China Scholarship Council (CSC) University of Sussex UK Scholarships

The University of Sussex and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) offer joint scholarships for outstanding PhD students and visiting scholars from China. The University of Sussex will cover tuition fees, while CSC will provide a living allowance. The scholarship is described as a three-year joint scholarship for PhD students and support for visiting scholars for up to 12 months.

The award is for postgraduate research. Applicants must be citizens of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application and either permanently resident in China or studying overseas, with those working overseas not eligible. It also requires applicants to be classified as an international fee paying Chinese student, and to commence academic studies in the United Kingdom in September or January.

Eligibility includes meeting the eligibility criteria set by CSC and meeting the University’s English Language Requirements, which are higher for Arts and Humanities subjects. The University explains that candidates with a PhD offer conditional on obtaining English language qualifications are not considered eligible for an award by CSC, whereas candidates with conditional offers dependent on UG or Master’s results are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Sussex fee coverage is for three years, and CSC provides a living allowance (duration stated for visiting scholars as up to 12 months). Successful candidates must return to China upon completion of their studies. The University also states that applicants must have both an offer of a PhD place from Sussex and scholarship funding awarded by the China Scholarship Council to secure the Sussex funding.

• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria set by the CSC.
• Applicants must commence their academic studies in the United Kingdom in September 2026 or January 2027.
• Applicants must be citizens of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application.
• Applicants must be either permanently resident in China or studying overseas.
• Those working overseas are not eligible.
• Applicants must be classified as an international fee paying Chinese student.
• Successful candidates must return to China upon completion of their studies.
• Applicants must meet the University’s English Language Requirements, which are higher for Arts and Humanities subjects.
• Candidates with a PhD offer conditional on obtaining English language qualifications are not considered eligible for an award by CSC.
• Candidates with conditional offers dependent on UG or Master’s results are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
• Arts, humanities and social sciences applicants are expected to hold, by September 2026 or January 2027, the UK equivalent of a first class honours degree and a masters degree.
• Science and engineering applicants are expected to hold, by September 2026 or January 2027, the UK equivalent of a first class honours degree and preferably a relevant postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a masters degree.
• Current 1st year Chinese Sussex PhD students are eligible to apply.
• 1+ 3 Chinese Sussex students who are in their '1' year of their studies (Masters year) are eligible to apply.
• Visiting PhD students can apply for a maximum of 12 months.

• Sussex covers tuition fees for three years.
• CSC provides a living allowance.
• Visiting scholars: support is for up to 12 months.

1. Complete the online Sussex PhD application form by the deadline of 12 February 2026 16:00.
2. Complete the Sussex CSC Scholarship register of interest form by the deadline of 12 February 2026 16:00.
3. To secure the Sussex funding, have both an offer of a PhD place from Sussex and scholarship funding awarded by the China Scholarship Council.

• Online Sussex PhD application form.
• Sussex CSC Scholarship register of interest form.