CSC portal application deadline.
31 March 2026
CSC final results.
May or June 2026
PhD studies begin.
September 2026