Beijing -- The University of Southern California and the China Scholarship Council established an international partnership to support outstanding Chinese students pursuing PhD degrees at USC.

USC and the CSC will both contribute to the scholarship funding program, which will be available beginning fall 2013 for up to 30 Chinese doctoral students accepted into any of the 17 professional schools at USC or the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

"We are eager to partner with the University of Southern California, one of the world's top universities, to support students from China as they continue to pursue their ideas and research," said Dong Zhixue, director of the Division of American and Oceania Affairs, China Scholarship Council.

USC vice provost for Global Initiatives Anthony Bailey said USC is honored to collaborate with the China Scholarship Council on this joint scholarship fund.