About CUP Beijing and the CSC Scholarship

China University of Petroleum (Beijing) is a national key university under China’s Ministry of Education, specialising in petroleum and natural gas engineering, geology, chemical engineering, energy and management science. Its graduates go on to work for major energy companies in China and around the world, and it has strong links with industry.

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) runs the Chinese Government Scholarship and handles the admission and administration of scholars. CUP takes part in two ways:

• Type A (Bilateral Program): you apply through your home country’s dispatching authority. In Pakistan, that is usually HEC. You choose CUP as your preferred university.
• Type B (University Programs): you apply directly to CUP using agency number 11414, under either the Silk Road Program or the High-Level Postgraduate Program. CUP also lists a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) University Program, but gives no details (verify on official website).

How it compares: the stipend is the same national CSC rate you’d get at Tsinghua or Zhejiang, but CUP’s applicant pool is much more specialised. For a petroleum or chemical engineer, competing at CUP in your own field is often a better bet than competing at a famous general university against applicants from every discipline. Compared with our Zhengzhou President Scholarship guide, CSC pays a similar PhD stipend but adds a free dormitory and is backed by the national government.

🛣️ The Three Routes Compared

Important rule (Silk Road): CUP says eligible countries and majors are controlled by its application system. If the scholarship doesn’t appear as an option for you, you’re not eligible. Check the dropdown when the 2027 portal opens.

📄 Required Documents (High-Level Postgraduate Program)

1. CSC application form (Chinese or English), generated from the CSC portal
2. Passport information page. It must stay valid well beyond your arrival date
3. Notarised highest degree. Current students: proof of enrolment
4. Transcripts from undergraduate level onwards, sealed by your university
5. Language certificate: IELTS, TOEFL or an English-medium letter (or HSK for Chinese-taught programmes)
6. CUP pre-admission letter. For a PhD, a supervisor’s acceptance letter
7. Study plan of 1,000+ words covering your background, research field and future plans. PhD applicants need it signed by the supervisor
8. Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors
9. Foreigner Physical Examination Form in English, signed and stamped by a doctor, with a sealed photo. Valid for 6 months
10. Criminal record certificate, usually issued within the last 6 months
11. A residence permit page, if you’re already in China
12. Guardian documents, if you’re under 18
13. Optional: supervisor recommendation form, awards, publications

Pakistan notes: get degrees and transcripts HEC-attested and then notarised (some applicants also get MOFA attestation, so check). Get a police character certificate from your district police or the provincial Khidmat Markaz. Have the Foreigner Physical Examination Form completed at a recognised hospital, with every test filled in. Incomplete forms are a common reason for rejection.

🪜 Step-by-Step: How to Apply

Type B (High-Level or Silk Road), the direct route:

1. October–December: find a supervisor. Browse CUP’s programme lists and email 3–5 professors in your field with your CV and a one-page research idea.
2. Collect your documents now: HEC attestation, notarisation, the English-medium letter, police certificate, medical form, and 2 recommendation letters.
3. Register on the CUP portal when the 2027 call opens, select the scholarship type, and upload your documents. You’ll get a pre-admission notice if you meet the standards.
4. Apply on the CSC portal, choosing Type B and agency number 11414. Upload the same documents plus the CUP pre-admission letter.
5. Submit both before the deadline (expected about 1 March for High-Level, about 30 May for Silk Road).
6. Wait for results, usually by June–July, then apply for your X1 study visa with the JW202 form and admission letter.

Type A (through HEC): watch for HEC’s Chinese Government Scholarship announcement (usually around January–February; verify on official website). Apply through HEC, get the Type A agency number from HEC, apply on the CSC portal with CUP as your first choice, apply on the CUP portal for a pre-admission notice, and send your documents to HEC before its deadline.

🌍 Why Apply

Pakistan’s energy sector, from upstream exploration with OGDCL and PPL to refineries and CPEC energy projects, needs engineers with advanced training and Chinese industry connections. A CUP master’s or PhD gives you specialised expertise, Mandarin exposure and a network across Chinese energy companies, all fully funded. Beijing also offers far more internship and conference opportunities than smaller provincial cities.

🔗 Official Sources

• CUP Chinese Government Scholarship page
• CUP online application portal
• CSC Study in China portal
• Campus China (CSC)
• Contact: admission@cup.edu.cn · +86 10 8973 3796