Why STEM Applications Should Start with Choosing a Career Direction
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Beijing, China
Peking University (PKU) is one of China's two flagship universities, along with Tsinghua University, founded in 1898. It is a member of the elite C9 League—an association of nine leading Chinese universities, similar to the American Ivy League. The campus is located in Haidian, a district in northwest Beijing—the academic core of the Chinese capital, adjacent to the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan. International students can pursue all levels of study: undergraduate, graduate, and PhD.
Peking University was founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Beijing — the first national university with comprehensive disciplines in the history of China. In 1912, when China became a republic, the university received its current name. Today, PKU is a major research university with about 35,000 students, 12 faculties, and more than 270 specialties.
The Yanyuan campus (“Garden of the Yan People”) covers 274 hectares and is one of the most beautiful university campuses in Asia: it features historic gardens, ponds, traditional Chinese pavilions, and modern research buildings. Beijing is China’s political, cultural, and scientific center, providing direct access to key government structures, international organizations, and major Chinese corporations.
PKU is a member of the C9 League and holds the status of a “Double First Class University” — the highest state classification for Chinese universities. According to QS, PKU’s academic reputation ranks #12 in the world, reflecting its recognition among scientists and researchers worldwide.
| Degree of study | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, PhD, language programs |
| Type of university | Public Research University; member of the C9 League (Chinese Ivy League) |
| Program language | Primarily Chinese; some programs are in English (especially at the graduate level). |
| Main directions | economics, management, computer science, medicine, law, international relations, humanities and natural sciences |
| Financing | Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Beijing Government Scholarship, Peking University Scholarship |
| Student campus | approximately 35,000 students |
| Campus | 274 hectares in the Haidian District, Beijing — near the Summer Palace and Yuanyuan. |
The tuition fee is stated in yuan (RMB) and varies depending on the program and level.
Bachelor’s degree (standard programs): from 26,000 RMB/year (humanities) to 30,000 RMB/year (natural sciences and engineering)
Bachelor’s degree (medical programs, PKUHSC): 45,000 RMB per year
Master’s degree (standard programs): from 29,000 RMB/year (humanities) to 33,000 RMB/year (natural sciences)
Master’s program (specialized and English‑language programs): up to 94,000 RMB/year; Global MBA — 188,000 RMB for the full course
Doctoral program: from 32,000 to 60,000 RMB/year, depending on the field of study
Application review fee: 800 RMB (non‑refundable)
Peking University unites 12 faculties and numerous schools. The most in demand among international students are:
Economics and Management
Computer Science and Technology
School of Computer Science and Technology is one of the leading institutions in China. Algorithms, AI, data analysis, cybersecurity, software engineering. Most programs are in Chinese.
Medicine
Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) is a medical cluster of PKU: clinical medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, and public health. Instruction is in Chinese; HSK 5–6 is required. Admission is through a separate process involving an entrance exam.
Law, International Relations, and Social Sciences
Humanities and natural sciences
A wide range through the main faculties: literature, history, philosophy, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, earth sciences.
The Yanyuan campus is one of the most beautiful in Asia. Historical gardens, ponds, and traditional Chinese pavilions coexist with modern academic and research buildings. The campus is located in the Haidian district — the academic core of Beijing, where dozens of universities and technology companies are concentrated.
For international students, there are Zhongguanyuan Global Village and Shaoyuan International Student Dormitory — student dormitories on the campus. The cost ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 RMB per month. Starting in 2025, on‑campus accommodation for self‑funded undergraduate students is not guaranteed — it is recommended to plan accommodation in advance.
The campus has canteens, cafes, sports complexes, libraries (the collection comprises more than 11 million volumes) and medical centres. The Beijing Metro, with several lines, provides convenient connections to the city centre and international companies.
It is recommended to start preparing the documents 5–6 months before the deadline, taking into account the time required for language tests, translation, and notarization of the documents.
High school diploma with high academic performance. Most programs require HSK 4–5. Age limit: as a rule, no more than 25 years. Online application via the official PKU portal. Deadlines: March–May for the autumn intake. Fee: 800 RMB.
Bachelor’s degree diploma with transcript, CV, letters of recommendation (usually two), personal statement or study plan. Deadlines: December–March for the autumn intake.
A research proposal and preliminary contact with a potential academic supervisor are essentially a mandatory element. For programs in the field of science and technology, publications may be required.
HSK 4–5 for Chinese‑language programs (HSK 5–6 for medicine); IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL 90–100 iBT for English‑language programs.
PKU is one of the most competitive universities in China and the world. The official acceptance rate for international students is not published; it is estimated to be around 15%, but the competition is significantly higher for medicine, law, and economics.
The main state financing program. Covers: full tuition, hostel accommodation, medical insurance and monthly stipend:
Submission via the Chinese Embassy in the country of origin or directly through PKU (different routes, different deadlines — usually January-April). Not all countries have CSC quotas — check with the embassy.
The Beijing government’s regional program:
The university’s own scholarship for outstanding international students. Awarded on a competitive basis; the conditions and amount of coverage vary annually — check at isd.pku.edu.cn.
For students studying Chinese or enrolled in Chinese‑language programs.
Beijing is the political and economic center of China, offering unique career opportunities for PKU graduates. The headquarters of major Chinese corporations (Baidu, ByteDance, Xiaomi, CITIC), government agencies, international organizations, and diplomatic missions are all within easy reach.
A PKU diploma is one of the most recognizable in China and beyond. For an international student, it is especially valuable in the following fields:
PKU was founded in 1898 as China’s first national university with interdisciplinary studies — it is over 125 years old.
The Yanyuan campus covers 274 hectares and is an architectural monument: traditional Chinese gardens, ponds, and pavilions were created over the course of three centuries.
In 1918, Mao Zedong worked at the library department of PKU, and it was there that he first became acquainted with Marxism — a fact that has become part of the university’s official history.
PKU is ranked #2 in Asia according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, behind only the University of Hong Kong and ahead of NTU and NUS.
QS Academic Reputation Ranking 2026: #12 in the world — PKU’s academic reputation is higher than its overall ranking, which indicates exceptional recognition among scholars.
Located near the campus is Zhongguancun Science Park — China’s “Silicon Valley,” the country’s largest technology cluster, with residents such as Lenovo, ByteDance, Baidu, and hundreds of startups.
Admission to PKU is a multi‑stage process in which every element of the application matters. At SelfStartGlobal, we help you build it in a systematic way:
Our students have already received scholarships worth more than 35 million dollars.
If you want to enroll at Peking University, come to a free consultation. We’ll explain how it works in your specific case.
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