BaHfO3 ceramic scintillator dopped by 0.3%Ce³⁺ (molar fraction) was prepared by co–precipitation method. XRD, TG–DSC and TEM were employed to measure the phase transformation and grain morphology of BaHfO₃Ce. The densification and microstructure of BaHfO3Ce ceramic scintillator prepared in different sintering atmospheres were studied. Results show that there are three stages during the crystallization of the precursor. The near spherical BaHfO₃Ce nanoparticles can be obtained after calcining at 900℃ for 2 h, and the grain size is about 15 nm. The densification and microstructure of BaHfO₃Ce have obvious differences under sintering in air and in vacuum. The fully densified sample was obtained by vacuum sintering at 1750℃ for 1.5 h, and the grain size is about 40—50 μm. The sample prepared by sintering in air has the uneven grain size distribution. 380—420 nm purple and 420—450 nm blue bands appear in the wavelength λ=530 nm excitation spectra of the vacuum sintering scintillator and the as–synthesized powders, respectively. And the peaks in the excitation spectra are at 391, 398 and 445 nm corresponding to 4f →5d energy level transition of Ce³⁺. A comparison for the emission spectra prepared by vacuum sintering shows that the ceramic scintillator has the stronger luminescence intensity than the as–synthesized powders.