The CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 is a major fully funded opportunity for international students who want to pursue Master's or PhD studies in science, technology and related fields in China.
The scholarship is offered through the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO). Formerly known as the ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents, the programme was launched in 2019 to support talented students from around the world in pursuing postgraduate education and research in China.
Each year, the programme supports 100–200 Master's students and around 300 PhD students at leading Chinese research institutions, including the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and institutes under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
For PhD applicants from developing countries, there is also a special ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship track, which can select up to 40 students. The programme includes special attention to climate-related research and gives consideration to women applicants and candidates from Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
What Does the CAS-ANSO Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship provides substantial financial support throughout the study period.
| Benefit | PhD | Master's |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Full waiver | Full waiver |
| Monthly stipend | CNY 6,000 or CNY 7,000 | CNY 3,000 |
| Medical insurance | Covered | Covered |
| Application fee | Waived | Waived |
| International travel | One round trip from home country | One round trip |
| Visa/residence permit | One-time allowance | One-time allowance |
| Maximum duration | Up to 48 months | Up to 36 months |
Important: Applicants who are already in China when they apply are not eligible for the international travel subsidy.
Who Can Apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027?
The scholarship is intended for international students who meet the admission requirements of the participating institutions.
For the expected 2027 intake, applicants should generally meet the following requirements:
Be a non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport.
Be proficient in English or Chinese, depending on the programme requirements.
Meet the international student admission requirements of UCAS or USTC.
Not already be pursuing the same degree level in China.
Not apply to both USTC and UCAS for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship in the same application cycle.
Be available to comply with the scholarship's study requirements and not undertake other assignments that conflict with the scholarship.
Age Requirements
The exact age cut-offs for the 2027 call should be confirmed when the official announcement is released.
Based on the previous application cycle, the expected limits are approximately:
Master's: Born after 1 January 1997
PhD: Born after 1 January 1992
These dates are projected from the previous cycle and should not be treated as the final 2027 eligibility rules until ANSO publishes the official call.
When Does the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 Open?
The official 2026 scholarship call opened on 15 October 2025 and closed on 31 January 2026 at 17:00 Beijing Time.
If the programme follows a similar schedule for 2027, applicants can expect approximately:
Expected opening: 15 October 2026
Expected deadline: 31 January 2027, 17:00 Beijing Time
The final dates should be confirmed against the official 2027 announcement before applying.
Applicants should start preparing well before October. Finding a suitable supervisor, preparing a research proposal and collecting recommendation letters can take several weeks.
Documents You Should Prepare
Applicants should expect to provide documents such as:
Passport copy
Academic CV/resume
Research proposal
Two recommendation letters
Degree certificates
Academic transcripts
Proof of English or Chinese language proficiency, where required
Other documents required by UCAS, USTC or the relevant programme
A supervisor acceptance letter can also be highly valuable, particularly for PhD applicants. Applicants should contact potential supervisors whose research interests closely match their proposed research.
However, applicants should check the specific admission requirements of their chosen institution and programme because documentation requirements can vary.
How to Apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Choose Your University and Research Area
Decide whether you want to apply through UCAS, USTC or an eligible CAS institute.
Research the available programmes and identify professors whose research matches your academic background and proposed research.
Step 2: Contact Potential Supervisors
For research-based Master's and especially PhD applications, contact suitable supervisors early.
A professional email should normally include:
A short introduction
Your academic background
Your research interests
Your CV
A brief research proposal or research idea
Why you are interested in working with that particular professor
Do not send the same generic email to dozens of professors without tailoring it to their research.
Step 3: Prepare Your Application
Gather your academic certificates, transcripts, passport, CV, recommendation letters, language certificates and research proposal.
Make sure names, dates and academic information are consistent across all documents.
Step 4: Apply Through the Relevant Admission System
Submit your application through the appropriate UCAS international student admission system or USTC application portal, depending on the university and programme you have selected.
Step 5: Select the CAS-ANSO Scholarship
During the application process, select CAS-ANSO Scholarship as your intended source of financial support where the application system provides this option.
Follow the instructions carefully because selecting the wrong funding option could affect your application.
Step 6: Consider the TWAS/UNESCO PhD Track
Eligible PhD applicants from developing countries can also investigate the ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship.
This is a separate track within the broader scholarship programme and has its own eligibility considerations. Applicants interested in climate-related research should pay particular attention to the relevant requirements when the 2027 call is released.
Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline
Do not wait until the final day.
Submit your application early enough to allow time for technical problems, missing documents or recommendation letters that have not yet been uploaded.
Why You Should Start Preparing Now
The CAS-ANSO Scholarship is highly competitive, particularly for popular research areas and programmes.
International applicants can improve their preparation by starting several months before the application opens.
A strong application should demonstrate more than academic grades. Your research interests, academic background, proposed project, motivation and fit with the chosen supervisor or research group can all matter.
For PhD applicants, contacting potential supervisors early can be particularly important.
Final Advice for Applicants
If you are planning to apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027, start preparing your application before the official call opens.
Build a strong academic CV, identify suitable universities and supervisors, develop a focused research proposal and prepare your supporting documents in advance.
Most importantly, do not rely on projected dates or eligibility rules. Once ANSO publishes the official 2027 call, check the final requirements, age limits, application dates and participating institutions before submitting your application.
The CAS-ANSO Scholarship can provide an excellent opportunity for international students to pursue postgraduate study and research in China with substantial financial support.
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