Peking University publishes several scholarship routes for international students, but they do not form one combined application. Some support full degree study, some are tied to a specific program or nationality, and others fund visiting research or language study. An applicant should therefore begin with the intended study category and admission route rather than with the scholarship name alone.
Current notice boundary: The official pages reviewed for this guide include standing program descriptions, pages updated in 2025, two New Sinology notices for the 2026 intake, and an International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship notice that includes February 2027 entry. Unless an official page expressly covers the intended intake, its dates and detailed conditions should be treated as historical guidance.
Scholarship Routes at a Glance
| Scholarship route | Main study route |
|---|---|
| China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship | General or senior visiting study and research |
| Chinese Government Scholarship Silk Road Program | Selected degree programs |
| Chinese Government Scholarship High-Level Postgraduate Program | Full-time master's or doctoral study |
| Beijing Government Scholarship | Degree study for new or continuing international students |
| Peking University Scholarship | Full-time bachelor's, master's or doctoral study |
| New Sinology PhD Scholarship | China-related doctoral research |
| New Sinology Joint Research PhD Program | Visiting research for registered overseas PhD students |
| International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship | Chinese-language study as a visiting or preparatory student |
| Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program | Yenching Academy or other eligible PKU study |
Chinese Government Scholarship Routes
China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship
China Link supports short-term academic exchange at Peking University for eligible members of overseas institutions that cooperate with the China Scholarship Council. The PKU page distinguishes general visiting students, normally undergraduate or master's students, from senior visiting students, normally doctoral students or academic staff. The published duration is one to twelve months, and fields other than Chinese-language study are included.
The official page describes full Chinese Government Scholarship support during the stay: tuition, on-campus accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and a living allowance under the applicable CSC standard. Applicants must first secure the appropriate PKU visiting-student admission. Interdepartmental research applicants are instructed to contact a prospective supervisor and obtain acceptance from the supervisor and school before completing the scholarship stage.
The page was updated in September 2025 and publishes different submission timing for autumn, spring and other start dates. Those dates should only be used after confirming that the same schedule remains current for the proposed visit.
Silk Road Program
The Silk Road Program is intended to develop professionals from Belt and Road partner countries in fields identified as priorities, including areas such as green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, finance, disaster reduction and education. PKU describes the award as a full Chinese Government Scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses and comprehensive medical insurance for the normal study period.
This is a university nomination route rather than a general award automatically available across all PKU degrees. The official page states that PKU selects candidates from its admission results in line with the project requirements and recommends them to the China Scholarship Council. A nominated applicant then completes the CSC system application. The page's usual March-April timing is not a confirmed 2027 deadline.
High-Level Postgraduate Program
The High-Level Postgraduate Program follows the sequence of individual application, university recommendation, expert review and competitive selection. PKU uses it to recommend international master's and doctoral applicants with strong academic preparation, professional ability and development potential.
The published eligibility requires the applicant to meet PKU's international graduate admission conditions and to have submitted a full-time, self-funded graduate admission application. The page excludes joint-training programs and applicants already supported by another Chinese government or university scholarship, apart from one-time awards. Funding may include full or partial tuition, a living allowance, accommodation and medical insurance, so applicants must confirm the exact award category in the current notice.
University and Partner Scholarships
Beijing Government Scholarship
The Beijing Government Scholarship supports international students studying or conducting research at institutions in Beijing. PKU describes three categories: Category A includes tuition, accommodation, living expenses and medical insurance; Category B excludes the living allowance; and Category C covers tuition and medical insurance. The actual category awarded must be confirmed in the current result or notice.
New graduate applicants first apply to PKU's full-time self-funded graduate route and follow the scholarship notice issued for that intake. New undergraduate applicants are considered from the admission results without a separate scholarship application under the published procedure. Continuing international bachelor's, master's and doctoral students from the second year onward may use the separate annual route. Age limits, regular-tuition-program restrictions and rules against holding another scholarship are intake-sensitive and should be rechecked.
Peking University Scholarship for International Students
PKU established this scholarship for international students pursuing full-time bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The official page lists tuition exemption, a living allowance and medical insurance, with duration linked to the degree level. Applicants must first submit the relevant full-time self-funded admission application and may not hold another scholarship.
The published process uses PKU's online scholarship application and a university scholarship review. New undergraduate applicants do not submit a separate scholarship form under the current description; PKU selects recipients from admitted students. The page gives a usual January-March period, which is not a substitute for the notice for the intended intake.
New Sinology Program
PKU participates in two principal New Sinology routes administered with the Center for Language Education and Cooperation.
The PhD scholarship route supports eligible master's graduates pursuing a PKU doctorate in China-related research. The 2026 notice describes a four-year program and requires separate applications through the New Sinology platform and PKU's international student system, with the same proposed supervisor in both systems. It also specifies degree documentation, transcripts, a research-focused personal statement, recommendations, language evidence and research outputs. The published Chinese requirements differ between Chinese-taught and English-taught programs.
The joint-research PhD route is a non-degree senior visiting program for students formally registered in doctoral study at an overseas university. The 2026 notice describes a stay of one semester to two academic years, a minimum HSK level, a research plan, recommendations and coordination with the proposed PKU supervisor. It likewise requires applications in both systems and consistent supervisor information.
PKU's program overview describes full support that may include tuition, accommodation, living expenses and international travel, together with academic activities and possible later research support. The two detailed notices closed in February 2026, so those deadlines must not be reused for a later intake.
International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
The current PKU notice covers one-academic-year and one-semester Chinese-language study for candidates recommended through the scholarship system. At PKU, recipients enter the School of Chinese as a Second Language as general visiting or preparatory students, even if a direction is selected in the scholarship platform.
The notice specifies different HSK and HSKK thresholds by study duration and direction. It describes tuition exemption, a double room at Zhongguanyuan Global Village, a living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance. Applicants use both the PKU online system and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship system, followed by submission of the required academic, language, passport and recommendation materials.
The page expressly covers September 2026 and February 2027 entry, with separate deadlines for each. Applicants targeting another semester must wait for the corresponding notice rather than extrapolating these dates.
Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program
Peking University is a partner university in the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program. The PKU page describes one route integrated into Yenching Academy admission for eligible Asian students and another route for Japanese students enrolled in other PKU schools. Candidates are expected to demonstrate English proficiency, integrity, cross-cultural engagement and commitment to program activities.
Recipients must participate in required enrichment activities and disclose other scholarships, tuition waivers or third-party funding. The published page gives an indicative spring and summer selection sequence for the non-Yenching route, but directs applicants to the annual PKU notice for the actual method and timing. Current nationality coverage, quota and award terms require confirmation.
Build a 2027 Application Plan
The first decision is whether the application is for a degree, visiting research, language study or an existing PKU enrolment. This determines which admission application must be completed before or alongside the scholarship application.
- Identify the exact PKU study category, school, degree or visiting program, then match it to the relevant funding routes:
- Degree applicants should compare the High-Level Postgraduate Program, the Silk Road Program, the Beijing Government Scholarship, the Peking University Scholarship and any program-specific award.
- Short-term researchers and visiting students should review China Link and the joint-research branch of New Sinology.
- China-related doctoral researchers may fit the full PhD or joint-research New Sinology route, depending on whether they seek a PKU degree or remain registered at an overseas university.
- Chinese-language learners and prospective teachers should use the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship notice and the corresponding PKU visiting or preparatory admission category.
- Current students should distinguish awards open to continuing students from scholarships selected during admission.
- Complete the admission route required for that category before assuming a scholarship application is available.
- Check whether PKU selects candidates automatically, requires a separate PKU scholarship form, or expects a second application in a sponsor system.
- For research routes, confirm whether a proposed supervisor and school acceptance are required.
- Prepare degree records, transcripts, passport documentation, language scores, recommendations and a research or study statement in the required language.
- Check restrictions on holding another scholarship and whether annual review is required for continued funding.
- Use the latest official notice to confirm dates, award coverage, eligible programs, nationality rules and submission instructions.