Peking University
北京大学
China's first national comprehensive university, founded in 1898 and centred on the lakeside Yan Yuan campus in Beijing.
- Students
- 53,700
- 18,147 undergraduates
- International
- 6%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥26,000
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1898
About PKU
Peking University was founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, China's first national comprehensive university, and took its current name in 1912. It absorbed Yenching University in 1952, and its main campus, Yan Yuan, is the former Yenching grounds in Beijing's Haidian district, known for Weiming Lake and the Boya Pagoda. Beijing Medical University merged into PKU in 2000 and now forms its Health Science Center.
The university is organised into faculties (Sciences, Information Science and Technology, Engineering, Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics and Management, and Medicine) containing 56 schools and departments, plus interdisciplinary units such as Yuanpei College and Yenching Academy. In December 2025 it had 50,481 degree students excluding international students (16,921 undergraduates) plus 3,219 international students, taught by 3,849 full-time faculty, 59 of them members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
For international applicants, the key fact is that PKU's undergraduate degrees for foreign students are taught in Chinese. Strong applicants usually already hold HSK 6 or have studied in Chinese, and they apply through PKU's own international admissions routes (a written entrance exam, or an exam-exempt route based on SAT, IB or A-level scores), not the gaokao. Students who want rigorous theory in mathematics, physics, economics or the humanities, and who are ready to study fully in Chinese, get the most out of it.
Why students choose PKU
Yuanpei College lets undergraduates start broad and choose their major later, an unusual degree of flexibility in Chinese higher education.
PKU hosts research centres such as the Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research and the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics.
The Guanghua School of Management and the National School of Development are among China's most influential schools of business and economics.
Admitted international students are automatically considered for Peking University and Beijing Government scholarships, which can cover full tuition, housing and a stipend.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027 (international undergraduate notices for 2027 not yet published; 2026 cycle shown)
Selectivity
PKU does not publish admit rates. Chinese citizens are admitted through the gaokao and special programmes such as the Strong Base Plan; international students go through PKU's own written exam or exam-exempt route with a second-round assessment; Hong Kong and Taiwan students have separate schemes. All routes are highly competitive.
Typical entry requirements
| Gaokao (PRC citizens) | Admission through the National College Entrance Examination and PKU's special programmes (e.g. Strong Base Plan); provincial cut-offs published by PKU's undergraduate admissions office |
|---|---|
| International applicants: PKU entrance examination | Written exam in Chinese, English and Mathematics (late March), then a second-round assessment (mid-April) |
| International applicants: exam-exempt route | SAT 1400 + 3 AP (4+), IB 36, A-level ABB, ACT 30, or listed national exam results / CSCA scores, plus HSK 6 (210+) where required, then a second-round assessment |
| Hong Kong / Taiwan students | Hong Kong 'Boya Talent Programme' and a separate scheme for Taiwan high-school graduates, run by PKU's undergraduate admissions office |
| English language | Undergraduate programmes for international students are taught in Chinese. The Chinese proficiency requirement (HSK 6 with 210+) matters more than English; English is tested in PKU's written entrance exam. |
Deadlines
- Exam-exempt route, Round 1 Non-binding Passed28 February 2026, 23:59 Beijing time
2026 cycle: opened 19 December 2025. Second-round assessments between mid-March and mid-July.
- Entrance-exam route Non-binding Passed28 February 2026, 23:59 Beijing time
2026 cycle: opened 1 January 2026; written exam late March, second exam mid-April; admission letters from June.
- Exam-exempt route, Round 2 Non-binding Passed10 July 2026, 23:59 Beijing time
2026 cycle: 12 June to 10 July 2026; applicants may use only one of the two rounds.
PKU published its 2026 international undergraduate notices in December 2025; the 2027 notices were not yet online on 28 September 2026. Expect a similar December-February window, and check isd.pku.edu.cn.
How to apply
International students apply online at studyatpku.com, choosing either the entrance-exam route or the exam-exempt route (only one PKU undergraduate route per year). Materials: passport and nationality documents, high-school diploma or expected-graduation proof, full transcripts, personal statement, awards, a self-introduction video, a signed commitment letter and (exam-exempt route) two recommendation letters. Application fee: 800 RMB. Medicine applicants follow a separate Health Science Center brochure.
What admissions looks for
- Excellent academic performance and all-round ability, according to PKU's admission notices.
- High aspirations and strong potential for development.
- A strong sense of social responsibility and a broad international outlook.
- For the exam-exempt route, standardised test scores in subjects relevant to the intended major, plus advanced Chinese.
Tips for applying to PKU
- 1 Pick your route early: you cannot apply to both the written-exam and exam-exempt routes in the same year.
- 2 Aim for HSK 6 at 210 or above well before applying; it is required for the exam-exempt route and the degree is taught in Chinese.
- 3 Check the nationality rules carefully if you have Chinese parents or previously held Chinese residency; PKU requires extra documents and minimum residence abroad.
- 4 If you want the Chinese Government Scholarship, register for the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and apply through your home country's dispatching authority, naming PKU as first choice.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in CNY
Admitted international undergraduates are considered automatically for the Peking University Scholarship for International Students (full or partial tuition, insurance, stipend) and the Beijing Government Scholarship (Types A-C, up to full tuition, housing and stipend). The Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) is applied for through your home country and requires CSCA scores.
- 70-220 CNY per bed per day (Zhongguanyuan Global Village and Shaoyuan)
- International student housing
- 800 CNY
- Application fee (international undergraduate)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Yuanpei College
PKU's interdisciplinary college, where students take broad foundations before choosing among majors across the university.
Mathematics (School of Mathematical Sciences)
Linked to the Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, one of PKU's independent research institutes.
Economics and management (Guanghua, School of Economics, National School of Development)
Four units in one faculty, covering business, economics, population studies and development policy.
Chinese Language and Literature
One of PKU's founding humanities departments, and a natural home for international students studying Chinese culture in Chinese.
Computer Science and Wangxuan Institute of Computer Technology
Part of a seven-unit Information Science and Technology faculty that includes Integrated Circuits and Intelligence Science.
Research
- 25 national key laboratories and one national research centre (PKU 2025 Basic Data).
- 22 disciplines ranked in the global top 1% by ESI, with 59 Chinese Academy of Sciences and 14 Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians on the faculty.
- Alumna Tu Youyou won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering artemisinin, an antimalarial.
- Independent institutes include the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Information Science and Technology
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Economics and Management
- Peking University Health Science Center
- Yuanpei College
- Guanghua School of Management
- National School of Development
- Law School
- School of Mathematical Sciences
Student life
Yan Yuan is a garden campus of traditional-style buildings, willows and water; students walk or bike between classes around Weiming Lake. International undergraduates usually live in Zhongguanyuan Global Village opposite the southeast gate, where Buildings 2 to 6 have study rooms, libraries, dining and a gym, or in the Shaoyuan apartments. PKU's international students office runs cultural trips and activities, including a programme of field visits across China, and international students join the same clubs and sports teams as Chinese classmates.
- Weiming Lake and the Boya Pagoda, the best-known sights on campus
- Zhongguanyuan Global Village: dedicated international student housing with study rooms, libraries and dining
- Organised cultural visits and 'Understanding China' activities run by the International Students Division
- Yenching Academy brings international graduate scholars to campus
Housing. International students not covered by a scholarship arrange and pay for their own housing, typically in PKU's international student apartments at 70-220 CNY per bed per day.
Location
PKU is in Haidian, Beijing's university and tech district, next to Tsinghua and close to the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan. Zhongguancun, China's best-known tech cluster, is a short ride away, and Beijing's subway reaches the city centre in under an hour. Winters are cold and dry and summers hot; living costs are moderate by global capital-city standards.
Nearest airport: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK); Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Notable alumni
- LK Li KeqiangPremier of China (2013-2023)
- TY Tu YouyouPharmaceutical chemist; 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for artemisinin
- RL Robin LiCo-founder of the search engine Baidu
- YM Yu MinhongFounder of New Oriental Education Group
- WX Wang XuanComputer scientist behind Chinese laser typesetting; founder of Founder Group
- ZZ Zhu ZiqingPoet and essayist
- HY Hou YifanChess grandmaster and former women's world champion
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at Peking University in English?
PKU's undergraduate degree programmes for international students are taught in Chinese, so you need advanced Chinese (HSK 6 with 210+ for the exam-exempt route). English-taught options are mainly at graduate level.
What SAT or IB score do you need for Peking University?
For the exam-exempt route PKU requires at least SAT 1400 plus three AP scores of 4 or higher, or an IB Diploma of 36 with three relevant HL subjects, plus HSK 6. Meeting these only qualifies you for the second-round assessment.
How much is Peking University tuition for international students?
PKU's official fee list gives 26,000 CNY a year for humanities and 30,000 CNY for science and engineering undergraduates, plus housing at 70-220 CNY per bed per day.
When is the Peking University application deadline for international students?
In the 2026 cycle the entrance-exam route and round 1 of the exam-exempt route closed on 28 February 2026, and round 2 of the exam-exempt route ran from 12 June to 10 July 2026. The 2027 notices are expected around December 2026.
Does Peking University offer scholarships to international undergraduates?
Yes. Admitted students are automatically considered for the PKU Scholarship for International Students and the Beijing Government Scholarship, and can seek a Chinese Government Scholarship through their home country.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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