2026 NPU PhD Program Application Guide for International Students

Duration of Offered Program:

Duration: 4 years

Method of study: Full-time

Fall Semester Intake Only.

Major List for PhD programs:

2026 PhD Major list:

Application Period:

The first batch: November 1, 2025 - January 15, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8).

Application submission after 17:00 (GMT+8) is automatically regarded as 2nd batch application.

The second batch: January 16, 2026 -  February 28, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8).

Application submission after 17:00 (GMT+8) is automatically regarded as 3rd batch application.

The third batch: March 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8).

Application submission after 17:00 (GMT+8) is automatically regarded as 4th batch application.

The fourth batch: April 1, 2026 - April 30, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8).

Application submission after April 30, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8) is automatically regarded as giving up.

CSC Scholarship application deadline is February 28, 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8). Applicants are encouraged to apply early to have a higher chance of receiving a scholarship.

Admission Requirements:

Admission to NPU is based on academic merit and open competition. Before application, ensure that you satisfy the admission requirements. Depending on the competitiveness of each applicant cohort, admission criteria may vary from year to year.

1.Good physical and mental health (no infectious or contagious diseases and no physical or mental disorders that could interfere with regular study).

2.Applicants for doctoral program should be under 35 by September 1st, 2026.

3.Academic Requirement: By September 1st, 2026, applicants for doctoral program must hold a master's degree.

4.Learning Ability: Applicants should have good learning ability and academic performance. The requirement for previous academic grade level is an average score of 75% and above. For CSC scholarship applicants, the requirement for previous academic grade level is an average score of 80% and above.

Applicants may provide other evidence of academic ability, such as the GRE and GMAT scores.

5．Language Requirement

Applicants should have Chinese or English language proficiency that meets the requirement.

Chinese: HSK Level 5 (200 or above)

English:IELTS Academic Test overall 6.5 or above (no less than 5.5 in each element)

TOEFL 90 or above (My best Scores, iBT home edition, Essentials, DI code C317 are accepted)

Duolingo English Test (120 or above) PTE Academic (60 or above)

6.Nationality Requirements: The applicants shall be non-Chinese citizens with valid passports.

For the applicants who used to be Chinese citizens but later immigrated to other countries, these applicants must hold the passports or citizenship certificates of their current countries for at least 4 years in addition to the 2-year “proof of residence” in recent 4 years.

Applicants whose one or both parents are Chinese citizens must provide one of the following supporting documents:

1) The certificate proving that the applicant obtained the foreign nationality at birth;

2) For applicants who used to be Chinese citizens but later immigrated to other countries, these applicants shall provide the certificates of cancellation of Chinese nationality.  

If you want to know more details, please click link: