CSC at Waikato
Waikato partners with the China Scholarship Council to support Chinese PhD students with tuition, a living stipend, and full doctoral support in a welcoming research environment.
The University of Waikato is proud to partner with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to support scholars from China to study in New Zealand. Through these scholarships, outstanding students have the opportunity to pursue their PhD studies in Hamilton or Tauranga, working alongside world-leading researchers in a welcoming, culturally rich environment.
The University of Waikato will support up to 20 new CSC PhD scholars per year.
The CSC provides financial support to Chinese students undertaking doctoral study overseas. Successful applicants who choose Waikato will benefit from:
- Tuition fees covered by the University of Waikato for up to 48 months.
- A living allowance provided by the China Scholarship Council.
- Access to Waikato’s comprehensive doctoral support services and vibrant international student community.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
- Meet the entry requirements for doctoral study at the University of Waikato.
- Follow the PhD and Doctoral Application process, including being invited to apply to study by a Waikato academic supervisor and ultimately receive an offer of place.
- Meet the conditions set by the China Scholarship Council.
Please note that CSC will not accept conditional offers, including those conditional on meeting English Language entry requirements. Therefore, you must meet the University of Waikato’s entry requirements and have been provided an unconditional offer prior to the CSC Scholarship deadline.
How to apply
- Apply for admission to doctoral study at the University of Waikato. You’ll need to identify and confirm a potential supervisor.
- Complete the Expression of Interest form stating your intent to apply for CSC funding.
- Once you have received your Offer of Place at the University of Waikato, you can apply directly to the China Scholarship Council for funding.
- If awarded, your CSC scholarship will cover tuition fees from University of Waikato and provide a living stipend from the CSC.
Key dates
- You can apply to study at the University and complete your EOI at any time. However, the CSC has it’s own deadlines for applications. We may not be able to complete our processes in time for you to meet the CSC deadline if your application is incomplete or if you only submit an application close to the CSC deadline.
- We recommend all CSC EOI and Applications to Enrol are completed by 31 January annually to be considered.
- We recommend contacting potential supervisors and submitting your Waikato application well in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You should apply for admission to doctoral study at the University of Waikato first. Once you have your Offer of Place and confirmed supervisor, you can then apply to the China Scholarship Council (CSC).
Completing an expression of interest is mandatory for all scholars to ensure we can fast-track your application to meet CSC deadlines. These should be completed by January each year.
The University of Waikato will waive your tuition fees for up to 48 months. The CSC provides your living allowance and, in some cases, support for travel and health insurance. The Student Services Fee is not covered by this scholarship.
No. CSC scholarships are awarded for full-time doctoral study only.
We recommend contacting a potential supervisor and starting your Waikato application at least 3 months before our annual closing date of January.
Follow the instructions on the PhD and Doctoral Application process. You’ll need to contact potential supervisors directly to discuss your proposed research.
You may still be able to take up your doctoral place at Waikato, but you would need to secure alternative funding to cover your tuition and living costs.
For details on CSC’s requirements you should consult the CSC website.
No. If you are offered both, you will need to select and accept only one.
Yes. If you are studying for a PhD in China but your research would benefit from time spent in New Zealand, then a supervisor at the University of Waikato may be willing to host you. If they are, the relevant Division/Faculty will send you a letter of invitation, and you can use that letter to apply for CSC funding and for your visa. As you will not be an enrolled student at the University of Waikato, you do not need to complete an online application for admission. We suggest you ask your supervisor in China to first contact the potential Waikato supervisor so they know that your Chinese supervisor is supportive of you spending time overseas during your studies.
Contact us
If you have any questions about applying for a CSC–Waikato doctoral scholarship, please contact us.