How a Pakistani Law Graduate Won the Chinese Government Scholarship for a PhD in China

My name is Dr Mehran Idris Khan, and I am an international law scholar from Pakistan. I completed my PhD in International Law at Shandong University (SDU) in Qingdao, China, with the support of the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC). That scholarship turned out to be a turning point in both my academic career and my personal life, opening a path into environmental law, maritime law, and public policy research that I could not have imagined when I first left Pakistan.

I grew up and studied law in Pakistan, where questions of constitutionalism, human rights, and environmental degradation are not abstract debates but part of everyday life. As I moved through my LLB and then an LLM, I became increasingly interested in how international law responds to climate change, transboundary pollution, and maritime disputes. A PhD abroad seemed the best way to deepen that expertise and to gain a genuinely comparative perspective.

Chinese Government Scholarship Details

I received a Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC, Type B) to pursue my PhD in International Law at Shandong University. The scholarship covered:

• Full tuition fees for the entire PhD
• University accommodation
• A monthly living allowance
• Comprehensive medical insurance

This package meant I could focus on research rather than constantly worrying about finances. In addition to the CSC award, I later benefited indirectly from SDU’s strong research environment and occasional small grants linked to research projects and conferences, but the CSC was the core funding that made the degree possible.

My Educational Background Before the Chinese Government Scholarship

Before coming to China, I completed my LLB and Master’s in Pakistan, earning strong academic results and graduating near the top of my cohort. During my Master’s, I specialised in human rights law and international law, wrote a research thesis on domestic violence against women, and later developed an interest in climate change and environmental law, and began publishing short opinion pieces and case comments.

That combination—solid grades, a clear thematic focus, and early writing—proved important. It allowed me to show the CSC and SDU admissions committees that I was not simply seeking “any” scholarship but had a coherent academic trajectory in international and environmental law that I wanted to extend into doctoral research.

How I Prepared to Apply to Shandong University and the Chinese Government Scholarship

Finding Information

I began by mapping three things: countries with strong programmes in international and environmental law; universities willing to fund international PhD students; and supervisors whose research interests overlapped with mine. For China, I relied on official university websites such as SDU’s international student portal and the central Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) Application System, as well as scholarship information pages run by Chinese embassies and trusted platforms that aggregate opportunities for study in China. I also read the experiences of previous scholarship recipients—including blogs written by Pakistani and other international students in China—and some Facebook pages related to the Chinese Government Scholarship, where seniors as well as prospective scholarship students used to share their experiences. These helped me understand realistic living costs, the academic expectations, and the cultural adjustments required.

Language Tests and Documents

Because my previous degrees were taught in English, I did not need to take the IELTS or TOEFL for SDU, but I prepared as if I might be asked to do so. My focus instead was on assembling a very strong application package:

• A clearly structured research proposal, directly aligned with my potential supervisor’s work in international maritime and environmental law.
• Two detailed academic reference letters from senior professors who knew my research well.
• A carefully written personal statement, explaining why I wanted to study in China in general and at SDU in particular.
• A concise CV highlighting both academic achievements and practical engagements (teaching, research assistance, conference presentations, and policy-related work).

How I Prepared Specifically for the Chinese Government Scholarship

The CSC application is not fundamentally mysterious, but it requires discipline:

• Start early. I created a timeline with internal deadlines several weeks before the official CSC and university deadlines; I made a lot of notes on different timelines at different universities in China that offer a PhD in law.
• Read every instruction twice. Each year, some applicants are rejected simply because documents are incomplete, wrongly formatted, or not uploaded to both the CSC and university systems. I treated the application form itself as a legal document: precise, consistent, and free of contradictions.
• Coordinate with the host university. In my case, I contacted the prospective supervisor and SDU’s international office early in the process to confirm that my research topic aligned with their priorities and that I was using the correct programme type and agency number on the CSC portal. I have been granted an acceptance letter by my supervisor, and his support played a vital role in securing admission and a scholarship at SDU.
• Tell a coherent story. My proposal, CV, personal statement, and references all pointed in the same direction: an emerging scholar in international and environmental law who wanted to work on issues such as climate change, ocean governance, and the Belt and Road Initiative. That coherence, in my view, strengthened my case.

Studying at Shandong University: Academic and Personal Experience

Academically, Shandong University offered a rigorous and supportive environment. I was supervised by a very kind and knowledgeable professor active in international environmental and maritime law, with strong links to both Chinese and international research networks, as he received his PhD from the UK and was familiar with a global approach and practical outcome-based (PhD level) education. I was encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and collaborate on projects, including work on Arctic governance, ocean sustainability, and environmental regulation in China. Those experiences built the publication record that now underpins my academic career.

My courses and supervision were conducted primarily in English, but I also took Chinese language classes. While you can complete the degree in English alone, I found that investing time in Mandarin—even at a basic level—made everyday life smoother and allowed me to build deeper relationships with colleagues and local communities.

From a personal perspective, living in Qingdao and travelling across China reshaped my understanding of global environmental politics. Seeing Chinese environmental challenges and policies up close and talking to Chinese scholars and practitioners has been invaluable for my current work on international environmental and maritime law.

Life After the Scholarship

After completing my PhD, I continued in academia, focusing on environmental law, maritime law, international law and public policy. I have since worked at universities in China and beyond, published on topics such as ocean governance and climate-related damage, and contributed to international collaborations and conferences. The CSC scholarship did not just fund a degree; it launched a research trajectory and a network that continue to shape my work.

Today, I serve as an Associate Professor at the School of Law, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, one of China’s leading universities for international trade and economic law. In this role, I continue to teach and research in the areas of international law, environmental law, maritime law, and, more specifically, legal research and writing, while supervising students and contributing to the global academic community. My journey from a law student in Pakistan to a faculty member at one of China’s most prestigious law schools would not have been possible without the foundation laid by the Chinese Government Scholarship.

What Made My Application Stand Out

Looking back, I believe three elements were crucial:

• A focused research agenda. Rather than presenting myself as a generalist, I showed a clear commitment to international and environmental law, anchored in concrete research questions.
• Evidence of research potential. Prior publications, conference papers, and strong references signalled that I could complete a demanding PhD and contribute to the host institution’s research output.
• Fit with the institution and supervisor. I did not send a generic proposal; I engaged with existing work at SDU and explained how my project would complement and extend it.

What I Would Do Differently

If I were going through the process again, I would:

• Start even earlier with Chinese language learning to integrate more fully into local academic and social life.
• Reach out to current scholarship holders sooner to get practical advice on housing, daily expenses, and academic expectations, as well as how to pack and what to bring once you’re granted the scholarship.
• Keep a more systematic portfolio of documents (draft statements, reference templates, certificates) to adapt quickly to other opportunities.

Advice for Future Applicants

For students considering the Chinese Government Scholarship or similar fully funded programmes, my main suggestions are:

• Treat the application like a serious research project. Do the background reading, understand the programme’s aims, and tailor every document accordingly.
• Be honest but strategic in telling your story. Explain how your background, motivations, and long-term plans align with what the scholarship is trying to achieve.
• Invest in relationships. Strong recommendations and informal guidance from mentors or former scholarship recipients can make a real difference.
• Do not be discouraged by the competition. Many excellent candidates apply, but persistence, preparation, and a coherent narrative significantly improve your chances.
• Think beyond funding. Ask yourself whether the institution, country, and research environment fit your intellectual and personal goals.

For me, the Chinese Government Scholarship was not just financial support; it was an invitation to rethink my place in the world as a Pakistani scholar of international and environmental law. If you are willing to work hard, reflect critically on your goals, and step outside your comfort zone, it can be the beginning of a transformative journey for you as well.