Quick answer: The Yenching Academy scholarship is the Yenching Fellowship, a funding package that every admitted scholar of Peking University’s Yenching Academy receives. In the first year it covers tuition, housing, a monthly stipend, one round-trip fare, basic medical insurance and research expenses. You do not apply for it separately: you apply to the two-year, English-taught Master’s in China Studies. International applications for the 2027 cohort opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time (01:00 UTC). You need a bachelor’s degree, IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 unless exempt, two academic recommendation letters and two essays.
This guide reports what the Yenching Academy’s own admissions pages state, flags what the Academy does not publish (the stipend amount and an official acceptance rate), and separates the standard Yenching Fellowship from the Zhuoyue Scholarship for applicants with work experience. As of 17 October 2026, there are about six weeks left before the deadline.
Yenching Academy Scholarship at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Master’s in China Studies (interdisciplinary, humanities and social sciences) |
| University | Peking University, Beijing |
| Length | Two years (1+1): coursework in year one, thesis in year two |
| Language of instruction | English, with compulsory Chinese for international scholars |
| Funding | Yenching Fellowship for all admitted scholars (first year); second-year funding for students in good standing who stay in Beijing |
| Intake | September 2027 |
| Deadline (international) | 30 November 2026, 9:00 am Beijing time (01:00 UTC) |
| English requirement | IELTS Academic 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100 or Cambridge English Scale 185, unless exempt |
| Recommendations | Two academic letters from full or associate professors in your intended field |
| Essays | Personal statement (750 words) and Statement of Research Interest (1,500 words) |
| Class size | About 120 new students a year, roughly 75% international |
| Contact | yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn |
Table of Contents
What Is the Yenching Academy at Peking University?
The Yenching Academy is a graduate college of Peking University that offers an English-taught, two-year Master’s in China Studies across the humanities and social sciences. It enrolls about 120 new students a year from the Chinese Mainland and abroad, and international students make up roughly 75% of the class. The 2026 cohort had 124 scholars from 37 countries and regions and 106 universities, of whom 96 were international and 28 were Chinese. The most-represented universities included Oxford, Peking University, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, the London School of Economics, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, UCL and Sciences Po.
The Academy’s About page lists Dong Qiang as Dean and Yuan Ming as Honorary Dean, and its international academic advisors include Dame Alison Richard and Nobel laureate Michael Spence. Scholars live and study together on the Peking University campus, which is the Academy’s stated aim: students study, live and learn together with a focus on interdisciplinary China Studies.
What the Yenching Academy Scholarship Covers
All admitted scholars receive the Yenching Fellowship. According to the Academy, the first-year fellowship covers:
- Tuition
- Accommodation in the Yenching Academy House
- A monthly stipend
- One round-trip fare between your base city (in your country of nationality) and Beijing
- Basic medical insurance
- Research expenses
Students in good academic standing who plan to stay in Beijing can apply for a second-year fellowship that covers tuition, accommodation (on-campus housing or an off-campus housing stipend), basic medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Second-year students who live on campus and take student-assistantship roles can receive additional funding.
What the Academy does not publish: the stipend amount, the size of the travel allowance and the research funding limit. The official fellowship page is dated 2019, so ask the admissions office for current figures before you plan your budget.
Zhuoyue Scholarship for Applicants With Work Experience
The Zhuoyue Scholarship is a separate award provided by China’s Ministry of Education. For 2026 entry it covered one academic year, required at least three consecutive years of relevant work in government, senior management, higher education or research administration, or an international organization, and was open to applicants under 45. Applicants also needed employer permission to study full-time in Beijing and had to apply through the China Scholarship Council (Type A, institutional code 1563). Recipients complete the second-year thesis requirements and defense outside the Chinese Mainland. We could not find a 2027-entry notice for this scholarship, so check the Academy’s notices page for the current rules.
Yenching Academy Scholarship Eligibility: Who Can Apply
To apply as an international candidate you need:
- A bachelor’s degree in any field, or current enrollment in a bachelor’s programme with the diploma expected by August of the intended enrollment year
- An outstanding academic record
- A strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China
- Extracurricular achievement, community engagement and leadership potential
- English proficiency (see the requirements below)
- Non-Chinese citizenship and a valid passport; former Chinese citizens who emigrated face additional document requirements
- No concurrent enrollment in another degree programme, because Peking University does not allow it
The Academy’s FAQ adds several details that most guides miss. You do not need prior China Studies or Chinese language study, but you should present a study plan linked to your career goals. There is no minimum GPA stated. There is no strict age cutoff, but apart from Zhuoyue recipients no one over 29 has been admitted, and the average entering age is 23. About 16% of past scholars already held a master’s degree, although graduate degrees are not favoured in selection. Applicants who are not admitted may reapply and should explain how they used the intervening year.
Yenching Academy Scholarship Deadline and Timeline for 2027 Entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | International and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan applications open for the 2027 cohort |
| Before your university’s date | Partner-university students and alumni complete their home university’s pre-selection |
| 30 November 2026, 9:00 am Beijing time (01:00 UTC) | Application deadline for international candidates |
| Winter to early spring 2027 | Online interviews for international finalists, who are contacted about one week ahead |
| Around April 2027 | Decisions released to international candidates |
| By the end of June (as in the 2025 cycle) | Official admission letter, after approval by Peking University |
| Early September 2027 | Enrollment and start of the academic year |
Beijing is UTC+8, so a 9:00 am Beijing deadline falls at 01:00 UTC and 06:00 in Pakistan the same day. Applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must also complete a supplementary application on the Peking University Graduate Admissions website, and Chinese Mainland candidates apply through the Graduate School instead.
Yenching Academy Scholarship Application Requirements: Documents Checklist
All materials are submitted in English through the admissions portal:
- Online application form
- Personal statement of 750 words or fewer
- Statement of Research Interest of 1,500 words or fewer, excluding citations
- Curriculum vitae of no more than two pages
- Official transcripts
- Diploma(s) or certificate(s) of enrollment; documents not in English or Chinese need certified English translations
- Two academic recommendation letters, in Chinese or English, from full or associate professors in your intended field
- English proficiency test scores, unless you are exempt
Offer holders with an undergraduate degree must also submit an overseas credential evaluation later in the process. In the 2025 cycle, degrees from outside the Chinese Mainland went through CSCSE and graduates submitted the evaluation at registration in April.
Yenching Academy English Requirements
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7.0 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 overall |
| Cambridge English Scale (Advanced) | 185 overall |
Tests must be taken after 1 September 2025. The Academy does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake. Scores must be sent directly by the testing organization to the Yenching Academy of Peking University, and the TOEFL institution code is C488. Applicants whose native language is English, or who graduated from an English-taught degree programme, are generally exempt. CET-6 (600) and TEM-4 scores are listed only for applicants from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, who must submit a test score even after English-taught study. If you are comparing English rules across funded programmes, see our guide to scholarships without IELTS.
How to Apply for the Yenching Academy Scholarship, Step by Step
- Check your application route. Look up your university on the Partner and Cooperating Universities page. Students and alumni of partner universities must go through their university’s pre-selection first; everyone else applies directly through the portal.
- Create your portal account. Register on the Yenching Academy admissions portal at apply.yca.pku.edu.cn and start the online application, which is completed in English.
- Take your English test early. Sit IELTS Academic (7.0), TOEFL iBT (100) or the Cambridge English Scale (185) after 1 September 2025, unless you are exempt, and have the scores sent directly to the Yenching Academy.
- Write your two essays. Draft a personal statement of 750 words or fewer and a Statement of Research Interest of 1,500 words or fewer, excluding citations.
- Secure two academic recommenders. Ask two full or associate professors in your intended field to write letters in English or Chinese.
- Gather transcripts, diplomas and your CV. Upload official transcripts, your diploma or a certificate of enrollment, and a CV of no more than two pages.
- Submit before the deadline. Submit everything before 9:00 am Beijing time on 30 November 2026 (01:00 UTC).
Partner Universities: Do You Apply Through Your University?
The Academy lists 74 partner universities and 55 cooperating universities. Students and alumni of partner universities must apply through their own university, which reviews applications first and nominates the students it wants the Academy to interview. Partner universities include Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, UCL, SOAS, Edinburgh, Leiden, Waseda, the University of Delhi, the University of Cape Town and the University of Melbourne. Cooperating universities, such as Oxford, MIT, Princeton, LSE and the National University of Singapore, only provide information and do not take part in pre-selection, so their students apply directly through the portal. Some colleges within a university can be listed separately, for example Trinity College Cambridge is a partner, so check the exact name on the official list. If your university is on neither list, apply for the Yenching Academy scholarship through the portal as an individual applicant and confirm with yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn if you are unsure.
Yenching Academy Programme Structure: Tracks, Courses and Thesis
Scholars choose one of six research areas: Economics and Management; History and Archaeology; Philosophy and Religion; Politics and International Relations; Law and Society; or Literature and Culture. The choice does not change the core course requirements, but it determines the thesis topic and the title of the degree you receive.
All scholars take four core courses: the Topics in China Studies Lecture Series, China in Transition, a week-long Field Study trip and Academic Writing. International scholars must also take Chinese language courses taught by Peking University’s School of Chinese as a Second Language, unless their proficiency is high enough to waive them. International scholars need at least 31 credits and a passed thesis, which is defended within two years of enrollment. Electives come from the Academy’s roughly 60 faculty and from other Peking University departments, and scholars live in renovated rooms in Shaoyuan 6, mostly two-bedroom suites shared with one roommate of the same gender.
What the Yenching Academy Selection Committee Looks For
The Academy says successful candidates show academic merit, leadership potential, international experience and long-term aspirations, and that the personal statement should explain specifically how you would benefit from the programme. In our view, the strongest applications link the Statement of Research Interest to one of the six tracks, show how a China-focused degree fits a concrete career goal, and give evidence of leadership rather than a list of titles. This is our advice, not an official rule.
Is the Yenching Academy Scholarship Right for You?
It suits you if you want a two-year, interdisciplinary China Studies degree with full first-year funding and a cohort that is about three-quarters international. Weigh these points before you apply: Chinese study is compulsory for international scholars, a thesis and defense are required, second-year funding depends on good standing and staying in Beijing, the stipend amount is not published, and the Academy does not publish an official acceptance rate on the pages we reviewed. Third-party acceptance figures vary, so treat them with caution.
Mistakes That Cost Applicants Their Place
- Skipping partner pre-selection. If your university is a partner, applying directly will not work. Contact your home university’s nominating office early.
- Using the wrong English test. Online and home-edition formats are rejected, and tests taken before 1 September 2025 are out of date.
- Choosing the wrong recommenders. Letters must come from full or associate professors in your intended field.
- Looking for a separate scholarship form. The Yenching Fellowship comes with admission; only the Zhuoyue Scholarship has its own application.
- Missing the Beijing-time deadline. 9:00 am in Beijing is 01:00 UTC, so submit a day early.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Yenching Academy Scholarship
What is the Yenching Academy scholarship?
It is the Yenching Fellowship, a funding package that every admitted scholar of the Yenching Academy at Peking University receives. In the first year it covers tuition, housing in the Yenching Academy House, one round-trip fare, basic medical insurance, a monthly stipend and research expenses.
Is the Yenching Academy fully funded?
Yes for the first year: tuition, housing, a monthly stipend, one round-trip fare, basic medical insurance and research expenses are covered. Students in good standing who plan to stay in Beijing can apply for second-year funding. The Academy does not publish the stipend amount on the pages we reviewed, so ask the admissions office for current figures.
Do I need to apply separately for the Yenching Academy scholarship?
No. The Yenching Fellowship goes to all admitted scholars, so you only submit the programme application. The separate Zhuoyue Scholarship for applicants with work experience is the exception and requires its own application through the China Scholarship Council.
What is the Yenching Academy application deadline for 2027 entry?
Applications from international candidates opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time, which is 01:00 UTC. Students of partner universities must also finish their home university’s internal pre-selection first.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for the Yenching Academy?
IELTS Academic 7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 100 overall, or Cambridge English Scale (Advanced) 185. Tests must be taken after 1 September 2025. Native English speakers and graduates of English-taught degree programmes are generally exempt.
Do I need to speak Chinese to study at the Yenching Academy?
No prior Chinese is required to apply, but Chinese language study is compulsory for international scholars during the programme. Those with high proficiency can waive it.
What GPA do I need for the Yenching Academy?
The official pages state no minimum GPA. They ask for an outstanding academic record, strong interest in interdisciplinary China Studies, extracurricular achievement and leadership potential.
Can I apply to the Yenching Academy if I already have a master’s degree?
Yes. International applicants may hold a master’s degree and about 16% of past scholars already did, but the Academy says graduate degrees are not favoured in selection.
How old can Yenching Academy applicants be?
There is no strict age cutoff. Apart from Zhuoyue Scholarship recipients, no one over 29 has been admitted, and the average entering age is 23.
When are Yenching Academy admission decisions announced?
International finalists are interviewed online in winter or early spring, and decisions are released around April. The official acceptance letter is issued the summer before enrollment.
Is there an application fee for the Yenching Academy?
The international application instructions we reviewed do not mention an application fee. Confirm with the admissions office at yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn before you pay anything to anyone.
What is the Zhuoyue Scholarship at the Yenching Academy?
The Zhuoyue Scholarship is a separate, fully funded award from China’s Ministry of Education for applicants with at least three consecutive years of relevant work experience. For 2026 entry it covered one academic year and required a separate application through the China Scholarship Council.
Official Sources
- Yenching Academy admissions
- Yenching Academy FAQ
- Partner and Cooperating Universities
- Yenching Academy curriculum
- Application portal
- Yenching Fellowship coverage
Related Guides
How to write a personal statement for a scholarship. Scholarship recommendation letter samples. Scholarships without IELTS. China CSC scholarship guide. Top 25 fully funded scholarships guide.
Deadlines, scores and funding terms change every year. Always confirm them on the Yenching Academy website before applying.