The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is one of the first batch of national “Double First-Class” universities affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Leveraging its institutional strength of “running the university by the whole Academy and integrating institutes with departments”, USTC has developed an education model integrating science and education. Targeting global frontiers of science and technology and responding to major national domestic needs, USTC is committed to fostering talents through moral education, pursuing breakthroughs in innovation, and building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics and USTC’s distinctive features.
Eastern Institute for Advanced Study (EIAS) in Ningbo is a new research-intensive university of high standards, small scale, refined development, innovation focus and international outlook. It is funded by social forces, jointly built by provincial and municipal governments, and supported as a national priority. With the mission of serving national development and advancing social progress, EIAS prioritizes fundamental research, frontier interdisciplinary studies and engineering technologies. Its disciplinary framework centers on science, engineering, information studies and business, complemented by distinctive humanities and social sciences. Upholding the educational philosophy of aspiring high and seeking truth from facts, EIAS cultivates top-notch innovative talents with solid foundational knowledge, innovative capacity, a strong sense of national responsibility and global vision.
To actively explore training mechanisms for top-notch innovative students and establish a new high-level talent training system with Chinese characteristics and international standards, and with the support of the Ministry of Education, the University of Science and Technology of China and Eastern Institute for Advanced Study jointly launch the USTC‑EIAS Joint Doctoral Program for the training of top-notch scientific and technological innovative talents.
I. Supervisors and Majors
For details, please visit the link below: https://www.eitech.edu.cn/2025/0715/c457a1133/page.htm
Note: Before application, applicants may consult supervisors or the Graduate School of Eastern Institute for Advanced Study about admission quotas and available majors.
II. Admission Quota and Study Duration
The planned admission quota for this joint program is provisionally 50 students (subject to the final quota issued by the Ministry of Education). For the 2026 intake, candidates will be selected through general admission, master‑doctor integrated pathway, and direct doctoral admission, with admission based on merit.
General Admission: Implemented via the Application‑Review System. USTC plans to open online applications on January 24, 2026. The actual application window is subject to the arrangement of the admitting school/department. Applicants shall follow updates published by each admitting school/department of USTC. Refer to the 2026 doctoral admission notices released on the websites of USTC’s admitting schools and departments.
Master‑Doctor Integrated Pathway: USTC will release a separate notice and open online applications in early April 2026 via the USTC Graduate Admission Online Portal: https://yz.ustc.edu.cn/.
Direct Doctoral Admission: The 2026 direct doctoral admission round has been completed. Fresh undergraduate graduates admitted by USTC for direct doctoral studies are exempt from this round of online application, in accordance with the application and admission information published on the MOE Recommendation and Exemption Service System. For details: https://www.eitech.edu.cn/2025/0721/c457a1136/page.htm
Doctor of Engineering Admissions: Follow the admission rules, requirements and timeline of USTC. USTC plans to release a separate notice and open online applications in April 2026 on the USTC Graduate Admission Online Portal.
Full-time doctoral students admitted through general admission (Application‑Review System) shall follow a basic study duration of 3–4 years, with non-directed employment status and full-time enrollment.
III. Basic Requirements and Arrangements for General Admission (Application‑Review System)
1. Eligibility
Applicants shall satisfy the requirements specified in USTC’s 2026 Doctoral Admission Notice and the entry criteria set by the target discipline of the admitting school/department. Full details are available on the USTC Graduate Admission Online Portal.
2. Application Procedures
(1) Communicate with prospective supervisors at Eastern Institute for Advanced Study regarding admission openings. (Supervisor directory: https://faculty.eitech.edu.cn/) (2) Submit application via the USTC Postgraduate Admission Service System: https://xspt.ustc.edu.cn/logon (3) Be sure to select a supervisor affiliated with Eastern Institute for Advanced Study during online submission. (4) Fill in Eastern Institute for Advanced Study (Ningbo) in the “Remarks / Supplementary Information” field under Basic Information.
3. Application Documents Required for USTC Online Application
(1) Document Preparation
(See the admission portal for document specifications; templates are downloadable within the system, including but not limited to): valid ID document; Integrity Commitment for Doctoral Admission Examination; Application Form for Doctoral Studies; Research Proposal; copies of bachelor’s diploma and degree certificate, and master’s diploma and degree certificate (current master’s students shall submit an enrollment certificate issued by the graduate administration office of their university); academic transcripts for undergraduate and postgraduate studies (applicants for the EIAS Special Track must upload undergraduate transcripts); proof of foreign language proficiency; full master’s thesis (for graduates) or thesis abstract (for current master’s students); copies of published papers in major core journals, award certificates, and other supporting materials demonstrating academic competence or achievements such as patents.
Important: Two professors with senior professional titles in the applicant’s discipline or closely related disciplines must submit the Recommendation Letters via the email link sent from the application system.
Applicants shall verify their eligibility and submit materials truthfully. Any falsified documents, cheating or other disciplinary violations will be penalized in accordance with national and university regulations, including disqualification of application, admission offer or student status. All consequences shall be borne by the applicant.
(2) Submission of Hard Copies
Hard copies of application documents must be delivered to the admitting school/department of USTC by the deadline specified by the respective department. Addresses and contact information can be found on the websites of USTC’s admitting schools and departments.
Meanwhile, electronic copies shall be sent to the email of the Graduate School of Eastern Institute for Advanced Study before the same deadline: pg.admissions@eitech.edu.cn
4. Document Review
Document review is led by Eastern Institute for Advanced Study and shall be completed before the deadline required by the admitting USTC school/department. EIAS conducts preliminary review on application materials in line with requirements from the relevant USTC admitting units. Applicants who pass preliminary review will attend the comprehensive assessment at USTC as scheduled.
5. Comprehensive Assessment
Assessment window: generally April 20 to May 10, 2026.
The comprehensive assessment normally includes written examination and interview, covering ideological and moral evaluation (candidates failing this part will not be admitted), foreign language proficiency assessment, and professional knowledge assessment. Some USTC departments adopt interviews only. For candidates applying across vastly different disciplines without prerequisite coursework, a written test on fundamental disciplinary knowledge will be arranged. This written test score will not be counted toward the final assessment score, yet a failing grade will result in rejection. The exact time, venue and format are subject to notices published by the admitting USTC school/department.
6. Public Announcement and Admission
(1) Each USTC school/department ranks candidates of the USTC‑EIAS Joint Doctoral Special Track by their comprehensive assessment scores. Based on the admission quota allocated to each supervisor for the current year, the proposed admission list is determined in descending order of scores. After review and approval by the Admission Office of USTC Graduate School, the list will be published collectively on the USTC Graduate Admission Online Portal. (2) Upon completion of the candidate file transfer, USTC plans to issue admission notices to admitted new students around July 2026.
IV. Training Model
Joint doctoral students register for student status at USTC and receive joint supervision by supervisors from both universities. They complete coursework at USTC and carry out dissertation-related research at Eastern Institute for Advanced Study. Once students fulfill all curricular requirements specified in the joint training scheme, and the research outputs generated during doctoral dissertation work satisfy the criteria set by the admitting units of both USTC and EIAS, students who meet USTC graduation requirements will be awarded a USTC graduation certificate; those meeting USTC doctoral degree conferral standards will be granted the Doctoral Degree by USTC.
V. Tuition, Scholarships and Stipends
The annual tuition for full-time doctoral students admitted via general admission (Application‑Review System) is RMB 10,000, which will be covered on the student’s behalf by Eastern Institute for Advanced Study.
To encourage doctoral research and innovation, USTC and EIAS provide living allowances and research assistant stipends throughout the study period. Stipends follow USTC standards while the student is based at USTC, and EIAS standards while the student is based at EIAS.
VI. Inquiries and Contact Information
1. Admission Office, Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China
Address: No. 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui Province Postal Code: 230026 Email: yzb@ustc.edu.cn Tel: +86 551 63602925, 63600270, 63600532 USTC Graduate Admission Online Portal: https://yz.ustc.edu.cn/
2. Graduate School, Eastern Institute for Advanced Study
Address: No. 2911 Haijiang Avenue, Jiaochuan Subdistrict, Zhenhai District, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province Postal Code: 315200 Email: pg.admissions@eitech.edu.cn Tel: +86 574 86603288, 86603286 Website: http://www.eitech.edu.cn/ Admission QQ Group: 823444914
3. Relevant USTC Admitting Schools
| School Code | School Name | Contact Person | Tel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | School of Mathematical Sciences | Ms. Huang | 63607263 | zhyhuang@ustc.edu.cn |
| 203 | School of Physical Sciences | Ms. Zhang | 63600462 | lixy@ustc.edu.cn |
| 204 | School of Management | Ms. Xia | 63606246 | xiahw@ustc.edu.cn |
| 206 | School of Chemistry and Materials Science | Ms. Shu (Dept. of Chemical Physics, Dept. 3) | 63601109 | shuna@ustc.edu.cn |
| Ms. Huo (Department of Chemistry, Dept. 19) | 63601107 | lhuo@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| Ms. Wang (Dept. of Applied Chemistry, Dept. 12; Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering, Dept. 20) | 63601697 | asuba@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| Ms. Chen (Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Dept.14) | 63600623 | yxchen@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| 209 | School of Engineering Science | Ms. Tong (School-wide; Dept. of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, Dept.9) | 63601250 | tjing@ustc.edu.cn |
| Ms. Yu (Dept. of Modern Mechanics, Dept.5) | 63601474 | yunq@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| Ms. Ge (Dept. of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, Dept.13) | 63600629 | gejing@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| 210 | School of Information Science and Technology | Ms. Zhang (Dept.6) | 63600124 | zyy1120@ustc.edu.cn |
| Ms. Yang (Dept.10) | 63602835 | fryang@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| 215 | School of Computer Science and Technology | Ms. Zhang (Computer Science and Technology) | 63600853 | dimple@ustc.edu.cn |
| Ms. Li (Electronic Information) | 63601552 | sbli@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| Ms. Liu (Electronic Information) | 63601465 | liuyanan@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| 219 | School of Microelectronics | Ms. Shao | 63606143 | qshao25@ustc.edu.cn |
| 226 | School of Nanoscience and Technology | Ms. Hang | 0512-87161351 | hangcc@ustc.edu.cn |
| 240 | Department of Environmental Science and Engineering | Ms. Qiao | 63601745 | qiaoz@ustc.edu.cn |
| 910 | School of Life Sciences | Ms. Li | 63600392 | ljmm@ustc.edu.cn |
| Ms. Zhang | 63601043 | zq8401@ustc.edu.cn | ||
| 916 | School of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine | Ms. Wang | 0512-62881389 | mengwang@ustc.edu.cn |
Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China Graduate School, Eastern Institute for Advanced Study January 23, 2026
