How to Get a Pre-Admission Letter

Is It Mandatory?

Increasingly, yes. In the 2026/27 cycle many embassy notices required every Type A applicant to upload a pre-admission document from at least one chosen university: a pre-admission notice from the admissions office or an invitation letter from the school or a professor (see the Fiji notice for one example). Many universities also require one for postgraduate Type B applicants (Xiamen University, for example, asks for a supervisor's letter stamped by the college). Either way, applicants who have one are significantly more likely to be selected, especially for PhD and Master's programmes. Check your embassy's notice for its exact rule.

When It Helps vs When It Backfires

When it helps

• PhD applications: having a supervisor who wants you dramatically increases selection odds. The university will rank you higher.
• Type B route: the university nominates you for CSC funding. Having professor support means the university is invested in your application.
• Research alignment: when your research genuinely matches the professor's lab focus, the letter shows a real academic partnership, not just scholarship hunting.
• Top universities: Tsinghua, Peking, Zhejiang — professor endorsement is almost essential for these competitive institutions.

When it backfires

• Mass spam emails: sending identical copy-paste emails to 50 professors annoys everyone and burns bridges. Professors talk to each other.
• No research alignment: if you can't explain why this specific professor's work matters to your research, the email feels transactional. Professors can tell.
• Bachelor's level: undergraduates usually get their pre-admission notice from the university's admissions office, not a professor. Contacting professors at this level can seem inappropriate.
• Too late in the cycle: emailing professors a few weeks before the deadline gives them no time to evaluate you. Start in October–December.

Cold-Email Strategy That Works

Chinese professors receive hundreds of CSC-related emails. Here's how to stand out.

1. 1
   Research the professor first

   Read their 3 most recent papers on Google Scholar or CNKI. Check their university profile page. Know their current research focus, not just their general field. If they haven't published in 3 years, they might have retired from active research.

2. 2
   Write a short, specific email

   Maximum 200 words. Subject line: "CSC PhD Applicant — [Your Research Topic]." Open with one sentence referencing their specific paper. State your research interest in 2 sentences. Mention your qualifications briefly. Attach your CV and a 1-page research summary. Do NOT write your life story.

3. 3
   Use the right email address

   Chinese university email addresses often end in .edu.cn. Check the professor's university page for their official email. Some professors also list personal emails on their Google Scholar or ResearchGate profiles. Avoid generic department emails.

4. 4
   Follow up once (after 2 weeks)

   If no response after 2 weeks, send ONE follow-up. Keep it shorter — 3 sentences. Reference your original email. If still no response, move on. Do not send 3+ follow-ups; it harms your reputation.

5. 5
   October–December 2026

   Start early

   The best time to contact professors is October–December, giving them time to evaluate you before most deadlines. January is late but acceptable. By February, most Type A deadlines have passed and few professors can process a pre-admission letter in time.

Response Rate Reality

Set realistic expectations. Professors are busy and receive many requests.

If you contact 10 professors with personalized, research-specific emails, expect 1–2 positive responses. That's enough — you only need one acceptance letter.

What the Letter Should Include

When a professor agrees, they'll need to write (or sign) a pre-admission letter. Here's what it should contain.

Got your letter? Now focus on writing an outstanding study plan and gathering your documents.