LMU-CSC Scholarship Program

LMU - CSC doctoral scholarship program

In 2005, LMU Munich was the first German university to sign an agreement with the China Scholarship Council (CSC). All degree courses taught at LMU are open to LMU-CSC students. Interested candidates can choose from two funding lines:

Full doctoral study model (Model 1): With financial support from CSC, candidates complete three or four years (36 or 48 months) of study and research at LMU Munich. The doctoral degree is conferred by LMU.
Sandwich model (Model 2): Candidates pursue the first one or two years of their doctoral program at their home university in China. Doctoral students then complete one or two years (12 or 24 months) of research at LMU with financial support from CSC, and return to China to finalize their research. The doctoral degree is conferred by the Chinese university.

Apply online

Applications for 2025 are closed. The next round of applications for 2026 will open in October 2025.

Eligibility

Candidates must be citizens of the PR of China.
Age limit: 35 years; for specific doctoral programs at LMU this age limit may vary.
Candidates must have completed a research-oriented Master's program at a university in China ("Double First Class University" (双一流) is preferred) or elsewhere (i.e. Germany, US etc.).
Candidates must have completed a Bachelor's and Master's degree with a score of 80 or above in the Chinese grading system.

Outline of the selection process

First Step: Once you have been accepted by LMU, the International Office of LMU will provide you with an acceptance letter officially confirming your eligibility to apply for an LMU-CSC fellowship from the China Scholarship Council (CSC).
Second Step: You then submit all required documents, including LMU's letter of acceptance, to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and complete the entire application process.

Please note: LMU's International Office will not forward your application documents to the CSC!

Application period

Deadlines: The application period begins in October and ends on 1 February of the following year.

Required application documents

Please submit your current curriculum vitae.

The letter of acceptance must include the following information:
Confirmation by your LMU supervisor that she/he accepts you as a doctoral student in the LMU-CSC program.
The exact period of your study at LMU (September [please fill in the respective year] till August [please fill in the respective year])
Confirmation of your language proficiency (we suggest that the LMU supervisor conducts a video interview with the candidate prior to issuing the letter)

The candidate must submit the letter of acceptance to the CSC!

Full doctoral study model: Bachelor's degree certificate, certified transcript of Bachelor's academic record, Master's enrollment certificate, or Master's degree with certified transcript of Master's academic record.
Sandwich model: Bachelor's degree certificate, certified transcript of Bachelor's academic record, Master's degree certificate with certified transcript of Master's academic record, PhD enrollment certificate.

All these certificates must be authenticated in English or German by the appropriate authority in China.

Full doctoral study model: The research proposal must be signed by both the candidate and the relevant supervisor at LMU.
Sandwich model: The research proposal must be signed by the candidate, the relevant supervisor at LMU and the candidate's supervisor of his/her home university in China.

A Certificate of Proficiency in English, equivalent to IELTS Test Academic 6.5 (no module below 6) or TOEFL IBT 95, is required.
In some subject areas (e.g. Law, Philosophy, Political Sciences, Communication Sciences, Sociology and German Studies), a Certificate of Proficiency in German, equivalent to Test-DAF (no module below 4) or DSH-2, is required.

Two letters of recommendation should be sent directly from your referees to LMU-CSC Office: csc.international@lmu.de

If you are employed at the time of your application to the LMU-CSC Program, a confirmation from your employer is required.

Find a supervisor

Some of our researchers and/or institutes offer research projects designated specially for the joint LMU–CSC program: Find an open position
Faculties and departments have assigned special LMU–CSC coordinators who can help applicants to find the right research match within a faculty, department or discipline: List of departmental coordinators
You can also look for a supervisor on your own. Here's the list of LMU's faculties.
In case of interest or difficulties in finding a supervisor, please fill in the
CSC Statement of Interest Form (PDF, 113 KB) and send it to csc.international@lmu.de

Your benefits as an LMU - CSC student

The CSC provides students with a comprehensive financial support package that comprises travel expenses and a monthly stipend, which enables students to concentrate fully on their research project for the duration of their stay in Munich.

For further information see: China Scholarship Council.

During the first month of their stay (usually September), LMU offers a special orientation program for scholars of the LMU–CSC Program, which comprises the following features:

Airport pick-up service
Practical assistance (e.g. opening a bank account, enrollment, registration with local authorities)
Intercultural coaching
Intensive language course
Excursions

LMU will assist students by providing information on how to find accommodation in Munich.

During the whole duration of their stay, students will receive tuition both within and outside their research unit. On completion of two academic years, CSC students are expected to present their research projects in a poster session organized by LMU's International Office. This measure helps research students to monitor their personal progress.

The LMU-China Alumni Network (LMU-CAN) started in October 2017. It is organized by LMU-CSC alumni and actively supported by LMU’s International Office.

The purpose of the Alumni Network is to serve as a platform for communication and cooperation among alumni from China who have studied or are currently studying at LMU. It provides resources for collaborative activities and hosts academic discussions on science (and its possible limits), current research topics, academic innovation, and interdisciplinary issues.

The LMU-China Alumni Network organizes an annual forum that promotes academic cooperation among LMU alumni, facilitates interdisciplinary integration, and enhances LMU’s visibility both in China and internationally.

So far, three LMU-China Alumni Network Forums have taken place:

August 2018 in Shanghai – “Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements & Collaborative Innovation”
October 2019 in Shanghai – “Intelligent Cities and Multidisciplinary Approaches”
September 2023 in Shanghai – “Applied Science and Innovative Research"

Join the LMU-China Alumni Network and stay connected with LMU. To become a member, please contact our LMU-CSC alumnus Mr Hao FENG.

Return visits of former CSC grant holders to LMU

In order to further develop high-quality research cooperation between LMU and Chinese universities and research institutions, LMU and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed an additional agreement in 2024. This new contract enables former LMU-CSC scholarship holders, who have obtained their doctoral degree, to return to LMU for a research visit of three to twelve months with funding from the CSC. Further information can be found on the LMU-CSC return visit webpage.

Contact

Dr. Dongmei Zhang

International Office

Partnerships: University of Tokyo, National Taiwan University; CSC programs

Send an email

+49 89 2180-6169

LMU - CSC Scholarship Program

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