The PhD in Tea Science at Southwest University is a doctoral research degree (typically 4 years) offered under the discipline of Science of Tea, which is part of the university’s agricultural and life sciences graduate programs. Southwest University has a long history in tea science education and was authorized to award doctoral degrees in tea science as early as 2000, making it one of the oldest and most established tea science doctoral programs in China. The program focuses on advanced research into the theory, technology and application of tea cultivation, production and processing, quality evaluation, health functions, commercialization and tea culture, drawing on interdisciplinary subjects such as plant science, food science, agricultural engineering and business aspects of the tea industry. Doctoral candidates engage in independent research under faculty supervision, with opportunities to explore areas like tea flavor chemistry, processing technologies, sustainable production practices, tea health benefits and industry innovation. Graduates are prepared for research, academic, industry or policy roles in the global tea sector.

For international students, SWU’s program is available in both Chinese and English tracks (with some supervisors offering guidance in Chinese and English), and recent lists of English-taught doctoral majors include Science of Tea as one of the PhD options, meaning that you can pursue the degree with instruction and supervision in English if you meet the language and admission requirements.

  NOTE: The university may have additional program-specific eligibility requirements.
It is recommended to verify these on the official university website.