If you are a domestic student, please refer to https://www.slai.edu.cn/page/287 for more details. The following FAQ is designed for international students.

Q1. Where will I physically do my research and daily work?

In our first pilot run, students will primarily conduct their research and daily work on-site at SLAI, where they will be embedded in an SLAI center. Most courses will be taken at SLAI, with some courses at the home university (CUHK-SZ, in our pilot run) when needed. All courses are taught in English at both SLAI and the home university.

Q2. What is the working language at SLAI? Do I need Chinese?

The primary working language for both coursework and research at SLAI is English. Chinese is not required for most labs or academic activities, but it can be helpful for daily life and for some local collaborations.

Q3: What resources and research environment can I expect?

PhD students are fully funded jointly by SLAI and the home university and generally have access to research infrastructure such as compute resources, including GPUs and servers where relevant. Students can also benefit from research seminars, faculty mentorship,  and collaboration opportunities with both academic and industry partners in the Greater Bay Area and overseas.

Q4: How do I find a supervisor or research group?

You can explore lab pages and faculty profiles on the SLAI faculty page to identify potential supervisors who are eligible to supervise international students: https://www.slai.edu.cn/en/teacher-search

Q5: Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants typically hold (or will soon complete) a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., CS, EE, data science, linguistics, biomedical engineering) or an outstanding Bachelor’s degree with strong research preparation. Strong math/programming foundations and research potential are especially important.

Eligibility is ultimately determined by the PhD programme in the home university (CUHK-SZ in the first pilot run) to which you apply, including requirements on academic background, degree qualifications, English proficiency, and application materials. The SLAI joint track does not replace those programme-level requirements. Applicants should therefore first review the entry requirements, application materials, and deadlines on the webpage of their intended programme. (see https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/en for more information).

Q6: What does a strong PhD application look like?

A. Competitive applicants usually demonstrate: (1) relevant research experience, such as a thesis, publications, or substantial projects; (2) strong technical skills, especially in programming and machine learning fundamentals; (3) a clear research fit with a supervisor or lab; and (4) strong recommendation letters.

Q7: Can I apply if my background is not pure Computer Science?

Yes. SLAI values interdisciplinary researchers. If you come from linguistics, biomedical engineering, psychology, or related fields, highlight your quantitative skills, programming ability, and a clear plan to bridge into AI research.

Q8: Is IELTS/TOEFL required for the formal application?

Yes. Home universities often have such requirements. For example, CUHK-Shenzhen Graduate School requires minimum English proficiency benchmarks include TOEFL 79 (iBT/Home Edition) or IELTS 6.5 (Academic), and tests have validity rules, unless you meet alternative language requirements.

Q9: I don’t have IELTS/TOEFL yet—can I submit later (e.g., by Sept 2026)?

Please consult the home university for more details.

Q10: Whom should I contact if I have any questions?

SLAI : admission@slai.edu.cn   

CHUKSZ: gs@cuhk.edu.cn（Progamme contacts please refer to :https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/247）