Peking University, also known as Beida or Beijing University, is a premier research university in the World. It is ranked as the 16th best university across the globe by the Times Higher Education and is situated in the heart of Beijing, China. Established in 1898, the university is a part of the elite C9 League of Chinese universities. Yenching Academy, a postgraduate college of Peking University, intends to foster greater interaction and exchange of knowledge between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. Known as the Yenching scholarship, the programme is inspired by the Rhodes scholarship at Oxford University.
The Yenching master’s programme emphasizes on bringing together young people with 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.
The Yenching Academy provides full fellowships to its scholars and offers them a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within broadly defined fields of the humanities and social sciences. Working closely with their academic mentors, Yenching Scholars create their own study paths by choosing courses from six research areas. They participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and field studies, organized by the Yenching Academy, and designed by scholars themselves.
Studying at the Academy is an exceptional opportunity to take part in intercultural exchanges and interdisciplinary learning, developing both personally and professionally. Each Yenching Scholar selects one of the six research areas in the field of China Studies and writes a thesis with guidance from a faculty advisor. A scholar’s choice of research area does not impact course selection requirements but will determine the type of master’s diploma issued upon graduation.
The Yenching Academy annually enrolls approximately 120 new students from both the Chinese Mainland and abroad, to study, live, and learn together. International students comprise roughly 80% of the student body.
Research Areas
- Research areas are as follows:
- Economics and Management
- History and Archaeology
- Philosophy and Religion
- Politics and International Relations
- Law and Society
- Literature and Culture
Eligibility
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field or currently enrolled in a degree programme awarded no later than August 31, 2022
- An outstanding academic record
- Strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China
- A record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership potential
- English proficiency
Selection Process
International candidates can attend interviews online or in person. Finalists will be contacted approximately one week in advance of the interview date. Admission decisions for international candidates, as well as candidates from the Chinese regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, will be made around April. Those who accept the offer will then be approved through an internal process at Peking University, and receive their official acceptance letters in the summer before enrollment. For further information, click on this link.
