What are the program requirements?

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 China’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Regions (HMT), 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.