The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) has officially released the complete list of schools, colleges, and institutes offering UCAS Scholarships for the 2026 academic year, giving international students a golden opportunity to join one of the world’s most advanced scientific and research networks.
This announcement is a major update for students planning to pursue fully funded master’s and doctoral programs in China, particularly in fields spanning engineering, life sciences, physics, computer science, earth sciences, economics, and policy research. The UCAS Scholarship—jointly offered by UCAS and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)—continues to be one of the most prestigious funding opportunities for foreign scholars.
A Global Gateway for Research & Innovation
UCAS is the graduate school of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China’s leading scientific research organization with over 100 affiliated institutes nationwide. For 2026, the university has renewed and expanded its network of participating institutes under the UCAS Scholarship program, ensuring a broader range of disciplines and research facilities are available to international students.
These institutes are globally renowned for their contributions in fields such as quantum materials, AI, biotechnology, energy innovation, environmental sustainability, oceanography, and space exploration. UCAS collaborates with global research partners from Europe, the U.S., and Asia, offering students cross-border opportunities and exposure to world-class laboratories.
Institutes Under UCAS Offering Scholarships in 2026
The 2026 UCAS Scholarship opportunity spans an extraordinary 111 institutes across China. Some of the most prominent include:
- Institute of Psychology, CAS
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS
- Institute of Automation, CAS
- Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences
- South China Botanical Garden, CAS
- Institute of Chemistry, CAS
- School of Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, CAS
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS
- Institute of Zoology, CAS
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, CAS
- Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS
- Institute of Physics, CAS
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, CAS
- Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
- Institute of Botany, CAS
- School of Computer Science and Technology
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, CAS
- School of Physical Sciences
- Institute of Mechanics, CAS
- School of Economics and Management
- Beijing Institute of Genomics (China National Center for Bioinformation)
- Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, CAS
- Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, CAS
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS
- Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS
- Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, CAS
- Institute of Microbiology, CAS
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS
- Institute of Semiconductors, CAS
- College of Life Sciences
- Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, CAS
- School of Public Policy and Management
- Institute of Geochemistry, CAS
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, CAS
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, CAS
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS
- Institute of Modern Physics, CAS
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, CAS
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, CAS
- Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, CAS
- National Astronomical Observatories, CAS
- Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS
- Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
- Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS
- Institute of Biophysics, CAS
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, CAS
- Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, CAS
- Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, CAS
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, CAS
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, CAS
- Institute of Soil Science, CAS
- Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, CAS
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- Academy of Mathematics and System Science, CAS
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS
- Institute of Oceanology, CAS
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS
- Institute of Urban Environment, CAS
- Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, CAS
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS
- National Space Science Center, CAS
- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS
- School of Nanoscience and Engineering, UCAS
- Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS
- Center for Agricultural Resources Research, IGDB, CAS
- Institute of Automation, CAS
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, CAS
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS
- School of Computer Science and Technology
- Shenyang Institute of Automation, CAS
- Wuhan Botanical Garden, CAS
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, CAS
- Sino-Danish College
- Institute of Automation, CAS
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS
- Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
- Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS
- Institute of Modern Physics, CAS
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, CAS
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, CAS
- Institute of Mechanics, CAS
- Institute of Zoology, CAS
- Institute of Physics, CAS
- Institute of Psychology, CAS
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, CAS
- Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS
- Institute of Microbiology, CAS
- Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
- Institute of Biophysics, CAS
- Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth
- Institute of Soil Science, CAS
- Institute of Oceanology, CAS
- Institute of Mechanics, CAS
- Institute of Psychology, CAS
- Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS.
- Full list https://english.ucas.ac.cn/index.php/admission/international-students/schools-colleges.
Who Can Apply for UCAS Scholarships?
The UCAS Scholarship is open to international students of all nationalities who wish to pursue Master’s or Doctoral degrees in any of the research areas represented by the UCAS institutes.
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must not hold Chinese citizenship.
- Applicants should possess excellent academic records.
- A supervisor or host institute under UCAS must provide an acceptance letter.
- Applicants should meet the English or Chinese language proficiency standards (depending on the program).
Application Timeline and How to Apply?
Applications for the UCAS Scholarship 2026 intake are expected to open in November 2025 and close in March 2026. Applicants must first contact a UCAS institute or supervisor to obtain a pre-admission or invitation letter. After this, they can apply for the scholarship via the UCAS International Students Portal.
The UCAS Scholarship selection process is competitive and based on academic merit, research potential, and institutional recommendation.