ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE BELT AND ROAD REGIONS (ANSO)
ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents
full · masters, phd
- ~CNY 6,000-7,000 / month (est.)PhD living stipend
- Up to 48 monthsMaximum PhD funding period
- 100-200 Master's + ~300 PhDAwards per cycle
- Full tuition waiverFunding type
- No IELTS requiredLanguage flexibility
- China (USTC / UCAS / CAS)Where you study
At a glance
full
Funding
€9k
Max amount
Jan 31, 2027
Deadline
All countries (non-Chinese citizens)
Country
Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO)
Provider
The ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents is a fully funded postgraduate programme run by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions, hosted at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and affiliated Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes. Launched in 2019, the scheme was created to train young scientists from around the world and strengthen international cooperation in science and technology. Each cycle it supports roughly 100 to 200 Master's students and about 300 PhD students, with awards covering tuition, accommodation support, health insurance, an international travel allowance and a monthly living stipend. Reported stipend figures sit near CNY 3,000 per month for Master's candidates for up to 36 months and CNY 6,000 to 7,000 per month for PhD candidates for up to 48 months. No IELTS is required if you can demonstrate English or Chinese proficiency, and applications for the 2027 intake are expected to close around 31 January 2027. Because amounts, age limits and dates are reset each year, confirm the exact current-cycle figures and deadlines on the official ANSO scholarship page before you apply.
What's covered
- Tuition waiver — Full waiver of tuition fees for the Master's or PhD programme at the host institution.
- Monthly living stipend — Around CNY 3,000 / month for Master's students and ~CNY 6,000-7,000 / month (est.) for PhD students to cover daily living costs.
- Accommodation support — On-campus or subsidised accommodation, or an allowance toward housing depending on the host institute.
- Health insurance — Comprehensive medical insurance for international students for the duration of the award.
- International travel allowance — A round-trip international airfare allowance between the home country and China.
- Application fee waiver — Waiver of the host university's application fee plus visa and residence permit support.
How to apply
Apply directly through the admission portal of your chosen host (USTC or UCAS) and flag the ANSO scholarship inside that application before the deadline.
- Choose your host — Decide between USTC, UCAS or a CAS institute, then identify a programme and potential supervisor that match your research interests.
- Register on the admission portal — Create an account on the USTC or UCAS international admission portal and complete the degree-admission application.
- Select the ANSO scholarship — Inside the application form, choose 'CAS-ANSO Scholarship', and tick the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO box too if you are applying for that PhD track.
- Upload documents and submit — Attach all required documents and submit before the deadline of around 31 January 2027; arrange any supervisor or reference contact in advance.
Eligibility
CitizenshipMust be a non-Chinese citizen; applicants who are already Master's or PhD students in China are not eligible.
AgeFor the 2027 cycle, Master's applicants are generally born on or after 1 January 1996 and PhD applicants on or after 1 January 1991 (confirm exact cut-offs officially).
LanguageProficiency in English or Chinese; no IELTS certificate is required, though programmes may set their own checks.
AdmissionMust meet the international-student admission criteria of USTC, UCAS or the relevant CAS institute.
Funding exclusivityMay not hold any other scholarship or salaried assignment during the ANSO award.
You may not apply to both USTC and UCAS in the same cycle. An ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD track is also available by ticking the corresponding box in the application system.
Eligible countries
All countries (non-Chinese citizens)
Deadlines
Autumn 2027 intake~31 January 2027 (est.)
Selection
Selection is handled by the host universities together with ANSO. Candidates are first assessed against the host institution's academic admission standards, then ranked on the strength of their study or research plan, prior academic record, references and fit with an available supervisor. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an award, since the number of scholarships per institute is capped each cycle.
Verified sources
- ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents - Official Pageanso.org.cnofficial
- USTC International Admission Portaladmission.ustc.edu.cnofficial
About the provider
ANSO, the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions, was founded in 2018 and is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It promotes international scientific cooperation, capacity building and talent development across member countries and regions.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who is eligible for the ANSO Scholarship?
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Non-Chinese citizens applying for a full-time Master's or PhD at USTC, UCAS or a CAS institute who meet the age limits and the host's admission criteria. Students already studying in China are not eligible.
Does the ANSO Scholarship require IELTS?
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No. An IELTS certificate is not required; you only need to demonstrate proficiency in English or Chinese, though individual programmes may run their own language checks.
What does the scholarship cover?
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It covers tuition, a monthly living stipend, accommodation support, health insurance, an international travel allowance and visa or residence permit support.
How much is the monthly stipend?
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Reported figures are around CNY 3,000 per month for Master's students and roughly CNY 6,000-7,000 per month for PhD students. Confirm the current amount on the official ANSO page.
How long is the funding period?
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Funding runs for up to 36 months for Master's students and up to 48 months for PhD students.
When is the application deadline?
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For the 2027 intake the deadline is expected around 31 January 2027. Always verify the exact date on the official site.
Can I apply to both USTC and UCAS?
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No. You may apply to only one of USTC or UCAS in the same cycle, so choose your host carefully before submitting.
Can current students in China apply?
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No. Applicants who are already enrolled as Master's or PhD students in China are not eligible for this scholarship.
How many scholarships are awarded each year?
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The programme supports roughly 100 to 200 Master's students and about 300 PhD students annually across USTC, UCAS and CAS institutes.
What is the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO track?
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It is a linked PhD scholarship option you can select by ticking the corresponding box in the application system if you are pursuing that route.
Do I need to find a supervisor first?
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For PhD study it is strongly advised to contact a potential supervisor early, as supervisor support and a strong research plan are central to admission and selection.
Where do I submit my application?
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Applications are submitted through the international admission portal of your chosen host, USTC or UCAS, where you also select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship option.