The UK-China PhD Placement Programme is run as part of the Newton Fund (known in China as the UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Partnership Fund). The programme is delivered by the British Council China and the China Scholarship Council on behalf of the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and China’s Ministry of Education. The PhD placement programme aims to cultivate highly trained researchers with international experience who are able to contribute to innovative research and participate in international networks. This will encourage and support cultural understanding and foster long-term sustainable research collaborations between the UK and China.
The programme will sponsor UK and Chinese PhD students and their supervisors to spend a period of study (three to 12 months for PhD students and up to three months for supervisors) at higher education institutions in China or the UK. The focus is on research areas that reflect the common interests and demands of both countries, including:
- health and life sciences
- food and water security
- environmental technologies
- energy
- urbanisation
- education and creative economy for economic development and social welfare.
Applications are now open for UK and Chinese nationals who are currently enrolled as PhD students at accredited higher education institutions or research institutions in their own country. UK students studying for their PhDs at institutions in China and Chinese students studying for their PhDs at institutions in the UK are not eligible.
Please note, applicants are responsible for finding a host institution in their target country and placements must start between January and December 2017. Applicants must have found a place at a host institution before applying to this PhD placement programme.
UK applicants
To apply, UK PhD applicants must:
- Step 1: Complete the online registration form of the China Scholarship Council at laihua.csc.edu.cn.
- Step 2: Print and sign this form, and add a passport photo in the relevant section.
- Step 3: Complete the online application form on the British Council’s application system (online application here) and upload a scan of the completed and signed China Scholarship Council form in the supporting documents section.
A word version of the British Council’s application form is attached below. Please note that this is for information only, and all submissions must be made using the online form.
The online application systems will close at 12:00 pm GMT on 30 September 2016.
If you have any enquiries about the Newton Fund, please contact newtonfundchina@britishcouncil.org.cn.
Please refer to the attached ‘Call Guidelines (for UK applicants)’ for a detailed introduction of the programme and application process, including a list of the required supporting documents, the evaluation criteria and funding arrangements.
Chinese applicants
Chinese applicants should visit the China Scholarship Council’s website for further information regarding the application process and contact details.