In 2026, the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) will award scholarships for doctoral students, for field research in China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan. It is primarily intended to support data collection work in the geographical area covered by the CEFC (Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau).

The CEFC will be able to finance up to 12 months’ grant, to be divided between the various projects selected. The grant amount is €1,200 per month, plus a return plane ticket (up to a maximum of €1,000).

The assignment may begin on or after 1 September 2026. At the end of their assignment, during which they will be associated with the CEFC, the scholarship’s winners will be required to present their activities to the centre’s researchers.

Eligibility

• Have been enrolled in a PhD programme at a leading university in France in the field of social sciences and humanities from 2023 onwards and have completed at least the first year of the doctorate.
• Doctoral students who are nationals of a member state of the European Union (EU) or doctoral students from outside the EU are accepted as long as they enrolled at a leading university in France.
• Obligation to reside in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan for the duration of their attachment to the CEFC.
• Submit a research project that fits into the CEFC’s scientific mission, which consists of studying the political, economic, social and cultural changes in Contemporary People’s Republic of China (post-1949), Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
• The candidate should be able to work in an international environment.
• Fluency in English and in French as well as excellent written and oral skills. Good knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.

Duties and responsibilities

• Participate in the scientific life of the CEFC.
• Give a presentation of his or her research activities to the laboratory’s board at the end of the field mission.
• Submit a written report on his or her work to the CEFC.

Application Requirement

The candidate should send a detailed CV, a research project (maximum 5 pages) with a timeline of planned activities and an indicative bibliography, a recommendation letter from the supervisor of the thesis and an enrollment certificate in a French Doctoral School.

Applicants shall obtain their visa on their own, the CEFC and the Taipei office cannot be responsible for applicants’ visa. The impossibility of going to the fieldwork will result in the cancellation of the scholarship.

The documents should be sent in a single PDF file by email to Florence Padovani (florence.padovani@cefc.com.hk) and Henry Wu (hwu@cefc.com.hk). The subject of the email should be “PHD SCHOLARSHIP 2026”.

Applications should be received by 31 March 2026

Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview via video-conference which will take place the third week of May 2026. The result will be transmitted to the candidates by early June 2026. The assignment may begin on or after 1 September 2026.