Call for 2025 Doctoral Programs for International Students
1. Introduction
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) accepts international students through over 20 UCAS faculties and over 100 institutes of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Information about programs, supervisors, colleges, and research institutes can be found on UCAS English website (see here).
The program is recruiting international students from all over the world to pursue master’s or PhD education at UCAS. For Chinese-instructed Programs, please refer to UCAS Admission Information Website (see here). Doctoral programs commonly last for 3-4 years. Certificates of graduation and degrees will be awarded to those who have met the requirements of graduation and degree conferment.
2. General Conditions for Applicants
(1) Non-Chinese citizens who abide by China’s laws and decrees, as well as UCAS’s rules and regulations.
(2) Being of good character and in good health without any infectious diseases or physical/mental disease that may affect the normal study.
(3) Applicants for doctoral programs must possess a degree or academic qualification equivalent to a Chinese master’s degree. Due to differences in educational systems between some countries and China, please refer to Attachment 1 for specific degree requirements for applicants from certain countries.
(4) English proficiency is required. For Chinese-instructed programs, the applicant’s Chinese proficiency shall reach at least HSK Level 5 with no less than 180 scores..
3. Application Time
November 1st, 2024–May 15th, 2025. For those who apply to UCAS for scholarship, please submit application before February 15th, 2025.
4. Application Materials
Applicants shall carefully prepare the application materials in strict accordance with the following requirements, and must ensure that the submitted materials are authentic, complete and valid. For those who have not yet enrolled, failure to meet these requirements will result in the revocation of application eligibility or admission offer. For those who have already enrolled, their student status will be terminated. Applications with incomplete materials or those that do not meet the requirements may not be processed.
All certificates and documents must be in English or Chinese. Otherwise, scanned copy of the original and its English or Chinese translation are required to combine into one PDF file. Please use color scanner to scan the original copies of all certificates and documents. In the process of reviewing the application materials, the university may require some applicants to provide the original version of the application materials, the verification documents issued by the designated authority and others for further examination.
l Scanned Copies of Passport Information Page
Passport type must be ordinary. It shall have at least 1 year validity. Applicants who have given up their original Chinese citizenship and become foreign citizens shall provide the documents certifying the cancellation of Chinese nationality, according to the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China.
l Two-inch Recent Bareheaded Photo
The uploaded photo shall be the same as that used for your passport.
l Complete CV with Detail Education and Research Experiences (must include complete educational history from university onwards)
For currently employed applicants, a certificate of employment must be attached after the CV.
l Scanned Copies of Original Degree Certificates
PhD program applicants must submit both master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates. For those who are expected to graduate before September 2025 they shall provide a pre-graduation certificate from the student department of their current university stating their expected graduation date. Their scanned copies of Master’s degree certificate must be submitted to the International Student Office of UCAS via host college/institute before registration if they get admitted at UCAS.
l Scanned Copies of Original Academic Transcripts
Applicants for doctoral programs must submit scanned copies of complete original transcripts from both their master’s and bachelor’s studies. For those who are expected to graduate before September 2025, they can provide official transcripts up to the present. Their final complete transcripts must be submitted to the International Student Office of UCAS via host college/institute before registration if they get admitted at UCAS.
l Scanned Copies of Original English or Chinese Proficiency Certificates
English proficiency is required. Applicants must provide the scanned copy of valid IELTS or TOEFL result or other proof of their English proficiency (except those whose mother tongue is English).
Applicants for programs instructed in Chinese must provide the photocopy of HSK certificate (at least level 5 with no less than 180 scores) or other proof of their Chinese language proficiency.
l First Page and Abstract of Published Academic Papers (if available)
Submit up to 5 representative published papers. Please DO NOT provide any unpublished academic papers.
l Motivation Letter
The content of motivation letter should include your purpose of studying in China, academic background, the reasons why you are applying for the program, study plan and your career goals after graduation, etc. PhD program applicants should also include their research experiences.
l Two Reference Letters from Professors or Associate Professors
The referees should be academic experts who are familiar with the applicant’s academic background. The referees should not be the prospective supervisor. Letters must be written on the official letterhead of the referee’s institution and must include the referee’s signature and date.
l Supervisor’s Acceptance Form (If available) (see Template in Attachment 2)
The Supervisor’s Acceptance Form is supplementary application material designed to inform the college/institute of the supervisor’s intention to accept the applicant. If applicants have already obtained acceptance from a supervisor when submitting their application, they should upload the Supervisor’s Acceptance Form to the online application system.
Applicants are encouraged to make contact with potential supervisors prior to making an application. Supervisor information can be found through the UCAS English website (see here) or through the official websites of the intended college/institute. After finding a supervisor whose research interests align with their own, applicants may send their application materials to the supervisor and explain their academic aspirations in the email.
l Certificate of Financial Support
Applicants who have received funding from sources other than UCAS should provide corresponding proof of funding. Self-funded applicants should submit a financial guarantee letter from their sponsor and a bank statement (original or notarized copy). Those who wish to apply for scholarships should complete the relevant online scholarship application procedures.
l Bank Receipt of Application Fee
Applicants of CAS-ANSO Scholarship, Chinese Government Scholarship and UCAS Scholarship for International Students are not required to pay for this fee. Application fee is non-refundable in any case.
5. Online Application
Applicants are required to submit their application via the online application system （https://is.ucas.ac.cn/） within the application time. Please finish your online application as early as possible, for the college or institute which you select to evaluate your application and remind you to correct or complete it when necessary. Please also note that:
1. It is not mandatory for you to find a supervisor prior to submitting an online application. Those who meet the above-mentioned conditions can submit application whether they find a supervisor or not. For applicants who do not get accepted by any supervisors when submitting application, the colleges or institutes which they select may help forward their applications to potential supervisors for references.
2. The information filled in is very important for the university to make UCAS Admission Letter, Visa Application for Study in China and others. Applicants must ensure that the information provided is accurate, as any errors may affect the application process..
3. Please DO NOT create two or more accounts and submit multiple applications to us. We will check the duplicates. Once verified, they will be disqualified from application or admission.
6. Evaluation and Admission
UCAS enrols international students based on evaluation of application documents together with an entrance examination. The admission committee of the applicable UCAS schools/CAS institutes will review the application documents and select applicants for entrance examination. The examination will be mainly taken on interview. Some colleges/institutes may require applicants to take a written test. The specific content, format, requirements, and schedule of the admission examination will be determined by the college/institute to which you have applied. Applicants who pass the document review will be notified of these details.
UCAS selects candidates based on application materials review and admission examination results. Merit-based selection will determine the final admission list. Admission results can be checked through the online application system (seehere). The official UCAS Admission Letter, Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202), and other relevant documents will be mailed to admitted students through their respective college/institute.
7. Visa Application and Registration
The admitted students should go to the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in their home country to apply for a study visa to China, bringing their regular passport used in the admission application, UCAS Admission Letter, Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202), Physical Examination Record for Foreigner, and other required documents. Please refer to the specific requirements provided by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate.
The admitted student should register at the place indicated in the UCAS Admission Letter, and should register on the assigned date. Otherwise, they should get the university approval in advance.
8. Fees and Scholarships
8.1 Fees:
(1) Application Fee: RMB 600 (Non-refundable regardless of admission outcome);
(2) Tuition Fee:
PhD programs: RMB 40,000/year per person (Science and Engineering); RMB 34,000/year per person (Liberal Arts).
Students awarded Chinese Government Scholarship, CAS-ANSO Scholarship, or UCAS International Student Scholarship are exempt from tuition fees.
(3) Accommodation Fee:
For two or three students shared rooms, RMB 30/day for one student;
For single room, RMB 60/day for one student.
(4) OtherFees
Medical fee is covered by insurance according to the medical insurance plan.. Board expenses, travel expenses and other costs of experiments, meetings and trainings beyond the program curriculum are at the student’s own expense.
Please note:
1. Currencies other than RMB, USD and EUR are unacceptable.
2. UCAS bank account information:
Beneficiary: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Bank: Construction Bank of China
Beijing Municipal Dongfangguangchang Branch
Account number: 11001059200053002790
SWIFTCODE：PCBCCNBJBJX
3. Please specify the purpose of the remittance and the student’s name, nationality and passport number.
4. Due to the limitation of dormitory capacity, those who fail to make reservation need to find the accommodation off campus by themselves.
8.2 Scholarships
● Chinese Government Scholarship
The Chinese Government Scholarship includes Bilateral Program, China-EU Student Exchange Program, China-ASEAN University Network Scholarship Program, and other programs supporting international students to pursue graduate degrees in China. The scholarship covers tuition fees, application fees, living allowance, basic on-campus accommodation, and medical insurance. For detailed information, please visit the China Scholarship Council website (http://www.csc.edu.cn/Laihua/). UCAS is a designated Chinese Government Scholarship university.
Eligible applicants can apply for these programs through relevant departments in their home countries and Chinese Embassies/Consulates. The application period usually starts in November and ends in the following April. Application deadlines vary by country, so please check in advance. If a pre-admission letter from UCAS is required for the application, please contact UCAS International Students Office in advance. Applicants may also submit application to apply for Chinese University Program and Silk-Road program through UCAS recommendation.
● CAS-ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents
The CAS-ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents program offers full scholarship for outstanding students from all over the world to pursue postgraduate education at UCAS. It covers tuition fee, application fee, living allowance, and medical insurance. UCAS is one of the sponsoring institutions of this program. Eligible applicants may submit relevant materials according to the application procedures.
● UCAS Scholarship for International Students
The UCAS Scholarship for International Students program offers full scholarship for international students to pursue postgraduate education at UCAS. Full scholarship covers tuition fee, basic accommodation, living allowance, and medical insurance. Eligible applicants may apply according to the application procedures.
9. Contact Information
Coordinator: Ms. HU
International Students Office
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
No.80 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
Email: phd@ucas.ac.cn (PhD program)
Website: http://english.ucas.ac.cn
