Peking University

Peking University (PKU, "Beida") was founded in 1898 as China's first national comprehensive university and ranks 13th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027. International students can take a bachelor's degree only in Chinese, entering either through a written entrance exam in Chinese, English and mathematics or without the exam on the strength of high SAT, IB, A-Level or CSCA results plus HSK 6 at 210 or above. At master's level there are around fifteen English-taught programmes. PKU has not yet published its 2027 admission notices; in the last cycle bachelor's applications ran from 19 December to 28 February and master's applications from 20 October to 23 December.

Who PKU suits, and who should look elsewhere

PKU suits applicants who already speak Chinese well or will spend a year or two learning it, and graduate applicants in international relations, China studies, law or economics. If you have no Chinese and want an English-taught bachelor's, look at Tsinghua University, Fudan or Zhejiang University. For the wider picture, see studying in China.

Which programmes are taught in Chinese and English

Bachelor's

PKU has seven faculties: humanities, social sciences, economics and management, sciences, information science and technology, engineering, and medicine, offering 137 bachelor's majors in 51 groups. International students study in Chinese for 4–6 years alongside Chinese students. The list of departments open to international applicants is published with each admission notice. Medical programmes are run separately by the PKU Health Science Center under its own rules; see our overview of studying medicine in China.

English-taught graduate programmes

Most master's programmes are in Chinese. English-taught programmes listed in the 2026 notice include:

• School of International Studies: Master's in International Relations (MIR) and dual master's with LSE and Sciences Po;
• School of Government: International Master of Public Administration (IMPA);
• Law School: LL.M. in Chinese Law;
• Guanghua School of Management: MBA, Global Master in Management, research master's and PhD;
• Yenching Academy: Master's in China Studies;
• School of Computer Science: master's and PhD in Computer Science;
• School of New Media: master's and PhD in New Media;
• School of Materials Science and Engineering: master's and PhD;
• College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering: PKU–LSE dual master's in environmental policy;
• School of Arts: PhD in History and Theory of Art.

The full list with teaching languages appears in the international master's and doctoral catalogue published when applications open.

How to apply to PKU: requirements for international applicants

General bachelor's conditions

• Foreign nationality and a valid passport. Applicants whose parents are Chinese citizens, and former residents of China, must also show at least two years of actual residence abroad in the past four years, based on entry and exit stamps.
• Age 18–25 in principle; for 2026 entry this meant birth dates between 1 September 2001 and 1 September 2008.
• Completed secondary school, no criminal record and good health.
• A passport valid at least until 31 March of the entry year (31 March 2027 for 2026 entry).
• All documents in Chinese or English, or with notarised translations.
• Only one international bachelor's route may be used at a time.

Route 1: written entrance exam

Applicants who pass document screening sit a written exam in Chinese, English and mathematics in late March, followed by a second-round exam in mid-April. The file includes a school diploma (or expected-graduation certificate), full high-school transcripts, a personal statement, awards, a signed applicant commitment letter, a self-introduction video and the application form with photo.

Route 2: no written exam

PKU accepts recognised test results instead of its own exam. The 2026 thresholds were:

CSCA applicants to sciences, information technology and engineering take Chinese (STEM), mathematics and physics or chemistry; others take Chinese (humanities) and mathematics. Russia's EGE and Kazakhstan's UNT are not on the list of accepted national exams, so applicants from these countries need an international test or CSCA for this route. Two recommendation letters are also required.

In 2026 the no-exam route had two rounds: 19 December 2025–28 February 2026 and 12 June–10 July 2026, and applicants could use only one.

Other routes

• Yuke pre-university programme. One to two years of preparation for strong school leavers aiming at a PKU bachelor's; it does not guarantee admission.
• Boya programme. Admission through recommendation by schools that hold recommendation rights.

Master's and doctoral

• A bachelor's degree (a master's for PhD) from an institution recognised by China's Ministry of Education. Graduates must upload CSCSE degree authentication at application.
• Language: Chinese-taught programmes need HSK 6 at 200+ (sciences) or 210+ (humanities) with 65+ in writing; English-taught programmes need TOEFL iBT 100, GRE 315 or equivalent evidence as set by the programme.
• A personal statement with research plan (1,500 words for master's, 3,000 for PhD), CV, two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors, and copies of every passport used since 30 April 2020.
• Up to two programmes per applicant, CNY 800 each.
• Departments hold a second-stage interview or exam in March.

Step-by-step plan for 2027

1. September–October 2026. Choose a route. For the no-exam bachelor's, book SAT, IB or CSCA and HSK 6; for the exam route, prepare Chinese, English and maths. For graduate study, pick a programme and possible supervisor.
2. October–December 2026. Watch isd.pku.edu.cn for the graduate notice; last cycle ran 20 October–23 December.
3. December 2026–February 2027. Apply for a bachelor's through studyatpku.com. If 2026 timing repeats, the no-exam route opens in mid-December and the exam route on 1 January, both closing at the end of February.
4. March–April 2027. Exams and interviews.
5. June–July 2027. Admission letter, JW202 form (JW201 for CSC scholars) and X1 visa.
6. September 2027. Registration with originals, insurance and a residence permit within 30 days of entry.

When to apply: the latest published cycle

As of 23 September 2026 there is no 2027 notice. The previous cycle helps with planning:

What studying at PKU costs

Current rates for self-funded international students are in PKU's official fee schedule (Education Fee Disclosure, Finance Department, October 2025), which lists the amounts actually charged per year:

For the Yuke pre-university programme the 2025 schedule refers to the programme notice; the 2019 fee page put it at CNY 27,000 ($4,030) per semester. The bachelor's, master's and PhD rates match the 2019 fee page, so they have not changed since at least then. The 2026 admission notices, however, say regular tuition "will be announced after approval", so the admission letter is what confirms the amount for the 2027 intake. New students pay a full year at registration, online, by UnionPay card or in yuan cash.

English-taught master's fees for 2026 (whole programme):

Add the CNY 800 ($120) application fee and the compulsory international student insurance, CNY 800 ($120) a year, bought before registration.

Where to live and what living in Beijing costs

International student housing costs CNY 70–220 ($10–30) per bed per day, or CNY 2,100–6,600 ($310–980) for 30 days. That range comes from PKU's official fee schedule for the Zhongguan Xinyuan apartments (buildings 2–6) and Shaoyuan building 6. The 2026 guide for new international students adds the rest:

• International students live on campus at PKU Global Village (Zhongguan Xinyuan, five minutes' walk from the east gate) and Shaoyuan, in single, double, triple and quad rooms.
• Booking usually opens in mid-January and mid-July, and there are not enough places for every self-funded student.
• Scholarship holders whose award covers housing are placed by the university.
• If you live off campus, you must register with the police within 24 hours of moving in.

The same guide gives reference living costs (PKU stresses they are indicative): accommodation about CNY 4,000 ($600) a month, food about CNY 2,000 ($300) a month, and transport and sundries about CNY 5,000 ($750) per academic year. For the first month, while a bank transfer to a Chinese account clears, PKU suggests bringing about CNY 6,000 ($890) in cash.

Flights, visa and medical checks are not included. A dorm bed at the lower rate roughly halves the housing line; science majors pay CNY 4,000 ($600) more in tuition. For comparison, a CSC master's scholar receives CNY 3,000 ($450) a month for living costs and a doctoral scholar CNY 3,500 ($520), with free housing. See the cost of studying in China. Dollar figures use the ECB rate of 23 September 2026 ($1 ≈ CNY 6.71), rounded to $10.

Which scholarships are available: CSC, Beijing government and PKU

CSC Type A bachelor's applicants take CSCA on Chinese-language papers: Chinese (STEM), mathematics and physics or chemistry for sciences, IT and engineering; Chinese (humanities) and mathematics for other fields. PKU still reviews and interviews CSC-recommended candidates, and all scholars face an annual review. See our guide to scholarships abroad in 2026. Awards are decided by CSC, the Beijing authorities or PKU.

How to get the X1 visa, JW202 form and residence permit

With the admission letter and JW201 (scholars) or JW202 (self-funded) form, you apply for an X1 visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate. The visa is valid for 30 days after entry, and within that time you apply for a study residence permit through the International Students Division. Students without medical insurance cannot register. See our China student visa guide.

What helps and what gets in the way for applicants from Russia, Kazakhstan and the CIS

• The entrance-exam route needs no SAT or IB: PKU's own written exam can be your entry ticket.
• International relations and China studies are PKU strengths, and MIR and China Studies are taught in English.
• Beijing and PKU scholarships need no separate application at bachelor's level.
• EGE and UNT are not accepted for the no-exam route.
• Bachelor's teaching is only in Chinese, so most CIS school leavers need a Chinese language programme or foundation year first.
• Payment is in yuan only; check early whether your bank handles yuan transfers to Chinese banks and pay through legal channels.
• Off-campus work requires university approval and a residence-permit annotation; see work and internships for students in China.

Which mistakes to avoid

• Applying through two bachelor's routes. The 2026 rules allow only one international undergraduate admission programme at a time, and only one of the two no-exam rounds.
• Relying on EGE or UNT. Neither is on the accepted national-exam list.
• Confusing HSK 5 with HSK 6. The no-exam bachelor's and Chinese-taught master's both require HSK 6.
• Leaving degree authentication late. Past graduates must upload CSCSE authentication with the master's application.
• Expecting a dorm place automatically. Booking opens in mid-January and mid-July; latecomers rent privately.

Where teaching takes place: campus and city

The main Yanyuan campus is at 5 Yiheyuan Road in Haidian, north-west Beijing, next to Tsinghua and the Zhongguancun technology district. Graduate programmes also run at the new Changping campus, the School of Software and Microelectronics in Daxing and the Shenzhen Graduate School. Check the catalogue for where your programme is taught before arranging housing.

How PKU ranks

FAQ

Can I study at Peking University without Chinese?

Not at bachelor's level: teaching is in Chinese and the no-exam route requires HSK 6 at 210+. At master's level you can choose an English-taught programme such as international relations, law, MBA, computer science or China Studies.

Does PKU accept the Russian EGE?

No. EGE and UNT are not on the list of national exams for the no-exam route. The options are PKU's written exam, international tests (SAT, IB, A-Level, ACT) or CSCA.

How much does PKU cost?

Under the fee schedule PKU published in October 2025, $3,880 a year (CNY 26,000) for humanities and $4,470 (CNY 30,000) for science bachelor's programmes. With housing, food and insurance, a first year without a scholarship comes to roughly $13,800. English-taught master's cost from $11,930 (PKU part of the LSE dual degree) to $28,030 (Global MBA) per programme.

Is there an age limit?

For bachelor's study, 18–25 in principle at the start of the academic year. PKU sets no general age limit for master's study, though scholarship schemes may.

When should I apply for 2027?

The notice is not out yet. Last cycle, master's applications ran 20 October–23 December and bachelor's applications from 19 December (no exam) or 1 January (exam) to 28 February. Check isd.pku.edu.cn from October.

Do I need CSCA?

It is mandatory for a CSC Type A bachelor's scholarship. For self-funded applicants it is one option within the no-exam route; the PKU entrance exam is the alternative.

Can StudyU help me apply to PKU?

Under contract we choose the route and programme, prepare documents and statements and support the application, scholarship and visa stages. PKU decides on admission, CSC, the Beijing authorities or PKU on scholarships and the Chinese consulate on the visa.

Sources

• 2026 Undergraduate Program Entrance Examination
• 2026 Undergraduate Program Without Written Examination
• 2026 Score Requirements for Undergraduate Program Without Written Examination
• 2026 Application Information for International Students (Master's and Ph.D.)
• Tuition Fees of Graduate Programs for International Students 2026 (PDF)
• PKU Education Fee Disclosure, Finance Department, October 2025 (PDF, Chinese)
• Tuition and related fees (2019 page with the same rates)
• Undergraduate Program admission routes
• PKU International Student Guide 2026 (PDF: housing, cost estimates, insurance)
• About PKU
• Fudan University: Chinese-taught postgraduate admission 2026 (CSC stipend levels)
• QS: Peking University
• THE: Peking University
• ARWU 2026
• ECB reference rates, 23 Sep 2026

To compare PKU with its Haidian neighbours, see universities in Beijing. If you want to know which PKU route is realistic with your level of Chinese, apply for a consultation.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.