StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Yenching Academy of Peking University runs an interdisciplinary graduate programme designed to give a deeper understanding of China and its role in the world. It combines coursework, independent research, field study and a residential community in Beijing, with students working with academic advisers to shape their own study path inside six research areas.
Each year roughly 120 scholars join the Academy — around three-quarters of them international — and every admitted scholar receives the Yenching Fellowship for the first academic year. That is what makes this one of the most sought-after fully funded master’s routes in Asia: tuition, housing, a living stipend and a flight are all covered from day one, rather than topped up later.
Eligibility
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, or be on track to graduate by August 2027.
- Show an outstanding academic record and a clear interest in the interdisciplinary study of China.
- Demonstrate leadership potential, community engagement and extracurricular achievement.
- Meet the English requirement: IELTS Academic 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 (accepted equivalents include Cambridge English Scale 185, CET-6 600 and TEM-4 at pass level “good” or above), taken after 1 September 2025. Exemptions may apply to native speakers and English-taught graduates; applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must still submit scores.
- International applicants must be non-Chinese citizens holding a valid passport.
- If you are affiliated with a Yenching partner university, complete your institution’s internal pre-selection before submitting to the Academy.
Benefits
- Full tuition for the master’s in China Studies.
- Accommodation in the Yenching Academy House on the Peking University campus (first year).
- Monthly stipend for living costs.
- One round-trip travel allowance between your base city and Beijing.
- Basic medical insurance and designated research/field-study expenses.
- A second-year fellowship is available by application for scholars in good standing who remain in Beijing.
Documents to prepare
- Personal statement — maximum 750 words.
- Research interest statement — maximum 1,500 words excluding citations.
- Two recommendation letters from full professors, associate professors or equivalents.
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate (or proof of expected graduation by August 2027).
- English test scores meeting the thresholds above, unless an exemption applies.
- Valid passport and a CV setting out leadership and community engagement.
How to apply
- Check whether your university is a Yenching partner university — if so, clear its internal pre-selection first.
- Create an account on the Yenching Academy application portal (applications for the 2027 cohort opened 1 September 2026).
- Upload your personal statement, research statement, recommendation letters, transcripts and English scores.
- Submit before 30 November 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time — the deadline is the same for all applicant categories.
FAQs
No. Applicants may hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, provided they show a strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China and meet the academic and English requirements.
No official age cutoff is published, but published summaries note most admitted scholars are under 28. Age is not listed as an eligibility condition.
The first-year fellowship is guaranteed for every admitted scholar. For the second year, scholars in good academic standing who remain in Beijing may apply for a second-year fellowship covering tuition, accommodation, insurance and a stipend.
Economics and Management; History and Archaeology; Philosophy and Religion; Politics and International Relations; Law and Society; and Literature and Culture.
The published eligibility criteria centre on academic record, leadership, community engagement and English proficiency (IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100 or equivalents). No Chinese-language test threshold is stated in the sources checked — confirm any language expectations in the Academy’s own application instructions.
Verified 24 Oct 2026: leapkite.com/opportunities/yenching-academy-scholarship/ — 30 Nov 2026 9:00 am Beijing deadline, full tuition, accommodation, stipend, round-trip airfare, field-study costs, IELTS 7.0/TOEFL 100 after 1 Sep 2025, official site yenchingacademy.pku.edu.cn; scholarpositions.com/yenching-academy-scholarship-2027/ — 2-year master’s, ~120 scholars, full coverage, 30 Nov 2026; opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/09/07/yenching-academy-of-peking-university-scholarship-2027-fully-funded-masters-fellowship-in-china-for-international-students/ — 750-word personal statement, 1,500-word research statement, two letters from full/associate professors, Cambridge 185, CET-6 600, TEM-4 pass, partner-university pre-selection, second-year fellowship conditions; scholarshipsedge.com/yenching-academy-scholarship-in-china/ — six research areas, 120 scholarships, 30 Nov 2026 9:00 am Beijing. Monthly stipend amount not published in the sources checked.
