ParisTech - CSC PhD program

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ParisTech - CSC PhD program

The ParisTech - CSC PhD Program, established through an agreement between the ParisTech network and the China Scholarship Council, offers outstanding Chinese students the opportunity to pursue a full PhD or a co-supervised PhD in one of the leading engineering schools in France. The program provides high-level scientific training, access to world-class laboratories, and a strong pathway toward an international research career.

What is the ParisTech – CSC PhD Program?

ParisTech network and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed in 2011 an agreement to create a PhD program in France; it was renewed in 2017, and then in 2022. Since the implementation of the program in 2013, 261 scholarships were awarded for students admitted in the program to complete their PhD within one of the ParisTech Schools laboratories.

This program is open to highly qualified Chinese students interested in carrying on doctoral training in a ParisTech school with the CSC financial support. The awarded grants will cover a period of 36 to 48 months in France for full PhDs, with an amount of 1350€ per month and a roundtrip airfare by the most economical route.

As part of this program, students have also the possibility to complete a co-supervised PhD in collaboration between their home research group un China and their host laboratory in France. The awarded grant will cover a period from 6 to 24 months in France for co-supervised PhDs, with an amount of 1350€ per month and a roundtrip airfare by the most economical route.

One of the objectives of this program is to further develop research collaborations between ParisTech schools and partner universities and laboratories in China.

Up to 30 scholarships can be awarded within this program each year.

Why Apply?

🚀 Join world-class French engineering schools

🔬 Access cutting-edge research laboratories

💰 Receive up to 48 months of CSC funding

🌍 Be part of an international scientific community

🤝 Develop strong collaborations between France and China

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must be citizens of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application.
Applicants should not hold a foreign permanent residence permit.
Applicants should be at least 18 years old at the time of application.

Students eligible to the program can either be, at the time of application:

Studying in China

- Master's students (last year of Master or recent graduates) in a Chinese University.

- First year PhD students in a Chinese University are only eligible for co-supervised PhDs scholarship. A recommendation from the home university will be required.

Studying in France

- Second year Master's (M2) students or students graduated within less than a year at the time of application to the CSC scholarship.

- Applicants who have studied for a “Diplôme d’ingénieur” in France, and especially those who have received funding from the CSC within the ParisTech "9+9" Program are also encouraged to apply to this PhD program.

Students studying in one of the 42 partner countries* of the CSC

- Last year Master's students or students who graduated within less than a year at the time of application to the CSC scholarship.

*USA, Canada, Cuba, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, Serbia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, North Korea, India, Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Malaysia.

PhD Topics – Explore Available Research Projects

👉 Download the 2026 PhD Topics Booklet (PDF).
👉 Download the Excel file with all projects and supervisors.

Candidates can either apply to:

specific PhD research proposals (up to 3),

and/or an entire research field: in this case we strongly encourage you to check the database of ParisTech publications to identify potential PhD supervisors and mention them in your application.

Please note that you are encouraged to contact supervisors during the application process, either:

to make sure the research proposal corresponds to your project,

or in the case you found a lab or supervisor you were interested in pursuing a PhD with, to define a thesis subject with them.

Application Process – Step-by-Step Guide

December 9, 2025	Start of online application process
Wednesday, January 14, 2026	Application deadline
Tuesday, January 20, 2026	Successful applicants will receive a notification to attend an interview.
From Thursday, January 22 to Friday, February 6, 2026	Interviews with ParisTech Admission Board and then with potential PhD advisors.
In March	Admitted students will receive a provisional admission letter to apply for the CSC scholarship.
Mid-March / early April 2026	CSC application
From May to June 2026	Announcement of CSC scholarship results.
From June to September 2026	Awarded students will receive the official admission letter, and will be informed by the CSC about all the administrative procedures to follow before departure for France.
In October 2026	Arrival in France and beginning of the PhD.

From December 9, 2025, to Wednesday, January 14, 2026 : Apply to the ParisTech - CSC PhD Program

Download the list containing the various thesis topics proposed by the ParisTech network schools and the Excel file with all projects and supervisors to see if any of them interest you. You can contact the supervisors to ask your questions.

If you are interested in a thesis topic, you can then apply to the program via this link.

You need to attach the following documents to your online application:

All documents must be submitted in English or in French, translated version is also acceptable.

All documents marked with * are mandatory:

Two recommendation forms* The recommendation letters’ requests will only be sent after you “Submit” your file, and will only be sent once. Please allow sufficient time for your referees to complete & upload their recommendation form.
Student ranking certificates (ranking by major or department at bachelor and master level)* If your university cannot provide all ranking certificates, please explain why on your application form.
Academic transcripts (at bachelor and master level)*
English certificate* We strongly suggest you to meet the CSC requirements on Foreign Language Proficiency.
A personal statement including motivation and rough research plan (1-2 pages)*. Please outline why you wish to pursue a PhD at ParisTech, and do not hesitate to provide any additional information about yourself (interests, work experience, professional project, etc.) that may support your application. The research plan should describe the areas you are interested in, and some research work you have done that makes you consider pursuing a PhD in the domain you wish to apply to.
A scan of your passport or resident ID card*
An ID photo*
An English summary of your master thesis
French certificate Any further document proving your academic or scientific achievement / excellence (ex. university prize, published work, previously awarded scholarship).

All these documents will be reviewed by Professors from ParisTech “Grandes Ecoles”.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Successful applicants will receive a notification to attend an interview.

From Thursday, January 22 to Friday, February 6, 2026: Interviews with ParisTech Admission Board and then with potential PhD advisors.

The interview aims at evaluating applicants’ motivation, communication skills, and research projects.

Interviews can be conducted online for candidates who are neither in France nor in China.

In March: Admitted students will receive a provisional admission letter to apply for the CSC scholarship.

Mid-March / early April 2026 : CSC application

Once all interviews taken, and / or once a supervisor agrees to deliver you a conditional admission letter, you should apply for the CSC – Paris PhD scholarship.

All applicants should log in to the CSC study abroad platform (http://apply.csc.edu.cn) in March each year, to complete an online application and upload relevant materials.

The China Scholarship Council entrusts the following institutions to be responsible for the applicants’ selection:

Relevant  universities and institutions in China are responsible for accepting applications from their own students;

For applicants currently abroad, the relevant department of the Chinese Embassy is responsible for accepting applications.

The China Scholarship Council does not directly accept individual applications.

After completing the online application, applicants should submit the  materials to the institutions responsible for their application as soon as possible. These institutions should then review the completeness of the applicant's materials, and submit an official letter, and the list of recommended applicants to the Eurasian and African Affairs Department of the China Scholarship Council before an annually set date (in April), and submit the applicant's materials through the CSC platform.

From May to June 2026: Announcement of CSC scholarship results.

From June to September 2026 : Awarded students will receive the official admission letter, and will be informed by the CSC about all the administrative procedures to follow before departure for France.