Yes. Master's students, first year PhD students and final year undergraduate students can apply for this scholarship.
UCD China Scholarship Scheme (CSC)
September 2025 entry
The online application process
closed January 31st 2025.
UCD and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007, renewed in 2011, for the purposes of providing high-quality research training to qualified Chinese students from Chinese universities/research institutions.
This is an exciting opportunity for Chinese students to benefit from studying in one of Europe’s leading research-driven universities.
UCD supports applications for:
- the UCD CSC Scholarship Scheme – 4 year PhD student scholarships
- the General CSC Scholarship Scheme, which funds both research visits and 4 year full-time PhD programmes.
Eligibility criteria
- Candidates must be citizens of the People’s Republic of China.
- Candidates can be resident in China or outside China.
- Applications are only accepted from students who have the agreement of a UCD academic member of staff to be their supervisor.
- Applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in English language and, at a minimum, meet the UCD English language proficiency requirements (noting that a number of UCD Schools will require greater than the minimum scores).
- Candidates should be intending to pursue study/research in one of the priority academic areas identified by UCD and CSC:
- Energy, Resource, Environment, Agriculture, Manufacture, Information Technology, Life Science, Food and Health, Space Study, Maritime Study, Nanotechnology, New Materials, Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, Business and Law. However, applicants to other study/research areas will also be considered.
- Candidates should satisfy the selection criteria set out by CSC by completing the (opens in a new window)CSC Application Form and CSC Employer Reference Form.
- Successful candidates must return to China upon completion of their PhD studies and/or research.
How to apply
UCD CSC application process |
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|---|---|
| 1 |
Approach a UCD academic member of staff to ask them be your supervisor as early as possible. |
| 2 |
September 2025 entry, the online application process closed January 31st 2025. |
| 3 | The online applications address is www.ucd.ie/apply.
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| 4 | Please note that there is NO Application Fee associated with this scheme. |
| 5 |
You will need to upload the following documents:
Note: Original hardcopies will be required for verification purposes for successful applicants prior to registration to UCD. |
UCD CSC scholarship process
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Step 1
Applicant applies to UCD via online applications
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Step 2
Applicant is approved as PhD student at UCD School (subject to receipt of CSC Scholarship)
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Step 3
UCD offer letter sent to candidate and is part of the candidate's CSC application
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Step 4
CSC assessment of UCD-approved candidates (March/April)
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Step 5
UCD CSC Scholarship results posted in June
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Step 6
UCD CSC scholars begin their PhD programme in UCD (usually in September)
CSC Frequently asked questions
No, applications are accepted from Chinese students for both:
- a research visit to UCD for a period of 6–24 months as part of the PhD student’s doctoral education
- a 4-year, funded, full-time PhD degree programme in UCD.
Yes, you will need a UCD academic member of staff to support your application. You should conduct your own research to (opens in a new window)find a potential supervisor and learn about the research carried out at UCD.
IELTS 6.5 (each band is not lower than 6.0) or TOEFL 90. Examination results must not be less than 2 years old on the date of application submission deadline.
Your IELTS test result must be provided before the deadline (i.e. 31 January).
The living allowance is €1,350 per month from the CSC. This is insufficient to cover the cost of living in Dublin and will need to be supplemented by additional funds. It is recommended that you seek accommodation off campus to reduce costs. See further information from UCD Global on off-campus accommodation options.
The deadline for applications was Friday, 31st January 2025.
Yes, the QQ number for UCD-CSC Ireland is 113010773.
There is no fee associated with the UCD CSC Scholarship Scheme.