Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s in China

Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027: Key Details

Funding and Benefits

Yenching Academy lists the following fellowship support for admitted scholars:

• Full tuition fees.
• Accommodation during the funded period.
• A monthly stipend; the official source does not list the amount.
• One round-trip travel fare between the scholar’s eligible base city and Beijing.
• Field-study and research-related support.
• Basic medical insurance.

The initial fellowship covers the first academic year. Students who maintain good academic standing and plan to remain in Beijing during the second academic year may apply for second-year support covering tuition, accommodation support, basic medical insurance and a monthly stipend.

Who Can Apply?

• International applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport.
• Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in any field, or be enrolled in a bachelor’s programme and expect to receive the diploma by August 2027.
• Applicants should have an outstanding academic record and a strong interest in interdisciplinary China Studies.
• The Academy looks for extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility and leadership potential.
• English proficiency is required.
• Applicants cannot remain concurrently enrolled in another degree programme while studying at Peking University.
• Students and alumni of partner universities must complete their home institution’s internal pre-selection process before submitting to the Academy.

There is no strict age cutoff in the official FAQ. The Academy notes that, apart from recipients of the Zhuoyue Scholarship, no person older than 29 has been admitted; this is historical admissions information, not a stated formal age limit.

English-Test Requirements

International applicants whose native language is English, or who graduated from an English-taught undergraduate or higher degree, are not required to provide a test report. Different rules apply to applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, who must provide a report even after an English-taught degree.

Tests must have been taken after 1 September 2025. The Academy does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake. IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge results must be sent directly by the testing organisation.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form.
• Personal statement of no more than 750 words.
• Statement of Research Interest of no more than 1,500 words, excluding citations.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Official academic transcript or transcripts.
• Diploma or certificate of current enrolment.
• Two academic recommendation letters in Chinese or English, written by full or associate professors, or equivalent, in the applicant’s intended field.
• English-proficiency evidence where required.
• Valid passport/citizenship documentation required for the international route.

Additional portal fields or applicant-specific documents are not listed publicly; applicants should follow the instructions displayed after creating an official portal account.

How to Apply

1. Read the official 2027 admissions page and confirm you meet the international eligibility rules.
2. If you are a student or alumnus of a partner university, contact your home institution and complete its internal pre-selection procedure.
3. Create an account in the Yenching Academy application portal.
4. Prepare the personal statement, research-interest statement, CV, transcript and degree/enrolment evidence in English.
5. Arrange two eligible academic referees and follow the portal instructions for their letters.
6. Arrange direct delivery of English-test scores where a test is required.
7. Review every field and submit by 30 November 2026 at 09:00 Beijing time (UTC+8).

Important Dates

Selection Notes

Yenching Academy says successful applicants typically demonstrate academic merit, leadership potential, international experience, long-term aspirations and a persuasive reason for pursuing interdisciplinary China Studies. International finalists are interviewed online in winter or early spring and are normally contacted approximately one week before the interview. Final international decisions are released around April.

The programme enrolls approximately 120 new students annually, with international students comprising roughly 75% of the student body.

Related Opportunities