2025 Ph.D. Fellowships of China Studies Program of Xiamen University

Xiamen University (XMU), founded in 1921 by renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee, was the first Chinese university established by an overseas Chinese person. XMU has long been listed among China’s leading universities on the national 211 Project, 985 Project and Double First-Class Initiative, which have been launched by the Chinese government to support selected universities in achieving world-class standing. Nestled snugly between green hills and the blue sea, XMU is renowned as one of the most beautiful universities around the world for its excellent education facilities and beautiful environment.

Xiamen University currently comprises Siming Campus, Zhangzhou Campus, Xiang’an Campus and XMU Malaysia. XMU consists of a graduate school, six academic divisions, 34 schools and 17 research institutes. In 2022, six XMU disciplines –Chemistry, Marine Science, Biology, Ecology, Statistics and Pedagogy – were included in the nation’s list of disciplines for achieving world-class status. XMU ranks among ESI’s global top 1% in 19 disciplines, with chemistry, materials science and engineering in ESI’s global top 1‰. XMU currently has a faculty of nearly 3,000, of whom 74% are full or associate professors. Among them, 35 are the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. XMU currently has an enrollment of more than 46,000 students, including over 21,000 students in bachelor’s degree programs, 19,000 in master’s degree programs, and 5,700 in doctoral degree programs.

XMU implements a comprehensive global outreach strategy. The University has signed cooperation agreements with 270 overseas universities. Actively involved in international Chinese education, XMU has built 14 Confucius Institutes, one Chinese Language and Culture Research Center, 42 Confucius Classrooms in 12 countries on five continents, the highest numbers with the most extensive geographic coverage among Chinese universities on the List of “Double First-Class” Universities. he establishment of XMU Malaysia was approved in September 2013, which makes XMU the first Chinese university to open an international campus.

I. Content

The majority of financial support is provided through support for specific research and other projects in designated academic areas of Humanities and Social Sciences. For detailed information of research topics and supervisors, please refer to Introduction to Ph.D. Fellowship of China Studies Program (http://www.chinese.cn/page/#/pcpage/csp).

Joint Research Ph.D. Fellowship: This program funds overseas outstanding doctoral students registered in foreign universities coming to China for study, research and writing of their doctoral dissertations, for one semester or no more than two academic years.

Ph. D. Fellowship in China: This program supports overseas outstanding master's degree holders in pursuing doctoral degrees at Chinese universities. It is 4 years according to the university's academic requirements.

Xiamen Overview

Xiamen in East China's Fujian province is a beautiful seaside city located on the southeastern coast of China.

Situated in the southeast of Fujian, Xiamen borders Zhangzhou to the west, connects with Quanzhou to the north, and faces Kinmen Island across the sea to the southeast.

With a land area of 1,700.61 square kilometers and a sea area of 390 sq km, Xiamen administers six districts, namely Siming, Huli, Jimei, Haicang, Tong'an and Xiang'an.

South Fujian Dialect is Xiamen's pervasive local dialect among its 5.16 million permanent residents. The city also boasts a diverse community with many of its residents having lived abroad, or natives of Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Xiamen has been a trading port since ancient times as well as a gateway for China's opening-up and external cooperation. With a natural deep harbor that is ice-free all year round, the city has become an international port city. Being one of the earliest special economic zones in China, Xiamen remains at the forefront of China's reform and opening-up endeavor.

After decades of development, Xiamen has become well known for its innovation and entrepreneurship, with burgeoning new economic forms and new industries, robust trade and investment and easy access around the world by air, land and sea links. Today, it is a beautiful garden city that projects harmony between man and nature.

In 2022, Xiamen's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 780.27 billion yuan ($114.52 billion), up 4.4 percent year-on-year. The city is witnessing rapid growth with large amounts of investors from Taiwan, Hong Kong and foreign countries flocking to the city. Last year, its foreign trade volume hit 922.56 billion yuan, up 4 percent year-on-year, and the city's trade with other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative increased 29.9 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Despite its fame as an industrial powerhouse, the port city still maintains its charm with traditional architecture, delicious food, a pleasant climate and picturesque scenery, which attract many visitors every year.

Three of Xiamen's hot tourist spots are Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen (Wanshi) Botanical Garden, and are among must-see places for visitors in the city.

Gulangyu Island, which is situated in the southwest of the city, sits opposite Xiamen Island across the sea. A panoramic view of Xiamen can be seen when you climb onto Sunlight Rock that overlooks the city. Under the rock stands the Zheng Chenggong statue. To the south of the rock alongside the sea, is the famous Shuzhuang Garden next to the flat bathing beach covered with green plants.

Next to Wulao Mountain in the southeast of the city is the renowned and ancient Nanputuo Temple, and behind the temple is a quiet and beautiful place with rocks and trees. Yunding Rock sits on the summit of Hongji Mountain on Xiamen Island. Xiamen University is nearby, and tourists can visit the Luxun Memorial Hall and Human Museum.

Xiamen Botanical Garden, located in the eastern part of the city, is covered with ridges and peaks rising and wonderful scenery.