Full Tuition & RMB 4,500 Monthly Stipend: UNNC Fully Funded PhD Scholarships 2026
The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) has officially invited applications for its 2026 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) PhD Scholarships. This elite funding package allows international researchers to earn a world-class UK PhD degree while living in one of China’s most vibrant tech hubs. With a total of 15 fully funded seats available for this specific intake, the scholarship is designed to eliminate financial stress for high-achieving doctoral candidates.
Funding Breakdown and Award Value
The scholarship (Ref: 26FHSS) provides comprehensive financial support for a duration of 36 months. This ensures that researchers can focus entirely on their thesis without worrying about tuition or daily living costs.
| Benefit Category | Award Detail |
| Tuition Fees | 100% Covered (Valued at approx. RMB 110,000–130,000 per year). |
| Monthly Stipend | RMB 4,500 paid directly to the student for living expenses. |
| Medical Insurance | Included (Compulsory health insurance for international students). |
| GTA Opportunities | Paid Teaching Roles available from the 2nd year (Subject to training). |
Candidate Requirements
- Academic Level: A Master’s degree with at least 65% (Merit) and a Bachelor’s degree at 2:1 (Upper Second Class) level.
- GPA Equivalent: For US degrees, a minimum 3.5/4.0 GPA is required. For Chinese degrees, a weighted average of 85/100 is expected.
- English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 (min 6.0 in all elements) is standard, though specific FHSS disciplines like English or Education may require higher scores.
- Supervision: You are strongly advised to contact a UNNC supervisor and get their support for your research proposal before you apply.
Application Strategy
There is no separate application form for this scholarship. Your admission application is your scholarship application. To maximize your chances: You must enter the reference code 26FHSS in the scholarship section of your online application.Since FHSS focuses on Social Sciences, explain how your research (e.g., in Economics or International Communications) benefits the global academic community.Your research proposal should reflect the rigors of a top UK institution.
Application Deadlines and Key Dates
The deadline for the 2026 intake is March 31, 2026 (China Standard Time). The university typically issues scholarship notifications by May 29, 2026, giving international students enough time to process their X1 Student Visas. The official program start date is September 19, 2026.
Official Source
To browse the faculty list and find your potential research supervisor, use the official portals:
1.https://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/graduateschool/prospective-students/how-to-apply.aspx
2.https://www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/index.aspx