📅 Last Updated: October 2026
USTC Winter Camp 2027 in China — Fellowships Available
The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), one of China’s strongest science universities, is inviting international students to its International Winter Camp 2027, two weeks in Hefei from 19 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. The programme combines expert lectures, tours of national laboratories, daily Chinese lessons and cultural visits.
The camp costs CNY 3,000, and outstanding applicants may receive a USTC Fellowship that covers some or all of their costs. Pakistani undergraduate and master’s students, and recent graduates, can apply. This guide explains what the fee covers, how the fellowship works, the real total cost from Pakistan, and how to use the camp as a first step toward a funded degree at USTC.
| University/Organization | University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), International College |
| Country | China (Hefei, Anhui Province) |
| Degree/Level | Non-degree winter camp: undergraduates, master’s students and graduates |
| Funding Type | CNY 3,000 fee; USTC Fellowship (full or partial) for outstanding applicants |
| Deadline | 8 November 2026 (UTC+8) |
| Open To | International Students Worldwide |
| Pakistani Students Eligible | Yes |
| Official Link | Apply Here |
🎓 About the USTC Winter Camp 2027
USTC was founded in 1958 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is one of China’s elite C9 League universities. It is internationally known for physics, quantum information science, chemistry, materials science, computer science and engineering. Its Hefei campus is close to several of China’s national research facilities, which is why lab tours are a highlight of the camp.
The Winter Camp is part of USTC’s non-degree programmes, alongside a Summer School and a Research Internship Program. It is designed as a short introduction to USTC and China: academic lectures in English, basic Chinese classes and cultural trips, all within two weeks over the New Year break.
How it compares: USTC’s Research Internship Program places students in labs for longer periods, which is better for serious research experience. The Winter Camp is shorter and lighter, and suits students who want to see USTC before applying for a master’s or PhD there. Compared with fully funded research placements like Mitacs Globalink, the camp is cheaper and much easier to get into, but it is a taster, not a research placement.
💰 Cost and Fellowship
- 💳 Programme fee: CNY 3,000, covering tuition, accommodation (twin room) and field trips
- 🚫 Not included: insurance and travel to and from Hefei
- 🏅 USTC Fellowship for outstanding applicants, which “may include a travel subsidy, medical insurance, local accommodation and stipend, fully or partially”. Amounts are not published (verify on official website)
- 📚 Activities: basic Chinese courses, academic lectures, lab tours and cultural site visits
- 📆 Length: about two weeks, 19 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
What it costs from Pakistan: CNY 3,000 is roughly PKR 115,000–120,000. Add a return flight to Hefei (usually through a hub such as Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing), a Chinese visa fee, travel insurance and pocket money. Without a fellowship, a realistic total is often PKR 300,000–450,000, depending on flight prices (approximate; verify current fares and exchange rates).
A fellowship can change that significantly, since it may cover travel, accommodation and a stipend. That makes a strong application important.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport
- Health: good mental and physical health
- Language: a good command of English
- Academic status: a current undergraduate or master’s student, or someone who has finished a bachelor’s or master’s degree and wants to study further at USTC
- Not eligible: anyone who has already attended a USTC International Winter or Summer Camp
English test status: USTC doesn’t specify an IELTS or TOEFL score. “Good command of English” is the stated requirement. If your degree is taught in English, an English-medium letter from your university is a sensible document to upload (verify on official website).
Pakistani students: eligible. There are no nationality restrictions beyond being non-Chinese.
✅ Strong Candidates
- BS and MS students in physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science or engineering who are curious about research in China
- Pakistani students planning a USTC master’s or PhD, or a CSC application, who want to visit and meet faculty first
- Applicants with good grades and a clear motivation statement, who are more likely to be considered for the fellowship
- Students free during the December–January break
❌ Not the Right Fit If
- You need guaranteed full funding, because the fellowship isn’t promised
- You want hands-on research experience. The Research Internship Program suits that better
- You attended a USTC Winter or Summer Camp before
- You can’t get a Chinese visa in time for 19 December
On competitiveness for South Asian applicants: getting into the camp itself isn’t very selective, but the fellowship is. Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal often have similar academic profiles, so what makes you stand out is a specific motivation statement that names the USTC research areas or labs you want to see and explains how the camp fits your plans.
📚 Programme Content
According to USTC, the 2027 Winter Camp includes four parts:
- Basic Chinese courses: introductory Mandarin for daily life and campus communication
- Academic lectures: talks by USTC faculty, delivered in English
- Lab tours: visits to USTC research facilities, which are among the university’s main strengths
- Cultural site visits: trips in and around Hefei to experience local life and history
The specific lecture topics and labs haven’t been published yet (verify on official website). Based on USTC’s strengths, students in physics, chemistry, materials and computing are likely to get the most from the academic side. Students in other fields will still benefit from the Chinese lessons, the cultural programme and seeing the campus first-hand.
Hefei is cold in late December, often around freezing at night, so pack warm clothes.
📄 Required Documents
USTC’s page says to upload the documents marked as required in the online form. You should typically prepare:
- Passport information page, valid well beyond January 2027
- Proof of student status (an enrolment letter or student ID) or your degree certificate if you have graduated
- Academic transcript
- Proof of English ability, such as an English-medium instruction letter or a test score if you have one
- Passport-size photo
- Motivation statement or CV, if the form asks for one. This is useful for fellowship consideration
The exact list appears in the online form (verify on official website). Note for Pakistani applicants: HEC attestation isn’t needed for a non-degree camp. Your university’s own enrolment letter and transcript are usually enough at this stage.
🧭 Step-by-Step Application Process
- Register on the USTC online application portal.
- Go to Start Application → Application → Non-Degree Programs Application → Winter Camp.
- Fill in the form. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.
- Upload your documents and submit before 8 November 2026 (China time, UTC+8).
- Watch your email for an acceptance and any fellowship offer, and email visiting@ustc.edu.cn if you have questions.
- If accepted, apply for a Chinese visa straight away using USTC’s invitation documents. Most Pakistani passport holders need a visa for China (verify the current visa rules).
- Book your flight to Hefei once your visa is issued.
Practical tip: apply well before 8 November. Results, invitation letters and visa processing all have to happen before 19 December, and Chinese visa appointments in Pakistan can take time. An early application gives you room if anything is delayed.
📅 Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 8 November 2026 (UTC+8) |
| Results and fellowship decisions | Before the camp (verify on official website) |
| Camp begins | 19 December 2026 |
| Camp ends | 1 January 2027 |
📌 Bookmark this page. We update deadlines as soon as changes are announced.
🌟 Why Apply
Spending two weeks inside one of China’s top science universities is one of the best ways to decide whether USTC is right for your master’s or PhD, and to meet the professors who might later supervise you. Many Chinese supervisors are much more responsive to students they have met in person.
It also helps if you later apply for China’s government scholarships. A visit to USTC gives your future application concrete detail that most applicants don’t have. For funded degree options in China, see our guides to the Zhengzhou University President Scholarship and the Westlake University PhD Fellowship. You can also browse more programmes in Events & Conferences, all Scholarships, research roles in Jobs & Internships, and visa guides in Guidelines & Resources.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are based on what students most commonly search about this program.
Q: Can Pakistani students apply for the USTC Winter Camp 2027?
Yes. Any non-Chinese passport holder who is a current undergraduate or master’s student, or a graduate, can apply, provided they have good English and haven’t attended a USTC camp before.
Q: Is the USTC Winter Camp fully funded?
No. The programme fee is CNY 3,000, covering tuition, a twin room and field trips. Outstanding applicants may receive a USTC Fellowship covering travel, insurance, accommodation and a stipend, fully or partially.
Q: Do I need IELTS for the USTC Winter Camp?
No specific IELTS or TOEFL score is required. USTC asks for a “good command of English”. An English-medium instruction letter from your university is a useful document to upload.
Q: Do I need a visa to attend?
Most Pakistani passport holders need a Chinese visa. Apply as soon as you receive USTC’s acceptance and invitation documents, and check the current visa rules before you apply.
Q: What is not covered by the programme fee?
Insurance and travel to and from Hefei are not covered, unless a fellowship covers them.
Q: Can I attend if I joined the USTC Summer School before?
No. Applicants who have already attended any USTC International Winter or Summer Camp are not eligible.
🔗 Official Source
Contact: visiting@ustc.edu.cn · +86-551-63603531
📊 Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | USTC International Winter Camp 2027 |
| University | University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei |
| Type | Non-degree winter camp |
| Dates | 19 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 |
| Activities | Lectures, lab tours, Chinese lessons, cultural visits |
| Fee | CNY 3,000 (tuition, twin room, field trips) |
| Not Included | Insurance and travel |
| Fellowship | USTC Fellowship for outstanding applicants (full or partial) |
| Eligibility | Non-Chinese undergraduates, master’s students and graduates with good English |
| Deadline | 8 November 2026 |
| Pakistani Students Eligible | Yes |
| Official Link | ic.ustc.edu.cn |
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