ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS (ANSO)
CAS-ANSO China Scholarships
full · masters, phd
- Full tuition waiverTuition
- ~RMB 6,000 / month PhD stipend (USD 820)Monthly stipend
- 500+ students a yearProgramme scale
- Master's and PhDDegree levels
- 2 top-tier host universitiesWhere you study
- ChinaHost country
At a glance
full
Funding
—
Max amount
Feb 15, 2027
Deadline
Open to all non-Chinese nationalities
Country
Alliance of National and International Science Organizations (ANSO)
Provider
The CAS-ANSO China Scholarships fund Master's and PhD study in China for international students, managed by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations (ANSO) and primarily financed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Established in 2019, the programme supports over 500 students a year at two top-tier institutions: the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), ranked 53rd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), ranked 3rd globally among research institutions in the Nature Index 2023. In 2022 ANSO added the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship for students from developing and least developed countries. The award provides a tuition waiver, health insurance and a monthly stipend of RMB 3,000 (about USD 410) for Master's students and RMB 6,000 (about USD 820) for PhD students, plus accommodation support and, for some scholars, travel reimbursement. Applicants must be non-Chinese nationals, proficient in English or Chinese, and meet host admission rules; Master's applicants must be born on or after 1 January 1995 and PhD applicants on or after 1 January 1990. The 2024/25 cycle opened 20 October and closed 15 February, so the 2026/27 round is expected to close around 15 February 2027. Because amounts and dates are set each cycle, confirm the exact current-cycle figures and deadline on the official ANSO and host-university pages before you apply.
What's covered
- Tuition waiver — A full waiver of tuition fees for the duration of the Master's or PhD programme at USTC or UCAS.
- Monthly stipend — A monthly living stipend of RMB 3,000 (~USD 410) for Master's students and RMB 6,000 (~USD 820) for PhD students.
- Health insurance — Comprehensive health insurance for international scholars during their studies in China.
- Accommodation support — Accommodation support to help cover student housing costs on or near campus.
- Travel support — Travel subsidy for ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO scholars and international travel reimbursement for TWAS-supported scholars.
How to apply
Applications are made through the online admission portal of the chosen host university (USTC or UCAS), where you select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship.
- Choose one host university — Decide whether to apply to USTC or UCAS; you cannot apply to both simultaneously.
- Open the admission portal — Register on the chosen university's international admission portal and start an application for a Master's or PhD programme.
- Select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship — Within the application, select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship and, if eligible, indicate interest in the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship.
- Upload your documents — Submit all required academic, identity and supporting documents through the host university's portal.
- Submit before the deadline — Complete and submit your application before the closing date and await the admission and scholarship decision.
Eligibility
NationalityApplicants must hold citizenship of a country other than China.
Age - Master'sMaster's applicants must be born on or after 1 January 1995.
Age - PhDPhD applicants must be born on or after 1 January 1990.
LanguageProficiency in either English or Chinese, as required by the chosen programme.
Enrolment statusApplicants must not currently be pursuing a degree in China and may apply to only one of USTC or UCAS.
Candidates must also meet the admission criteria set by USTC or UCAS, and recipients must comply with Chinese law and the institutional regulations of the host university.
Eligible countries
Open to all non-Chinese nationalities
Deadlines
2026/2027 intake~15 February 2027 (est.)
Selection
Selection is competitive and combines the host university's academic admission decision with the ANSO scholarship review. Applicants are assessed on their academic record, research or study plan, references and fit with the programme, while the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO track gives particular attention to PhD candidates from developing and least developed countries and to gender inclusivity.
Verified sources
- ANSO Scholarship - Official Programme Pageanso.org.cnofficial
- UCAS International Admission Portaladmission.ucas.ac.cnofficial
About the provider
The Alliance of National and International Science Organizations (ANSO) is a non-governmental, non-profit scientific organisation founded in 2018 and hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its scholarship programme, established in 2019 and financed mainly by CAS, supports more than 500 international Master's and PhD students a year at leading Chinese institutions.
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 can apply for the CAS-ANSO China Scholarships?
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International students of all non-Chinese nationalities applying for Master's or PhD study at USTC or UCAS who meet the age, language and admission requirements.
Which universities host the scholarship?
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The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).
What does the scholarship cover?
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A tuition waiver, health insurance, a monthly stipend, accommodation support and, for some scholars, travel reimbursement.
How much is the monthly stipend?
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RMB 3,000 (about USD 410) per month for Master's students and RMB 6,000 (about USD 820) per month for PhD students.
What degree levels are funded?
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Both Master's and PhD programmes across all subjects offered by USTC and UCAS are funded.
What are the age limits?
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Master's applicants must be born on or after 1 January 1995, and PhD applicants on or after 1 January 1990.
What language proficiency is required?
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Applicants must be proficient in either English or Chinese, depending on the requirements of the chosen programme.
Can I apply to both USTC and UCAS?
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No. Candidates may apply to only one of the two universities and cannot submit applications to both simultaneously.
What is the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship?
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A track added in 2022 that provides extra support to PhD candidates from developing and least developed countries, with added travel and reimbursement benefits.
When is the application deadline?
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The 2024/25 cycle opened 20 October and closed 15 February; the 2026/27 deadline is estimated around 15 February 2027. Confirm the date officially.
How do I apply?
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Apply through the online admission portal of USTC or UCAS and select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship within your application.
Where can I confirm the current details?
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Always confirm the current stipend amounts, eligibility and deadline on the official ANSO and host-university admission pages before applying.