If you are planning to apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027–2028 for a Master’s or PhD program, obtaining an acceptance letter from a potential Chinese supervisor can strengthen your application and, for some universities or programs, may be required.
However, many students confuse an acceptance letter with a recommendation letter. These are different documents, issued by different people and used for different purposes.
In this Step 3 guide, we explain what a professor acceptance letter is, how to obtain one, and what you should do after a professor agrees to supervise you.
What Is an Acceptance Letter from a Chinese Professor?
An acceptance letter, sometimes called a Supervisor Acceptance Letter, Pre-Acceptance Letter, or Conditional Acceptance Letter, is a document issued or signed by a professor at the Chinese university where you want to study.
It normally confirms that the professor is willing to supervise you if you are admitted to the university and receive the scholarship.
For example, a professor may confirm that:
- they have reviewed your academic background;
- your research interests match their research group;
- they are willing to supervise your Master’s or PhD research;
- they support your application to the university.
An acceptance letter from a professor does not mean that you have already received the CSC Scholarship or final university admission. The university and CSC still have to review your complete application.
Is an Acceptance Letter Mandatory for CSC Scholarship?
Not for every university or every CSC program.
The requirement depends on the university, degree program and scholarship category.
Some Chinese universities require postgraduate applicants to obtain a supervisor acceptance letter before applying. Others consider it optional but may give preference to applicants who already have a supervisor.
For example, current university CSC guidance shows different policies: some institutions require a supervisor acceptance letter, while others state that it is optional but applicants with one may receive priority.
Therefore, you should always check the official 2027–2028 admission notice of your selected university when it becomes available.
Acceptance Letter vs Recommendation Letter
This is one of the most common points of confusion among CSC applicants.
| Acceptance Letter | Recommendation Letter |
|---|---|
| Usually issued by a professor at the Chinese university you are applying to | Usually written by professors or associate professors who already know your academic work |
| Shows willingness to supervise or accept you | Evaluates your academic ability and potential |
| Connected with your future supervisor | Connected with your previous/current academic background |
| Requirements vary by university | Usually required for Master’s and PhD CSC applications |
| Normally one supervisor letter is sufficient if required | Commonly two recommendation letters are required |
| Does not replace recommendation letters | Does not replace a supervisor acceptance letter |
Current CSC university application guides commonly require postgraduate applicants to provide two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. These letters normally discuss the applicant’s academic ability, research potential, objectives and future development.
Simple Example
Suppose you completed your Master’s degree in Pakistan and want to apply for a PhD in Computer Science in China.
Your recommendation letters could be written by:
- your Master’s supervisor;
- another professor who taught or worked with you.
Your acceptance letter, however, would normally come from the Chinese professor whom you want as your PhD supervisor.
So you may need all three documents:
Recommendation Letter 1 + Recommendation Letter 2 + Chinese Supervisor Acceptance Letter
How to Get an Acceptance Letter
Step 1: Find a Suitable Professor
Visit the official website of your selected Chinese university and open the faculty or supervisor directory.
Look for professors whose research interests are closely related to your previous studies and proposed research.
Do not randomly email every professor in the department.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Before contacting professors, prepare at least:
- Professional academic CV
- Academic transcripts
- Research interests
- Short research proposal, if available
- Publications, if applicable
- Other relevant academic achievements
Your CV should clearly show your education, research experience, publications, projects and technical skills.
If you have not prepared your CV yet, read our Step 1: How to Prepare a Professional CV for China Scholarship 2027–2028.
Step 3: Email the Professor
Send a short and professional email explaining:
- who you are;
- your current academic qualification;
- your research area;
- why you are interested in the professor’s research;
- that you intend to apply for CSC Scholarship 2027–2028;
- whether the professor is accepting new Master’s/PhD students.
Attach your CV and other important documents when appropriate.
You can follow our Step 2: How to Send Email to Chinese Professors for Acceptance Letter 2027–2028 for the complete email method.
What to Do If the Professor Says Yes
Getting a positive email reply is a good sign, but a simple reply such as:
“Yes, you are welcome to apply.”
is not necessarily the official acceptance letter required by the university.
Your next step should be to check whether the university provides an official Supervisor Acceptance Letter template.
Many universities provide their own format that must be completed or signed by the potential supervisor. Current CSC university guides from institutions such as Beihang University and China Pharmaceutical University, for example, provide specific supervisor acceptance procedures or templates.
If an official template is available:
- Download it from the university website.
- Complete your personal information where required.
- Send it politely to the professor.
- Ask the professor to review and sign it.
- Upload the signed document with your application.
Do not create your own acceptance letter if the university specifically provides an official format.
What Information Is Usually Included?
The exact format varies between universities, but a supervisor acceptance letter may contain:
- Applicant’s full name
- Passport number or nationality
- Degree level
- Proposed major
- Research field
- Professor’s name
- Professor’s department or school
- Confirmation of willingness to supervise
- Professor’s signature
- Date
- University or department information
Always follow the format required by the university.
Acceptance Letter vs Pre-Admission Letter
These terms can also cause confusion.
A Supervisor Acceptance Letter normally comes from an individual professor confirming their willingness to supervise you.
A Pre-Admission Letter is normally issued through the university’s admission process and may indicate that the university is prepared to admit you subject to scholarship or final approval.
They should not automatically be treated as the same document.
For some CSC programs, universities specifically ask applicants for a supervisor acceptance letter first and later issue a university-level pre-admission notice after reviewing the application.
What If the Professor Does Not Reply?
Do not depend on only one professor.
If there is no reply after around one week, you may send one short and polite follow-up email.
If there is still no response, continue contacting other relevant professors.
Avoid:
- sending repeated emails every day;
- contacting unrelated professors;
- sending exactly the same generic email to everyone;
- using misleading information in your CV;
- asking for an acceptance letter in your first sentence without explaining your background.
The objective is not simply to collect an acceptance letter. You should find a supervisor whose research genuinely matches your academic interests.
Can You Apply Without an Acceptance Letter?
In some universities, yes.
For example, current CSC guidance from Hefei University of Technology states that a supervisor acceptance letter is not mandatory, although applicants with one may receive priority. Other universities make a supervisor acceptance letter part of their required application documents.
Therefore, never assume that the same rule applies to every Chinese university.
Check these three things for your selected university:
- Is a supervisor required before application?
- Is an acceptance letter mandatory or optional?
- Does the university provide its own acceptance-letter template?
Important Advice for CSC 2027–2028 Applicants
Start contacting professors early rather than waiting until the CSC application deadline.
Professors receive many emails during scholarship season, and finding a suitable supervisor may take time.
Also remember:
Professor Acceptance Letter ≠ Recommendation Letter ≠ University Admission Letter ≠ CSC Scholarship Award
Each document serves a different purpose.
Always verify the latest requirements from the official university admission website before submitting your CSC 2027–2028 application.
What Comes Next?
After preparing your CV, contacting professors and obtaining an acceptance letter, another important part of your CSC application is your Study Plan or Research Proposal.
In Step 4, we will explain:
How to Write a Study Plan / Research Proposal for CSC Scholarship 2027–2028, including the correct structure, important sections and common mistakes.