A major Europe–China doctoral opportunity is officially on the horizon. The CSC – University of Pisa (UniPi) Joint Scholarship for PhD Programmes is set to open for the 2026–2027 academic cohort, offering fully structured PhD pathways at one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious universities. This article breaks down what this joint scholarship is, who it is for, what it offers, and how eligible candidates can prepare ahead of the upcoming application window.
What Type of Opportunity Is This?
This is a joint PhD scholarship programme funded through a long-standing collaboration between the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the University of Pisa (Italy). Under this agreement, selected candidates enroll in a full PhD programme at the University of Pisa and, upon successful completion and dissertation defense, are awarded a doctoral degree from UniPi.
What This Article Covers?
This news update walks prospective applicants through the scope of the CSC–UNIPI PhD scholarships, the academic fields available, the benefits and academic value of the programme, eligibility checks, and the official application timeline so candidates can plan strategically.
What the CSC – UNIPI PhD Scholarship Offers
The CSC–UNIPI Joint Scholarship provides access to 40 funded PhD positions each year across a wide spectrum of disciplines. Selected scholars benefit from:
- Enrollment in a full-time PhD programme at the University of Pisa
- Opportunity to conduct doctoral research in a globally ranked European research university
- Degree conferral by the University of Pisa after successful dissertation defense
- Academic supervision within internationally recognized research departments
- Coverage and support structured under the CSC funding framework
PhD programmes span sciences, engineering, medicine, humanities, social sciences, and emerging interdisciplinary fields, including Artificial Intelligence for Society, Smart Industry, High Performance Scientific Computing, Clinical and Translational Sciences, Engineering, Law, Political Science, Linguistics, Archaeology, History, and more.
Eligibility Checks for Applicants
To be considered for the CSC – UNIPI Joint PhD Scholarship, applicants must meet the following core requirements:
- Must be Chinese nationals applying under the China Scholarship Council framework
- Must complete or have completed a Master’s degree by 31 December 2026
- Must meet the academic admission requirements of the selected PhD programme at the University of Pisa
- Must demonstrate excellent proficiency in English, as required for doctoral study
- Must satisfy both UniPi PhD admission criteria and CSC selection conditions
Final admission is contingent upon acceptance by the University of Pisa and successful nomination through CSC.
Apply: https://www.unipi.it/en/avvisi/csc-unipi-joint-scholarship-for-phd-programmes/
Application Timeline and Deadline
The application process for the CSC – UNIPI Joint Scholarship for PhD Programmes (2026–2027 intake) follows the University of Pisa’s doctoral admission calendar. The application period at the University of Pisa for the 2026–2027 academic year opens on 1 November 2025, and the last date to submit applications to UniPi is 31 January 2026.