1. ABOUT THE “YOUTH OF EXCELLENCE SCHEME OF CHINA PROGRAM CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP”

      The “Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship” (thereafter regarded as the Zhuoyue Scholarship program) is a scholarship program provided by the Ministry of Education of the P.R.C. This fully-funded scholarship is awarded to international students who wish to conduct further study in China. Evaluation criteria include academic merit, leadership potential, international experience, and long-term aspirations.

A) SCHOLARSHIP COVERAGE

The Zhuoyue Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship program.

B) DURATION OF FUNDING

     The Zhuoyue Scholarship program is tenable for one academic year during the study of the Yenching Academy program. It is mandatory for the recipient of the Zhuoyue Scholarship program to complete all required credits during the first academic year on campus. Upon completing the preparation work of a Master’s thesis, the recipient of the Zhuoyue Scholarship program is obliged to fulfil the second-year requirements of a Master’s thesis and thesis defense outside of the Chinese Mainland.

2. ABOUT THE YENCHING ACADEMY PROGRAM

According to the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Education for postgraduate admissions and Peking University’s “2026 Application Information of Master’s Degree and Ph.D. Degree for International Students”, Yenching Academy of Peking University admits international students for Master’s degree program through its “Application + Examination” process.

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 Academy, 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 an English-taught, 2-years (1+1) Master’s degree 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.

A) CURRICULUM

All Yenching scholars are required to live on campus during the first academic year. 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, Academic Writing, and Chinese Language.

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.

B) RESEARCH AREAS

Research Areas offered in the Yenching Academy include:

·China Studies (Philosophy and Religion)

·China Studies (Economics and Management)

·China Studies (Law and Society)

·China Studies (Politics and International Relations)

·China Studies (Literature and Culture)

·China Studies (History and Archaeology)

3. APPLICATION

Applicants must complete two separate online applications:

1.Yenching Academy: Submit online application before 9:00 am on December 1, 2025 (Beijing time).

2.Chinese Government Scholarship: Submit online application before 23:59 on March 31, 2026 (Beijing time).

Prerequisite: Applicants must ensure they have obtained an official pre-admission letter from Peking University before submitting an application to the Chinese Government Scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants should have:

·Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport.

oResidents of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan who have emigrated to another country and are applying to Peking University as international students must present valid passport or citizenship documents dating from before April 30 in 2020, along with proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality.

oNote: The exit and entry administration authority of the public security system of China reserves the right to judge whether an applicant still has Chinese nationality. If during the application period or even after the admission or registration the applicant is judged to be still holding Chinese nationality, his/her application, admission, registration or even enrollment will be nullified.

·Applicants must be under 45 years of age, in good physical and mental health, with no criminal record, and must abide by the laws and decrees of China and the regulations of Peking University;

·Applicants must hold or be on track to receive by August 31 of the enrollment year a Bachelor’s degree in any field accredited by the Ministry of Education in the P.R.C.;

·Three or more consecutive years of employment experience related to one of the following categories:

oChief staff member (or equivalent) of government departments;

oSenior managerial role in an institution, organization or enterprise;

oAdministrative management role in the higher education sector or research institution;

oWork or internship experience in an international organization.

·The pre-admission letter issued by Peking University must include all essential details required for registration, such as personal information, the admission date, and specifics regarding the intended study program. It should not contain any reference to the applicant having received or been promised a Chinese Government Scholarship.

·Permission from the employer to reside on campus in Beijing, and conduct a one-year, full-time study at the Yenching Academy;

·Academic or work experience related to the applied research area is preferred;

·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:

oIELTS (Academic): Overall 7.0

oTOEFL (iBT): Overall 100

oCambridge English Scale (Advanced): Overall 185

oNative English speakers and students or alumni of primarily English taught degree programs (undergraduate or above) are not required to provide English proficiency test scores.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Each applicant must fill-in and prepare the following materials in English. For documents not issued in English, please include a certified translation in English or Chinese:

·Yenching Academy online application

·Personal statement (750 words or less);

·Statement of Research Interest (maximum 1500 words, excluding citations);

·Curriculum vitae (maximum two pages);

·Diploma(s), Certificate(s) of Enrollment, and Overseas Credential Evaluation:

oDiploma(s) and/or Certificate(s) of Enrollment are compulsory for all applicants

§Candidates whose official university documents are in languages other than English or Chinese must submit copies of both the original documents and certified English translations. 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).

oAn Overseas Credential Evaluation is required only for offer holders, and is only required for undergraduate degree programs.

§Candidates who have graduated from a degree program outside of the Chinese Mainland need to provide a Credential Evaluation issued by the CHESICC (中国教育部留学服务中心). Candidates who have graduated from a degree program within the Chinese Mainland need to provide a Credential Evaluation issued by the CSSD (中国高等教育学生信息网).

§Candidates who have already graduated from an undergraduate degree should submit the Credential Evaluation during the Peking University Office of International Relations (OIR) registration stage in April.

§Candidates who have not yet graduated from an undergraduate degree need to submit the Credential Evaluation, as well as the original copy of the diploma(s), during enrollment in September.

§Applicants expected to graduate in 2026 must provide an official letter from their current university stating their expected graduation date and submit their certificate of graduation upon being pre-admitted.

·Official transcript(s):

oYenching Academy only accepts official transcripts. All pre-admitted candidates must either arrange for their university to send official transcripts directly to the Yenching Academy (yca-submissions@pku.edu.cn), or provide university certified transcripts.

·Employment certification or internship certificate (should include applicant’s personal information, duration of employment/internship, job title, etc. Letter should be issued on the institution official letterhead and signed by the concerned official);

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

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

oLetters of recommendation must be submitted by professors in the applicant’s intended field of study.

·International English proficiency test report(s):

oTOEFL and IELTS English proficiency tests must be taken after September 1, 2024. Currently, we do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator test, IELTS Online, or IELTS One Skill Retake;

oSubmission 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.

·Leave Certificate from employer covering the period between 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2027.

4. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applicants must complete two separate online applications:

1.Yenching Academy: Submit online application before 9:00 am on December 1, 2025 (Beijing time).

2.Chinese Government Scholarship: Submit online application before 23:59 on March 31, 2026 (Beijing time).

Prerequisite: Applicants must ensure they have obtained an official pre-admission letter from Peking University before submitting an application to the Chinese Government Scholarship.

Shortlisted candidates will receive a pre-admission letter from Peking University before the end of March, 2026. Upon receiving this letter, applicants for the Zhuoyue Scholarship program must complete an additional online application via the China Scholarship Council no later than March 31, 2026 (note that the Zhuoyue Scholarship is classified as scholarship Type A, the institutional code is 1563, and the program title is “Youth of Excellence Scheme of China”).

5. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION REVIEW & ADMISSION

The Yenching Academy Admissions Committee is responsible of the selection of prospective Yenching Scholars. Finalists will be invited for interviews around late December to mid-March, and invitations will normally be sent out approximately one week in advance. Interviews for international candidates will be conducted online via a video conferencing platform. The final review of the application files for the Zhuoyue Scholarship program will be conducted directly by the China Scholarship Council, and results will be available around June 2026.

6. OTHERS

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

·The passport details provided by the applicant during the application process (including name, citizenship, gender, date of birth, and the uploaded photograph) cannot be altered once confirmed, prior to enrollment.

·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 2026, Peking University will make corresponding adjustments and announce the changes in a timely manner.

·Further information for international students can be found on the Peking University International Students Division website and on the Yenching Academy website.

CONTACT US

Yenching Academy Admissions Office:

Email: yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn

Tel: + 86-10-62766358

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