Up to 25 scholarships will be available for students starting PhD studies from October 2025. Full tuition fee scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to students who are in receipt of China Scholarship Council (CSC) funding.

You can apply for any academic discipline at Loughborough.

Eligibility

  • you must be applying to start a new full-time PhD
  • you must be a Chinese national and ordinarily resident in mainland China. Overseas Chinese students may be eligible, subject to CSC policy at the time
  • overseas Chinese students in the UK must be in their final year of master's study in a UK university or in their first year of PhD study at Loughborough University
  • you should intend to return to China following completion of PhD studies at Loughborough
  • you will need to meet the University’s academic and English language requirements for PhD study
  • you will need to meet any other requirements set by the CSC on their website

Please follow the links to see further information regarding our entry requirements and English language requirements.

Value and duration

CSC provides a living allowance and covers air fare to/from the UK and UK visa application fees.

Loughborough will cover 100% of the tuition fees for the standard duration of PhD studies.

Application process

  • you need to apply for a PhD at Loughborough University (in the funding section of the application form you need to advise that you are applying for an advertised studentship and add the code ‘CSC 25’)
  • students may receive an offer of a PhD place from Loughborough irrespective of their application to the CSC scholarship. Students who secure a nomination to CSC for the scholarship award will receive confirmation of this by email in early March.
  • you also need to apply to the China Scholarship Council online
  • if you are already in the UK, you must submit your online CSC application as well as a hard copy of completed application documents to the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK before the set deadline. More information will be released via its official webpage.

Deadline

To allow sufficient time to process your PhD application, please ensure you submit your PhD application to Loughborough University by 31 January. In order to apply for the CSC scholarship you will require an unconditional offer from Loughborough University.

If you receive an unconditional offer and CSC letter from us you then need to apply for the CSC scholarship through the CSC website. You should apply for the 'general' PhD funding. Please note that there will be a deadline to apply for CSC funding and therefore you are advised to check the CSC website.

Current Loughborough students

Chinese nationals who are currently self-funding their studies at Loughborough may be eligible to apply for CSC funding during their first year of study. If you intend to apply for CSC funding and wish to be considered for a tuition fee waiver from Loughborough, please contact the PGR administrator in your school (see contact details below) by 31 January. Please note that we receive a large number of applications and priority will be given to new students in the first instance.

School/department Contact name Email address

Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering

Daniella Sorrentino

aacme.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Architecture

Berkeley Young

abce.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Building and Civil Engineering

Berkeley Young

abce.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Business and Economics

Helen Hartley

sbe.research@lboro.ac.uk

Chemical Engineering

Daniella Sorrentino

aacme.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Chemistry

Emma Spence

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Communication and Media Studies

Emma Nadin

socsciresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Computer Science

Emma Spence

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Creative Arts

Jane Pagett

sdca-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Design

Jane Pagett

sdca-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

English

Emma Nadin

socsciresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Geography and Environment

Emma Nadin

socsciresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Design Innovation (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Digital Technologies (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Diplomacy and International Governance (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for International Management (London campus)

Gerhard Schnyder

g.schnyder@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Media and Creative Industries (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Institute for Sport Business (London campus)

Bryony Stewart-Seume

londonresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Materials

Daniella Sorrentino

aacme.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

Mathematical Sciences

Emma Spence

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Mathematics Education Centre

Emma Spence

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Beccy Bass

ws.phdadmin@lboro.ac.uk

Physics

Emma Spence

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk

Politics and International Studies

Emma Nadin

socsciresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Social and Policy Studies

Emma Nadin

socsciresearch@lboro.ac.uk

Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Holly Jones

pgr-ssehs@lboro.ac.uk