Email to a Chinese Professor for a CSC Scholarship: Sample

When to use this

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) has two main routes for Pakistani students:

• Type A, through HEC. You apply on both the HEC portal and the CSC portal. Our catalogue lists a pre-admission letter from a Chinese university as optional but preferred, and a letter from a professor improves your chances.
• Type B, directly to a Chinese university. Each university runs its own call. Many expect you to have contacted a supervisor first, and some ask for a pre-admission or acceptance letter. Check the university's own CSC page.

For master's and PhD applicants on either route, a short, specific email to a professor whose research matches yours is how you get that letter.

What Chinese professors look for:

• A clear research interest that fits their lab's work
• Strong grades, and research output if you have it
• Evidence you can work in their lab's language of instruction (usually English for international students)
• A polite, concise email with your CV and study plan attached
• That you have the CSC route and deadlines in hand, so they know what to expect

The sample

Subject: Prospective PhD student (CSC 2027): Machine learning for power grid fault detection

Dear Professor [Surname],

My name is Areeba Shah, and I completed my MS in Electrical Engineering at [University name], Peshawar, with a CGPA of [3.68/4.00]. My MS thesis used machine learning to detect faults in distribution feeders from smart meter data, and part of it was published as "[Paper title]" in [Journal or conference, year].

I have read your lab's recent work on [specific topic, e.g. graph neural networks for grid state estimation], and I would like to extend this approach to fault detection in weak distribution networks like Pakistan's, where data is incomplete.

I plan to apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship for a PhD starting in [September 2027], through [HEC (Type A) / your university (Type B)]. Would you consider accepting me as a PhD student, and if so, would you be willing to provide a pre-admission letter for my application?

I have attached my CV, transcripts and an 800-word study plan. Thank you very much for your time.

Best regards,

Areeba Shah Lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering, [University name], Peshawar [email] | [Google Scholar link]

Areeba is fictional. Write your own email for your own research.

Template you can fill in

Subject: Prospective [Master's/PhD] student (CSC [year]): [Short topic]

Dear Professor [Surname],

My name is [Name], and I completed my [degree] in [field] at [University, City] with a CGPA of [x.xx/4.00]. My [thesis/project] focused on [one line].

I have read your lab's work on [specific topic], and I would like to [your idea in one or two sentences].

I plan to apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship for a [degree] starting in [intake], through [HEC (Type A) / your university (Type B)]. Would you consider accepting me as a student, and if so, would you be willing to provide a pre-admission letter?

I have attached my CV, transcripts and study plan. Thank you for your time.

Best regards, [Name] [Position, institution] [email] | [profile link]

How to adapt this

• Find the professor through the university's own website. Look at the school or college faculty pages and recent papers, and check that they supervise international students.
• Match the study plan length to the official call. Our CSC page lists at least 800 words for master's and PhD applicants; confirm this in the current HEC and CSC guidelines.
• Name the route. Professors often get asked for letters for Type B at a particular university; saying which route you are using avoids confusion.
• Ask clearly for the letter. Many Chinese professors are used to this request. A direct, polite question gets a direct answer.
• Follow up once after about two weeks with our follow-up email.
• Keep the letter safe. If a professor sends a pre-admission letter, save the PDF and note which university and programme it is for, because you will upload it on the CSC portal.

Common mistakes

• Emailing professors in fields unrelated to your degree just to get any letter.
• Asking a professor for "a scholarship" instead of supervision and a pre-admission letter.
• Applying through only one of the HEC and CSC portals under Type A. Our CSC page notes that missing either leads to disqualification.
• Paying an agent for a "guaranteed acceptance letter". Professors give these letters for free. See our guide on avoiding scholarship scams.
• Sending a study plan copied from the internet. Universities check.

Related samples

• Study plan for CSC and MEXT
• Email to a potential supervisor (general)
• PhD recommendation letter sample
• Study in China: country guide