Yes, you can study a fully funded master’s degree at Peking University in Beijing. The Yenching Academy Scholarship covers tuition, housing, a monthly stipend, travel, and field study costs for an interdisciplinary Master’s in China Studies. It is taught fully in English. Around 120 scholars are selected every year, about 75 percent of them international.
The application deadline is November 30 at 9:00 am Beijing time. That is very close, so start preparing your documents now. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted.
What the Yenching Academy Scholarship Pays For
The Yenching Fellowship is a full fellowship, not a partial discount. Every admitted scholar receives it, so you can live and study in Beijing without paying for your degree, your room, or your daily expenses.
| Covered by the fellowship | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Full tuition fees | You pay nothing for your master’s degree at Peking University. |
| On-campus accommodation | You live in university housing in Beijing at no cost. |
| Monthly stipend | You receive a regular payment for food, transport, and daily expenses. |
| One round-trip travel fare | Your flight from your home city to Beijing and back is covered. |
| Field study costs | Costs of research trips and field studies across China are covered. |
| Basic medical insurance | You have health coverage while studying in China. |
The official page does not publish the exact stipend amount, so budget carefully for your first month until payments start.
Who Should Apply and Who Should Not
The scholarship is open to international applicants and to applicants from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions. You need a bachelor’s degree, or you must be in your final year and finish before the program starts. Your previous degree can be in any field.
An honest self-check: do NOT apply if your English score is below the minimum and you cannot retake the test before the deadline, or if you cannot get letters from full or associate professors. Also skip this if you are unwilling to live in Beijing full-time, or if you have no real interest in China, its history, or its role in the world. Reviewers read thousands of statements and spot generic ones easily.
One important restriction: applicants from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions must submit an English proficiency test report even if they studied in an English-taught program. For applicants from mainland China, the English test report is compulsory. Check the filing instructions on the official page before you start.
The Documents You Must Prepare
Apply online through the Yenching Academy admissions portal. Every document must be in English, so start early.
- Completed online application form on the official portal.
- Personal statement of 750 words or less: who you are, why China Studies, and why this Academy.
- Statement of Research Interest of up to 1500 words, not counting citations: what you want to research and why.
- Curriculum Vitae with your education, experience, and achievements.
- Official transcripts from your university.
- Diploma or certificate of enrollment proving your degree status.
- Two academic letters of recommendation in Chinese or English. Only full or associate professors, or equivalent titles, in your intended field of study qualify. Letters from lecturers, employers, or colleagues are not accepted.
- English proficiency test report meeting the minimum scores, taken after September 1. Accepted scores: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 100 overall, Cambridge English Scale Advanced 185 overall, CET 6 600 overall, or TEM 4 with a pass or above. You are exempt if English is your native language or you graduated from an English-taught degree program. Not accepted: TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, or IELTS One Skill Retake. For TOEFL, use institution code C488 and choose “Yenching Academy of Peking University” as the score recipient.
How to Apply Step by Step
- Create an account on the Yenching Academy online admissions portal at apply.yca.pku.edu.cn.
- Fill in the application form completely in English.
- Upload your personal statement, statement of research interest, CV, transcripts, and diploma or enrollment certificate.
- Arrange for your two professors to submit their recommendation letters through the portal.
- Send your English test scores directly from the testing organization to Yenching Academy.
- Review everything and submit before November 30 at 9:00 am Beijing time.
Do not wait until the last day. Professors need time to write letters, and test scores take days to reach the Academy. Submit at least one week early.
Tips That Make Your Application Stronger
Your two written statements carry the most weight. In your personal statement, be specific: describe one real experience that pulled you toward China Studies, such as a course, a book, or a question you could not stop thinking about.
Your statement of research interest should show direction. Name the topics or questions you would study in Beijing. You do not need a finished thesis plan, but vague lines like “I want to study Chinese culture” will not impress anyone.
Contact your professors at least one month before the deadline, and give them your CV and a statement draft. Professors write stronger letters when they understand your goals. Also check your English test date now: scores from before September 1 are not valid.
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