China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships

Top students from China are encouraged to apply to study for their PhD at the University of Auckland through a scholarship programme developed in collaboration with the China Scholarship Council (CSC). These pages detail the CSC-University of Auckland (UoA) collaborative PhD agreement; other pathways also exist for CSC scholars to study at the UoA, as detailed in Table 1 below.

The CSC-UoA collaborative PhD programme aims to foster long-term research cooperation between the University of Auckland and Chinese universities. Students who receive a scholarship are provided with a living allowance for up to four years (at a value prescribed by the Chinese government), return airfare to New Zealand by the most economical route, student visa fees, and the cost of health insurance for international students. The University of Auckland will waive the tuition fees for students who receive a scholarship under the University's collaborative agreement with CSC.

Please note that we will provide fee waivers only to successful candidates who apply through the collaboration channel (国外合作项目), which is covered by a formal memorandum of understanding between CSC and the University. CSC scholarships recipients who have applied via other channels (e.g., individual agreements) do not qualify for a fee waiver, as detailed in Table 1 below.

The University of Auckland will support up to 100 new CSC PhD scholars a year under the CSC-UoA collaborative PhD agreement.

Applications for a CSC-UoA collaborative PhD scholarship for study at the University of Auckland open on 1 August 2026 and close 1 February 2027.

To be considered for a CSC-UoA collaborative PhD scholarship for study at the University of Auckland, you must submit an application for a place in the doctoral programme before 1 February. You must apply for admission to the PhD Programme and indicate your intent to apply for a CSC scholarship through the collaborative channel.

Applications received after this date will not be eligible for consideration for a CSC scholarship. 

We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure your application has enough time to be assessed. 

1. Search our website to find a suitable supervisor and research project. Contact the potential supervisor to see whether they can support your application. Once you have a potential supervisor's support, apply for admission as the next step. 
   
2. Review the University of Auckland’s doctoral application procedures.
3. Submit an online Application for Admission to the University of Auckland before the closing date (1 February). The sooner you apply, the better. 
4. In your online application, under the funding section, list "CSC Scholarship" under the name of the scholarship or funding source you have or intend to apply for. This allows us to prioritise your application.
5. If we can make you an offer of admission, we will issue you an offer of place as soon as possible. Please note that CSC will not accept offers conditional on English language proficiency. Therefore, you must meet the University of Auckland's English language proficiency requirements to be endorsed by the University for a CSC scholarship.
6. CSC-UoA collaborative PhD agreement fee waiver endorsement letters will be issued to successful applicants (国外合作项目) on or before 1 March. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via email on or before 1 March.
7. The Fee Waiver Endorsement letter only applies to CSC Applicants under the Collaborative Channel (国外合作项目, i.e., via mutual agreement between the CSC and the University of Auckland). This fee waiver endorsement does not apply to CSC applicants under the Individual Channel, Joint PhD Channel, or other channels, as shown in Table 1 below.
8. Submit your scholarship application to the CSC. Please note that the University of Auckland does not recognise individual application channels. Queries about these must be directed to the CSC. 
9. Please do not contact the University to ask if you have received CSC funding. Successful recipients of a CSC scholarship will be notified by CSC.

Remember: CSC has an application deadline. The University of Auckland cannot complete its processes in time for you to meet this CSC deadline if your application is incomplete.

Please see below the documents you need to submit as part of the University of Auckland Application for Admission:

• Your academic transcripts to date (undergraduate and postgraduate)
• The grading scale of your home university
• Your degree certificate (if available)
• An initial statement of research intent. You will work with your proposed supervisor on a fuller statement as part of the assessment process.
• Your English language proficiency score (required)
• An academic CV/resumé 

You will also be asked to provide two letters of academic recommendation. One of these letters must be from your sub-doctoral thesis supervisor. You will be sent a link from the University of Auckland during the application process that you must provide directly to your referees (please note that the University of Auckland will not contact your referees directly, and you will need to provide them with the link once you receive it).

For more information in Chinese about the University of Auckland and China Scholarship Council joint scholarship, you can visit the CSC website and the dedicated CSC-UoA scholarship page

Please review the following brochure to learn about our Signature Research Areas, projects, and academics who have identified that they are available to accept CSC student applications. Note that you are welcome to contact University of Auckland staff members who are not listed in this brochure to discuss additional project and supervision opportunities.

Do I need to take an English test before I apply to the University of Auckland or CSC?
Yes. In order to be eligible for CSC funding and to be endorsed by University of Auckland, you must meet the University's English language proficiency requirements.

Can I apply for both the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship (UoADS) and CSC? 
Yes.

Can I be awarded a UoADS and CSC funding?
No. If you are offered both, you need to select and accept only one.

When will I know the outcome of my application?
It normally takes at least three months to assess PhD applications, once you have provided all of the required information. The length of time it takes depends on many factors, including how long it takes you to respond to any requirements set by your proposed supervisor, e.g. revising your statement of research intent. Note also that New Zealand summer holidays fall between December and January, which may slow down the process. The sooner you apply, the better.

How do I get a document stating the University of Auckland will waive my fees, which is a mandatory condition for a CSC scholarship?
The University of Auckland will consider all new applicants who indicate they wish to be considered for CSC funding.

If you apply and are selected under our agreement with CSC (Collaborative Channel - 国外合作项目), the University of Auckland will send you a CSC tuition fee waiver letter on or before 1 March. It will state that if you are successful in obtaining a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council (Collaborative Channel - 国外合作项目), your tuition fees for the PhD programme will be covered by the agreement between the University of Auckland and the CSC for the duration of your scholarship. If you are not selected for endorsement, you will not receive a CSC tuition fee waiver letter and will be advised on or before 1 March. 

I do not have a potential supervisor. What should I do?
We expect you to spend time on our website, looking at the research strengths of our academics. Please contact suitable potential supervisors before you begin your online application. You are more likely to be offered a place in the programme if you secure supervisory support before you submit an application. 

Is it possible for me to be a teaching or research assistant during my PhD studies at the University? 
It may be possible to find employment in your department or faculty, but the University of Auckland does not guarantee employment for any scholarship holder. 

I'm already enrolled in my PhD at the University of Auckland and now want to apply for a CSC scholarship. How do I get a tuition fee waiver letter?
The University of Auckland's agreement with CSC is for students who have not yet enrolled in our PhD programme. No one who is already enrolled is entitled to a tuition fee letter. If a faculty Dean/LSRI Director (or their nominee) is willing to support your request for a tuition fee waiver, the University of Auckland may consider whether it will offer you a tuition fee waiver letter.

I have a CSC scholarship to study at another university. Can I transfer my scholarship to the University of Auckland? 
We do not support CSC transfer from other universities within New Zealand. We may consider a transfer from other international universities in exceptional circumstances.

Does the University of Auckland accept visiting CSC scholars? 
Yes. If you are studying for a PhD in China, but wish to spend some time in Auckland, a supervisor at the University of Auckland may be willing to host you. As you will not be an enrolled student at the University of Auckland, you do not need to complete an online application for admission. We suggest you ask your supervisor in China to first contact the potential Auckland supervisor, so they know that your Chinese supervisor is supportive of you spending time overseas during your studies. All visiting students will be required to satisfy the University's Visitor Access Policy; your Auckland host will be able to provide more details if required. Your Auckland host must seek approval from the Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Graduate Research (PVC GGR). The deadline for applications for approval PVCGGR is 1 February. If your application is accepted by the PVC GGR, you will be provided with a letter of invitation from the University of Auckland.

What are the visa requirements for studying in Auckland, New Zealand?
Please refer to Applying for a visa.

How can I find out more about living and studying in Auckland, New Zealand?
Please refer to Living in Auckland.

For more information on admission to postgraduate study at the University of Auckland visit Postgraduate admission.

The China Scholarship Council

Level 13, Building A3 No.9 Chegongzhuang Avenue
Beijing 100044
P.R. China
Phone: +86 (0)10 6609 3900
Facsimile: +86 (0)10 8839 3620
Website: www.csc.edu.cn

For application forms and further details about the CSC application process, applicants should visit the CSC website.