Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) in China has opened applications for its 2027 Chinese Government Scholarship — High-Level Postgraduate Programme (CSC Type B), a fully funded scholarship for international students to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in fisheries, aquaculture and marine science. The application deadline is 1 February 2027.
The scholarship is funded by China’s Ministry of Education and covers full tuition, double-room accommodation, a living stipend and comprehensive medical insurance. It is one of the strongest fully funded routes into fisheries and marine science study abroad — and SHOU is China’s specialist ocean university, with its flagship subjects sitting squarely in the fisheries world.
What Can You Study?
Master’s programmes run for 3 years and doctoral programmes for 4 years. The fisheries and marine subjects on offer are:
| Degree | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Master’s (English or Chinese) | Aquaculture; Biology; Fishery Resources; Marine Science; Food Science and Engineering; Fishery Economics and Management |
| Doctoral (English) | Aquaculture; Biology; Fishery Resources; Marine Science; Food Science and Engineering; Fishery Economics and Management |
Other majors under the same call include Machinery and Applied Economics / Electronic Information (Chinese-taught). For fisheries students, the natural fits are Aquaculture, Fishery Resources and Marine Science — taught in English at both master’s and doctoral level.
Who Can Apply?
- Nationality: Non-Chinese citizens in good health, holding a personal passport valid beyond 1 March 2028.
- Master’s: A bachelor’s degree or above, and no more than 30 years old.
- Doctoral: A master’s degree or above, no more than 35 years old, with research experience and at least one published scientific paper.
- Academic record: Outstanding performance — a GPA above 3.0.
- English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 or above, obtained within the last 2 years (equivalent evidence accepted; native English speakers submit a signed declaration).
- Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 5 with a score above 180, obtained within the last 2 years.
- Graduation conditions: Applicants must agree to SHOU’s graduation requirements, including an HSK-3 certificate and publishing SCI papers.
How to Apply — The Supervisor Step Comes First
Unlike many scholarships, you cannot simply upload documents. For master’s and doctoral programmes you must first contact a SHOU supervisor, get their preliminary consent, and develop your research proposal with them — the supervisor must sign the proposal before you submit. Start this conversation early; it is the part of the application that cannot be rushed near the deadline.
- Find a supervisor from SHOU’s supervisor list and obtain their preliminary consent.
- Apply to SHOU through the university application system, uploading all required documents.
- Apply to CSC through Campus China, using Type B and SHOU agency number 10264.
- Pay the RMB 400 application fee (non-refundable).
- Attend the interview when invited — missing it without notice counts as withdrawal.
- Track your status online; successful candidates receive a pre-admission letter by 15 March 2027, SHOU recommends candidates to CSC between 15–30 March, CSC reviews in April–June, and final results are announced in July–August 2027. Enrolment is at the end of August to the beginning of September 2027.
Documents You Will Need
- Passport copy (valid beyond 1 March 2028; private passports only)
- 1-inch personal photo (JPG)
- Degree certificates and full transcripts (graduating students may apply with a pending-graduation certificate)
- Language certificate (IELTS/TOEFL or HSK, as above)
- 3-minute self-introduction video (MP4, under 40 MB) in the programme’s teaching language
- Research proposal signed by your SHOU supervisor
- CV in English or Chinese
- Two recommendation letters from associate professors or higher — one from your previous supervisor, both dated after 1 September 2026
- Foreigner Physical Examination record (valid 6 months)
- Non-criminal record
- Statement of financial support
Why This Matters for Fisheries Students
SHOU is one of the few universities in the world built around fisheries and ocean science, so an Aquaculture or Fishery Resources degree there puts you inside China’s enormous aquaculture research system — the country that produces more farmed fish than any other. A fully funded master’s or PhD there, with tuition, housing, stipend and insurance covered, removes the biggest barrier most fisheries graduates face when looking abroad. The catch is the timeline: with the supervisor conversation, signed proposal, recommendations and video to prepare, 1 February 2027 is closer than it looks.
Official Links
- Official 2027 CSC application guide: Shanghai Ocean University International Education Office (ieo.shou.edu.cn)
- SHOU application system: gjxssqxt.cn
- CSC application portal: campuschina.org (Type B, agency number 10264)
All dates, eligibility rules and coverage details above are taken from Shanghai Ocean University’s official 2027 CSC “High-level Postgraduate” Programme Application Guide, verified 25 October 2026. Always confirm details on the official guide before applying — scholarship terms can change. The images in this post are illustrations.