JUSTCOOL PhD in China for Pakistani Students: Apply to Fudan, SJTU and Tongji by 14 November

Pakistani final-year BS students in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology can apply for a fully funded PhD at Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong or Tongji University through JUSTCOOL until 9:00 pm Pakistan time on 14 November 2026. You must graduate between June 2026 and July 2027, rank in the top 20 per cent of your class and meet an English requirement such as IELTS 6.5. There is no fee listed. Apply at justcoolphd.cn.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has advertised the programme on its announcements page. We read that notice and the JUSTCOOL admissions announcement on 9 October 2026. JUSTCOOL ran an information session at the NUST Central Library in Islamabad on 5 October. HEC is only passing the offer on, so you apply directly and HEC carries no financial responsibility.

JUSTCOOL applications close on 14 November 2026

The application window runs from 10:00 am Beijing time on 28 September 2026 to midnight Beijing time on 14 November 2026. Pakistan is three hours behind Beijing, so the portal closes at 9:00 pm PKT on 14 November.

What JUSTCOOL is and what it pays

JUSTCOOL stands for Joint Examinations and Admissions for International Students to Top Chinese Universities: PhD Program. Fudan University runs it with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Tongji University, all three in Shanghai. Up to 90 doctoral students are admitted each year, for a five-year PhD taught and supervised in English.

The admissions announcement lists the funding as a JUSTCOOL PhD fellowship, a full tuition waiver, free accommodation, research or teaching assistantships and free medical insurance. The size of the monthly fellowship is not published.

That is the honest gap in this offer. A free hostel and fees are a lot, but you cannot plan a five-year budget without the stipend figure. Ask admission@justcoolphd.cn before you commit, and compare it with the Chinese Government Scholarship through HEC, which publishes its rates.

You get your degree from the university that admits you, but you can take courses at the other two. Applicants who reach the interview but miss out can still be considered for the regular graduate programmes of the universities they applied to.

Eligibility: top 20% of your class and an English score

JUSTCOOL is aimed at students finishing their first degree now. The rules are tight on timing, so check each one.

• Nationality: a non-Chinese citizen with a valid passport. Pakistani passport holders qualify.
• Subject: an undergraduate major in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
• Timing: a bachelor's degree obtained between June 2026 and July 2027.
• Class rank: in the top 20 per cent of your major at your university when you apply.
• English: one of IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61, taken within two years of the deadline, or a degree taught entirely in English.

The English-medium route matters for Pakistani students. If your BS was taught entirely in English, a letter from your university confirming it may be enough, though JUSTCOOL does not say what proof it accepts. If you are unsure, the IELTS fee in Pakistan is a cost to weigh against that risk.

A student who already finished a BS in 2025 does not qualify. Neither does someone with an MPhil looking for a PhD. This is a direct BS to PhD route.

Documents and how to apply on the JUSTCOOL portal

The application is online only. You pick your major when you apply. You choose between Fudan, SJTU and Tongji only after you pass the interview.

1. Make sure your passport is valid until at least 1 March 2028. Renew it first if not.
2. Get two signed recommendation letters from professors in your subject.
3. Collect your transcripts and either your degree or an expected graduation certificate from your university.
4. Get a certificate of non-criminal record and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form completed. The medical is valid for six months.
5. Gather your English proof and any papers or awards you want to add.
6. Open justcoolphd.cn, click Apply Now, fill in the form and upload everything before 9:00 pm PKT on 14 November 2026.

In Pakistan, the non-criminal record proof is normally a police character certificate. Police character certificates can now be applied for online, which saves a trip, but start early because processing takes time.

Graduates from universities outside China must also get a degree authentication report from China's Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) before they enrol. That comes after admission, not at the application stage.

The written exam and interview

Shortlisted applicants sit a closed-book written exam on Saturday 12 December 2026, planned to be held online. It covers two subjects in your major, each 2.5 hours over two sessions, with a maximum of 100 marks per subject.

The syllabus is published on the portal. Physics, for example, covers general physics plus classical mechanics, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics. Mathematics covers analysis and advanced algebra, then specialised papers. Prepare from these lists, not from guesswork.

Interviews follow in January 2027, usually online. If you pass and a university accepts you, you get a preliminary offer and must confirm within one week.

Common questions

What is the last date to apply for JUSTCOOL 2027?

14 November 2026 at midnight Beijing time, which is 9:00 pm in Pakistan.

Is JUSTCOOL fully funded?

The organisers list a fellowship, a full tuition waiver, free accommodation, assistantships and free medical insurance. They do not publish the monthly fellowship amount.

Can MPhil holders apply to JUSTCOOL?

No. You must obtain your bachelor's degree between June 2026 and July 2027, so it suits final-year BS students and fresh graduates.

Do I need IELTS for JUSTCOOL?

Not if your degree was taught entirely in English. Otherwise you need IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61.

Does HEC select candidates for JUSTCOOL?

No. HEC only advertises it. You apply directly to JUSTCOOL, and HEC has no financial liability.

Is there an application fee?

Neither the HEC notice nor the JUSTCOOL announcement mentions an application fee.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 9 October 2026. We read the HEC announcement on JUSTCOOL on the Higher Education Commission website and the admissions announcement, funding page and events list on the official JUSTCOOL portal. We did not start an application. The fellowship amount and any fee were not published on either page. Times are converted from Beijing time (UTC+8) to Pakistan time (UTC+5).