A, B and C are benefit packages, not amounts to add together
USTC Level A uses CAS-ANSO and lists tuition waiver, insurance and a monthly allowance up to CNY 7000. B lists tuition waiver, insurance, CNY 3500 monthly and an accommodation subsidy. C lists a tuition waiver, with teaching/research assistant support available for application after enrolment.
The procedure allows selection of one or all levels for consideration, but each applicant can be funded by only one scholarship. Choosing all three is not a request for CNY 7000 plus CNY 3500. The actual assigned level is the starting point for the budget.
The old age and calendar conditions are not 2027 promises
The published 2026 notice used age below 35 on 1 September 2026 for A and below 40 on that date for B/C. The application period ended on 31 January 2026. Those details remain useful for understanding the distinction between levels, but they belong to the closed cycle.
The same notice asks for a research proposal of at least 1000 words and two recommendations from full or associate professors. Its material requirements are more specific than a generic graduate scholarship checklist. Future applicants need a new intake’s actual version.
Put this guide into practice
Create a short record for your intended programme. Add the relevant notice or document beside each item; leave unpublished details marked “to confirm”.
- Named funding level and the selection basis in its notice
- Age limit and the date used to calculate it
- Supervisor contact rules and evidence of research fit
Your next step
CAS-ANSO Scholarship: Choosing UCAS or USTCSupervisor procedure also differs from the UCAS example
USTC’s cited page says the applicant does not need to find a host supervisor while applying online; complete files go to schools/departments and professors select through materials and interviews. Its Level A still has the CAS-ANSO restriction against simultaneous UCAS/USTC applications.
The lesson is not that supervisor contact is always unnecessary in China. It is that the selected host defines the order. The C-level assistantship is likewise something to apply for after enrolment, not confirmed living income to assume before the admission decision.
USTC doctoral fellowship levels in the cited 2026 notice
| Level | Named benefits | Budgeting consequence |
|---|---|---|
| A | Tuition, insurance and monthly support up to CNY 7000 | Maximum, not a fixed amount for every doctoral student |
| B | Tuition, insurance, CNY 3500 monthly and housing subsidy | Read the actual accommodation arrangement |
| C | Tuition waiver; assistant support can be applied for after enrolment | Living support is not guaranteed by tuition waiver alone |
Only one scholarship can support each applicant. The cited age dates and deadline are for 2026, not an announced 2027 selection.
Levels A, B and C do not provide the same benefits
Level A uses the CAS-ANSO framework and states a monthly allowance up to CNY 7,000. Level B uses CSC or USTC funding with CNY 3,500 and accommodation support. Level C provides a tuition waiver.
The cited round and age dates belong to 2026
Eligibility, performance conditions and the selected funding level affect the actual award. The cited round closed on 31 January 2026. Its age reference date must not be silently moved forward for 2027.
FAQ
Does Level C guarantee a monthly assistantship allowance?
No. The cited Level C benefit is a tuition waiver; teaching or research assistantship support is available to apply for after enrolment. It should not be treated as an already awarded monthly stipend.