ANSO Scholarship China 2027: Fully Funded Master’s & PhD; Eligibility, Documents, Deadline
Introduction: China’s Most Research-Focused Fully Funded Scholarship
Every year, thousands of international students search for a fully funded scholarship in China, and most of them only know about the CSC (Chinese Government Scholarship). That’s why the CAS-ANSO Scholarship remains one of the smartest opportunities for Master’s and PhD applicants: it is prestigious, generous, and still less crowded than CSC.
Funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) through the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) — a non-profit international scientific organization founded in 2018 with 37 member institutions worldwide — the scholarship (formerly known as the ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents) has supported young scientists globally since 2019. Each year it funds up to 200 Master’s students and 300 PhD students to study at two of China’s top research universities and over 100 CAS research institutes.
If you are planning for the 2027 intake (September 2027 enrollment), this guide covers everything: benefits, eligibility, the critical role of the acceptance letter, required documents, the step-by-step application process, and the expected timeline.
Important note: This year UCAS have not announced dates yet, but students should prepared all documentations, because going to be open soon.
ANSO Scholarship China 2027 at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship name | CAS-ANSO Scholarship (formerly ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents) |
| Host country | China |
| Host institutions | USTC, UCAS, and CAS research institutes across China |
| Degree levels | Master’s & PhD (STEM fields) |
| Funding type | Fully funded |
| Number of awards | Up to 500 per year (200 Master’s + 300 PhD) |
| Monthly stipend | Master’s: 3,000 CNY · PhD: 6,000–7,000 CNY |
| Duration | Up to 36 months (Master’s) · 48 months (PhD) |
| Application fee | Waived (free) |
| Expected application window | Mid-October 2026 – 31 January 2027 (Beijing Time) |
| Eligible nationalities | All countries except Chinese citizens |
| Results | Expected June–July 2027 |
| Enrollment | September 2027 |
Who Are the Host Institutions?
1. USTC — University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei)
One of China’s elite C9 League universities, world-famous for physics, chemistry, computer science, quantum research, and engineering. USTC applicants follow the Application Guideline for Graduate Applicants to USTC and apply through the USTC international admission system.
2. UCAS — University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing)
A graduate-focused university directly backed by CAS, giving students access to 100+ CAS research institutes nationwide — from particle physics to biotechnology. UCAS applicants apply through the UCAS online admission system.
3. CAS Institutes
Your actual research may be conducted at a CAS institute (e.g., in Shanghai, Shenzhen, or other cities) while your degree is awarded by UCAS or USTC.
Critical rule: You are NOT allowed to apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship at both USTC and UCAS simultaneously. Doing so leads to automatic disqualification. Choose one.
Scholarship Benefits: What Does CAS-ANSO Cover?
The CAS-ANSO Scholarship is genuinely fully funded:
- ✅ Full tuition waiver for the entire degree
- ✅ Monthly stipend:
- Master’s: 3,000 CNY/month (up to 36 months)
- PhD: 6,000 or 7,000 CNY/month (up to 48 months) — the higher rate applies after you pass the university’s qualification test
- ✅ Application fee waiver — applying costs nothing
- ✅ Comprehensive health insurance
- ✅ Travel subsidy — one international trip from your home country to China (note: applicants already residing in China at the time of application are not eligible for the travel subsidy)
- ✅ Visa/residence permit support
A word of honesty about the conditions: this scholarship is performance-based. Awardees must pass annual reviews and examinations. Master’s students who fail annual assessments can lose the scholarship; PhD students who fail the qualification test face suspension or termination. Publications produced during the scholarship must credit your institute and acknowledge “Sponsored by CAS-ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents.”
Bonus: ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship
PhD applicants from developing countries can also tick the box for the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship inside the same application. Up to 40 candidates per year are selected under this subcategory, with priority for applicants from Least Developed Countries and women in science. Same application, same deadline — just one extra checkbox.
Eligibility Criteria for ANSO Scholarship 2027
Based on the official requirements of the previous cycle (verify against the 2027 call when published):
- Nationality: You must be a non-Chinese citizen.
- Age limits (2026 call shown; 2027 cutoffs are expected to shift by one year):
- Master’s applicants: born after 1 January 1996 → expected born after 1 January 1997 for 2027
- PhD applicants: born after 1 January 1991 → expected born after 1 January 1992 for 2027
- Language proficiency: English or Chinese. IELTS is NOT mandatory — you can submit an English proficiency certificate or proof that your previous degree was taught in English.
- Academic requirements: You must meet the USTC or UCAS admission criteria for international students (relevant bachelor’s degree for Master’s applicants; relevant master’s degree for PhD applicants).
- Not currently studying the same degree level in China: If you are currently pursuing a master’s degree in China, you cannot apply for the ANSO master’s program; same rule applies to PhD.
- No other assignments: You cannot hold another scholarship or take up other assignments during the scholarship period.
- One university only: USTC or UCAS — never both.
The Acceptance Letter: The Most Important Part of Your ANSO Application
Here is what separates ANSO from most other scholarships: your application lives or dies with a supervisor.
Unlike CSC, where you can sometimes be placed without prior professor contact, the CAS-ANSO system is built around a supervisor endorsement:
- For USTC applicants: your prospective supervisor must email a scanned copy of the signed supervisor’s comment page to the USTC ANSO office before the deadline.
- For UCAS applicants: once your application passes the institute’s preliminary review, the system automatically emails your supervisor, who must log in and complete the required supervisor’s comment procedure before the deadline.
In practice, this means a professor’s acceptance letter (or written agreement to supervise you) is the single strongest — and effectively mandatory — component of a competitive application. Without a supervisor behind you, your file rarely moves forward.
How to Secure an ANSO Supervisor’s Acceptance Letter
- Start 3–4 months before the deadline. Supervisor response time averages 2–4 weeks, and professors’ supervision quotas fill early.
- Find professors on the official USTC/UCAS/CAS institute websites, in your exact field. Read the abstracts of their last three papers.
- Email them individually and specifically — reference their actual research, connect it to your background, and ask modestly (CV only in the first email). Never send copy-paste mass emails.
- Prioritize associate and young professors — they are building their groups and reply far more often than famous senior professors.
- Once a professor agrees, confirm they understand they must complete the supervisor comment procedure (USTC email or UCAS online system) before 31 January 2027 (expected).
Want a deeper strategy? Read our guide: Why Chinese Professors Are Not Replying — And How to Get an Acceptance Letter.
Required Documents Checklist (2027)
Prepare these documents early — notarization and translations can take 4–8 weeks:
- Passport copy (valid for at least 2 years recommended)
- Updated CV with your research background
- Degree certificates (or official pre-graduation proof if you are in your final year)
- Academic transcripts (full record)
- Research proposal/study plan (800–1,000+ words; aligned with your supervisor’s research direction)
- Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors (on letterhead, signed and dated) — note: the referee deadline is the same as the applicant deadline
- Supervisor acceptance letter/comment page (see section above)
- Language proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL/HSK or English-medium instruction certificate)
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form (requires blood tests and chest X-ray — book this early)
- Up to five published papers (if available — optional but strongly beneficial for PhD)
- Notarized English or Chinese translations of any document not already in English or Chinese
If selected, you must present the original hard copies of all uploaded documents to the scholarship office upon arrival in China — otherwise you will be disqualified.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1 — Choose USTC or UCAS (not both). Research which institution and which CAS institute fits your field. This is a one-way decision.
Step 2 — Secure a supervisor. Follow the acceptance letter strategy above. Get written agreement.
Step 3 — Create your account on the official online admission system (USTC or UCAS international admission portal).
Step 4 — Select “CAS-ANSO Scholarship” as your funding source inside the application. PhD applicants from developing countries: also tick the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship box if you want to be considered.
Step 5 — Upload all documents in the correct format. Double-check every scan.
Step 6 — Brief your referees and supervisor. Their deadline equals yours. Send reminders two weeks and three days before the cutoff.
Step 7 — Submit before the deadline (expected 31 January 2027, Beijing Time) and monitor your email and the portal — universities sometimes return applications for small corrections, and an unfixed returned application is not evaluated.
Expected Application Timeline for the 2027 Intake
| Period | What happens | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| September–October 2026 | 2027 call expected to open (2026 call opened 15 October 2025) | Finalize supervisor agreement; prepare notarized documents |
| November–December 2026 | Application window open | Complete the physical examination form; confirm referees; draft and refine your research proposal with your supervisor |
| 31 January 2027 (expected) | Hard deadline for applicants, referees, AND supervisor comment procedures (Beijing Time) | Submit early — at least one week before |
| February–April 2027 | Departmental screening and interviews (often online) | Watch your email daily; prepare for a research interview |
| June–July 2027 | Final results announced (2026 results came at the end of July) | Wait for official notification from the university and ANSO |
| August 2027 | Admission notice + JW202 visa form issued | Apply immediately for the X1 student visa |
| September 2027 | Registration and enrollment in China | Register on time — late registration without approval can cancel your award |
Common Mistakes That Get ANSO Applications Rejected
- Applying to both USTC and UCAS — instant disqualification.
- No supervisor agreement — submitting without professor support is nearly hopeless.
- Supervisor forgets the comment procedure — your application is incomplete without it, and the deadline is the same as yours.
- Generic research proposal — reviewers want a proposal aligned with a specific lab’s active research agenda, mentioning concrete methods and facilities.
- Missing the referee deadline — recommendation letters submitted late are not accepted.
- Sending documents in other languages without notarized translation.
- Waiting for the call to open before contacting professors — the supervisor search is the slowest step; start now.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the ANSO Scholarship 2027 application open?
The 2027 call is expected to open in mid-October 2026, following the previous cycle (15 October 2025 – 31 January 2026). Check the official ANSO, USTC, and UCAS pages for the confirmed announcement.
Is IELTS required for the ANSO Scholarship?
No. You can prove English proficiency with an English-medium instruction certificate from your previous university or an equivalent certificate.
Can I apply to both USTC and UCAS to increase my chances?
No — this is explicitly forbidden and leads to disqualification from both.
Is an acceptance letter mandatory for ANSO?
Functionally, yes. Your prospective supervisor must complete an official comment/endorsement procedure before the deadline (by email for USTC; through the online system for UCAS). An application without supervisor support is rarely competitive.
What is the age limit for ANSO 2027?
Based on the previous cycle: Master’s applicants born after 1 January 1997 (expected) and PhD applicants born after 1 January 1992 (expected). Confirm exact cutoffs in the official 2027 call.
How much is the ANSO monthly stipend?
Master’s: 3,000 CNY/month. PhD: 6,000 CNY/month, rising to 7,000 CNY/month after passing the qualification test.
When will ANSO 2027 results be announced?
Expected June–July 2027 (the 2026 results were announced at the end of July).
Can final-year students apply?
Yes — you can apply with an official pre-graduation certificate, but you must present your original degree certificate upon arrival in China.
Is there an application fee?
No. The application fee is waived for CAS-ANSO applicants.
I am already studying in China. Can I apply?
You cannot apply for the same degree level you are currently pursuing in China, and you will not receive the international travel subsidy.
Final Thoughts: Start With the Supervisor, Not the Form
The biggest mistake ANSO applicants make is treating this like a normal scholarship form. It is not. CAS-ANSO is a research placement program with funding attached — the universities are selecting junior scientists, not just students.
That means your winning order of operations is: supervisor first, proposal second, paperwork third. Secure a professor who genuinely wants you in their lab, align your research proposal with their work, and the rest of the application becomes straightforward.
With 500 fully funded seats every year, tuition waived, a monthly stipend of up to 7,000 CNY, and access to China’s best research infrastructure, the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 is worth every hour of preparation you invest in it.
Bookmark this page and share it with someone who needs it — and check back for updates as soon as the official 2027 call is published.