CSC – UNIPI Joint Scholarship for PhD Programmes

40 scholarships to enrol in a full PhD programme at the University of Pisa


Application period at UniPi for academic year 2026-2027 will open from November 1st, 2025
(Application deadline at UniPi: January 31st, 2026)

 

Since 2015, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the University of Pisa have signed an agreement to offer every year 40 scholarships to talented Chinese students to study a full PhD programme at UniPi. If the selected Chinese students successfully complete the requirements of the designated PhD program at UniPi and defend their dissertation at UniPi, they will be conferred a degree at UniPi.

These are all the UniPi PhD programmes available for application:

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

  • Being citizens of PRC (overseas Chinese students may be eligible for application subject to CSC policy)
  • Being students who will complete a master degree by 31 december 2026
  • Having excellent knowledge of English.

The selection process is made of two parts:

  1. pre-selection by UNIPI to get an offer of admission;
  2. selection by CSC for the prospective awarding of a scholarship.

1. PRE-SELECTION BY UNIPI:

In order to get the pre-acceptance letter, prospective PhD students must fill in and submit this form by 31 January 2026, by specifying the PhD programme of interest and attaching:

  • CV;
  • Research project;
  • Master degree certificate with translation in English (if already obtained);
  • Transcripts (marksheet) with translation in English;
  • Copy of a valid Passport with translation in English;
  • Motivation statement signed is optional;
  • Reference letter(s) is optional (university letterhead and stamp and signature by a professor are mandatory);
  • English language knowledge certificate.

2. SELECTION BY CSC:

Once UNIPI notified the admission, successful applicants will then have to apply for CSC funding (see CSC call once published).

Between March and June 2026, CSC will review the applications according to CSC requirements and priorities, and provide UNIPI with a final list of scholarship recipients and inform the successful candidates.

UNIPI will accept ONLY the candidates who obtain the CSC Scholarship.

UNIPI will offer a tuition fee waiver, which covers:

  • registration/tuition fee;
  • thesis defense fee; the necessary resources and equipment needed to study;
  • the facilities and resources including study space, laboratory access, computer use, network and a library.

The successful applicant will be part of the research groups of professors with official access to their respective research funds.

UNIPI will give all of the required help to the successful applicants for access to accommodation, banking and visa formalities, and will provide a free Italian language course.

For further info please write to cooperations@unipi.it

NOTICE: Candidates interested in applying to the University of Pisa outside the CSC grant agreement will follow a regular admission procedure.