A joint Chinese Academy of Sciences / World Academy of Sciences fellowship funding full PhDs in science and technology for students from developing countries. You get a monthly stipend of RMB 7,000–8,000, waived tuition, a paid trip to China, and a PhD at UCAS or USTC — two of the world's top-ranked research universities.
Why it is notable: up to 200 awards a year with a FIXED annual deadline (31 March every year, stated on official CAS pages), making it one of the most predictable China PhD routes; the stipend steps up after you pass the doctoral qualification test.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Monthly stipend: RMB 7,000/month (before passing the qualification test) / RMB 8,000/month (after passing) — covers accommodation, living expenses, local travel and health insurance
Full tuition waiver + application fee waiver
One-trip travel from the home country to China to begin the fellowship (TWAS covers 80 awardees from developing countries; CAS covers the other 120; awardees already in China at application get no travel reimbursement)
Visa fee lump sum: USD 65 (once, after arrival in China)
Centralized training: up to 1 year of courses at IC-UCAS Beijing including 4 months of compulsory Chinese language & culture
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This fellowship is offered for PhD programs — you need a completed Master's degree before the fall semester begins.
Who can apply
nationals of developing countries other than China. Must NOT hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in a developed country.
Experience
No experience required, but a strong academic record is expected.
Language Certificate
proof of knowledge of English or Chinese (e.g. studies taken in these languages, certificates).
maximum 35 years on 31 December in the year of application.
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
eligible = nationals of developing countries (non-China). Excluded = Chinese nationals; holders of temporary/permanent residency visas in developed countries.
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Nationality
national of a developing country other than China; no temporary/permanent residency visa in a developed country.
02
Age
maximum 35 years on 31 December of the application year.
03
Qualification
Master's degree before the fall semester; proof of English or Chinese; evidence of intent to return home after completion.
04
Supervisor
must secure an eligible UCAS/USTC/CAS host supervisor's agreement BEFORE applying (supervisor's comment page, signed + stamped).
05
Documents
the full 12-item package above; reference letters on official headed paper (email-body references NOT accepted); all materials in English or Chinese.
06
One application
UCAS or USTC only (not both); one TWAS program per year; not currently doing a PhD in China.
Document checklist
01(1) admission application form
02(2) fellowship application form
03(3) supervisor's comment page
04(4) 2 reference letters
05(5) notarized degree certificate
06(6) notarized transcripts
07(7) English/Chinese proof
08(8) CV
09(9) detailed research proposal
10(10) passport copy
11(11) published papers (title pages + abstracts)
12(12) Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Bring ORIGINALS of degrees/transcripts on arrival or lose the fellowship.
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Visa type: X1 (study over 180 days), with the admission notice + JW201/JW202 form; USD 65 visa-fee lump sum reimbursed after arrival.
Application Procedure
6 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
CHECK eligibility against the General Conditions (age
nationality, master's in hand).
→
02
FIND an eligible host supervisor at UCAS/USTC
or a CAS institute — email them with your CV + research proposal and secure their agreement to host you.
→
03
PREPARE the package
Admission Application Form for International Students + CAS-TWAS President's Fellowship application form + supervisor's comment page (signed/stamped) + 2 reference letters (on headed paper, signed/dated — preferably from
↓
06
Selection ~June–July 2027 (pattern)
program starts September 2027.
←
05
Submit everything before 31 March 2027 (Beijing
time).
←
04
FILE the online application via the UCAS
or USTC admission system (create your account; do NOT send documents directly to the fellowship sub-offices).
Application milestones
31 Mar 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official University of Chinese Academy of Sciences or… platform.
What is the deadline? A: 31 March every year, per the official CAS institute call pages — so 31 March 2027 for the 2027 cycle.How much is the stipend? A: RMB 7,000/month until you pass the UCAS/USTC doctoral qualification test, then RMB 8,000/month. Fail the test twice and the fellowship is terminated.Is travel to China covered? A: Yes — one trip only, to begin the fellowship. TWAS covers travel for 80 awardees from developing countries; CAS covers the other 120. If you are already in China when yoCan I apply through both UCAS and USTC? A: No — one or the other; dual applications disqualify you.Do I need to find a supervisor first? A: Yes — you must identify and contact an eligible host supervisor and get their agreement (with a signed/stamped comment page) before filing.I'm already doing a PhD in China. Can I apply? A: No — current PhD students at any Chinese university/institution are ineligible.Is there an age limit? A: Yes — maximum 35 on 31 December of the application year.What happens after the 4 years? A: The fellowship funds up to 4 years including the first-year centralized training; you must provide evidence you will return to your home country on completion.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
China · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences or…