The new ILEAD PhD Scholarship programme is now available for international students at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. The programme is the fruit of strategic research cooperation between XJTLU and the University of Liverpool, and the course is taught at XJTLU.

The aim of the scholarship is to enable and encourage academically able students of any nationality.

The Institute of Leadership & Education Advanced Development (ILEAD) was a cooperative established by Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and the National Institute of Education Administration under the background that the reform of higher education in China is deepening and that the world’s higher education is facing profound changes.

Students who are non-native English speakers must have satisfactory English language qualifications to study at the university.

XJTLU PhD Scholarship Description: 

  • Application Deadline: There is no specific deadline for applications for doctoral programs. As long as you meet the admission requirements and meet all your admission requirements, you can start your doctoral study. The general starting date is the first day of the month. International students must obtain a Chinese visa in advance.
  • Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue a PhD programme.
  • Study Subject: Research Areas
    • Administration and management of Higher Education
    • Higher Educational policy
    • Higher Educational Evaluation
    • Internationalization of Higher Education
    • Research on local education management

Scholarship Award: Specific funded PhD projects are available that have a scholarship covering the tuition fee and a monthly stipend of RMB 3,500 for a maximum three years. The scholarship for these projects is awarded based not only on your past academic record but also on an assessment of your chosen topic and the likelihood of you completing a PhD in the time allocated.

Students who are awarded an XJTLU PhD scholarship are required to work as teaching assistants (300–500 hours in one academic year) during the scholarship-funded period, which is an excellent opportunity to develop academic skills.

  • Nationality: Open to international students.
  • Number of Scholarships: The university has a number of scholarship options for PhD candidates, including tuition-only scholarships for full-time PhD study and an academic merit scholarship for international students.
  • Scholarship can be taken in China

Eligibility for the XJTLU PhD Scholarship: 

Eligible Countries: This scholarship is available for international students.

Entrance Requirements: To be eligible for this scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

The university accepts a wide variety of academic qualifications for entry into our PhD programme. The typical minimum entry requirement is a UK undergraduate (bachelors) degree with honours at a first- or upper-second-class level in an appropriate field of study. Equivalent overseas degrees are also accepted.

Normal entry requirements for Chinese applicants include an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade of 80 percent or a master’s degree from a recognised Chinese university. The minimum grade required will vary depending on the ranking of your university.

Some PhD programmes, however, have additional entry requirements, so you should check individual programmes for specific information. Please check the specific requirements in each subject area.

If your degree certificate and university transcript are written in another language other than English, you need to have them verified, translated into English, and notarized.

English Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English or have not studied at degree level in English are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. So, if you received your degree from a Chinese university, for example, and the teaching was not in English, proof of English language ability is needed.

Applicants who have been awarded a bachelor or masters degree in English-speaking countries (from the list defined by UKVI) within two years (from the date awarded the degree to the start date of the PhD programme) are exempt from the English language requirement.

Successful completion of the XJTLU/University of Liverpool degree programme at XJTLU taught in English satisfies the university’s English language requirements. Please note that this is only valid for two years from the date of the degree awarded to the start date of the PhD programme.

China Scholarships

Application Procedure for the XJTLU PhD Scholarship: 

How to Apply: All applications for a PhD programme should start with you emailing potential supervisors. You can also refer to our HOW TO APPLY (link to the school official website, http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/zh/study-with-us/how-to-apply) for more information.

Scholarship Link