SJTU-Warwick Joint PhD Programme (Warwick)

About the project

The Joint PhD Programme accepts both self-funding and sponsored students. For 2026/27, Warwick will award up to 3 scholarships for this programme to the most outstanding PhD applicants.

The Programme offers an opportunity to obtain two world-class universities' PhD awards with a single thesis examination. Guided throughout by a supervisor at each university, you will follow a four-year programme with at least one year spent at the Host Institution. You will benefit from experiencing research within two different national contexts, providing you with an enhanced network of collaborators which will stand you in good stead for a career as an international researcher.

Which University should I apply to?

The decision as to which institution will be the Home Institution will take into consideration such matters as resources, your own preference, and your fee status. If expected/liable to pay home fees at one of the institutions, you would be expected to select that institution as Home.

Please note: All Chinese nationals (Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong) should apply via SJTU .

Contact us

• Warwick: jointphd@warwick.ac.uk
• SJTU: gs.global@sjtu.edu.cn

Further Information

• SJTU-Warwick Joint PhD Programme

How to Apply

You must apply online to the university you want as your Home Institution.

Step 1: Apply to both universities

If you choose Warwick as your Home Institution, apply online to Warwick when applications open on 21 January 2026 and select the SJTU-Warwick Joint PhD course. The deadline for submitting a course application is 15 May 2026. If you choose SJTU as your Home Institution, apply online to SJTU and contact SJTU for scholarship information.

Step 2: Contact supervisors before applying

You must speak to your preferred supervisors at both universities before you apply. You will need to complete a Joint Supervision Statement and Project Review Form with your proposed supervisors.

If you are applying to Warwick as your Home Institution, you should upload the completed statement via the Warwick PG application portal (link above) - please select 'Additional Information Upload' and use 'Joint Supervision Statement' as the description.

Step 3: Scholarships

A limited number of SJTU-Warwick Joint PhD Scholarships are available for students who choose Warwick as their Home Institution. Applicants choosing Warwick as their Home institution cannot apply for a scholarship directly. Instead they may be nominated for a Warwick Scholarship by their academic department (nomination deadline 20 May 2026). You do not need to apply separately.

An SJTU-Warwick Joint PhD Scholarship offers:

Applicants choosing SJTU should contact SJTU about scholarships.

If you do not want to be considered for a scholarship, please email DoctoralCollege@warwick.ac.uk to opt out.

• Full payment of academic fees
• A maintenance stipend for 4 years, paid at the prevailing UKRI rate for the years spent at Warwick, and at the SJTU rate for the year spend in China.
• A one-off Research, Training and Supporting Grant (RTSG) of £5,000 to support research related expenses and mobility between the UK and China.

Step 4: Scholarship assessment

Please read the SJTU-Warwick Scholarship Ranking Criteria . We will use your course application form for assessment, focusing on qualifications and English language, employment and professional experience, personal statement, research proposal, and references.

Once the deadline has passed, your application will be assessed for a scholarship in the following way:

• Academic Departments will nominate their strongest applications and provide a nomination statement.
• Faculty PGR Scholarship Management Groups will assess and discuss all nominated applications, taking into account SJTU’s recommendations, before approving scholarship offers.

Step 5: Apply to Host Institution

Selected candidate will be invited to apply to Host Institution from 22 June 2026 .

Step 6: Results

All applicants will be notified of results from 10 July 2026 .

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