Science and Engineering : Fully Funded PHD Scholarship Swansea University Faculty of Science and Engineering Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) (RS740)

Funding provider(s): Swansea University

Subject area(s): Various

Project start date(s) (please delete as applicable):

· 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors: Selected at the shortlisting stage

Aligned programme of study: PhD

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

Swansea University is pleased to support the Chinese Scholarship Council Scheme (CSC) for the 25/26 academic year for full-time doctoral study, commencing in October 2025. This year, up to ten CSC applications will be supported by Swansea University. Each includes tuition fees and an annual training allowance to support immersive training experiences such as engagement with industry and international collaborative opportunities. Each scholarship is offered for a maximum period of three years; CSC students are expected to submit their theses within this timescale.

Applicants should be aware that faculty-based shortlisting panels are expected to sit in February 2025. Please note that shortlisting panels may contact candidates within this period. Interviews are expected to take place in early February 2025.

Please Note that any offers will be conditional upon applicants being successful with their application to the Chinese Scholarship Council for an October 2025 start.
For more information click here https://www.csc.edu.cn/
With internationally recognised research centres and sustained investment in our outstanding resources and facilities, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Swansea University provides a superb environment for conducting world-leading research at the forefront of (i) Biomedical Engineering, (ii) Chemical Engineering, (iii) Chemistry, (iv) Materials Science and Engineering and (v) Sport and Exercise Sciences. We offer projects aiming to tackle grand global challenges such as energy, health and the environment offering many interdisciplinary opportunities.

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is pleased to welcome applications for support with CSC Scholarships, particularly in the areas of:
1. Biomedical Engineering
2. Chemical Engineering
3. Chemistry
4. Materials Science and Engineering
5. Sport and Exercise Sciences

Project supervisors: all applicants should note that faculties will assess their supervisory capacity for individual applicants at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process. The formal offer of a scholarship place to successful applicants is contingent on relevant supervisor capacity and experience having first been confirmed by staff internally.

Informal scholarship enquiries from applicants to prospective supervisors – prior to the application deadline – are warmly encouraged; please direct these to the relevant member/s of faculty staff.

Candidates must have attained, or must be expected to attain, a first-class honours degree and/or a distinction at master’s level.

• Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study.
• If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification, ‘award’ is required to take place prior to enrolment and in good time to allow visa application/travel to take place.

NB: If you hold a non-UK degree, please see the Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2025. As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with a score of at least 6 in each individual component) or equivalent that is recognised by Swansea University. Details on the Swansea University English Language entry policy can be found here.

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process, successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer.

Covered in Full for Students of Chinese Nationality subject to the student being successful in their application to the CSC for an October 2025 admission. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is – at this time – open solely to applicants who hold Chinese National Status. If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please e-mail pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk, providing details of the scholarship(s) in which you are interested and the accompanying webpage URL. 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 will also be available. 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:  

• Course choice – select any PhD course within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (https://www.swansea.ac.uk/science-and-engineering/#our-subject-areas=is-expanded) / PhD/Full Time/ October  
  • If you are successful in receiving a scholarship, the course choice may change depending on the research area that you detail in your application.  
  • In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.  
  • Start year – please select 2025  
  • Funding (page 8 on the application process) –  
  • ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No  
  • ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS740 - CSC 3’ 

As part of your online application, you MUST ensure that you upload the following documents in order to be considered for an award (please do not submit these via email): 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a master’s degree, please ask your referee to detail your current performance, with marks where available, in their reference) 
• CV 
• A CSC statement (1000 words maximum): this is an opportunity for you to tell us about your existing skills, relevant experience and the area of research in which you are interested.  Please complete the template and upload it in section 6 of the University’s online APPLY application submission platform.  You DO NOT need to include a full research proposal here, or a cover letter, in order to submit a complete application. Your CSC statement should include:
  • An overview of your academic interests and how they relate to the subject area in question, any relevant professional/employment experience and/or any extra-curricular activities that may be relevant; 
  • A brief outline of your research idea, which could address: 
  • The aims, objectives and the significance of the research; 
  • Its alignment with the research themes in this advertisement; 
  • The potential academic or societal impact of the research. 
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (mandatory online form) . Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirements (if applicable). 
• Two academic references on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form.  Please note that we are not able to accept references from personal e-mail accounts e.g. via Hotmail.  Referees should cite their professional e-mail address for verification of reference. 
• Copy of Chinese National Residential Status (if applicable) 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.  

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.  

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.