China Scholarship Council (CSC)

The University of Newcastle and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) jointly support eligible candidates from the People’s Republic of China to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Newcastle. Successful candidates will enrol in a University of Newcastle PhD program and, upon completion, be awarded a PhD from the University of Newcastle. The program provides an opportunity to undertake high-quality research across more than 60 research specialisations.

The University anticipates offering 10–12 scholarships in the 2027 admission round.

Application Timeline

1 October 2026 – Applications open

22 January 2027 – Applications close

1 March 2027 – Outcomes sent from this date

March 2027 – CSC application platform opens

Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Scholarship Benefits

CSC provides:

  • A living allowance for the duration of the scholarship
  • Return international airfare between China and Australia
  • Student visa application fees
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

The University of Newcastle provides:

  • A tuition fee scholarship covering full PhD tuition fees
  • A scholarship top-up to align the total stipend with the University’s standard HDR scholarship rate
  • Direct research cost funding of up to $10,000 over the life of your in time candidature

The benefits outlined above apply to candidates supported through the Joint University of Newcastle-CSC Scholarship Program.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen and permanent resident of the People’s Republic of China;
  • Meet the University of Newcastle admission and English language requirements;
  • Be eligible to receive an Australian Student Visa;
  • Have appropriate supervision available in their proposed area of research;
  • Hold an Offer of Admission from the University of Newcastle before applying for CSC funding; and
  • Satisfy any the selection criteria set by the China Scholarship Council

We look forward to receiving your application and supporting you throughout your research journey at the University of Newcastle.

How to Apply

Step 1: Apply to the University of Newcastle for PhD Admission

Before applying to CSC, you’ll need to apply for a PhD at the University of Newcastle and receive an offer of admission.

Please visit the How to Apply page for guidance on locating a supervisory team and the supporting documentation that you are required to submit. Remember to indicate that you are applying for a CSC scholarship.

Step 2: Apply to the CSC for Scholarship Funding

Once you have received an offer of admission from the University of Newcastle, you will need to submit a separate scholarship application and supporting documentation directly to the CSC by the relevant CSC deadline. The University of Newcastle requires CSC applicants to have an offer of admission before applying to the CSC for scholarship funding.

You should contact the CSC Scholarship Liaison Officer at your university in China for advice about the CSC application process, requirements and deadlines.

The CSC application must be submitted directly to the CSC, not to the University of Newcastle and you should apply for the maximum duration scholarship of 4 years.

Step 3: Provide Your CSC Scholarship Outcome

If you are awarded a scholarship by CSC, you will need to provide evidence of your CSC scholarship award to the University of Newcastle. An unconditional of admission will then be issued to you if you have met all outstanding conditions.

Step 4: Accept your Offer

You will need to return your signed offer acceptance to the University of Newcastle. You will then receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) that you must use to apply for your Student Visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. Please be aware that student visa processing can take three months or longer, so we encourage you to lodge your visa application as early as possible.

If you have any questions, contact Graduate Research at graduate-research@newcastle.edu.au