Applications are now open for the Yenching Academy Scholarship in China for 2025. This is a fully funded scholarship provided by the Yenching Academy, which covers tuition fees, accommodation, travel expenses, monthly stipends, and field study costs. The scholarship is available to both students from mainland China and international students.
Yenching Academy is a top postgraduate college in Beijing, China, and is part of Peking University. About 80% of its students are international, and each year, around 120 new students are accepted. This fully funded scholarship is open to graduates worldwide, with no restrictions on the field of study for the Master’s program. Anyone with a Bachelor’s degree, or who is currently pursuing one, can apply. More details are available below.
Why You Should Apply for the Yenching Academy Scholarship:
- The scholarship is available to both students from mainland China and international students.
- Applicants from any field of study are welcome to apply.
- There are 120 scholarships offered.
- While there is no strict age limit, most students admitted are under 28 years old.
- The academy has about 80% international students, with 30-35% from Europe, 25-30% from the U.S. and Canada, and 30-35% from other parts of the world.
- The scholarship attracts students from all over the globe. After graduation, 30% of Yenching alumni go on to pursue Ph.D. studies at top universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, the University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Peking University.
- Yenching alumni work in a variety of organizations, including UNESCO, UNDP, the European Commission, and the British Embassy in Beijing. They also hold positions at leading tech companies like Google, Huawei, and Xiaomi, as well as in financial institutions, government agencies, and multinational corporations around the world.
Type of Degree Yenching Scholars Will Receive:
Yenching Academy graduates earn a Master’s degree in China Studies from Peking University. The degree and its content depend on the scholar’s chosen area of research:
- Master of Law in China Studies (Politics & International Relations)
- Master of Law in China Studies (Law & Society)
- Master of Economics in China Studies (Economics & Management)
- Master of History in China Studies (History & Archaeology)
- Master of Literature in China Studies (Literature & Culture)
- Master of Philosophy in China Studies (Philosophy & Religion)
- These degrees follow the Chinese Ministry of Education's system, which includes 13 categories for master’s degrees: Philosophy, Economics, Law, Education, Literature, History, Science, Engineering, Agronomy, Medicine, Military Science, Management Science, and Art.
Research Areas:
Yenching Scholars focus on one of six China Studies research areas and write a thesis with the help of a faculty advisor:
- Economics and Management
- History and Archaeology
- Philosophy and Religion
- Politics and International Relations
- Law and Society
- Literature and Culture
Financial Benefits:
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Round-trip airfare
- Accommodation at Yenching Academy House
- Research-related expenses
- Basic medical insurance
Requirements for the Yenching Scholarship:
- Education: You must have a Bachelor's degree, either completed or in progress, with graduation expected by August 31, 2025.
- Academic Performance: You need an excellent academic record.
- Interest: A strong interest in interdisciplinary China studies is essential.
- Extracurriculars: You should have demonstrated involvement in extracurricular activities, community engagement, social responsibility, and show leadership potential.
- English Proficiency: You must be proficient in English.
Required Documents:
- Completed online application form
- Personal statement (750 words or less)
- Statement of Research Interest (up to 1500 words, excluding citations)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Official transcript(s)
- Diploma(s) or proof of enrollment
- Two academic letters of recommendation
English Requirements and Minimum Scores:
- IELTS (Academic): Overall 7.0
- TOEFL (iBT): Overall 100
- Cambridge English Scale (Advanced): Overall 185
- CET 6: Overall 600
- TEM 4: Pass level of “良好” or above
English Proficiency Exemptions:
- International applicants whose native language is English or who have completed an English-taught degree do not need to submit English test scores.
- Applicants from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan must submit English test scores, even if they have studied in English before. Those without scores will need to take an English course at Peking University.
- Applicants from Mainland China must submit English test scores.
Accepted English Proficiency Tests:
- Tests must be taken after September 1, 2023.
Not Accepted English Tests:
- TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
Application Process for Yenching Academy Scholarship 2025:
- For Candidates from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan:
- Students from Yenching Partner Universities must first apply through their university’s internal pre-selection process before applying to the Yenching Academy.
- Candidates from these regions must submit their application through the Yenching Academy portal and also complete an additional application on the Peking University Graduate Admissions website.
- For Other International Candidates:
- Students from Yenching Partner Universities must go through their university’s internal pre-selection process before submitting their applications to the Yenching Academy.
visit here to apply