PKU must be read by route: exam, language, level of study and funding change the strategy.
This page brings together the officially confirmed Peking University rules for international applicants: undergraduate, master’s, PhD, CSCA, entrance examinations, language, timelines, fees and funding.
undergraduate: the complete published rule set is for 2026 entry; the 2027 undergraduate guide had not been published at the date checked; master’s and PhD: the latest official general guide is for 2026 entry; individual programmes may publish their own newer rules.
The essentials before choosing route and programme.
Yes. Peking University has separate international admissions routes for undergraduate, master’s and PhD applicants. In the published 2026 rules, undergraduate study is mainly Chinese-taught, while graduate study includes Chinese-taught and English-taught programmes.
At the date checked, PKU had not published the complete general undergraduate 2027 guide. The general master’s and PhD rules used here are for 2026 entry; Yenching Academy has published 2027 intake information.
For the undergraduate scholarship route, PKU explicitly requires CSCA from Chinese Government Scholarship applicants. In the without-written-examination route, CSCA is also listed as a national exam route evaluated competitively. This does not mean CSCA replaces every PKU route.
Yes. In the published undergraduate entrance-exam route, PKU lists Chinese, English and Mathematics, followed by a secondary examination. Applicants with qualifying international or national exams may use the route without written examination, but still undergo secondary assessment.
Facts verified on 20 September 2026. Undergraduate dates and age ranges are stated as 2026-entry rules because PKU had not yet published the complete general undergraduate 2027 guide.
This overview separates undergraduate routes, graduate admissions and Yenching Academy. It does not replace programme verification.
| Level | Language | Academic basis | Language / test | Assessment | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | In the published 2026 rules: Chinese as the medium of instruction | High school graduation or above; age 18 to 25 in principle for 2026 entry; nationality rules under MOE Document No. 12 may apply | Without-written-exam route: HSK 6, score 210 or accepted equivalent Chinese proof; exact route matters | Entrance-exam route: PKU written exam in Chinese, English and Mathematics. Without-written-exam route: SAT/AP, IB, A-Level, ACT, CSCA or national exams if thresholds are met | 2026 dates only; 2027 undergraduate dates not yet published |
| Master’s | Chinese or English by programme | Bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution accepted under PKU rules; programme background may vary | Chinese-taught: HSK 6 above 200 or 210 depending on programme category; English-taught: TOEFL iBT 100, GRE 315 or other proof where accepted by the programme | Application + Examination: dossier review, then school or department examination | 2026 general guide: 20 Oct 2025 to 23 Dec 2025; 2027 general guide not used here |
| PhD | Chinese or English by programme | Normally master’s degree or higher; bachelor’s holders may apply for doctoral programmes in sciences and engineering under the 2026 guide | Programme-specific; research language must be checked in the catalogue and school guidance | Application + Examination, with assessment of research capacity, language, innovation and overall quality | 2026 general guide only; department pages may differ |
| Yenching Academy | English | Bachelor’s degree or expected completion by August of the enrolment year; strong academic record and China Studies fit | IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100, Cambridge 185 or accepted alternatives unless exempt under Yenching rules | Separate Yenching application, not ordinary PKU funding | 2027 cohort: applications from 1 Sep 2026, deadline 30 Nov 2026, 9:00 Beijing time |
PKU publishes several undergraduate routes. The applicant has to identify which route fits the qualification and funding plan.
In the 2026 rules, the applicant must be a non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport, in principle aged 18 to 25, physically and mentally fit, with no criminal record, and have graduated from high school or above. Applicants connected to Chinese parental citizenship or former PRC citizenship fall under MOE Document No. 12 rules.
For the written entrance-exam route, PKU lists 2026 online application from 1 January to 28 February, a written exam in Chinese, English and Mathematics in late March and a secondary examination in mid-April. Pre-admission follows only after both stages are passed.
The route without written examination is for applicants with international or national standardized results that allow entry to the secondary examination. PKU publishes thresholds for SAT/AP, IB, A-Level, ACT, CSCA and selected national systems.
PKU publishes minimum score requirements. These are not admission probabilities and do not measure competitiveness.
| Qualification | Published minimum | Language / subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | IB Diploma, total score 36 or higher, at least three Higher Level courses relevant to intended major | HSK 6 with score 210 or IB Chinese HL score 6 or above |
| A-Level | At least three relevant subjects, no grade lower than ABB | HSK 6 with score 210 or A-Level Chinese grade A or above; mathematics-related results for science, informatics, engineering, economics and management |
| SAT / AP | SAT total score 1400 or above plus three AP scores; AP score 4 or above | AP subjects must not be similar or identical; HSK 6 with score 210 |
| ACT | ACT total score 30 or above, writing component required | HSK 6 with score 210 |
| CSCA | Competitive selection according to CSCA results | Science, informatics and engineering applicants take Chinese science stream, Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry. Other schools take Chinese arts stream and Mathematics. PKU states Chinese-language test papers. |
The key PKU distinction: CSCA sits alongside PKU’s own selection routes rather than automatically replacing them.
In the 2026 undergraduate rules, PKU explicitly links CSCA to the Chinese Government Scholarship: applicants for the government scholarship must take CSCA and submit valid scores. In the score requirements for the route without written examination, CSCA is listed as one national exam route, with competitive selection by result. For the entrance-examination route, PKU separately lists Chinese, English and Mathematics.
China 2027 / CSCA guideDo not transfer English-taught graduate requirements to PKU undergraduate admission.
The published 2026 undergraduate rules describe Chinese as the medium of instruction. In the route without written examination, HSK 6 with 210 or a specific Chinese-language equivalent is generally required, such as IB Chinese HL 6 or A-Level Chinese A.
For Chinese-taught graduate programmes, the 2026 guide lists HSK 6 above 200 or 210 depending on programme category. For English-taught programmes, non-native English speakers submit TOEFL iBT 100, GRE 315 or other accepted proof where the programme allows it.
PKU does not have one deadline for all applicants. Route, level and scholarship change the calendar.
| Route | Date status | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate entrance examination | 2026: online application 1 Jan to 28 Feb 2026; written exam late March; secondary examination mid-April. 2027 not published. | Do not carry 2026 dates into 2027. Check the new PKU guide. |
| Undergraduate without written examination | 2026: Round 1 from 19 Dec 2025 to 28 Feb 2026; Round 2 from 12 Jun to 10 Jul 2026. 2027 not published. | Check which exam results are valid for the chosen route and programme. |
| Graduate general guide | 2026: application period 20 Oct to 23 Dec 2025; second examination in March 2026. The general 2027 guide is not used as published here. | Check the school or department website and programme catalogue. |
| Yenching Academy | Confirmed 2027: applications from 1 Sep 2026; deadline 30 Nov 2026, 9:00 Beijing time. | Partner University applicants must use their home university internal pre-selection as well. |
PKU funding is planned alongside the admission route, especially for CSC.
For undergraduate 2026, PKU says tuition fee will be announced after approval. For graduate 2026, PKU publishes a separate Tuition Fees of Graduate Programs for International Students table; rates vary by programme, so this page does not flatten them into one universal amount.
PKU lists the Chinese Government Scholarship, Beijing Government Scholarship and Peking University Scholarship. For prospective graduate students, the 2026 notice requires successful submission to a full-time self-funded PKU graduate programme, then a PKU scholarship application, and for CGS Type B also a CSC system application.
The Yenching fellowship covers tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costs for Yenching Scholars. This is funding inside a separate master’s programme, not a general PKU scholarship.
Graduate admission at PKU goes through school or department academic assessment. Undergraduate logic should not be carried into a research degree.
For master’s applicants, the 2026 guide requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. For doctoral applicants, a master’s degree or higher is normally required, but bachelor’s degree holders may apply to doctoral programmes in sciences and engineering.
The International Student Division checks basic qualifications, then materials go to the school or department. Expert panels review the academic dossier, shortlist candidates and conduct the second examination, assessing research capacity, language proficiency, innovation and overall quality.
Graduate applicants submit degree documents and authentication, transcripts, CV, personal statement with research plan, two recommendations and original Chinese or English test scores. Programme-specific requirements must be checked in the catalogue and department website.
Yenching Academy matters for China Studies applicants, but it should not be mixed with ordinary PKU graduate admission.
Yenching Academy annually enrolls about 120 scholars, including international students, in an interdisciplinary China Studies master’s programme. For the 2027 cohort, international applications opened on 1 September 2026, with deadline 30 November 2026 at 9:00 Beijing time. Partner University candidates must go through their home university internal pre-selection before submitting to the Yenching portal.
Yenching Academy admissionsA published minimum only shows whether an application can proceed. It does not show the profile’s strength against other candidates.
EDMONT does not calculate admission probabilities. We check which PKU route applies, how the academic record and subject preparation fit the chosen school, how CSCA or PKU exams work, whether language proof is sufficient, whether the scholarship calendar fits, and how to position the application without a generic statement.
Choose the level and route, check citizenship, qualification, language, exams and documents, then apply through the PKU system or the specific programme portal. For undergraduate 2027, the new general guide must be checked separately once published.
In the 2026 rules, PKU requires CSCA from undergraduate applicants seeking the Chinese Government Scholarship. CSCA is also listed among national exams for the route without written examination. It is not a universal replacement for every PKU exam.
Yes. In the undergraduate entrance-exam route, PKU lists Chinese, English and Mathematics, followed by a secondary examination. Applicants with qualifying standardized results may be considered through the route without written examination.
For Chinese-taught routes, yes, with the level depending on route and programme. For undergraduate admission without written examination, PKU lists HSK 6 with a score of 210 or an accepted Chinese-language equivalent for certain qualifications.
At master’s, PhD and some specific programme levels, English-taught options exist. The published 2026 undergraduate rules describe undergraduate study with Chinese as the medium of instruction.
It is a separate China Studies master’s programme at Peking University with its own portal, requirements, deadlines and fellowship. It is not a general scholarship for any PKU student.
PKU lists the Chinese Government Scholarship, Beijing Government Scholarship and Peking University Scholarship. Prospective graduate applicants use a separate scholarship application; for undergraduate applicants, a separate PKU scholarship application is generally not required when PKU awards merit funding after review.
Primary sources used to verify this page. When the undergraduate 2027 guide is published, this page should be updated.
Peking University requirements establish formal eligibility. A strategy still has to assess the academic route, exams, language, funding calendar, Yenching or ordinary graduate route, and the real strength of the profile.
ELIGIBILITY → ROUTE → COMPETITIVENESS → CALENDAR