Study Programs at Peking University (PKU) for International Students 2026

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

General requirements for international applicants include:

• Being a non-Chinese citizen and holding a valid foreign passport.
• Holding a high school diploma or expecting to obtain one before enrollment.
• Being, in principle, between 18 and 25 years old for the 2026 admission cycle.
• Being in good physical and mental health.
• Having a good conduct record and no criminal record.
• Demonstrating strong academic performance.
• Submitting results from an approved national or international examination when applying through the written examination exemption pathway.
• Demonstrating Chinese language proficiency, as most undergraduate programs are taught in Chinese.
• Submitting documents in Chinese or English, or providing certified translations.
• Passing the interview or second-stage assessment organized by the university.
• Passing the entrance examinations in Chinese, English, and mathematics when applying through the examination pathway.

Master’s Admission Requirements

General requirements include:

• Being a non-Chinese citizen and holding a valid passport.
• Holding a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification from a recognized university.
• Demonstrating academic performance and subject knowledge appropriate to the selected program.
• Submitting the university degree certificate and academic transcript.
• Providing a personal statement that includes a research plan, usually around 1,500 words.
• Submitting a CV.
• Providing two academic recommendation letters.
• Meeting the language requirements.
• Submitting any additional documents specified by the program.
• Passing the academic assessment or interview organized by the relevant school or department.

Doctoral Admission Requirements

Requirements generally include:

• Holding a master’s degree from a recognized institution.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree may apply directly to selected doctoral programs in science and engineering.
• Submitting a detailed research proposal, usually around 3,000 words.
• Providing two recommendation letters from professors or qualified academics.
• Demonstrating research and innovation capabilities.
• Submitting research papers, publications, and academic achievements, if available.
• Passing the application review, interview, or academic assessment.

Language Requirements

For programs taught in Chinese:

• Science programs: HSK Level 6 with a score above 200.
• Humanities programs: HSK Level 6 with a score above 210.
• The writing section score must not be lower than 65 in cases where this is officially required.

For programs taught in English, non-native English speakers may be required to submit:

• TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 100.
• Or GRE with a minimum score of 315.
• Or another form of proof accepted by the relevant school or program.

Program Structure

The structure of academic programs at Peking University varies according to the degree level, school, and chosen field of study. Therefore, there is no single structure that applies to all programs.

Undergraduate programs for international students generally take four to six years to complete and are mostly taught in Chinese. They typically include general education courses, core and compulsory courses for the major, elective courses, internships or applied activities, and a graduation project or thesis. Students receive their graduation certificate and bachelor’s degree after completing the study plan, successfully defending their thesis, and fulfilling all degree requirements.

Master’s programs usually take two or three years and may include advanced coursework, research or applied projects, and a master’s thesis in research-based programs.

Doctoral programs generally take four or five years and focus on independent research, advanced academic training, and the preparation of a doctoral dissertation under academic supervision.