Yenching Scholars Fellowship 2027, Peking University

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing offers a Master’s in China Studies, and every student it admits receives the Yenching Fellowship. There is no separate scholarship application: a place at the Academy comes with funding. The Academy takes about 120 Yenching Scholars a year, and roughly 75% of them are international students. Applications for the 2027 cohort opened on 1 September 2026 and close at 09:00 Beijing time on 30 November 2026. That is 03:00 on 30 November in South Africa, so South African applicants should treat 29 November as their last working day.

What the Yenching Fellowship pays in Beijing

For the first academic year, the fellowship covers:

• tuition
• a room in the Academy’s on-campus residence, usually a two-bedroom suite shared with one other scholar
• a monthly stipend and basic medical insurance
• one round-trip journey between Beijing and a base city in your country of nationality, at a cost the Academy estimates
• research and field study costs

The Academy does not publish the stipend amount. The programme runs for two years, but the fellowship is granted for 12 months at first, during which scholars complete their coursework and may write their thesis. International scholars may leave Beijing for the second year. Those who stay and keep good academic standing can apply for a second-year fellowship covering tuition, housing support, insurance and the stipend.

UCT graduates apply through their own university first

The University of Cape Town is one of the Academy’s Partner Universities. Partner universities pre-screen applications from their own students and alumni and nominate candidates for interviews. The Academy says all students and alumni of Partner Universities must go through their home university’s internal pre-selection before submitting to the Academy. For UCT, the Academy lists fazeela.felton@uct.ac.za as the contact, and UCT’s internal deadline may fall before 30 November. Graduates of other South African universities apply directly through the Yenching Academy admissions portal.

Degree, age and English requirements

International applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. They need a Bachelor’s degree in any field, or must be in a final year that ends with the diploma awarded by August 2027, because Peking University does not allow students to be enrolled in two degree programmes at once. The Academy also looks for an outstanding academic record, a strong interest in studying China across disciplines, and evidence of leadership and community involvement. Earlier study of China or Chinese is not required.

There is no formal age limit, but the Academy’s FAQ says that no one over 29 has been admitted, apart from Zhuoyue Scholarship holders, and that the average entry age is 23. Applicants who already hold a Master’s may apply, although the Academy says they are not favoured in selection.

International applicants whose native language is English, or who graduated from an English-taught degree, do not need an English test. Everyone else needs IELTS Academic 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100 or a Cambridge English Scale score of 185, taken after 1 September 2025 and sent directly to the Academy by the testing organisation. The Academy does not accept IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition or MyBest scores.

The application pack

• the online application form
• a personal statement of up to 750 words
• a statement of research interest of up to 1 500 words, excluding citations
• a CV, official transcripts, and diplomas or a certificate of enrolment
• two academic recommendation letters, written by full or associate professors in your intended field of study

International finalists are interviewed online in winter or early spring (Beijing’s seasons) and are told about a week before their interview. Final decisions for international candidates come out around April 2027. The academic year starts in early September.

Six research areas, one Master’s in China Studies

All scholars take four compulsory courses: a China Studies lecture series, China in Transition, a week-long field study trip and academic writing. International scholars must also take Chinese, unless they are already proficient. Each scholar then chooses one of six research areas and writes a thesis. The areas are Economics and Management, History and Archaeology, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and International Relations, Law and Society, and Literature and Culture. The research area decides the degree title on the Peking University diploma, for example Master of Law in China Studies. International scholars need at least 31 credits and must pass the thesis defence, which can be done online, within two years.

Full details are on the Yenching Academy admissions page, and admissions questions go to yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn. For other fully funded Master’s study abroad, compare the Rhodes Scholarship. Our UCT profile covers the partner university’s own funding, and the postgraduate bursaries hub lists funding for study in South Africa.

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