Applicants currently in the first year of a PhD programme at Queen's in the 2025-26 academic year must ensure that only Step 2 is completed by 27 January 2026.

Step 1 – Apply for Admission

• Applications for PhD admission must be made electronically by Tuesday 27 January 2026 via the Queen's Portal. Late applications or incomplete will not be accepted.
• Scanned copies of all academic transcripts and certificates (from Bachelor and Masters degrees as applicable), as well as English language test results should be uploaded at the time of application.  Official translations must be provided.
• Any outstanding documentation must be submitted to Queen’s University by the Tuesday 27 January 2026, in order to be considered. Applicants should specify in the Funding section of their online application that they will be applying for the Queen's University/China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarship Scheme.
• All required documentation must be submitted by the closing date, otherwise the CSC scholarship application will be deemed ineligible.
• It is recommended that applicants contact the relevant University School regarding a suitable research project and possible supervisor, preferably before submitting a PhD application.

Successful applicants will be issued with an offer letter confirming conditional or unconditional admission. An unconditional offer of admission will not be issued unless we have received all necessary documentation to support an application, including:

• Two academic references
• Scanned copies of official transcripts for completed programmes as well as those currently in progress. Final Bachelor Degree and Graduation Certificates (and official translations) for programmes already complete must also be provided.
• English Language test certificate acceptable to the University.

Please note that upon fulfilling any outstanding requirements for admission to a PhD programme (for example, provision of a satisfactory Masters qualification result), students are normally expected to commence their PhD programme in October 2026.

Step 2 – Apply for Queen’s/CSC Funding

• Applicants must also submit an online Queen’s University Belfast/China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarships 2026 Scholarship Declaration Form (this will be available in due course) to the Admissions and Access Service, indicating their interest in being considered for a Scholarship.
• The deadline to submit the declaration form for CSC funding to Queen’s University Belfast (with all the necessary documentation) Tuesday 27 January 2026.  No late applications will be considered.
• Selection Process: After the deadline for the submission QUB-CSC applications (27 January 2026), the University selection panel will convene in late January/early February 2026 to review all applications and finalise nominations.
• A notification of nomination for a QUB-CSC joint award will be issued to successful applicants in mid February 2026. Those nominated for a QUB-CSC joint award will be required to reply to Queen’s University Belfast by  04 March 2026, advising if they wish to accept the nomination with a view to submitting an application to CSC. Following this, the final list of nominated candidates will be sent to the China Scholarship Council for consideration.

Step 3 – Apply to CSC

Applicants must submit a separate application to the CSC by its stated deadline, by following the local application procedures in China. Note that you must apply to the CSC’s ‘Collaborative channel’ NOT the ‘personal channel’. Please select the option: CSC – QUB Joint Programme’ (国外合作项目-与英国贝尔法斯特女王大学合作奖学金  

Applicants who are commencing the first year of their PhD programmes in October 2025 should ensure they select 48 months as the duration of the award period.

Applicants must also satisfy the selection criteria set out by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) by completing the CSC Application Form and CSC Employer Reference Form which can be found at http://www.csc.edu.cn/.  Applications to CSC must be submitted online by the closing date which will be published on the official CSC website (estimated to be mid-late March 2026). Prospective applicants should check the CSC website for full details.

Please note that all three of the above steps must be completed.