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Peking University

China China

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THE World Ranking: 14

Overview

Overview

Peking University (PKU) is one of the world’s best academic institutions. It is often ranked in the top five universities in China and the global top 20 universities. Based in one of the most historic parts of Beijing, it has lots of culture, history and modern facilities to offer students who want an exciting academic and social life during their studies.

 

There are around 35,000 students enrolled at PKU. Over 5,000 of them are international students, and PKU’s global reputation is always growing as it welcomes new innovations and new students and staff members from a wide range of backgrounds. Specialising in science and related studies, all PKU courses and programmes are perfect for ambitious, hard-working students who want to take their first step toward a successful professional career.

 

PKU tutors and lecturers are all experts in their fields, and they combine experience, theory, knowledge and practical opportunities to help students create their best work and achieve a lot. The PKU library is one of the best in the country, and all the individual study rooms and laboratories on campus make it easy for students to learn independently and in different-sized groups. There are multiple research centres and facilities, great career development opportunities and all the social areas a student could need.

 

The friendly and welcoming environment at PKU allows international students to make friends and get the best of Chinese culture. The on-campus events, societies and clubs are great ways of keeping up a healthy work-life balance and avoiding negative emotions like stress. Student accommodation options also allow international students to live with other peers from overseas, settling into life in Beijing and getting used to a new country together.

 

Outside of the PKU campus, there are even more recreation and entertainment options. Beijing has many bars, clubs, music venues and restaurants. There are also lots of work experience and placement opportunities.

 

Overall, the employment prospects for students leaving PKU are great, and the university is ranked by multiple external organisations as one of the best universities in the world (both generally and specifically in terms of graduate outcomes). The alumni network is filled with famous politicians and respected scientific and academic minds, and this is a network that students could soon become a part of if they choose to enrol on a course at PKU.

 

Teaching Quality

 

PKU is always ranked as one of the best universities in China and the wider world. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 placed it 16th, and the QS World University Rankings 2023 placed it 12th. Previously, the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2021 placed it 45th, so even in the past couple of years, PKU has achieved a lot.

 

There are around 35,000 students enrolled at PKU and 5,000 faculty members employed. The university is respected for its high-quality teaching, with a very impressive teaching score of 94.1 per cent. This teaching quality is based on a combination of research, theory and excellent practical experience.

 

PKU courses in the science faculty are known across the world for their great content, and four individual courses at PKU made the top 20 in the course-specific global rankings: physical science at 15th, computer science at 17th, social science at 18th and life science at 19th. Education studies, arts and humanities and business and economics all also rank highly.

 

Across all departments and subject areas, courses and programmes at PKU deliver quality teaching from experienced lecturers to inspired students. In total, 123 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are on staff. Academics often win awards, and so does the university. In 2021, for example, PKU won 13 Outstanding Achievement Awards for Research in Institutes for Higher Learning. These awards included two first prizes, and they were given thanks to the university’s great teaching and its big positive impact on current students and alumni.

 

Entry Requirements

 

PKU is one of the most popular universities in China for international students, and they can study at the undergraduate or postgraduate level in either English or Mandarin Chinese. Each course has its own specific entry requirements, but there are also some general university entry requirements that all international students have to meet.

 

They must have foreign nationality and be a minimum of 18 years old. They also need to have achieved excellent grades and be educated to the right level (high school for undergraduates, previous university qualifications of at least the level of a bachelor’s degree for postgraduates). Plus, they will need to prove their language proficiency in either Mandarin Chinese or English (depending on the course of study they’ve chosen).

 

Some undergraduate students will have to take an entrance exam. They will need to achieve a passing grade in this exam and will be assessed on their Chinese language skills, English skills and mathematics skills. Students who have achieved high scores in their studies (specific requirements listed on the PKU website) won’t usually need to sit this exam.

 

All international postgraduate students must have a valid, non-Chinese passport. As mentioned, university requirements will mean that they need at least a bachelor’s degree, or at least a master’s degree for doctoral-level applications. All students need a total GPA of 4.5 to study at PKU, and all applicants should make sure to research the specific course requirements that will be relevant to them before applying for admission.

 

English Score Required

 

Courses at PKU are taught in both English and Mandarin Chinese. There are many undergraduate and postgraduate courses taught in English, which tend to be the courses that international students more commonly apply for. If applying for an English-taught course, students will need to show a minimum level of English understanding.

 

If English proficiency can’t be shown in another way, it will need to be proven through an English test and the achievement of a minimum English score. Accepted testing methods at PKU include the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

 

Undergraduate applicants will need a minimum TOEFL score of 75 or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 6.5. Postgraduate applicants will need a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7. These are the general requirements, but scores can also be different for certain courses, so research is needed.

 

Admission

 

The university admission process at PKU is made as simple as possible for students, both domestic and international. International applicants collect all the student admission documents they need, complete their online application, pay an application fee of RMB 400 and take an entrance exam (unless exempt). In some cases, they’ll also have to take part in an interview. Supporting documents requested from students during the admission process include:

 

  • Their valid passport
  • A two-inch passport-style photo
  • Complete transcripts of any previous education, including secondary school and any previous degrees
  • The graduation diplomas from their secondary school or any previous degrees
  • A personal statement
  • Either their English or Mandarin Chinese language proficiency evidence
  • Their birth certificate and both parents’ proof of nationality
  • Two letters of recommendation (these must be written by a teacher or professor in either English or Mandarin Chinese and signed by the writer)

 

In addition to the above list, students applying for postgraduate courses must provide their GRE score and must have a score of at least 315 points to be considered. Because places at PKU are so competitive, the university recommends that applications are made as early as possible, no later than two to three months before the final deadline is the suggestion. Students can get direct help with the application process through the university if they are ever confused or struggling with anything. 

 

Scholarships & Funding

 

PKU takes a lot of pride in the number of international students that choose to attend the university. PKU also understands that for overseas students (especially overseas students from underprivileged backgrounds), studying in China can be expensive. This is why PKU offers as many university scholarships and Chinese-government-supported scholarships as it can.

 

The Peking University Scholarship is one of the best options. It’s offered to outstanding students already enrolled in PKU degree programmes taught in Mandarin Chinese. They must be non-Chinese and in good physical health, and if they receive the full scholarship, it will cover the length of their degree and fully cover their tuition fees, as well as offer them a monthly stipend and medical insurance cover. The partial scholarship version will only cover tuition fees, but either way, this is a huge source of funding support.

 

The Beijing Government Scholarship is a great opportunity for students studying courses in either language. It is provided by the Beijing Municipal Government and offered as either a full or partial scholarship that covers tuition fees. The full scholarship covers tuition fees for one academic year, and the partial option covers them for half a year.

 

There are many more options to look into, and there is also a financial advice service at PKU for students to turn to if they’re experiencing financial hardship. From scholarships to bursaries, loans and funds, this university will do everything it can to make education accessible to students from any financial background.

 

University Structure

 

PKU has a traditional structure in terms of its faculties and departments. It has eight main faculties and departments, and these contain the schools and research facilities that have made it famous. It’s located in a beautiful part of northwest Beijing, where students can experience nature as much as they can enjoy China’s busy capital city. This is the structure:

 

  • The Faculty of Science (containing seven schools and the College of Life Sciences)
  • The Department of Information and Engineering Sciences (containing six schools, three academies, the Wang Xuan Computer Research Institute and the National Engineering Research Centre for Software Engineering)
  • The Department of Humanities (containing three sub-departments, two schools, two academies and the College of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language)
  • The Faculty of Social Sciences (containing three sub-departments, three schools, two institutes and the Academy of Marxism)
  • The Faculty of Economics and Management (containing two schools and two research institutes)
  • The Faculty of Medicine (containing 10 hospitals, four schools, the Faculty of Medical Humanities and the College of Pharmacy)
  • The Interdisciplinary Department (containing four research institutes, two colleges, the Beijing International Mathematical Research Centre and the Yenching Academy)
  • The Shenzhen Graduate School (containing eight schools and the Humanities and Social Sciences College)

 

The university has many research centres, academies and institutes where interdisciplinary classes are taught and important research projects are completed. There’s something for everyone at PKU, and things are all organised in the way that most benefits students.

 

Facilities

 

PKU is famous for its academic facilities and research centres, but it has lots of great student life centres to offer as well, for socialising and relaxing. Based in one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of Beijing, the campus allows students to follow their academic goals and relax when classes are done for the day.

 

PKU lecture theatres are open and comfortable, perfect for learning and staying focused even in longer seminars and lessons. The university library is a large and popular student activity centre for studying and research. It’s filled with physical books and resources and able to connect students with even more resources digitally. Plus, the library has 3D printing facilities and bookable study rooms, plus, library staff run regular research and academic skills workshops that can be really helpful to students.

 

When class is over, there are more than 200 extracurricular student organisations to join at PKU. There are also lots of cafés and restaurants for relaxing and enjoying food and drink with peers on campus. Plus, there are a number of student recreation centres for staying fit and active, and regular events and festivals are hosted on campus.

 

From affordable student housing options to modern, professional-standard research institutes and centres, there’s nothing a student will need for their studies or wider student life that they won’t be able to access.

 

Accommodation

 

University accommodation for international students at Peking can be found in the Zhongguayuan Global Village. It’s close to the campus, located just outside its southeast gate, and it contains two sites called Building Number One and Building Number Nine. Building Number One has 203 rooms available and Building Number Nine has 176 rooms available.

 

In Building Number One, students can find rooms ranging from standard single rooms to executive suites. They’re all furnished and equipped with amenities, including common spaces, to a four-star hospitality standard. In Building Number Nine, students will find standard single rooms, double rooms and executive suites. All of those will be furnished and equipped with amenities to a three-star standard.

 

These student accommodation options are close to campus shops and cafés and within easy walking distance of teaching rooms. They’re very convenient, but they aren’t the only accommodation choices available.

 

There are also plenty of private rental options in Beijing, from rented rooms to studio apartments to shared student houses. The cheapest private rooms to rent in China’s capital will start at around RMB 1,600 monthly and might reach as much as RMB 3,000 monthly, depending on size and location.

 

Student Support

 

PKU’s student support programme covers all possible student needs, giving students support with everything from academic queries to mental health concerns. The private and confidential counselling department, for example, can offer students essential student support services, connecting them with an experienced professional who will act as their student guide. No matter the issue, this professional will be able to offer help and advice. PKU doesn’t underestimate the value of having someone to talk to.

 

International student support is available through the dedicated International Students Division. That includes help with the application process and visa requirements, as well as help settling in and handling any academic concerns after an overseas student arrives on campus.

 

Other student services include the Office of Student Affairs (which should be the first place a person turns to if they have an administrative issue) and the career services that can help students understand their post-graduation options and boost their employability.

 

Graduate Outcomes

 

PKU’s reputation for graduate employment is one of the best in China. The QS World University Rankings named it the 23rd best university in the world for graduate employability, giving it an academic reputation of 99.3 per cent, an employer reputation of 96.5 per cent and an employment outcomes rating of 91.4 per cent.

 

The university has taught many famous alumni, including lots of important Chinese politicians, academics and writers. The skills students learn during their courses, both in terms of knowledge and in terms of practical abilities, make them suitable for a wide range of jobs in a wide range of industries. PKU graduates go on to work in leading firms all over the globe, and the career services that the university offers help them to reach these positions, too.

 

Most of the employment services are offered through specific schools, departments and colleges at PKU. For example, the Guanghua School of Management has fantastic resources available for its graduates. Its Career Development Centre helps students figure out their career options, build a career plan and benefit from networking opportunities, job fairs and industry weeks.

 

The Guanghua School also offers one-on-one career counselling with a career guide. In these sessions, which usually last an hour, students are helped to develop and improve their employability skills, from CV writing to interview techniques. Many of the other PKU departments and faculties have similar helpful employment services available to maximise students’ post-graduation job prospects, like the School of Transnational Law and the BiMBA Business School in the National School of Development.

 

International students can enjoy all the career support they want at PKU. The university will give them everything they need to start a successful career, whether they want to do that in China or elsewhere. Anything is possible with a degree from PKU, and the journey begins with the decision to make an application for student admission.

Subjects you can study at Peking University

  • Social Studies and Media Social Studies and Media
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Key facts and figures at Peking University

Rankings

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

14

OVERALL SCORE

91.8%

TEACHING

95.6%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

70.2%

INDUSTRY INCOME

98.8%

RESEARCH

97.3%

CITATIONS

87.2%
QS World University Rankings 2024
Source: QS

17

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
Source: ARWU

29

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR
LIVING COSTS

¥55,000

CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION

¥35,000

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

POSTGRADUATE

¥95,000

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