JUSTCOOL PhD in China 2027: Eligibility, Funding, Documents and How to Apply

The JUSTCOOL PhD (official name JUSTCOOL: PhD) is a joint doctoral admission for international students at three universities in Shanghai: Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Tongji University. It is for students who are finishing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology. Admitted students get a fellowship, a full tuition waiver, free accommodation and free medical insurance. The closing date is 14 November 2026.

This guide was checked on 9 October 2026 against the official JUSTCOOL admissions page. Where the official page does not give a detail, we say so.

JUSTCOOL at a glance

What is the JUSTCOOL PhD programme?

The three universities launched JUSTCOOL together to recruit strong undergraduate students from outside China and train them as researchers. You make one application, sit one written exam and attend one interview. You pick your subject when you apply, and you pick your university after the interview.

Who can apply

Nationality

• You are not a Chinese citizen and you hold a valid foreign passport.
• If you were a Chinese citizen in the past, you must already hold a foreign nationality and have completed the renunciation of Chinese nationality.

There is no list of eligible countries. Students from every country apply under the same rules.

Degree and class rank

• You are an undergraduate student majoring in mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology.
• You will receive your bachelor’s degree between June 2026 and July 2027.
• You rank in the top 20% of your undergraduate major or programme at your home university.

The official page describes applicants as undergraduate students. It does not say whether holders of a master’s degree can apply.

English

You need one of these three:

• You are a citizen of an English-speaking country and English is your first language.
• Your bachelor’s degree was taught entirely in English.
• You have a test score from the last two years: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90 (4.5 on the new TOEFL scale), Duolingo English Test 110 or PTE Academic 61.

No Chinese language requirement is stated, and no age limit is stated. If you need a test, see IELTS or TOEFL: which to choose.

What the funding covers

• The JUSTCOOL: PhD fellowship
• A full tuition waiver
• Free accommodation
• A research or teaching assistantship
• Free medical insurance

The amount of the fellowship is not stated on the official source. Flights and visa costs are not mentioned.

Documents you need

Required documents

1. Passport information page. The passport must be valid until 1 March 2028 or later.
2. Certificate of your highest qualification or degree certificate. If you have not graduated yet, give an original certificate of expected graduation issued by your university.
3. Complete academic transcripts of your highest level of education.
4. Two recommendation letters from professors in your subject, written in Chinese or English and signed by them.
5. Proof of English proficiency and your scores.
6. Certificate of Non-Criminal Record.
7. Foreigner Physical Examination Form in Chinese or English. The results are valid for 6 months.
8. Nationality certification documents. Former Chinese citizens must add a Certificate of Renunciation of Chinese Nationality and proof that their Chinese household registration was cancelled.

Conditional documents

• Notarized translations of any document that is not in Chinese or English.
• CSCSE degree authentication report. Graduates of universities outside China give this before enrolment, not at the application stage.

Optional documents

• Other supporting documents, such as award certificates and published papers.

A research proposal and a letter from a supervisor are not on the official list. For the two letters, see how to get strong recommendation letters.

How to apply for the JUSTCOOL PhD, step by step

1. Read the Admissions page on justcoolphd.cn and check the eligibility rules.
2. Open the application portal with the Apply Now button (apply.justcoolphd.cn).
3. Choose your intended major: mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology. You do not choose a university at this stage.
4. Fill in the form and upload your documents.
5. Submit by the closing date, 14 November 2026.
6. After you submit, check the application system. The programme posts all later notices there.

An application fee is not mentioned on the official source.

Key dates

Selection: exam, interview and offer

The written exam

• It is a closed-book exam, planned to be held online.
• There are two papers related to your intended major.
• Each paper lasts 2.5 hours and is marked out of 100.
• Further exam details will be announced separately in the application system.

The Admissions page links to an examination syllabus for each of the four subjects. The biology syllabus, for example, has three sections: biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology; genetics, development and microbiology; and bioinformatics and bioengineering. Download the syllabus for your own subject from the official page.

The interview and your university

The interview is generally held online. If you pass, you choose your target universities. When a university accepts you, you receive a preliminary offer and must confirm it within one week. The universities then issue formal admission notices.

If you reach the interview but are not selected, the official page says you will have the opportunity to be admitted to the regular graduate programmes of the universities you applied to.

After you are admitted

• You register at the university that admits you.
• Teaching is in English, and you may take courses at the other two universities.
• Your doctoral graduation certificate and doctoral degree certificate come from the university where you are enrolled.

The length of the programme is not stated on the official source.

Other funded routes in China

If JUSTCOOL does not fit you, see our guides to the CSC Scholarship and the CAS-ANSO Scholarship, and the full list of scholarships in China for international students.

Frequently asked questions

Is JUSTCOOL fully funded?

The official page lists a fellowship, a full tuition waiver, free accommodation, a research or teaching assistantship and free medical insurance. It does not give amounts.

Which countries can apply?

Any country except China. You must be a non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport.

What is the closing date?

14 November 2026.

Do I need IELTS?

Not always. A bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English is accepted. If you use a test, you need IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61 from the last two years.

Can I apply with a master’s degree?

The official page does not say. It describes applicants as undergraduate students who receive a bachelor’s degree between June 2026 and July 2027.

Do I apply through my government or a national agency?

No. Every applicant applies directly on the JUSTCOOL portal.

Do I need a supervisor before I apply?

A supervisor letter is not on the list of required documents.

Do I choose Fudan, SJTU or Tongji when I apply?

No. You choose your subject first and your target universities after the interview.

Where to apply

Apply only on the official portal, apply.justcoolphd.cn, and read the full rules on the official JUSTCOOL admissions page. Our JUSTCOOL scholarship page keeps the key facts and the closing date in one place.