Peking University Scholarships 2027 | CSC, PKU & Beijing Government Scholarships

Peking University Scholarships are the funding routes into China’s most prestigious university for international students at Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral level. After checking the official pages of Peking University’s International Students Division, we confirmed the single most important thing about how they work, and it is the opposite of what most websites report: you do not apply to each scholarship separately. One scholarship application inside Peking University’s own system automatically enters you for three different awards — the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Peking University Scholarship and the Beijing Government Scholarship — and only one of them will be granted.

The catch is that the scholarship application is not the first step. You must first apply for admission as a self-funded student and be accepted into that process, because every one of these scholarships requires an existing admission application before it will consider you.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

Peking University was founded in 1898 as China’s first modern national comprehensive university, and it remains the country’s most prestigious institution alongside Tsinghua. It is a founding member of the C9 League, China’s equivalent of the Ivy League, and its Yanyuan campus in the Haidian district of Beijing is among the most recognisable academic sites in Asia.

The university teaches across humanities, sciences, engineering, social sciences and professional disciplines, and combines a broad general-education foundation with research-led specialisation. For international students, the practical significance is that Peking University runs a large, well-organised funding system rather than a handful of ad-hoc awards — the Peking University Scholarship alone was established in 2012 specifically to attract international students at all three degree levels.

The Scholarship Routes at Peking University

There are four distinct funding routes, and they differ in what they cover, who administers them and where you apply.

How the Three PKU-Administered Awards Fit Together

For the Chinese Government Scholarship Type B, the Peking University Scholarship and the Beijing Government Scholarship, you submit one application through the Peking University International Student Service System and you are automatically considered for all three. The university then decides which single award, if any, you receive.

The one extra step applies to the Chinese Government Scholarship Type B: on top of the PKU application you must also complete a separate application in the China Scholarship Council system. Peking University warns that applicants who fail to complete the CSC application on time are treated as having given up their eligibility for that scholarship — they remain in the running for the other two.

Yenching Academy — A Separate Route Entirely

Peking University also hosts the Yenching Academy, a fully funded two-year Master’s in China Studies with its own application portal, its own deadline and its own fellowship covering tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend and return flights. It is not part of the scholarship system described on this page and is not covered by the single PKU application. If you are interested in China Studies specifically, apply there separately — the current cycle closes on 30 November 2026.

Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

Requirements Common to All Three PKU-Administered Scholarships

• Nationality — you must be a non-Chinese citizen holding a valid foreign passport. Chinese immigration authorities reserve the right to rule on whether an applicant still holds Chinese nationality, and a finding against you nullifies the application, admission or enrolment even after registration
• Admission requirements — you must meet Peking University’s admission requirements for international students
• Self-funded application first — you must have successfully submitted an application for a full-time self-funded programme. The scholarship is assessed against that application
• No other funding — you must not already hold another scholarship. One-time, non-renewable merit awards are the stated exception
• Not a joint training programme — candidates in joint training programmes are excluded from the Chinese Government Scholarship and the Peking University Scholarship
• Truthful materials — false material leads to disqualification from the scholarship and, in serious cases, revocation of that year’s programme admission

Undergraduate Applicants — A Different Process

Peking University states that new undergraduate applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. The university awards merit-based scholarships to admitted students directly, so the important thing is to keep your email channel open and monitored after applying for admission. The Peking University Scholarship covers undergraduate study for four years.

Language Requirements

This is where applicants most often misjudge their chances, because the requirement depends entirely on the language your programme is taught in.

Application Timeline

Peking University has not published its 2027 dates. The table below gives the confirmed 2026 dates alongside what to expect for 2027, so you can plan against a realistic shape rather than a guess presented as fact.

Required Documents

• Passport — a scanned copy of the photo page of a valid foreign passport
• Official transcripts — from all previous higher education, uploaded to the PKU system
• Degree certificates — notarised copies of your highest qualification. Applicants who graduated in an earlier year must upload a degree authentication report; those graduating in the entry year provide an official letter confirming the expected graduation date
• Language certificate — HSK for Chinese-taught programmes, or TOEFL iBT or GRE for English-taught programmes where English is not your first language
• Study plan or personal statement — covering your academic background, performance, work experience and reasons for applying
• Two letters of recommendation — from academic referees
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form — the standard health certificate, or a Foreigner Physical Examination Statement where the form does not apply
• Non-criminal record certificate — or a No Criminal Record Self-Declaration with your personal signature
• CSC certificate (Type B only) — downloaded from the Application Status area of the PKU system once available
• Application fee — 800 RMB per programme, paid online before the deadline. Non-refundable, and applications without payment are not processed

Application Process

Stage 1 — Admission Application

Apply for admission as a self-funded student through the Peking University International Student Service System, choosing up to two programmes or majors and paying 800 RMB for each. This window runs from around October to December, well before any scholarship application opens.

Stage 2 — Scholarship Application

When the scholarship notice is published in January, log back into the same system and complete the scholarship application under Home → Scholarship Application → Application for Prospective Students. This single submission puts you in contention for the Chinese Government Scholarship Type B, the Peking University Scholarship and the Beijing Government Scholarship at once.

Stage 3 — CSC Application, for Type B Applicants Only

If you want to be considered for the Chinese Government Scholarship, you must also complete a separate application at campuschina.org before its own later deadline, using institution code 10001 and programme Type B. Missing this step removes you from consideration for that scholarship only.

Stage 4 — Departmental Assessment and Results

Departments hold a second examination round in March, with dates set individually and posted on each department’s own website rather than centrally. Scholarship results are sent by email around July and August. Peking University is explicit that your admission result is confirmed by the Admission Letter from the university itself, not by any interim processing record you may see in the CSC system.

How to Apply

Step 1: Choose Your Programme Before the Admission Window Opens

Decide which programme you want and confirm its language of instruction, because that determines whether you need HSK 6 or TOEFL iBT 100. Check the tuition fee published in that programme’s own application information, particularly for English-taught Master’s programmes where the Chinese Government Scholarship will not cover the full amount. You may apply for a maximum of two programmes, and each costs 800 RMB.

Step 2: Sit Your Language Test Early

HSK and TOEFL results take weeks to report. If you are targeting a Chinese-taught programme you need HSK Level 6 above 200 or 210 depending on the programme, and if you fall short as an undergraduate applicant, the Yuke Pre-university Program is the intended route rather than a rejected application.

Step 3: Submit the Admission Application as a Self-Funded Student

Go to studyatpku.com, create an account, complete the application and pay the fee. This is the step that makes you eligible for everything else, and in the previous cycle it closed on 23 December. Applying as self-funded is not a commitment to pay — it is simply how the scholarship system is structured.

Step 4: Gather Your Supporting Documents

Official transcripts, notarised degree certificates, a degree authentication report if you graduated in an earlier year, two academic recommendation letters, the physical examination form and a non-criminal record certificate. The recommendation letters and the authentication report are the two that depend on other people and take longest.

Step 5: Complete the Scholarship Application When the Notice Appears

Watch isd.pku.edu.cn from January. When the notice is published, log back into studyatpku.com and submit the scholarship application under Home → Scholarship Application → Application for Prospective Students. Submit it once. There is no advantage to applying for more than one category, and the university assesses you for all three regardless.

Step 6: Complete the CSC Application if You Want the Chinese Government Scholarship

Register at campuschina.org, enter institution code 10001, select Type B, and submit before the CSC deadline, which falls about a week after the PKU one. Enter the same major you most want to be assessed against, since the CSC system accepts only one.

Step 7: Monitor Your Email Through to August

Departments post their second-round examination details on their own websites in March rather than emailing everyone, so check your department’s page directly. Scholarship decisions arrive by email around July and August. Keep the address you registered with active and check the spam folder.

Also Check

• 📌 Yenching Academy Scholars Program 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s at Peking University
• 📌 Chinese Government Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded CSC Scholarship in China
• 📌 University of Tokyo ADB Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s in Japan
• 📌 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027 | HK$344,400 per Year
• 📌 Open Doors Scholarship Russia 2027 | Fully Funded Study in Russia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are Peking University Scholarships fully funded?

It depends which one you receive. The Chinese Government Scholarship Type B is the most complete, covering a full or partial tuition waiver plus a living stipend, housing and medical insurance. The Peking University Scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend and medical insurance but not housing. The Beijing Government Scholarship covers a tuition waiver only, with no stipend or housing. All three describe the tuition waiver as full or partial, so a partial award is possible in every case.

2. What is the application deadline for Peking University Scholarships 2027?

Peking University has not yet published its 2027 dates. In the 2026 cycle the admission application ran from 20 October to 23 December 2025, the scholarship notice appeared on 12 January 2026, the PKU scholarship application closed at 9:00 am Beijing time on 9 March 2026, and the CSC application closed at 24:00 on 17 March 2026. Expect a similar shape for 2027 and confirm the dates at isd.pku.edu.cn before relying on them.

3. Can Pakistani and Indian students apply for Peking University Scholarships?

Yes. These scholarships are open to non-Chinese citizens holding a valid foreign passport, with no restricted country list. Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian and other international applicants are eligible provided they meet the admission requirements, apply as self-funded students and do not already hold another scholarship. The Chinese Government Scholarship Type A route additionally works through your home country’s own scholarship processing authority.

4. Is IELTS required for Peking University Scholarships?

Not as such. For English-taught programmes, applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL iBT 100 or above, or GRE 315 or above, or another accepted certificate — Peking University names TOEFL and GRE rather than IELTS in its graduate application information, so check your specific programme before booking a test. For Chinese-taught programmes the requirement is HSK Level 6 instead, with a score above 200 or 210 depending on the programme.

5. How to apply for Peking University Scholarships 2027?

Apply for admission first, as a self-funded student, at studyatpku.com during the October-to-December window, paying 800 RMB per programme. When the scholarship notice is published in January, log back into the same system and submit one scholarship application under Home → Scholarship Application → Application for Prospective Students — this covers all three PKU-administered awards. If you want the Chinese Government Scholarship, also apply at campuschina.org using institution code 10001 and programme Type B.

6. Do I need to apply separately for each scholarship?

No, and this is the most common mistake. Within Peking University’s system one application is automatically assessed for the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Peking University Scholarship and the Beijing Government Scholarship, and only one award is ever granted. The single exception is the Chinese Government Scholarship, which additionally requires a separate submission in the China Scholarship Council system at campuschina.org.

7. Can I get a scholarship for an English-taught programme at Peking University?

Yes, but not in full. Peking University states that the Chinese Government Scholarship does not fully cover tuition for English-taught programmes and that recipients must pay the difference. English-taught Master’s programmes are available and are not excluded from the scholarship, despite what several websites claim — but you should check that programme’s published tuition fee and budget for the shortfall before applying.

8. How much is the application fee?

800 RMB per programme or major. Each applicant may apply for a maximum of two programmes, so the ceiling is 1,600 RMB. The fee is paid online before the application deadline, is not refundable, and applications submitted without payment are not processed at all. Other currencies and traveller’s cheques are not accepted.

9. What is the difference between Chinese Government Scholarship Type A and Type B?

Type B, the Advanced Graduate Program, is applied for through Peking University itself and covers Master’s and doctoral study. Type A, the Bilateral Program, is applied for through your own country’s scholarship processing authority — you first submit an admission application to Peking University, download an eligibility certificate from the PKU system once you pass the initial examination, and submit that certificate with your Type A application. Type A covers undergraduate study as well.

Final Thoughts

Peking University Scholarships are more accessible than their reputation suggests, but only if you understand the order of operations. The scholarship is not something you apply for on its own — it is assessed against an admission application you must already have submitted as a self-funded student, months earlier. Applicants who discover the March scholarship deadline in February have usually already missed the December admission deadline that would have made them eligible.

The second thing worth internalising is that one application covers three awards. You do not improve your odds by submitting more, and you cannot choose which one you get. What you can control is the strength of the underlying admission application, your language score, and whether you complete the extra CSC submission that keeps the most generous of the three awards in play.

Peking University has not yet released its 2027 notice, so the practical move is to prepare against the previous cycle’s shape: programme chosen and language test booked before the admission window opens around October, admission application submitted before it closes in December, and the scholarship application ready to go the moment the notice appears in January. Confirm every date at isd.pku.edu.cn rather than from any third-party page, including this one.