Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 (9:00 am Beijing time).
LOCATION: China
The Yenching Academy annually enrolls approximately 120 new students from both the Chinese Mainland and abroad to study, live, and learn together. International students comprise roughly 75% of the student body.
ELIGIBILITY:
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field, or be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program with the expectation of receiving their diploma in August of the intended enrollment year;
An outstanding academic record;
Strong interest in interdisciplinary study of China;
A record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership potential;
English proficiency.
*Peking University does not allow students to be enrolled in other degree programs whilst studying at the university.
Candidates may apply through Yenching Academy’s online application portal. Each applicant will create an account on the Yenching Academy admissions portal and submit the following materials in English:
Completed online application form;
Personal statement (750 words or less);
Statement of Research Interest (maximum 1500 words, excluding citations);
Curriculum Vitae;
Official transcript(s);
Diploma(s) or Certificate(s) of Enrollment;
Two academic letters of recommendation (Chinese or English):
Peking University will only accept recommendation letters written by full professors or associate professors (or equivalent titles). Letters of recommendation must be submitted by professors in the applicant’s intended field of study.
English requirements and minimum scores*:
IELTS (Academic): Overall 7.0
TOEFL (iBT): Overall 100
Cambridge English Scale (Advanced): Overall 185
CET 6: Overall 600
TEM 4: Pass level of “良好” or above
International applicants whose native language is English, or have graduated from an English-taught degree program (undergraduate or above) are not required to provide an English proficiency test report. Applicants from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions (HMT) are required to provide an English proficiency test report, even if they have attended or graduated from an English-taught degree program. Without providing an English proficiency test report, candidates from these regions will need to take English as a Second Language after enrollment at Peking University. For applicants from the Chinese Mainland, an English proficiency test report is a compulsory application material.
BENEFIT:
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; the 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.
The Yenching Academy provides a generous fellowship to all scholars, including:
Tuition fees
Accommodation
Monthly stipend
One round-trip travel fare
Field study cost
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