2027 African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship Bachelor, Master’s, and PhD Program (Funded study in Shanghai, China)

Application Deadline: November 17, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship. The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) are pleased to invite interested and qualified African candidates to apply for the 2027 SHOU Scholarship Programmes.

The aim of the scholarship programmes is to strengthen Africa’s institutional and technical capacity in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine science and resource management, in line with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033).

Benefits

For all successful candidates, the scholarships will cover:

•  Full tuition, accommodation, meals, and monthly stipends;
• Access to world-class faculty and state-of-the-art research facilities;
• Specialized professional training in marine and aquatic sciences.

Note: Successful candidates will be responsible for flight tickets and visa fees.

The AfDB and SHOU invite qualified candidates from across Africa to seize this unique opportunity to advance their expertise and contribute to the continent’s blue economy transformation.

The African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship Bachelor Degree Program

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• HSK Level 4 with a score above 180 (received within the last two years); 
• Take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA).

 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

Program: Bachelor (4 years)

1. College of Fisheries and Life Science: Aquaculture; Biological Science
2. College of Marine Living Resource Science and Management: Marine Fishery Science and Technology; Marine Resources and Environment
3. College of Oceanography and Ecological Science: Marine Science
4. College of Food Science and Technology: Food Science and Engineering Biopharmaceuticals
5. College of Economics and Management: International Economics and Trade
6. College of Engineering Science and Technology: Mechanical Design Manufacturing and Automation; Electrical Engineering and Automation Robotics Engineering
7. College of Foreign Languages: English

African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship Master Degree Program

PROGRAMMES & REQUIREMENTS

1. Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) (Chinese-taught, 3 years)

The programme trains high-level translators and interpreters for the global language services industry, covering translation practice, conference interpreting and modern translation technology.

• Language requirements: HSK Level 5 or above

2. Master of Foreign Languages and Literatures (Area Studies) (English-taught, 3 years)

The programme is centred on Area Studies, covering regional languages, cultures, politics and economies, with particular emphasis on ocean civilisation and global governance. It welcomes applicants from diverse academic backgrounds, including public policy, international relations and other social science and humanities disciplines. Students with STEM backgrounds wishing to change study track are also welcome to apply.

• Language requirements: IELTS 6.0/ TOEFL 80 or above

Applicants must be nationals of an AfDB Regional Member Country.

Applicants to either programme must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and must not be older than 30 years as at 1 September 2027.

African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship Master and PhD Program

TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

Graduate Programs: Master’s (3 years) and PhD (4 years)

1. College of Fisheries and Life Science: Aquaculture; Biology
2. College of Marine Living Resour Ce Sciences and management: Fishery Resources
3. College of Oceanography and Ecological Science: Marine Science
4. College of Food Science and Technology: Food Science and Engineering
5. College of Economics and Management: Fishery Economics and Management; Applied Economics (Chinese)
6. College of Engineering Science and Technology: Electronic Information (Chinese); Marine Science

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Master’s Program

• Be a national of an AfDB Regional Member Country with experience in the fisheries or blue economy sector;
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in related field, or any field, with interest to pursue a career in the fisheries or blue economy sector;
• Have English proficiency, with a minimum score of IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 (received within the last two years);
• For Chinese-taught programs: HSK 5 with a score above 180 (received within the last two years); 
• Be no older than 30 years old by 1st September 2027;
• Outstanding academic performance (e.g., GPA ≥ 3.0).

Applicants whose Chinese language ability does not meet the relevant requirements can apply for a Chinese language program of up to 2 years before starting the study program. They should meet the specific age requirements when starting their study program.

Ph.D. Program

Be a national of an AfDB’s Regional Member Country with experience in the fisheries or blue economy sector;

• Hold a master’s degree in Marine Science, Aquaculture, Economics, Environmental Policy, Development Studies, or a related field;
• English proficiency, with a minimum score of IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80;
• Be no older than 35 years by 1st September 2027;
• Research experience with at least 1 paper published
• PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to potential SHOU supervisors in advance. Candidates should send their CV, research proposal, and published paper(s) to supervisors for pre-evaluation. The supervisor should be contacted before sending in the application with the respective name stated in the application form.

The full supervisor directory is available at: https://ieo.shou.edu.cn/18224/list.htm.

• Strong analytical, research, and policy development skills;
• Possess excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with experience in multicultural environments.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Development Bank Group Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship