SMU-China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarship Scheme

Overview

This programme is open to Citizens and Permanent Residents of the People's Republic of China. A selected Chinese scholar is able to take up the following under this programme.

• Pursue a full-time SMU academic research PhD programme.
   
• Enroll in courses or undertake research at SMU under the co-supervision of an SMU faculty member if the scholar is currently pursuing his/her PhD studies at a Chinese university.

Candidates Pursuing a Full-time SMU Academic Research PhD Programme

The SMU academic research PhD programmes are listed below.

• PhD in Accounting
   
• PhD in Business
   
• PhD in Economics
   
• PhD in Psychology
   
• PhD in Computer Science
   
• PhD in Information Systems

Entry Criteria

• Candidates should be Citizens and Permanent Residents of the People’s Republic of China.
   
• Candidates should not be working outside China at the moment of application for the scholarship.
   
• Successful scholars must return to China upon completion of their PhD studies.
   
• Candidates should hold an unconditional offer letter provided by SMU. Hence, candidates should fulfill SMU’s academic entry requirements for the relevant programmes of study (including a high level of English proficiency). 
   
• Candidates should pursue their studies in one of the priority academic areas identified by SMU and CSC.  Should applicants be interested in other research areas of study, this can also be considered but will be subject to approval by SMU and CSC.

Scholarship Information

• For successful candidates, the scholarship includes the following.
  
  - SMU will cover full tuition fees.
  
  - CSC will consider their application for provision of living allowance (as prescribed by the Chinese Government, which includes health insurance), a return international airfare to Singapore by the most economical route, and visa application fees.
   
• The scholarship is for up to 4 years. If the 5th year of study is required, SMU would provide opportunities for continued financial support for qualified PhD students to take up appointments as Research or Teaching Assistants or even Graduate Instructors.

Application Procedure

• Candidates should apply for admission into SMU PhD programmes by the stipulated deadline of 31 January of the intake year. The Academic Year will commence in August that year.
   
• When final selection is made, SMU would send the offer letters to successful candidates by 10 March of each year.
   
• Once the successful candidates have received the offers, they must submit the application to CSC for consideration and evaluation of the relevant funding. The following documents would have to be submitted online at: http://apply.csc.edu.cn. 
  
  - CSC Application Form
  - CSC Employer Reference Form
  - SMU Application for the PhD Programme (Complete)
  - SMU's Unconditional Offer Letter
  
  The application period is from 10 March to 31 March each year.
   
• Candidates can expect to hear about the application outcome from CSC/SMU by sometime in May of each year.

Chinese Students based in Chinese Universities Undertaking Courses and/or Research at SMU

Entry Criteria

• Candidates should be Citizens and Permanent Residents of the People’s Republic of China.
   
• Candidates should not be working outside China at the moment of application for the scholarship.
   
• Successful scholars must return to China upon completion of their research.
   
• Apart from being current PhD students at CSC-approved Chinese universities, candidates must also fulfill SMU’s academic entry requirements (including a high level of English proficiency).
   
• Candidates should pursue research in one of the priority academic areas identified by SMU and CSC.  Should applicants be interested in other research areas, this can also be considered but will be subject to approval by SMU and CSC.

Scholarship Information

• For successful candidates, the scholarship includes the following.
  
  - SMU will cover full tuition fees and research fees.
  
  - CSC will consider their application for provision of living allowance (as prescribed by the Chinese Government, which includes health insurance), a return international airfare to Singapore by the most economical route, and visa application fees.
   
• Successful candidates would receive funding of up to 2 years. Please note that the period of stay is subject to visa approval. Currently, the approved visa period for such a programme is up to a maximum period of 12 months, and is non-renewable.

Application Procedure

• Interested candidates from CSC-approved Chinese universities who would like to take up courses or undertake research at SMU, would have to inform their respective supervisors of their intention. Their supervisors should in turn contact their counterparts at SMU to ascertain the suitability of such an arrangement.
   
• Once suitability of the arrangement has been ascertained, candidates can then go ahead and apply to SMU via email at phd [at] smu.edu.sg. This should be done by the stipulated deadline of 31 January of the intake year. The Academic Year will commence in August that year.
   
• Candidates would require to indicate the following information in the email
  
  - Courses/research modules that you would like to take under the SMU-CSC Co-supervision Scholarship Scheme.
  
  - The SMU School that you are applying for.
  
  - The faculty member whom you would be working with. You would need to ensure that you seek the respective faculty member’s agreement to host you before you apply. Please attach the email from the faculty member indicating that he/she has accepted this arrangement of hosting you at SMU.
   
• When final selection is made, SMU would send the offer letters to successful candidates by 10 March of each year.
   
• Once the successful candidates have received the offers, they must submit the application to CSC for consideration and evaluation of the relevant funding. The following documents would have to be submitted online at: http://apply.csc.edu.cn. 
  
  - CSC Application Form
  - CSC Employer Reference Form
  - SMU Application for the PhD Programme (Complete)
  - SMU's Unconditional Offer Letter
  - Communications with Supervisor at Home University
  
  The application period is from 10 March to 31 March each year.
   
• Candidates can expect to hear about the application outcome from CSC/SMU by sometime in May of each year.
   
• Candidates may be awarded credits for these courses, which count towards their PhD requirements, solely at the discretion of their home university in China. Candidates will not be conferred an SMU degree.

Back to Top