Is a thesis required?

All Yenching Scholars write a Master's thesis under the guidance of an advisor and defend it orally before an academic committee. Students from Mainland China and from China’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Regions 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.