Yenching Academy is the postgraduate fellowship programme of Peking University in Beijing. Applications for the September 2027 intake opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time, and the fellowship is open to non-Chinese citizens, including Indian students.
The Academy enrols about 120 new students every year from the Chinese Mainland and abroad, and roughly 75% of the student body is international. The fellowship is awarded to all selected scholars and covers tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costs.
Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Yenching Academy of Peking University (Beijing, China) |
| Study level | Postgraduate study at Peking University – a bachelor’s degree in any field is the minimum requirement |
| Who can apply | Non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport, including Indian students |
| What is covered | Tuition fees, accommodation, a monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costs |
| Last date to apply | 30 November 2026, 9:00 am Beijing time |
| Official website | yenchingacademy.pku.edu.cn |
What the Yenching Academy fellowship covers
The official admissions page states that the Academy provides a generous fellowship to all scholars. The components are:
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation.
- A monthly stipend.
- One round-trip travel fare.
- Field study costs.
Yenching Academy does not publish individual rupee or dollar figures for the stipend on its admissions page, so treat any exact amount quoted by a third-party website with caution. The official page lists the components rather than amounts.
Who can apply for Yenching Academy
The Academy publishes a clear eligibility list. Applicants should have:
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field, or be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s programme with the expectation of receiving the diploma in August of the intended enrolment year.
- An outstanding academic record.
- A strong interest in interdisciplinary study of China.
- A record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility and leadership potential.
- Proof of English proficiency (see the next section for the accepted scores).
Two nationality rules apply. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. Former citizens of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan who have emigrated to another country must present valid passport or citizenship documents dating from before 30 April 2021, along with proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality.
Peking University also does not allow students to be enrolled in another degree programme while studying at the university.
Yenching Academy English language requirements
International applicants must show English proficiency, and the official minimum scores are:
- IELTS (Academic): overall 7.0
- TOEFL (iBT): overall 100
- Cambridge English Scale (Advanced): overall 185
- CET 6: overall 600
- TEM 4: pass level of ‘lianghao’ or above
Applicants whose native language is English, or who have graduated from an English-taught degree programme at undergraduate level or above, are not required to submit an English proficiency test report. Two more rules matter: the test must have been taken after 1 September 2025, and the Academy does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake.
Documents required for Yenching Academy
Candidates apply through the Yenching Academy online application portal, where they create an account and submit the following materials in English:
- The completed online application form.
- A personal statement of 750 words or less.
- A statement of research interest of up to 1,500 words, excluding citations.
- A curriculum vitae.
- Official transcripts.
- Diplomas or certificates of enrolment.
- Two academic letters of recommendation, in Chinese or English. Peking University accepts recommendation letters only from full professors or associate professors (or equivalent titles), and they must be written by professors in your intended field of study.
How to apply for the Yenching Academy scholarship
- Check whether your university is a Yenching Academy partner university. Students and alumni of partner universities must apply through their home university’s internal pre-selection before submitting an application to the Academy.
- Note the deadline at your own university, which will be earlier than the Academy’s 30 November 2026 deadline.
- Create an account on the Yenching Academy admissions portal.
- Prepare the personal statement, statement of research interest and CV in English.
- Request official transcripts, diplomas or enrolment certificates, and arrange for two recommendation letters from full or associate professors in your field.
- Take an accepted English proficiency test if you need one, and make sure it was taken after 1 September 2025.
- Submit the complete application before 9:00 am Beijing time on 30 November 2026.
Yenching Academy important dates 2027 intake
| 1 September 2026 | Applications open for the 2027 cohort of Yenching Scholars |
| 30 November 2026, 9:00 am Beijing time | Application deadline – last date to apply |
| September 2027 | The 2027 cohort begins study at Peking University |
Partner university applicants should treat their own university’s pre-selection deadline as the real last date, because the internal process closes before the Academy’s portal does.
Yenching Academy is the postgraduate fellowship programme of Peking University in Beijing. It provides a fellowship to all selected scholars that includes tuition fees, accommodation, a monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costs.
Applications for the 2027 cohort close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time. Applications opened on 1 September 2026.
Yes. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport, which includes Indian students, and the Academy enrols about 120 new students every year with roughly 75% of the student body coming from outside China.
The minimum scores are IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 100 overall, Cambridge English Scale (Advanced) 185, CET 6 600 or TEM 4 at pass level or above. The test must have been taken after 1 September 2025.
Yes. The minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in any field, or you must be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s programme and expect to receive your diploma in August of the intended enrolment year.
The Academy enrols approximately 120 new students each year from the Chinese Mainland and abroad. International students make up roughly 75% of the student body.
Yes. The official admissions page states that all students and alumni of partner universities must apply through their home university’s internal pre-selection process before submitting an application to the Yenching Academy.
Official links
- Yenching Academy admissions – official page
- Yenching Academy of Peking University
- Peking University official website
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