General conditions for Ph.D. studies in China
The applicants can go through different methods to study for a Ph.D. in China depends on their university and study field. The study and evaluation system in China is much more formal than in Western countries. In the first two to three years of the Ph.D. course, they will complete a training program set by their supervisor, including attending seminars and taking exams that will eventually lead to a Ph.D. certificate. The Ph.D. students must work on their research projects and defend them as their doctoral dissertation. The Ph.D. course takes between three to four years, which can be in English or Chinese. Each school year has two semesters in spring and autumn. The spring semester is from March to July and the fall semester is from September to January.
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Requirements for a Ph.D. in China
The applicants who are very interested in a particular course in their field can study for a Ph.D., in which they must work on their subject and the final dissertation. Therefore, they must publish articles in their field of interest and strengthen their resume during their master’s degree studies. A high GPA will have a significant impact on the applicants’ chances of acceptance. The applicants must get a professor and supervisor’s approval to study Ph.D. in China. You can make a list of China’s professors with similar research fields and correspond with them. We can help you in this process. You must have an initial proposal at this stage to show what you are going to work on for your dissertation.
Required documents for visa and Ph.D. admission in China
The Ph.D. applicants in China must first provide the required documents for admission. Then, they can apply for the visa process with an acceptance letter. The required documents are:
- A master’s degree
- An English B2 certificate
- A supervisor’s certificate
- A recommendation letter
You can apply for a Chinese visa by obtaining an acceptance letter and having the following documents:
- Valid passport
- Photo
- Acceptance letter
- Complete visa application forms
Finding a supervisor for Ph.D. studies in China
The applicants must have a supervisor to study for a Ph.D. in China and most countries. At first, the applicants must find their research topic and choose the best field and project based on their interests and the world’s needs. The applicants must be interested in their subject to complete their Ph.D. Then, they should find their universities and check their professors’ resumes. Then, they must make a list of professors and send their resumes to each one. If the applicants have the same study field and motivation to work on a project, they will be accepted by the professor.
The Ph.D. study expenses in China
The average tuition fee in the humanities is about 10,755 – 25,940 yuan per year, and in the science, engineering, medicine, sports, and art are around 18,347 – 33,532 and 25,307 – 51,879 yuan per year, respectively.
China Ph.D. Scholarship
There are various scholarships in China to support domestic and international students. Scholarships are awarded at the Ph.D. level, which covers tuition fees and the students’ living expenses. The Ph.D. applicants in China will receive free accommodation besides tuition. They will obtain a monthly salary of about 3,500 Chinese yuan, which is enough for living expenses and savings. Also, if the students do not want to live in the dormitory, they will receive 1000 yuan to cover their accommodation costs. Thus, using China full-fund is a good opportunity, which the students can use only with paying their travel expenses.
Top Chinese Ph.D. Universities
The Ph.D. applicants must know about the university’s reputation in China. According to the universities’ global ranking, six universities in China are among the top 100 universities. The following table shows the names and positions of the top 10 universities in China:
| Ranking in China | University | Global ranking |
| 1 | Tsinghua University | 29 |
| 2 | Peking University | 49 |
| 3 | Zhejiang University | 58 |
| 4 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 63 |
| 5 | University of Science and Technology of China | 73 |
| 6 | Fudan University | 100 |
| 7-13 | Central South University | 101-150 |
| 7-13 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 101-150 |
| 7-13 | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | 101-150 |
| 7-13 | Nanjing University | 101-150 |
Companion visa for Ph.D. students in China
China issues companion visas for students’ spouses and children, which is possible after the central person arrives in China. Students’ first-class families in China, including parents, siblings, spouses, and children, can apply for family visas under the names S1 and S2. The applicants must apply for the S1 visa for their spouse and children because this visa can be converted into a residence permit. However, the S2 visa is not like this. The applicant’s university must invite the individual’s family members by which they can apply for such visas.
Working conditions and citizenship after graduation in China
The applicants must check the graduate working conditions in the destination country to know whether they can work after graduation or must return to their home country. Moreover, the graduates can extend their residence in China after completing their studies by changing their visa to a Z visa (a Chinese work visa). The applicants can apply for internships in their university. China does not easily grant permanent residence and citizenship to immigrants, and your application may not be approved even if you have the necessary conditions. To obtain Chinese citizenship, a person must have permanent residency by living legally in China for three to eight years.
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