Deadline: January 1, 2026.

King’s College London and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) hold an agreement to jointly fund Chinese students to pursue research degrees (PhDs) at King’s College London.. Jointly funded scholarships from King’s College London and the China Scholarship Council for Chinese students to pursue full-time PhDs at King’s College London.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible, you MUST:

• Be citizens and permanent residents of the People’s Republic of China (holding a valid Chinese passport);
• Be due to commence a full-time MPhil/PhD research degree programme at King’s College London in the 2026-27 academic year (i.e., from October 2026 and by no later than June 2027), with the intention to complete a PhD.
• Satisfy criteria set out by the CSC, e.g., relating to age, education, and employment. Please to refer to CSC website for full details (http://www.csc.edu.cn).
• Agree to return to China upon completion of your studies/research.
• Apply to King’s College London for the scholarship by the deadline of 1 January 2026, 23:59 UK time, following the instructions in the ‘Application Process’ section).
• By the deadline of 14 January 2026, 23:59 UK time:
  • Submit all required documentation to support your King’s admissions application.
  • Meet the English language requirements for your chosen research programme.
  • Ensure that your referees have submitted their references to support your application.
• Complete the separate CSC application process and submit the required documentation to the CSC by its stated deadlines (see http://www.csc.edu.cn for further details). NB: CSC application rules differ slightly between domestic applicants (those applying in China) and overseas applicants (those applying from abroad) – further guidance is provided below, under ‘CSC guidance’.

BENEFITS

1. As part of an agreement between the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and King’s College London, successful applicants will have their full international tuition fees waived by the university.
2. In addition, the CSC provides an annual living allowance (currently set at £1,200–£1,350 per month*), overseas student health cover, return airfare to London, and visa application fees.
3. The scholarship is valid for up to four years.
4. You will not be required to pay any ‘bench fees’. These should be waived or covered by your supervisor, department, or faculty at King’s.

APPLICATION

STEP 1: By the deadline of 23:59 UK time on 1 January 2026, you MUST:

• Submit an application to King’s College London for a full-time MPhil/PhD degree programme with a 2026-27 start date (i.e., from 1 October 2026) using the King’s online admissions application system – King’s Apply*
• Contact a potential supervisor at King’s whom you would like to work with and include their name in your admissions application.
  • For guidance on finding a supervisor, please click here.
  • Your programme will normally sit within the same department as your proposed supervisor.
  • If you are unsure what programme to apply for, please check this with your proposed supervisor and/or department.
• Enter the correct funding code in your application:
  • On the Funding section of your online King’s Admissions Application Form, tick the box at Item 5 (Award Scheme Code or Name).
  • Enter the code: 2627-KCSC (please copy and paste the code exactly).

STEP 2: By the deadline of 23:59 UK time on 14 January 2026, you MUST: 

Ensure that you have submitted all the required supporting documentation as part of your online Admissions application, to include:

• Official degree transcripts and certificates, including professional/university-made translations. Please note that if your degree is from a Chinese institution, you must also provide your graduation certificate.
• Proof of English language proficiency (see below for further guidance).**
• References: some programmes will require two references, and some will only require one reference. Your online admissions application will indicate the correct number of references needed for your programme, and the admissions system will automatically submit a request to your given referee(s) once you have submitted your admissions application. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your referee(s) submit the reference(s) on time.
• Additional documents (if applicable): you may also be required to provide a personal statement, writing sample and/or research proposal. Requirements vary between programmes so please refer to the online prospectus and admissions application for specific guidance.

STEP 3: Submit a separate application to the CSC:

• If you are selected for nomination by King’s for our K-CSC awards, we aim to issue you with a ‘Confirmation of Nomination’ letter on or just after 9 March 2026. Please use this letter alongside your admissions offer letter to apply separately to the CSC. Note that you must apply to the CSC’s ‘Collaborative channel’ NOT the ‘personal channel’.
• If you are currently in China, you must follow the local application procedures in China, or, if you are currently studying abroad, you may need to apply through a Chinese Embassy. For CSC guidance, please visit http://www.csc.edu.cn.
• Note that the CSC application process is separate to the process run by King’s College London.
• The CSC application period is normally 10-31 March, however, application deadlines for institutions within China may differ, so please check carefully.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE