Lanzhou University CSC Scholarship 2026 — Full Guide
Complete guide to applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) at Lanzhou University in Lanzhou, Gansu.
Quick Overview
| Scholarship | Type A (Chinese Government Scholarship — High-Level University) |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, General Scholar, Senior Scholar |
| Deadline | January – April 2026 (varies by channel) |
| Monthly Stipend | ¥2,500 (Bachelor's) · ¥3,000 (Master's) · ¥3,500 (PhD) |
| Language | English or Chinese (program-dependent) |
| Agency Number | 10730 |
CSC Scholarship Benefits at Lanzhou University
The Chinese Government Scholarship at Lanzhou University is fully funded and covers:
- Full tuition waiver — all academic fees covered
- On-campus accommodation — university dormitory provided free of charge
- Monthly stipend — ¥2,500 (Bachelor's), ¥3,000 (Master's), ¥3,500 (PhD)
- Comprehensive medical insurance — provided by the Chinese government
- Settlement allowance — one-time payment upon arrival
International travel costs are not included and must be arranged and paid by the student.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the CSC scholarship at Lanzhou University, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of a country other than the People's Republic of China
- Be in good health and meet the physical examination requirements
- Bachelor's applicants: high school diploma, under 25 years old
- Master's applicants: bachelor's degree, under 35 years old
- PhD applicants: master's degree, under 40 years old
- Meet the language requirements of the chosen program (English proficiency or HSK for Chinese-taught programs)
- Not be receiving any other Chinese government scholarship at the time of application
Available Programs & Subjects
Lanzhou University offers a wide range of programs for international students across multiple faculties. For the most up-to-date list of programs accepting CSC scholarship students, visit the university's international admissions page or search for Lanzhou University on the CSC Study in China portal.
How to Apply — Step by Step
There are two main channels to apply for the CSC scholarship at Lanzhou University:
Channel 1: Apply Directly to Lanzhou University (University Route)
- Contact a professor — email potential supervisors at Lanzhou University with your CV and research interests. Securing an acceptance letter greatly improves your chances.
- Create your CSC account — register at campuschina.org and begin the online application. Use agency number 10730.
- Complete the CSC application form — fill in your personal details, education history, study plan, and preferred program.
- Upload and prepare documents — gather all required documents (see checklist below) and upload them to the CSC portal.
- Submit to Lanzhou University — also apply through Lanzhou University's own international admission portal if required.
- Wait for results — results are typically announced between June and August.
Channel 2: Apply Through Your Country's Embassy (Bilateral Route)
- Check your embassy's deadline — contact the Chinese embassy or your country's education ministry for the bilateral program deadline and requirements.
- Complete the CSC online application — same process as above at campuschina.org.
- Submit to your embassy — deliver printed application materials to the designated authority in your country.
- Embassy nominates candidates — your embassy shortlists and forwards applications to CSC.
Required Documents
Prepare the following documents for your CSC application to Lanzhou University:
- CSC Application Form (printed from campuschina.org)
- Highest degree diploma (notarized copy)
- Academic transcripts (notarized copy)
- Study plan or research proposal (minimum 800 words)
- Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors
- Valid passport copy
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form (completed within 6 months)
- Language proficiency certificate — English: IELTS/TOEFL (or university attestation); Chinese: HSK certificate
- Acceptance letter or pre-admission letter from Lanzhou University (if available)
- Published papers or academic achievements (if applicable, especially for PhD)
- No Criminal Record certificate
All documents not in Chinese or English must be notarized translations.
Application Deadline
| Application Channel | Typical Deadline |
|---|---|
| University Direct (Lanzhou University) | February – April 2026 |
| Embassy / Bilateral Program | December 2025 – March 2026 (varies by country) |
| CSC Online System Closes | Usually end of April 2026 |
Always verify exact deadlines on the Lanzhou University website and your country's embassy.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Lanzhou University is a 985 Project university — competition is fierce. A strong research proposal and professor contact letter will set you apart.
- Secure a pre-admission or acceptance letter from a professor before applying. For 985 universities this is practically essential.
- Mention Lanzhou University's specific labs, research centers, or faculty members in your study plan to show genuine fit.
- Submit your application as early as possible. Late applications often face stricter review.
- Have all documents professionally translated and notarized well before the deadline.
About Lanzhou University
Introduction
Lanzhou University (兰州大学) is a public university in Lanzhou, Gansu, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction.
Founded in 1909, the university provides programs for undergraduate, graduate students on four campuses—three in Lanzhou city centre and one in Yuzhong County, about 30 miles away from the main campus. It is one of the first universities in China to set up a national basic science research and teaching talent training base for arts and sciences, one of the first universities selected for the National College Student Innovative Experiment Program, and one of the 19 universities in China to implement a pilot program for training top students in basic disciplines. As of now, there are 20,686 undergraduate students, 15,081 master's degree students and 5,326 doctoral students. There are 99 undergraduate majors and 16 national characteristic majors. There are 10 national teaching teams, 6 national talent training bases and 52 national first-class undergraduate major construction sites.
History
Lanzhou University's history traces back to 1909 when its predecessor, the Gansu School of Law and Politics, was founded. The School of Law and Politics became the Sun Yat-sen University of Lanzhou in 1928 and from 1945, the National Lanzhou University. After 1949, it went by the name Lanzhou University. It was designated one of China's 14 key universities.
In 1932 the Lanzhou Medical College and its affiliated hospital were founded.
In 2002 the Gansu Grassland Ecology Research Institute, and in 2004 the Lanzhou Medical College were incorporated into Lanzhou University.
Lanzhou University is noted for being one of China's premier institutions of higher learning with its position as the best university in Northwestern China.
Lanzhou University was one of the first universities entitled to enroll Bachelor Master's and Doctoral degree candidates in 1981.
In 2017, Lanzhou University was designated as a class A university in the Double First-Class Construction.
Lanzhou University maintains one of China's top ten Ph.D. programs in physics, chemistry, atmospheric sciences and geography and highly ranked programs in information science, biology, botany, mathematics, history, media, ecology and Chinese literature. It is especially noted in fundamental science, ranked in the top 1% of the Essential Science Indicators index.
The landing system of China's Chang'e 4 lunar lander was thanks to a Lanzhou University developed gamma shutdown sensor.
Primary laboratories
Lanzhou University has three primary laboratories and analytical testing facility sanctioned by the Chinese Ministry of Education and deemed as high importance to the state.
Laboratory of Arid Agroecology
The laboratory was founded in 1991 under ratification of the Planning Commission of China and engaged in arid agriculture ecology research. The Laboratory of Arid Agroecology is the only lab engaged in arid agriculture ecology research under the Chinese Ministry of Education. The lab has been highly developed on the basis of the authorization to confer bachelor, masters, doctorate and post-doctoral degrees through the financial aid of the World Bank loan.
Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry
The Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry was one of the first state key laboratories ratified by Planning Commission of China. It was founded in December 1987, open to visiting scholars and scientists from both within China and abroad. It is one primary laboratories to cultivate talents for organic chemistry. The researches of the laboratory focus on organic molecular chemistry of special function, especially in the field of basic research on active organic molecules.
Open Laboratory of Applied Magnetism
Created in 1993 by the Chinese Ministry of Education, this is an open laboratory conducting research in the field of Applied Magnetism. The lab is chiefly engaged in studies on applications of perpendicular magnetic recording. The laboratory also conducts research and development on new applied magnetic materials which can be used for commercial applications. Mossbauer spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resource spin echo spectroscopy and general magnetic testing media are used to study magnetic materials' microscopic structure and general magnetic behavior. The laboratory is equipped with major facilities including a vibrating sample magnetometer, high pressure mossbauer spectroscope and magnetron sputtering system, along with many others. The lab also serves as a key resource for research in materials science and condensed matter physics.
The laboratory has 24 professional researchers and technicians, among who are 4 doctoral advisers.
Analytical Testing Center
Financed by the first loan issued by the World Bank to develop universities, construction on this center began in 1982. It contains more than 20 major instruments and devices including a High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer, Infrared Spectrometer, X-Ray Quadrupole Diffractometer, Laser Raman Spectrometer, FT-IR Spectrometer, and others. The center is primarily engaged in the determination and analysis of the structure of matter. It also conducts graduate students' experiments which leads to the conferring of Master's and Ph.D. degrees. A testing service is available to the public.
Established by the State Technology Superintendency in 1992, it is the approved lab for the inspection of imported and exported chemical and mining products.
Campus
Lanzhou University has two campuses. The oldest campus is located in the center of Lanzhou (Chengguan District), whereas the main campus is located in Yuzhong County. The One Belt and One Road campus, north of Lanzhou is under construction.
There are 6 National Bases for the Training of Researching and Teaching personnel for Fundamental Disciplines. The University operates an additional 35 institutes along with 1 national key Laboratory of the Applied Organic and 3 key laboratories of Arid and Grassland Ecology, West China Environment, Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, a key laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Rankings and reputation
Lanzhou University was one of the Project 985 universities in China to appear in the world’s top 500 universities in the global university ranking in 2007, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Lanzhou University is one of the top universities in China in terms of contributions to academic publications in international journals frequently cited by ongoing research from around the world, ranking the 26th among all Chinese Universities in number of citations per paper from 2008 to 2017.
In 2023, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked Lanzhou University at 201-300th globally. From the same rankings by subjects, "Chemistry" and "Atmospheric Science" subjects were ranked in the global top 100.
The U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking 2025-2026 ranked Lanzhou as #460 in the world, #116 in Asia and #62 in China.
In 2020, the QS World University Ranking ranked the university within the 751-800th band globally.
Schools and Colleges of Lanzhou University
- School of Earth Sciences
- School of Network Education
- Sports Teaching and Research Department
- School of Arts
- School of Management
- Second Clinical School
- First Clinical School
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Basic Medical Sciences
- School of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- School of Atmospheric Sciences
- School of Life Sciences
- College of Ecology
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology
- School of Physical Science and Technology
- School of Philosophy and Sociology
- School of Foreign Languages and Literature
- School of International Cultural Exchange
- School of Law
- School of Economics
- School of Marxism
- School of History and Culture
- School of Journalism and Communication
- Ethnology Institute
- School of Chinese Language and Literature
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change
- School of Information Science and Engineering
- School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics
- School of Public Health
- School of Dental Medicine
- School of Continuing Education
- Cuiying Honors College
Notable faculty and alumni
- Hu Qing - Professor of Electrical Engineering, MIT, Graduated from LZU Physics
- Shui Junyi - top 10 Distinguished young people, Celebrated TV program host, Graduated from LZU foreign language
- Li Yang - founder of Crazy English, Graduated from LZU mechanics
- Lu Hao - Governor of Gansu Province, Graduated from LZU Chemistry
- Yang Liming - Vice Secretary of Inner Mongolia, Graduated from LZU Philosophy
- Zhang Xuezhong - Vice Secretary of Sichuan Province, Graduated from LZU Chinese Language
- Cang Hui - Theoretical ecologist, Stellenbosch University, SARChI Chair in Mathematical and Theoretical Physical Biosciences
- Huang Bo - CEO at CHINAEDU CORP, a NASDAQ listed company, Class of 1985, Biology, LZU
- Wu Yundong, theoretical organic chemist
- Shu Hongbing, biologist, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, B.S. of LZU
- Ren Jianxin, entrepreneur, founding president of ChemChina, M.S. of LZU
- Zhang Dongju, PhD 2010, faculty
- Zhang Chunyuan, student, rightist, founder of the Lanzhou University Rightist Counter-Revolutionary Clique
Disclaimer: The university information above is sourced from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current data. We recommend verifying details on the official Lanzhou University website.
External Links
- lzu.edu.cn
- en.lzu.edu.cn
- xcb.lzu.edu.cn
- news.lzu.edu.cn
- en.lzu.edu.cn
- phy.lzu.edu.cn
- lzush.com.cn
- nature.com
- lzu.edu.cn
- shanghairanking.com
- wurank.net
- chinaxy.com
- cuaa.net
- topuniversities.com
- topuniversities.com
- shanghairanking.com
- topuniversities.com
- usnews.com
- timeshighereducation.com
- timeshighereducation.com
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does Lanzhou University require an acceptance letter for CSC?
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What is the agency number for Lanzhou University?
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Join the CGS World Community on TelegramRankings sourced from Shanghai Ranking — BCUR 2025. University descriptions sourced from Wikipedia where available.