Dual-award between The University of Manchester and Tsinghua University

The University of Manchester and China's Tsinghua University have come together to offer a unique dual degree PhD programme, with successful applicants spending four life-changing years across Manchester and Beijing.

At Manchester and Tsinghua, you'll benefit from the excellent research infrastructure and academic supervision of not one, but two world-leading institutions.

A female scientists uses a pipette to drop liquid into a series of test tubes.

Why undertake the dual degree PhD programme?

  • Embrace the challenge of living abroad in one of the world's most famous cities, in a country with the world's fastest-growing economy.
  • Develop a global perspective and international fluency to benefit your future development, opening the door to exciting new job opportunities.
  • Boost your intercultural skills and become part of a talented pool of prospective employees for UK academia and industry.

About the programme

Admission for the seventh cohort of students for The University of Manchester and Tsinghua University Dual Award PhD programme is currently being rolled out.

The first-of-its-kind dual award PhD programme brings together two globally-renowned institutions at the forefront of research.

This dual PhD programme will develop world-class research outputs, while at the same time providing PhD training and skills to support a transition from a fossil resource to a bio-based system.

"It promises to be a fantastic programme and will provide a unique educational experience for the next generation of scientists. The strengths of Manchester and Tsinghua together will provide an excellent environment for PhD students to grow and blossom." - Dr Neil Dixon, former Programme Director.

"This Tsinghua-Manchester dual degree PhD programme will provide unique opportunities for students to experience various research environments of both universities, to learn great sciences across national borders and to become more culturally open. More importantly, the students will exploit complementary strengths of both sites." - Professor George Guoqiang Chen, Programme Director of Tsinghua University.

Further information – including details of how to apply and a list of available projects – will be published soon.

Open call for project proposals

Project proposals are now being accepted for consideration as part of the Joint-award between The University of Manchester and Tsinghua University.

Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at the leading institution on week commencing 15 December 2025 and will close on 26 January 2026. 

To submit your project for consideration, please check your project is eligible according to the below criteria, then complete the project proposal form and return it via Microsoft Forms here by 28 November 2025.

Project eligibility

In order to receive approval, a project must meet the following essential criteria: 

  • Have an agreed joint project supervisory team comprising at least a main supervisor and co-supervisor from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at The University of Manchester and a main supervisor from the Departments of Chemistry, Astronomy, and Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua University.
  • The main supervisors are both permanent members of academic staff of their respective institutions.  
  • Have an agreed project title and outline project plan with milestones and timelines showing the progression of the PhD over the 4 years. 
  • Project area within the broadly defined theme of Chemistry, Astronomy, and Electrical Engineering.
  • Supervisors have submitted the proposed project to the UoM regulatory control office for an export control compliance review in line with The University of Manchester requirements.
  • Demonstration of an integrated PhD training programme, provided by complementary areas of interest between the Manchester and Tsinghua supervisors.
  • The joint project supervisory team confirms that they have collective access to the resources, other than tuition fees and living allowances, to enable the proposed PhD project to be executed.
  • Supervisory teams confirm their availability to discuss with, interview and rank candidates who apply to their project by the deadline stipulated in the guidelines document’s timeline.
  • Acceptance of the programme T&Cs:
    • Individual project agreement will be required between all supervisors and student (template to be provided).
    • Application for Individual Project Licence – Export Control required (support to be provided).
    • Supervisors to support the student in their submission of scholarship application to CSC (guidance to be provided).
    • Successful supervisors should familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the Collaboration Agreement between Manchester and Tsinghua. 

The following desirable characteristics will also be used to rank these proposals:

  • Consideration of the potential compliance risks related to the project (e.g. Export Control and ATAS clearance) and measures put in place to deal with the risks. 
  • Demonstrated extent of previous collaboration between The Tsinghua University and The University of Manchester supervisory teams. 
  • Demonstration of strength of the joint supervisory team and its members (please provide links to relevant personal or research pages).
  • Demonstration of value added of the project arising from the collaboration between The Tsinghua University and The University of Manchester.

Available projects

Project proposals are currently being accepted for consideration.  

A full list of available projects will be published here on week commencing 15 December 2025. 

A double helix of DNA

Life at Tsinghua University

As part of this programme you'll spend two years at Tsinghua University – one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Its campus is also considered one of the world's most beautiful, and is the site of the former imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty.

Spending so much time abroad can seem daunting; but everything is in place to ensure a wonderful, life-changing experience in Beijing.

Many international students attend Tsinghua, and you can find out more about activities and events on the University's website. You can also discover more about opportunities for UK students in China through the British Council campaign Generation UK.

Funding

Up to three fully funded scholarships are available to suitable candidates to commence on this four-year programme in September 2026.

Full tuition fees at both institutions are covered as part of the studentship. Additional financial support includes:

  • an annual stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (approximately £20,780 for 2025/26) while in Manchester,
  • a stipend provided via the China Link Scholarship, which will provide a commensurate standard of living with UKRI stipend, while based at Tsinghua University,
  • an annual Research Training Support Grant to contribute towards research project costs and consumables (up to £5,000 pa)  during the time spent in Manchester,
  • Tsinghua University owned accommodation guaranteed to successful CLS applicants,
  • the flight allowance for students travelling to Beijing and visa costs.

Students are required to duly complete the necessary administrative procedures and facilitate their smooth transfer to Tsinghua.

Eligibility

  1. Candidates may only apply for projects approved by the Joint Programme Board.
  2. Entry via Manchester for the scheme is open to international students except for Chinese nationals (Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong).
  3. All Chinese nationals (Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong) should apply via Tsinghua University.
  4. Fulfil The University of Manchester entry requirements:
    • Hold (or expect to achieve) an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent to be checked with UoM admission team) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent to be checked with UoM admission team). 
    • All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in English language. Applicants who do not already possess an acceptable English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test and attain a minimum IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in writing and listening, and 5.5. in all other sub-tests or equivalent. Please note that a timely demonstrable minimum English language level is a requirement of the UK home office for the issue of student visas to the UK. For some projects an ATAS certificate may also be required by them.
  5. Fulfil the Tsinghua University entry requirements:
    • Hold a master’s-level degree certificate at merit or distinction, MPhys, MChem, or MEng degree (2:1 and above), or international equivalent to be checked with The University of Manchester admission team. 
  6. Demonstrate willingness to travel to two partner institutions to complete the programme.
  7. Fulfil the Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Researcher person specification.

How to apply

There are up to three fully funded studentships available for suitable candidates to start this 4-year programme in September 2026.

Candidates will need to meet all of the minimum entry requirements. 

Applications will open for candidates to apply for approved projects at The University of Manchester during the week commencing week commencing 15 December 2025 and will close on 26 January 2026. 

Further details of how to apply and available projects will be available soon. 

The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology building at The University of Manchester.

Contact us

If you have any queries about the programme, please don't hesitate to get in touch: