Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Master's at Peking University

The Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 is open, and the deadline is closer than it looks. Peking University's Yenching Academy is taking applications for its 2027 cohort until 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time. In Lagos that is 2:00 am on 30 November, so treat 29 November as your real last day.

Every scholar admitted receives the Yenching fellowship. According to the academy's admissions page, it pays tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costs. You do not apply for funding separately: an offer of a place comes with it.

What the Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 pays for

The admissions page lists five benefits for all scholars:

• Full tuition fees
• Accommodation on campus in Beijing
• A monthly stipend
• One round-trip travel fare
• Costs of field study trips

The academy does not publish the stipend amount on its admissions page, so we have not listed one here. If the figure matters to your planning, ask the admissions office directly at yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn.

The programme: a master's in China Studies

Yenching scholars study for a master's degree in China Studies at Peking University. The academy's FAQ describes it as a two-year programme, and graduates receive a Peking University master's diploma whose exact title depends on their research area.

The curriculum page says scholars must complete at least 31 credits and write and orally defend a master's thesis. Electives are grouped into six areas:

• Philosophy and Religion
• Economics and Management
• Law and Society
• Politics and International Relations
• Literature and Culture
• History and Archaeology

Chinese language study is compulsory for international scholars. You do not need to speak Chinese to apply, but you will be learning it. Scholars who already have strong Chinese can ask to waive the language course.

The intake is small. The academy says it enrols about 120 new students a year, and roughly 75% of them are international.

Who can apply

The academy looks for applicants with:

• A bachelor's degree in any field, or current enrolment with the degree expected by August 2027
• An outstanding academic record and a real interest in studying China across disciplines
• Evidence of leadership, community engagement and achievement outside class
• Proficiency in English

International applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. Your undergraduate subject does not matter: engineers, lawyers, economists and literature graduates all apply.

There is no strict age limit, according to the FAQ, though the average entering age is 23. The same page says international scholars come roughly 30–35% from Europe, 25–30% from the US and Canada, and 30–35% from the rest of the world. That last group is where African applicants compete.

If your university is one of the academy's partner institutions, you must first go through your own university's internal pre-selection. Check the partner list before you start.

English test scores

Unless you are exempt, you need one of these minimum scores:

• IELTS Academic 7.0
• TOEFL iBT 100 (institution code C488)
• Cambridge Advanced 185

The test must have been taken after 1 September 2025, and the testing body must send the score directly. Native English speakers and graduates of English-taught degree programmes are generally exempt. Many Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan and Ugandan graduates studied in English, but confirm your own case with the admissions office rather than assuming.

Documents you need

All materials are submitted in English through the online portal:

1. The online application form
2. A personal statement of 750 words or fewer
3. A Statement of Research Interest of up to 1,500 words, not counting citations
4. A CV
5. Official transcripts
6. Your diploma, or a certificate of enrolment if you are still studying
7. Two academic recommendation letters from full or associate professors in your intended field
8. An English test report, unless exempt

The recommendation rule catches people out. Letters must come from full or associate professors, not lecturers or employers. Contact your referees this week; a professor asked to write in the last ten days of November may not deliver in time.

How selection works

After the deadline, the academy shortlists finalists. The FAQ says international finalists are interviewed online in winter or early spring and are contacted about a week before their interview. Final decisions for international candidates come out around April.

How to apply

1. Read the admissions page in full, including the notes on exemptions.
2. Check whether your university is a partner institution with its own pre-selection.
3. Book an English test now if you need one, so the score arrives before 30 November.
4. Draft your Statement of Research Interest early. It is the longest document and the one that shows what you want to study about China.
5. Create an account on the Yenching Academy application portal and invite your two referees.
6. Upload everything and submit before 9:00 am Beijing time on 30 November 2026.

Questions go to yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn. If you are weighing other fully funded routes in Asia, our guide to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship 2027/28 covers a scheme with a similarly early deadline.