Start Your ANSO Scholarship 2027-2028 Process by Contacting Eligible Professors

If you want to apply for the CAS-ANSO fully funded Scholarship Degree Program 2027–2028; then August, September and October 2026 are not months to simply wait for the application portal to open.

They are preparation and acceptance letter requesting months.

This is particularly important if you plan to apply through UCAS, because this is the period when you can identify the right Chinese Academy of Sciences research institute, find professors working in your field and potentially secure a supervisor’s support before thousands of applicants begin doing the same thing after the official call appears.

But before emailing professors, there is something much more important to understand:

What exactly are ANSO, CAS, UCAS and USTC—and which one are you actually applying to?

For first-time applicants, this is where almost all of the confusion begins.

First Understand the CAS-ANSO Scholarship Structure for 2027 Entry

Think of the scholarship like this:

CAS-ANSO Scholarship
↓
Choose one application route
↓
UCAS OR USTC

That is the basic structure.

What is ANSO?

ANSO stands for the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions.

It is an international scientific organization established in 2018. The Chinese Academy of Sciences was one of its founding members.

The CAS-ANSO Scholarship was launched in 2019 to support talented international students pursuing postgraduate study and research in China.

ANSO, therefore, is associated with the scholarship program itself.

You do not normally search for an “ANSO University” because there isn’t one.

What is CAS?

CAS means the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This is the huge Chinese scientific research network behind much of the opportunity.

CAS operates research institutes across China covering subjects including physics, chemistry, computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, astronomy, biology, genetics, environmental sciences, materials science, neuroscience and many others.

CAS is also identified officially as the major sponsor of the CAS-ANSO Scholarship.

This is why you constantly see “CAS institutes” mentioned in scholarship discussions.

What is UCAS?

UCAS is the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Here is where things become interesting.

UCAS is not simply one conventional university campus where every PhD student sits in the same place.

It works closely with the extensive CAS research network.

An international student admitted through UCAS may therefore conduct research at a CAS institute or a UCAS school, depending on the program and supervisor.

The official CAS-ANSO call states that UCAS is responsible for enrollment and management of CAS-ANSO master’s and PhD candidates admitted through UCAS.

So if someone tells you:

“I am applying for ANSO through a CAS institute under UCAS.”

That sentence actually makes sense.

They are applying for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship, through the UCAS admission system, for research potentially hosted at a CAS institute.

And what is USTC?

USTC is the University of Science and Technology of China.

It is the second major university route through which international applicants can pursue the CAS-ANSO Scholarship Degree Program.

USTC has its own application system, departments, professors and admission procedure.

That creates the first major decision every CAS-ANSO applicant must understand:

You normally choose either the UCAS route or the USTC route.

Do not apply for CAS-ANSO through both.

The latest official UCAS scholarship call specifically warns that applicants are not allowed to apply simultaneously through USTC and UCAS, otherwise they can be disqualified.

That one rule alone is worth remembering.

What Does the CAS-ANSO Scholarship Actually Fund?

The latest officially published call supported approximately 100–200 master’s students and 300 PhD students each year through UCAS, USTC and CAS institutes.

The scholarship traditionally provides substantial postgraduate funding including tuition support, living allowance, health insurance and other eligible benefits.

The exact 2027–2028 financial package has not yet been officially announced, so applicants should avoid treating previous stipend figures as guaranteed for the next round.

What matters right now is preparation.

And that brings us to the question appearing repeatedly in applicant groups:

Do I Need an Acceptance Letter From a Chinese Professor for ANSO Scholarship?

For UCAS, a supervisor’s acceptance can be very useful—but under the latest rules it is not compulsory before you submit your application.

This deserves emphasis because Facebook groups, YouTube videos and scholarship pages frequently present professor acceptance as if it were an absolute eligibility requirement.

The latest UCAS international admission instructions say clearly that finding a supervisor before submitting the online application is not mandatory.

Applicants may apply even without one.

If you have not secured a supervisor, your selected UCAS college or CAS institute may forward your application to potential supervisors.

However, UCAS also explicitly encourages applicants to contact potential supervisors before applying.

And if you obtain a professor’s support, you can upload the official Supervisor’s Acceptance Form as supplementary application material.

So the correct answer is:

Acceptance is not compulsory, but it can be strategically valuable.

That is very different from saying “No acceptance letter = no ANSO scholarship.”

Why Can a Supervisor’s Acceptance Help in ANSO Scholarship Process?

Imagine two applicants applying to the same CAS institute.

Applicant A selects the institute because its name sounds impressive.

Applicant B has already studied the institute’s research groups, contacted a professor, discussed overlapping research interests and obtained the professor’s willingness to supervise the proposed project.

Applicant B has already demonstrated something useful:

research fit.

A professor’s acceptance does not guarantee that ANSO will award you the scholarship. Your academic record, application documents, institutional evaluation, interviews and overall competitiveness still matter.

But on the UCAS route, having an appropriate supervisor interested in your work can remove one major uncertainty from the process.

Recent Reddit discussions about ANSO show applicants repeatedly asking exactly this question—how much an acceptance letter matters and whether they should secure one before applying.

The safest interpretation of the official rules is simple:

Do not panic if you cannot secure one, but if you have the time to pursue one properly, use that opportunity.

Does USTC Work the Same Way?

No—and this distinction is extremely important.

USTC explicitly tells applicants that they do not need to find a host supervisor while applying online.

Complete applications are forwarded to the relevant schools and departments. Selected candidates can then be invited for assessment or interview, and professors may choose prospective students through that process.

USTC’s own FAQ goes even further.

It says whether an applicant already has a host supervisor when applying has little to do with the final admission decision, because admission is based on comprehensive evaluation of academic performance, qualifications, documents and interview performance.

So:

UCAS applicant? Contacting professors now can be strategically worthwhile.

USTC applicant? Do not believe social-media posts telling you that you cannot apply without an acceptance letter.

If you are still confused about which route better matches your field, mention your subject in the comments because choosing UCAS versus USTC should ideally happen before you start emailing professors.

Why Are August, September and October 2026 So Important for ANSO?

Because the CAS-ANSO application period usually begins later in the year.

For the previous 2026 cycle, the UCAS CAS-ANSO application opened on 15 October 2025 and applications closed on 31 January 2026.

The official 2027 call has not yet been published, so do not assume those dates will repeat exactly.

But the previous cycle tells you something useful:

If the next application again opens around October, an applicant starting professor searches in late December is entering the process very late compared with somebody who started in August.

Professors may receive many international emails once scholarship season begins.

They may be travelling.

Their research groups may already have potential candidates.

Some may simply stop responding to speculative requests once admission evaluation becomes busy.

August and September give you breathing room.

Where Do I Find UCAS and CAS Professors?

Start with official sources—not random spreadsheets shared inside WhatsApp groups.

UCAS maintains an official Supervisors directory for international applicants.

Your process should look like this:

Step 1: Identify your research field.

Do not begin with “Which professor gives acceptance letters easily?”

Begin with:

What research do I actually want to do?

For example:

• Artificial intelligence
• Environmental engineering
• Molecular biology
• Renewable energy
• Computer vision
• Materials science
• Chemistry
• Agricultural science
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Biotechnology

Step 2: Find the relevant UCAS school or CAS institute.

UCAS provides information on its participating colleges and institutes.

Step 3: Open that institute’s official faculty pages.

Now examine individual professors.

Step 4: Read their current research interests.

Look at recent papers, laboratory projects and ongoing research.

Step 5: Shortlist professors whose work genuinely overlaps with yours.

Five carefully chosen professors are more useful than fifty random email addresses.

What Should You Send a Professor?

Your initial message should be short enough that a busy researcher can understand it within roughly one minute.

Include:

• who you are;
• your current degree/university;
• your research background;
• the specific reason you selected that professor;
• that you intend to apply for CAS-ANSO 2027 through UCAS;
• a polite question asking whether they may consider supervising you.

Attach a concise academic CV.

For PhD applicants, adding a one- or two-page research summary can also help if it is genuinely aligned with the professor’s work.

Do not attach every certificate you have received since secondary school.

Editable Email Template for PhD Applicants to Request Acceptance Letters

Subject: Prospective CAS-ANSO 2027 PhD Applicant – [Research Field]

Dear Professor [Surname],

My name is [Your Name], and I am currently [completing/holding] a Master’s degree in [Subject] from [University, Country].

I am preparing to apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 through UCAS and found that your research on [specific research topic] closely matches my previous work in [your research area].

My recent research focuses on [one concise sentence].

May I ask whether you expect to accept international PhD students for the 2027 intake and whether you would consider supervising my proposed research?

I have attached my academic CV and brief research summary for your consideration.

Thank you very much for your time.

Kind regards,
[Full Name] [University] [Country] [Email]

Short Master’s Email Template to Request Acceptance Letter

Subject: Prospective CAS-ANSO 2027 Master’s Applicant

Dear Professor [Surname],

I am [Name], a bachelor’s graduate/student in [Field] from [University, Country].

I plan to apply for the CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 through UCAS and am very interested in your research on [specific topic].

My academic background includes [very short relevant experience].

May I ask whether you expect to supervise international master’s students for the 2027 intake?

My CV and transcript are attached for reference.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kind regards,
[Name]

Both templates are deliberately short.

Your goal is not to convince the professor that you have discovered the meaning of life in one email.

Your goal is to make them interested enough to open your CV.

What If a Professor Does Not Reply?

Do not immediately assume you have been rejected.

Professors receive large numbers of emails.

Wait a reasonable period and send one polite follow-up.

If there is still no reply, continue researching other genuinely relevant supervisors.

More importantly, remember the actual UCAS rule:

You can still submit your application without a supervisor already accepting you.

And on the USTC route, finding a supervisor beforehand is explicitly unnecessary.

That should remove a lot of the anxiety circulating in applicant groups.

Do I Need Publications for CAS-ANSO Scholarship Application Submission?

Not every applicant needs published papers.

The latest UCAS admission instructions request representative published academic papers only if available, with applicants permitted to submit up to five.

Publications can obviously strengthen a PhD application because they provide evidence of research experience.

But no official rule says every applicant must already have journal publications.

A strong academic record, thesis, laboratory experience, research assistantship, conference work, research proposal and recommendations can also contribute to the application.

Is IELTS Mandatory?

Do not trust a social-media graphic simply saying:

“ANSO Scholarship – No IELTS.”

UCAS requires proof of English proficiency for applicants to English-based study. The latest instructions accept IELTS, TOEFL or other proof of English proficiency, with an exception for applicants whose mother tongue is English.

USTC similarly says applicants to English-instructed programs must demonstrate English proficiency, while its current FAQ notes that applicants without IELTS or TOEFL may use other documentation, such as confirmation that their previous university education was delivered in English.

So the more accurate question is not:

“Does ANSO require IELTS?”

It is:

“What English-language evidence does my chosen UCAS/USTC program accept?”

Do PhD Applicants Need a Master’s Degree?

Under the latest UCAS postgraduate admission requirements, PhD applicants submit both bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates and transcripts.

So someone planning the UCAS PhD route should check the new 2027 admission rules carefully rather than assuming that direct bachelor’s-to-PhD admission works the same way as it does at some American universities.

Master’s applicants, meanwhile, submit their bachelor’s qualification.

What Documents Should I Start Preparing Now for ANSO Schoalrship?

Do not wait for October to begin collecting everything. The latest UCAS application requirements included:

• Passport
• Academic CV
• Degree certificates
• Academic transcripts
• English or Chinese proficiency evidence
• Motivation letter
• Two academic recommendation letters
• Published papers, if available
• Supervisor’s Acceptance Form, if obtained

UCAS specifically states that referees should be academics familiar with your academic background, and your prospective UCAS supervisor should not be one of those referees.

That is another reason to approach recommendation writers early.

Frequently Asked CAS-ANSO Questions

Can I apply without an acceptance letter?

Yes. UCAS currently allows applications without one, while USTC explicitly says finding a supervisor beforehand is unnecessary.

Does an acceptance letter guarantee the scholarship?

No. It demonstrates supervisor interest, but scholarship selection still involves formal admission and evaluation.

Should I apply through both UCAS and USTC to increase my chances?

No. The latest CAS-ANSO rules prohibit simultaneously applying through both routes.

Can I contact professors before the scholarship opens?

Yes—and for prospective UCAS applicants, August and September are particularly useful months to do so.

Should I email every professor in one institute?

No. Contact researchers whose work genuinely relates to your academic background and proposed project.

Can a professor who accepts me also write my recommendation letter?

Under the latest UCAS rules, your prospective supervisor should not serve as one of the two academic referees.

Is there an application fee?

For the latest UCAS cycle, applicants seeking the CAS-ANSO Scholarship were exempt from the normal application fee. USTC’s current FAQ likewise states that it does not charge an online application fee.

Your August-to-October CAS-ANSO Preparation Plan

If you are reading this in August 2026, begin by deciding whether UCAS or USTC better suits your intended research.

For a UCAS applicant, August should be about finding suitable CAS institutes and supervisors.

September should be used for contacting selected professors, improving your CV and preparing your research proposal or research-interest statement.

At the same time, speak to your two intended academic referees and begin arranging transcripts, degree documents and language evidence.

By October, you should ideally know:

• Which route am I taking?
• Which institute or department am I targeting?
• What research area am I proposing?
• Which professor best matches that work?
• Are my academic documents ready?

Then, once the official CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027–2028 call appears, your job should mostly be adapting and submitting—not beginning your scholarship research from zero.

That is the real advantage of starting now.

The application portal may not yet be open, but the preparation window already is.

And if you are stuck anywhere—choosing between UCAS and USTC, finding the right CAS institute, searching for professors, deciding what to attach to your email, writing the research proposal or understanding whether your academic profile is suitable—leave your degree level + subject + research field in the comments.

Those are much easier problems to solve in August than three days before the CAS-ANSO deadline.