[Call for applications]

“China Studies Program”

Camp For Prospective PhD Scholars (2026)

1.Overview

The “China Studies Program” (CSP) Ph.D. Fellowship, established by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) in partnership with 18 leading Chinese universities, supports outstanding young international scholars interested in Sinology and China Studies. The program provides opportunities to pursue doctoral degrees or conduct fieldwork in China, with the goal of cultivating a new generation of scholars who possess a global academic vision, a solid grounding in international academic standards, and the capacity for meaningful cross-cultural scholarly exchange and research. Since 2013, the CSP Ph.D. Fellowship Program has supported more than 1,000 outstanding young scholars from over 90 countries in pursuing doctoral studies or conducting academic research in China.

The Secretariat of CSP Expert Committee is launching the “CSP Prospective PhD Scholars Camp (2026)” - themed “Intellectual Convergence: AI-Enabled Research in Global Sinologies and China Studies” - to support international students with strong academic potential and a deep interest in exploring the current landscape and future directions of Sinology and China Studies in the digital age. In addition to introducing the CSP Ph.D. Fellowship and its 18 partner universities, the Camp invites leading experts in the field to deliver lectures on cutting-edge developments, offer academic research guidance, advise on Ph.D. applications, discuss academic career pathways, and provide support in academic writing - helping participants strengthen their research skills and scholarly readiness.

2.Time and Venue

· January 12-14, 2025

· On-site: Renmin University of China (Zhong-guan-cun Campus)

· Off-site: Zoom

3.Schedule

Jan. 12 (Mon.), 2026

· 08:30–09:00 | Opening Ceremony

09:00–13:30 | Module 1

AI-Enabled Approaches to the Study on Chinese Civilization

· 14:00–18:30 | Module 2

AI-Enabled Approaches to the Study on Chinese Society and Governance

· 19:30–20:30 | Group Discussion

Small-group seminars with faculty mentors and current CSP scholars.

January 13 (Tues.), 2026

· 09:00–13:30 | Module 3

AI-Enabled Approaches to the Study on International Chinese Language Education

· 14:00–18:30 | Module 4

AI-Enabled Approaches to the Study on China’s Economy and Development

· 19:30–20:30 | Group Discussion

Small-group seminars with faculty mentors and current CSP scholars.

January 14 (Wed.), 2026

· 09:00–13:30 | Module 5

AI-Enabled Approaches to Literature Review Writing

· 14:00–18:00 | University Showcase

Presentations by 18 CSP partner universities on their programs and research strengths.

· 18:00 | Closing Ceremony

Summary and guidance on fellowship application procedures.

4.Requirements

1)Non-Chinese Citizens

2)HSK level 3 or above

3)Master’s degree or above

4)Applicants interested in CSP Ph.D. Fellowship

5.Instructions

Register here: http://www.chinese.cn/page/#/pcpage/new_service.

Application for the camp closes on January 05, 2026.

6.Other useful information

Participants with an attendance rate of 90% or higher are eligible to receive a certificate.

Those who are active in class discussions can receive help with research proposal (if needed).

3. Contacts:

· Renmin University of China

Tel: (86-10) 62513770

E-mail: hantui@ruc.edu.cn