Peking University is a comprehensive research university with disciplines ranging from philosophy, literature, history, law, economics and education to science, engineering, medicine, management and art. Peking University enrolls students from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan (HMT) to study for master’s degrees in China Studies through the “Application + Examination” method, and is dedicated to educating innovation-minded scholars with a global perspective and understanding of China.

1. ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Yenching Academy of Peking University aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary Master's program in China Studies. This initiative brings together young people who have demonstrated a talent for leadership and innovation. At Yenching, they are immersed in an intensive learning environment where they can explore China and its role in the world — past, present, and future. The Academy's goal is to shape new generations of global citizens with a nuanced understanding of China.

Yenching Academy is a fully-funded residential program offering a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within the Humanities and Social Sciences. Studying at the Academy represents a unique opportunity not only for intercultural and academic exchange, but also for personal and professional development.

2. CURRICULUM

Yenching Scholars must complete all required credits within the first academic year. After completion of credits, scholars will work on a thesis during the second academic year, in which they need to pass a thesis defense as well as obtain approval from the Peking University Academic Degree Committee before awarded a diploma and degree.

All Yenching Scholars must complete compulsory core courses, including China in Transition, Field Study, Topics in China Studies Lecture Series, and Academic Writing.

Working closely with their academic advisors, Yenching Scholars have the flexibility to create their own study paths by choosing from six research areas, elective courses taught by Peking University faculty and a variety of extracurricular activities.

3. RESEARCH AREAS

Research Areas offered in the Yenching Academy include:

— China Studies (Economics and Management)

— China Studies (History and Archaeology)

— China Studies (Law and Society)

— China Studies (Literature and Culture)

— China Studies (Philosophy and Religion)

— China Studies (Politics and International Relations)

4. FELLOWSHIP & STUDY TIMEFRAME

The Yenching Academy Master’s Program in China Studies is two years in duration. All admitted students will receive the Yenching Fellowship and are required to live on campus for the first academic year. The Yenching Fellowship covers tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between the the HMT regions and Beijing, a monthly stipend, and expenses for designated research trips.

Students from the HMT regions must remain in Beijing for the second year. Students who maintain good academic standing can apply for the second-year Yenching Fellowship, which covers tuition fees, on-campus accommodation or an off-campus housing stipend, and a monthly stipend.

5. APPLICATION

Yenching Academy annually enrolls approximately 120 new students from both China and abroad, to study, live, and learn together. Application for 2024 enrollment is open from August 15, 2024 (Beijing time). The application deadline for applicants from the HMT regions is on January 8, 2025 (12:00 noon Beijing time). For more information about the requirements and specific application timeline for HMT applicants, please refer to the Graduate School of Peking University website.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants should have:

— Identity documents issued to residents of the HMT regions:

o 港澳地区申请人，持①香港或澳门永久性居民身份证 和 ②《港澳居民来往内地通行证》或《港澳居民居住证》

Note: Applicants with Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) are not eligible to apply as HMT applicants.

o 台湾地区申请人，持①在台湾居住的有效身份证明 和 ②《台湾居民来往大陆通行证》或《台湾居民居住证》

— Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field, or be currently enrolled in a Bachelor degree program and be on track to graduate no later than August 31 of the year in which they wish to enroll;

— 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 requirements and minimum scores:

o IELTS (Academic): Overall 7.0

o TOEFL (iBT): Overall 100

o Cambridge English Scale (Advanced): Overall 185

o CET 6: Overall 600

o TEM 4: Pass level of “良好” or above

o 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 the HMT regions 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.

· Applicants must have fitness in mental and physical health, no record of criminal conviction, and be willing to abide by the laws and decrees of the P.R.C. and the regulations of Peking University.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants from the HMT regions are required to submit two online applications, and send the application materials in hardcopy to the admissions office. Specific deadlines can be found below:

— Yenching Academy admissions portal is open from August 15, 2024 (Beijing time). The application deadline for applicants from the HMT regions is on January 8, 2025 (12:00 noon Beijing time). Specific application guidelines for HMT applicants are available on the Graduate School of Peking University website.

— Application timeline for the Peking University Graduate Admissions website is from 8:00 am on November 15 to 12:00 noon on January 8, 2025. Failure to submit this application will result in incomplete and unsuccessful application to the Yenching Academy;

— Applicants from the HMT regions are also required to mail hardcopies of the application materials to the Yenching Academy admissions office before January 12, 2025.

Yenching Academy works with Partner Universities that conduct application processes and nominate outstanding candidates for consideration. All HMT applicants who are students or alumni of Partner Universities are required to apply through both their universities' internal pre-selection processes and the two application portals stated above.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

(1) Yenching Academy admissions portal:

— Please fill-in the Yenching Academy portal in English;

— All students and alumni of Partner Universities are required to apply through their universities;

— Personal statement (in both Chinese and English; maximum 750 words in English and 1500 Chinese characters):

o Please submit your personal statement using the "个人陈述" template available here.

— Statement of Research Interests (English; maximum 1500 words, excluding citations);

— Curriculum vitae (English; maximum two pages);

— Official transcript(s);

— Diploma(s) or Certificate(s) of Enrollment (for students who have graduated from a university outside of the Chinese Mainland, your diploma will need to be verified by the CSCSE);

— Two academic letters of recommendation from associate professors and/or full professors (or equivalent titles); can be written in Chinese or English:

o Letters need to be signed by the recommenders with their original signatures;

o These letters must be from professors teaching in the field in which you are applying for (e.g. an economics professor for students applying for Economics and Management);

o Please use the "专家推荐信" template available here.

— International English proficiency test report(s):

o TOEFL and IELTS English proficiency tests must be taken after September 1, 2023. Currently, we do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator test, IELTS Online, or IELTS One Skill Retake;

o Submission of English scores: For IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge tests, we will only accept scores sent directly to us from these organizations. Make sure you choose “Yenching Academy of Peking University” as the designated recipient of your scores when you book the exam time. For TOEFL, use the institution code: C488.

(2) Peking University Graduate Admissions website:

Guidelines for the Peking University graduate application can be found in appendix 1.

(3) Submission of application materials in hardcopy:

HMT applicants are required to mail hardcopies of the application materials to the Yenching Academy admissions office before January 12, 2025:

— Address: Room 116, Jingyuan Courtyard 3, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100871

— Tel: +86-1-62744510

— Email: yca-submissions@pku.edu.cn

Application materials required in hardcopies can be found below:

— 北京大学2025年攻读硕士学位研究生报考登记表 (please print out after completing your online application, which must be signed by the applicant);

— Photocopy of your identity documents:

o 港澳地区申请人须提交 1)香港或澳门永久性居民身份证 和 2)《港澳居民来往内地通行证》或《港澳居民居住证》复印件;

o 台湾地区申请人须提交 1)在台湾居住的有效身份证明 和 2)《台湾居民来往大陆通行证》或《台湾居民居住证》复印件。

— Photocopy of your Bachelor’s (and Master’s) degree diploma(s):

o Candidates whose official university documents are in languages other than English or Chinese must submit a certified English translation. This requirement also applies to diplomas issued in Latin. Please ensure that the translation indicates your degree type (e.g. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree).

o If your university is located outside of the Chinese Mainland, you will need to provide a verification report of your diploma from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE 中国教育部留学服务中心).

— Original copy (or notarized copy) of your official transcript(s);

— Personal Statement (in both Chinese and English; maximum 750 words in English and 1500 Chinese characters):

o Please use the "个人陈述" template available here.

— Two academic letters of recommendation (English or Chinese):

o These letters must be from professors teaching in the field in which you are applying for (e.g. an economics professor for students applying for Economics and Management).

o Peking University will only accept recommendation letters written by full professors or associate professors (or equivalent titles).

o The two letters must be placed in separate signed and sealed envelopes.

o Please use the "专家推荐信" template available here.

— English proficiency test report:

o IELTS (Academic): Overall 7.0

o TOEFL (iBT): Overall 100

o Cambridge English Scale (Advanced): Overall 185

o CET 6: Overall 600

o TEM 4: Pass level of “良好” or above

o TOEFL and IELTS English proficiency tests must be taken after September 1, 2023.

— Statement of Research Interest (maximum 1500 English words, excluding citations), and your undergraduate thesis (optional).

For detailed application instructions, please visit the Yenching Academy website and the Peking University Graduate Admissions website.

6. APPLICATION SCREENING AND INTERVIEW                                                

Application screening is completed by the Admissions Committee within the Yenching Academy. All Chinese candidates, including those from the HMT regions, must attend interviews in person at Peking University. Shortlisted HMT candidates will need to complete payments on the Peking University Graduate Admissions website before an interview will be scheduled (see appendix 1). Interviews for shortlisted HMT candidates will be held around March to April.

Shortlisted candidates will need to provide the original copies of the following documents on the day of the interview:

· Valid identity documents:

o 港澳地区申请人，须提交①香港或澳门永久性居民身份证和②《港澳居民来往内地通行证》（不含非中国籍）或《港澳居民居住证》；

o 台湾地区申请人，须提交①在台湾居住的有效身份证明和②《台湾居民来往大陆通行证》或《台湾居民居住证》）。

· Diploma or Certificate of Enrollment, as well as an Overseas Credential Evaluation report for candidates who graduated from a degree program outside of the Chinese Mainland;

· English proficiency report;

· Document verification will be requested for any application material that requires further confirmation. If candidates are unable to provide verification certificates as requested, their interview eligibility will be denied.

7. ADMISSIONS

Admission standard for applicants from the HMT regions are consistent with Mainland Chinese applicants. Candidates who receive an offer from the Yenching Academy need to go through the following procedures before they are officially admitted to Peking University:

— Final round of application revision by the Graduate School of Peking University;

— Upon approval from the Graduate School, public announcement of admission (公示) need to be conducted for 10 working days for public supervision. This will be available on the Yenching Academy website around late May;

— If there is no objection against admission from the public, the official admission letter from Peking University will be sent out by the end of June of the enrollment year.

8. ENROLLMENT

Admitted students will complete the registration procedures and enroll at Peking University in early September 2025. The specific enrollment date will be announced in the admission notice. Admitted students must register at Peking University with valid identification documents and admission letter at the designated time. All students should present their original degree certificates as required upon registration for the enrollment qualification review. Students with degree diplomas awarded by overseas universities should, in addition, submit the Credential Evaluation report issued by the CSCSE. Students who do not pass the enrollment qualification review will be disqualified from enrollment at Peking University.

9. GRADUATION AND DEGREE AWARDING

Students who have completed all the requirements stipulated in the academic plan and passed their thesis defense upon completion of their study are permitted to graduate. After being examined and approved by the Academic Degree Assessment Committee of the university, the corresponding academic degree will be conferred.

10. OTHERS

· Students are not allowed to be enrolled in other programs or universities while being enrolled at Peking University.

· Applicants should pay close attention to any updates or announcements posted on the website or communicated via email. Applicants must read and follow the instructions and designated deadlines. The student alone will be responsible for any consequences if s/he chooses to take a course contravening the requirements without special approval.

· Issues that may arise which are not mentioned here will be handled in accordance with the relevant regulations of the university and higher authorities. If new graduate student admission policies are issued in the year of 2025, Peking University will make corresponding adjustments and announce the changes in a timely manner.

· Further information about application and admission for applicants from the HMT regions can be found on the Peking University Graduate Admissions website and the Yenching Academy website.

CONTACT US

Email: yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn

Tel: +86-10-6274 4510 or + 86-10-6276 6358

Address: Jingyuan Courtyard 3, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100871

Appendix 1. Peking University Graduate Admissions Website Application Procedure for Applicants from the Chinese Regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan