The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) Research Internship Program is a standing non-degree research internship in Hefei, Anhui, China. Eligible international students join research projects under USTC professors for three months to one year. A limited USTC Fellowship for Non-degree Programs may attach at Level A, Level B, or Level C. Self-financed admission is also possible if no fellowship is awarded.
This guide is for applicants who already have the official International College pages open and still need a clear decision: which level to tick, which deadline clock applies, and what the published money does and does not cover. Facts below were checked on 29 September 2026 against the Research Internship Program page and the USTC Fellowship for Non-degree Programs page. If those pages and this article disagree later, the USTC pages win.
Dated window note (as of 29 September 2026): Level A applications for spring semester entry run from 1 July through 30 September. That means the Spring 2027 Level A window closes on 30 September 2026. Level A for fall semester entry runs from 1 January through 31 March. Level B, Level C, and self-financed applications use a separate rule: finish the online application at least three months before your expected entry date.
What this programme actually is
USTC describes the Research Internship Program as an opportunity for graduate students or third- and fourth-year undergraduates to participate in research projects and gain experience on research at USTC. It is a non-degree research internship, and any USTC Fellowship support depends on the fellowship level awarded. It is not a guaranteed stipend.
Official programme benefits listed on the International College page include:
- Research experience in USTC laboratories under the guidance of professors
- A competitive edge for later Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral applications at USTC through relationships with faculty and students
- The option to apply for a free Chinese language and culture class
Duration is three months to one year. Location is USTC in Hefei.
Who is eligible, and what to consider
The published eligibility criteria are for non-Chinese citizens with a foreign passport who are 18 to 40 years old, in good health, have no criminal record, have a good command of English, and are currently enrolled full-time in undergraduate Year 3 or 4, a Master’s programme, or a doctoral programme.
Before applying, check which fellowship level you are seeking and whether you have a plan for costs that are not covered by that level. Level A has the broadest published package, while Level B and Level C provide fewer benefits. On-campus accommodation for Level A and Level B is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so housing is not guaranteed even where free university dormitory support is listed. The programme is non-degree, so it does not award a USTC diploma by itself. Fellowship awards are limited; all applicants will be evaluated.
Level A, Level B, Level C, and self-financed: the four money outcomes
USTC offers limited scholarships to outstanding students. All applicants will be evaluated. On the fellowship page, applicants create an account in the USTC Application System and select the fellowship level they want. Applicants may apply for one fellowship level or all three at the same time. If an applicant selects more than one level, USTC states that it decides which level, if any, may be awarded based on a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant. If no fellowship level is awarded, the applicant could still be admitted as a self-financed student.
Level A: the most comprehensive USTC Fellowship package
Level A is the broadest of the three published fellowship levels. It includes a tuition waiver, Comprehensive Medical Insurance, free university dormitory (on-campus accommodation offered first-come, first-served), and a monthly stipend up to 2,500 Renminbi (RMB) for an undergraduate student, 3,000 RMB for a master student, and 3,500 RMB for a Ph.D. student. Fellowship awards are limited, and the published package does not state that every cost of the internship is covered.
Treat the stipend figures as the official “up to” amounts by current study level, not as a promise that every Level A fellow receives the Ph.D. rate.
Level B
Funded by USTC and includes:
- Tuition waiver
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance
- Free university dormitory, with on-campus accommodation offered on a first-come, first-served basis
No monthly stipend is listed for Level B.
Level C
Funded by USTC and includes:
- Tuition waiver only
Insurance, dormitory, and stipend are not part of Level C on the official pages. For published insurance and housing figures that still apply when those items are not waived, use the Cost list under Self-financed below.
Self-financed
If you are admitted without a fellowship, published costs on the programme page include:
- Tuition for undergraduate or master students: 2,160 RMB per month; 13,000 RMB per half year; 26,000 RMB per year
- Tuition for PhD students: 2,660 RMB per month; 16,000 RMB per half year; 32,000 RMB per year
- International student dormitory: 500 to 1,000 RMB per month, depending on room type and size
- Insurance: 160 RMB per month
Planning tip (not an official award rule): If cash is tight, applying for all three levels is allowed. Still budget as if you might land on Level C or self-financed. Do not label the whole programme “fully funded.”
What the money covers, and what the pages do not price
Payment sequence (easy to miss)
Official payment method on the programme page:
- After you accept an offer, you are notified to pay tuition online.
- Official admission documents are sent by email only after tuition payment is confirmed.
- Students must purchase insurance online before arrival.
- Accommodation fees (when payable) are paid upon registration at the school.
Official text describes the payment-then-documents sequence above. The pages do not spell out, line by line, what a Level A or Level B student is asked to pay before documents are released when tuition is waived. Confirm the waived-tuition payment path with the International College ([email protected]).
Housing rules that change the budget
- Level A and Level B: on-campus accommodation is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If on-campus housing is full, you must find off-campus accommodation yourself.
- Level C and self-financed students: find off-campus accommodation yourself.
- Students who live off campus must register with the local police station in time and submit the full address and telephone number of the residence at school registration.
“Free university dormitory” is not a guaranteed bed. Keep a Hefei room contingency in your plan for every level.
What no official line covers
The two International College pages do not publish amounts for international flights, visa fees, airport transfers, food, local transport, books or lab extras, or settling-in cash. The Level A stipend is a monthly amount by study level. It is not described as a lump-sum settling-in grant. Do not invent living-cost totals for Hefei.
Deadlines: two clocks, not one “2027 deadline”
Level A windows (recurring)
- Fall semester entry: 1 January through 31 March
- Spring semester entry: 1 July through 30 September
As of this check (29 September 2026), the Spring 2027 Level A window closes on 30 September 2026. After that date, the next Level A window on the published calendar is 1 January through 31 March (for fall semester entry).
Level B, Level C, and self-financed
Complete application procedures online at least three months before your expected entry or starting date at USTC.
There is no single application date that applies to every route. Level A follows the published semester windows, while Level B, Level C, and self-financed applications must be completed at least three months before the expected entry date.
Work backwards from a realistic start month: Level A only exists inside a window. Level B, Level C, and self-financed applicants must complete the application procedures at least three months before the expected entry date. After admission, students must use the Admission Notice and Visa Application Form to apply for a student visa through a Chinese embassy or consulate. The USTC pages do not publish a visa-processing timeframe.
Application order: what the pages require
Official sequence
- Open the USTC Application System at https://ustc.17gz.org/
- Register and choose Non-degree program, then Research Internship
- Select the fellowship level or levels you want to apply for
- Complete the application form, upload the required documents (fields marked with an asterisk are required), and submit
Documents listed on the fellowship page
- Photocopy of passport (ordinary passport with validity of at least one year)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Certificate of enrollment
- Study Plan
- Transcripts for the highest degree
- At least one letter of recommendation from full professors or associate professors (with phone number and email address)
- Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must include notarized translations in Chinese or English
- Application materials will not be returned regardless of the result
Your Study Plan should name a field and a reason to be at USTC. The required referee is a full professor or associate professor and must include a phone number and email address. The pages do not say that this letter has to come from a University of Science and Technology of China supervisor, and they do not require a University of Science and Technology of China pre-acceptance letter.
What the pages do and do not list about supervisors
The two USTC International College pages do not list a USTC professor’s pre-acceptance or invitation letter among the application requirements. The published application materials include a Study Plan and at least one recommendation letter from a full professor or associate professor. The pages do not state that applicants must contact a USTC research group before submitting the application. If a later official FAQ adds a supervisor step, update this article from that official text.
After an offer: visa, insurance, arrival
Official logistics on the programme page:
- Take the Admission Notice and the Visa Application Form (JW201 or JW202) to a Chinese embassy or consulate and apply for a student visa
- Enter China on that student visa and keep it valid for the entire stay
- Purchase insurance online before arrival, in line with national regulations and university requirements
- Off-campus residents register with the local police
The USTC pages do not publish medical-exam fees, JW form prices, or a visa-processing timeframe. Do not invent them.
Common misunderstandings to avoid
| Easy-to-misread claim | What the official pages support |
|---|---|
| “The USTC internship is fully funded.” | Only Level A is the broadest published fellowship package. Awards are limited. Level B, Level C, and self-financed paths exist. |
| “The deadline is 30 September (or 31 March) for everyone.” | Those dates are Level A windows. Level B, Level C, and self-financed use the three-month-before-entry rule. |
| “You must get a USTC professor’s acceptance first.” | Not listed among the application requirements on the two official pages cited for this article. |
| “Level C is funded like Level A.” | Level C is a tuition waiver only. |
| “Free dorm is guaranteed on Level A or B.” | On-campus housing is first-come, first-served. Overflow is off-campus at your cost. |
| “The stipend is 2,500 RMB for everyone.” | Official figures differ by undergraduate, master, and Ph.D. level, and use “up to.” |
| “This automatically becomes a USTC degree.” | Official language is a competitive edge for later applications, not conversion. |
| Eligibility includes applicants who are not currently enrolled | Live eligibility is Year 3/4 undergraduate or current Master’s/doctoral enrollment, plus the other listed points. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the USTC Research Internship fully funded?
Not as a whole programme. Level A can include a tuition waiver, Comprehensive Medical Insurance, free university dormitory, and a monthly stipend up to the published amounts by study level. Level B drops the stipend. Level C is tuition waiver only. Self-financed admission uses the published tuition, dormitory, and insurance figures. Fellowships are limited.
Can I apply for Level A, Level B, and Level C together? Who chooses?
Yes. The fellowship page says you may apply for one level or all three at the same time. If you apply for more than one level, the University of Science and Technology of China decides which level you may be given, based on a comprehensive evaluation. The pages do not describe receiving more than one level at once. If no fellowship is awarded, the same page says you could still be admitted as a self-financed student.
I graduate in June. Can I still apply as “currently enrolled”?
Official eligibility requires applicants to be currently enrolled full-time in undergraduate Year 3 or 4, Master’s, or doctoral programmes. If your enrollment status is changing around the application period, contact the International College at [email protected] for a case-specific answer.
Do I need a USTC supervisor letter before I open the portal?
Not according to the two official International College pages used for this article (29 September 2026). Those pages list a Study Plan and at least one recommendation letter from a full professor or associate professor; they do not list a USTC professor pre-acceptance letter. Submit through the online system with the listed documents.
When is the deadline for spring versus fall, and for Level B or C?
Level A: 1 July through 30 September for spring semester entry; 1 January through 31 March for fall semester entry. Level B, Level C, and self-financed: at least three months before expected entry. As of 29 September 2026, Spring 2027 Level A closes on 30 September 2026.
What does the monthly stipend cover, and is it guaranteed at the headline number?
Only Level A lists a stipend. Official wording is monthly stipend up to 2,500 Renminbi (RMB) (undergraduate), 3,000 RMB (master), or 3,500 RMB (Ph.D.). The pages do not itemise what the stipend must buy. Level A itself is limited, not automatic.
Where will I live on Level A versus Level C?
Level A and Level B: on-campus dormitory offered first-come, first-served; if full, find off-campus housing. Level C and self-financed: find off-campus housing yourself and complete police registration.
What are the published tuition and insurance figures if I am self-financed or on Level C?
Level C waives tuition only; you still need a plan for insurance, housing, and living costs. Self-financed tuition, dormitory range, and 160 RMB per month insurance are published on the programme Cost section (figures listed earlier in this article). Re-read that section before you budget.
Does USTC send admission documents before I pay anything?
The programme page says official admission documents are sent by email only after tuition payment has been confirmed. Confirm how that interacts with a tuition waiver by emailing [email protected].
Is this the same as a USTC master’s degree programme?
No. This is a non-degree research internship with an optional USTC Fellowship for Non-degree Programs. Degree admissions use separate rules and pages.
Who do I email with a case-specific question?
Ms. RAN Yi, International College, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 China. Tel: +86-551-63602848. Email: [email protected].
Official sources
- Research Internship Program (International College, USTC): https://ic.ustc.edu.cn/en/v7info.php?Nav_x=51
- USTC Fellowship for Non-degree Programs: https://ic.ustc.edu.cn/en/v7info.php?Nav_x=72
- USTC Application System: https://ustc.17gz.org/
- Contact: [email protected] (Ms. RAN Yi, International College, USTC)
Figures and dates in this article follow those pages as retrieved on 29 September 2026. USTC sets eligibility, fellowship level, and dates. Re-read the two International College pages before you submit. This article is a decision map, not an offer letter.
For the current Level A window and for Level B, Level C, or self-financed timing, use the official application system and the pages above rather than a guessed future deadline.
