Tag Archives: YE

YENCHING ACADEMY OF PEKING UNIVERSITY MASTER’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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

APPLY

CARNEGIE CHALLENGE FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP

Application Deadline: 31st January, 2027

LOCATION: USA

Do you have an idea for creating positive change in your school or community? Or are you already working on a project for good and engaging others to make a difference?

That’s civic leadership: identifying a challenge in your community and working with others to create solutions, inspire action, and make a positive difference.

They are calling on everyone aged 20 and under living in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, and U.S. territories.

ELIGIBILITY:

Participant Age: Participants must be individuals aged 20 or younger by the end of the entry period (January 31, 2027).

Please note: Applicants based in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who are 17 years old or younger must have an adult support with completing their application. In the United States, applicants who are 12 years old or younger must have an adult support to complete their application.

Participants must be located in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and/or the United States and U.S. Territories.

Applications must be submitted in English.

The submitted project must be youth-led, with the primary project lead aged 20 or younger.

Employees of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation or Ashoka, along with their children and grandchildren, are not eligible to apply.

BENEFIT:

Following the review process, finalists will receive funding to grow their impact.

United States:

12 Winners will receive $500 USD Civic Promise Award

10 Finalists will each receive $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award

2 Grand Prize Winners will each receive $10,000 USD Civic Leadership Award

Anyone receiving a grant $500 or above will be considered for a spot at an in-person convening in the US during the week of July 12, 2027 where they will connect, build skills, and celebrate their work alongside fellow young civic leaders. A total of 10 Challenge Winners will be invited to attend the in-person convening.*

*Ashoka will cover eligible travel and participation costs, including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and meals during the convening. Chaperone travel will also be provided for eligible participants under 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa

Distributed equally among the three countries, a total of 66 winners will be selected:

30 Winners will each receive $250 USD Civic Promise Award

30 Finalists will each receive $1,000 USD Civic Impact Award

6 Grand Prize Winners will each receive $5,000 USD Civic Leadership Award

Anyone receiving a grant $250 or above will be considered for a spot at an in-person convening during the week of July 26, 2027, where they will connect, build skills, and celebrate their work alongside fellow young civic leaders. A total of 30 Challenge Winners will be invited to attend the in-person convening in Kenya.

Ashoka will cover eligible travel and participation costs, including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and meals during the convening. Chaperone travel will also be provided for eligible participants under 18, in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

APPLY