Peking University does not allow students to be enrolled in other degree programs whilst studying at the university. Therefore, applicants must ensure that your degree is awarded no later than August 31 of the year in which you wish to enroll.

To be eligible to apply for the Yenching Academy, you must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field. Peking University does not allow students to study in other degree programs whilst studying at the university. Therefore, applicants must ensure that your currently enrolled degree program is awarded no later than August 31 of the year in which you wish to enroll.

Successful candidates have outstanding academic backgrounds and broad curiosity. They demonstrate strong motivation and potential to become leaders in their chosen fields. Candidates’ personal statements should offer specific and persuasive explanations of how they could benefit from studying in our interdisciplinary China Studies program. Evaluation criteria include academic merit, leadership potential, international experience, and long-term aspirations.

Mainland Chinese finalists will be interviewed in the summer or in September. International finalists, as well as finalists from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, will be interviewed in the winter or early spring.

All Chinese candidates, including those from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, must attend interviews in person at Peking University. International candidates can attend interviews online or in person. Finalists will be contacted approximately one week in advance of the interview date.

Candidates from the Chinese Mainland will receive admission decisions no later than October. Admission decisions for international candidates, as well as candidates from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, will be made around April. Those who accept our offers will then be approved through an internal process at Peking University, and receive their official acceptance letters in the summer before enrollment.

The Yenching Academy does not have a strict age cut-off for applicants, but in general, no person over the age of 28 has been admitted to the program. The average age of students entering the program is 23.

International applicants, and applicants from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, who are holding a master’s degree are welcome to apply. Roughly 24% of 2021 Cohort Yenching Scholars have a previous master’s degree. Those who hold graduate degrees are not favored in the selection process. Note that requirements vary for Mainland Chinese candidates. (See “What are the eligibility requirements for PRC passport holders?”)

We welcome scholars from a wide range of academic fields, and value the unique perspectives that students from various disciplines bring to our program. While candidates are not required to have formally studied China or the Chinese language in the past, they must be strongly interested in doing so at the Yenching Academy, and should articulate a study plan related to their career goals.

Mainland Chinese applicants apply through a different process. In accordance with the Chinese Ministry of Education’s requirements, students holding a P.R.C. passport are eligible for September 2024 admission if they are currently enrolled as undergraduates in a Mainland Chinese university. This requirement does not apply to students from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

For more information, please refer to the Peking University Graduate Admissions website.

The Yenching Academy annually enrolls approximately 120 new students from both China and abroad. International students comprise roughly 80% of the student body. Among them, approximately 30-35% are from Europe, 25-30% are from U.S. and Canada, and 30-35% are from rest of the world.

To prepare for an online interview, you should choose a location with a strong internet connection and ample lighting. You may want to use wired internet for a more stable connection. Please test your computer before the interview to ensure that your microphone and camera are working properly. You should be ready at your computer 20 minutes before the appointed time, and check your email for any updates. Detailed instructions will be available in our interview invitation.

Our Scholars take many paths. Roughly 30% continued to Ph.D. level studies at esteemed universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, The University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Peking University, and more. Our alumni are employed by UNESCO, UNDP, the European Commission, the British Embassy in Beijing, the Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Aurecon South Africa, The Associated Press, Tencent, the Indian Political Action Committee, the Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland, Panasonic, General Electric, HNA Group, the Singapore Police Force, Bank of Korea, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, and more.

All admitted students receive the Yenching Fellowship for the first academic year, which covers tuition, accommodation in the Yenching Academy House, a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between your base city and Beijing (the base city must be a city within the country of your nationality; cost of this round-trip will be estimated and calculated by YCA), basic medical insurance, a monthly stipend, and expenses related to research.

Students who maintained a good academic standing, and plan to stay in Beijing during their second academic year can apply for the second-year Yenching Fellowship. This will cover the tuition, accommodation support (on-campus house or off-campus housing stipend), basic medical insurance and a monthly stipend.

Upon graduating from the Yenching Academy, each scholar receives a Master’s diploma in China Studies issued by Peking University. The specific text and degree type corresponds to the scholar’s chosen research area: Master of Law in China Studies (Politics & International Relations); Master of Law in China Studies (Law & Society); Master of Economics in China Studies (Economics & Management); Master of History in China Studies (History & Archaeology); Master of Literature in China Studies (Literature and Culture); or Master of Philosophy in China Studies (Philosophy & Religion). This is in accordance with the Chinese Ministry of Education’s curricular system, which designates 13 disciplinary categories for master's diplomas: philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, agronomy, medicine, military science, management science, and art.

The Yenching Academy program is two years in duration. Fellowships for students are initially for twelve months, during which they complete their coursework and may write their theses.

All Yenching scholars are required to live on campus during the first academic year. During the second academic year, it is compulsory for the Chinese students (including those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) to continue staying in Beijing, while international students can choose whether or not to stay in Beijing to complete thesis writing and the defense. Students who maintained a good academic standing and continued to live in Beijing can apply for the second-year Yenching Fellowship. Furthermore, second-year students who choose to live on campus and serve in student assistantship roles can receive additional funding support.

Degrees are granted after the completion of all coursework and satisfactory defense of the thesis. They are awarded in January and July of each year.

All Yenching Scholars write a Master's thesis under the guidance of an advisor and defend it orally before an academic committee. Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan students must complete thesis defense in person. International students who leave Beijing before they have completed their oral defenses may complete thesis defense via Skype, with the permission of their advisors. Scholars must complete and defend their theses within two years of enrollment.  

All students are required to take the following four courses:

• The Topics in China Studies Lecture Series offers expert perspectives on a broad range of China-related issues.

• China in Transition is a team-taught course about China’s post-1978 development from the perspectives of the economy, society & culture, politics & law, and environment & health.

• The weeklong Field Study Trip to historical and cultural relics and modern industrial parks gives insights of the local development and changes from the aspects of history, architecture, religion, folklore and contemporary economic development.  

• Academic Writing course offers practical workshops to cultivate academic writing skills.  

Students are free to select elective courses from any of the six research areas (see below). Choice of thesis topic and advisor will determine the type of degree awarded upon graduation.

The Chinese language course is compulsory for international scholars. Those with high Chinese proficiencies can apply to waive this course and take Chinese-taught courses offered in Peking University.

To fulfill the graduation requirements, students outside of the Chinese mainland, including international students and students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, must receive at least 31 credits along with a passed Master's thesis.  

Mainland Chinese students are required to take the Political Theory Course and the English course (can be waived). To fulfill the graduation requirements, students must complete at least 34 credits along with a passed Master's thesis. 

Each Yenching Scholar selects one of six research areas in the field of China Studies, and writes a thesis with guidance from a faculty advisor. A scholar's choice of research area does not affect course selection requirements, but will determine the type of Master's diploma issued upon graduation (see above).

Research areas are as follows:

• Economics and Management

• History and Archaeology

• Philosophy and Religion

• Politics and International Relations

• Law and Society

• Literature and Culture

The Yenching Academy offers career advising services and encourages scholars to engage in internships and volunteer work during the second year of the program.

The Yenching Academy's calendar is aligned with that of Peking University. Major holidays include Chinese National Day (a week-long break around October 1) and the Chinese New Year (a month-long break between the fall and spring semesters, in January and/or February). The academic year begins in early September, and Spring Semester ends in early July.

Updated course information will be provided to incoming Yenching Scholars before they begin their Fall Semester studies.

You are welcome to reapply. It is important that you can explain how you have used the intervening year to strengthen your skill sets and work toward your career goals.

Scholars live in newly renovated single rooms in the Shaoyuan 6 dormitory on Peking University’s campus. Most scholars are placed in two-bedroom suites, sharing a bathroom with one person of the same gender.