Peking University – All you need to know

Table of Contents:

• Peking University – An overview
• Peking University History
• Peking University admission
• Peking University application deadline
• How to get into Peking University
• Peking University acceptance rate
• Peking University tuition fees
• Peking University majors
• Peking University ranking
• Peking University programs
• Peking University courses
• Peking University online courses
• Peking University Notable alumni
• Peking University scholarship
• Conclusion

Peking University – An overview

Peking University (abbreviated PKU, colloquially known as Beida) is an important research university in Beijing, China, and an elite member of the C9 League of Chinese universities.  The first modern national university established in China, was founded at the end of the Qing dynasty in 1898 as the Imperial University of Beijing and was the successor of the Guozijian, or Imperial College.  The university’s English name retains the old “Beijing” transcript that has been replaced in most other contexts.
Throughout its history, Peking University has played an important role “in the center of the main intellectual movements” in China.  Beginning in the early 1920s, the university became a center for the emerging progressive movements of China.  The faculty and students played important roles in the origin of the New Culture Movement, the protests of the May 4 Movement and other important cultural and socio-political events, to the extent that the history of the university has been closely linked to the modern China.  Peking University has educated and hosted many prominent modern Chinese figures, including Mao Zedong, Lu Xun, Gu Hongming, Hu Shih, Mao Dun, Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu and current Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

It houses one of the only university universities of liberal arts in Asia.  It is a Class A institution under the national Double First Class University program.

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The faculty of Peking University includes 76 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and 25 members of the World Academy of Sciences.  The Peking University Library is one of the largest libraries in the world with more than 8 million volumes.  The university also operates the PKU Hall, a center for professional performing arts and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Arts and Archeology.  The Founder Corporation, affiliated with the University of Beijing, is the company affiliated with the largest university in China, with total assets valued at 239.3 billion renminbi as of 2016. Peking University is especially known for the campus grounds and  The beauty of its traditional Chinese architecture.

Peking University History

Since its creation on July 3, 1898, the school was known as the Imperial University of Beijing (simplified Chinese: 京师大学堂; traditional Chinese: 京師大學堂; pinyin: Jīngshī Dàxuétáng; literally: ‘Capital Grand Study Hall’).  The school was established to replace Taixue, specifically the Guozijian, or the Imperial College, as part of the One Hundred Day Reform initiated by Emperor Guangxu.  Liang Qichao wrote the rules of organization of the University.  The university was authorized to administer and supervise all provincial schools.  Sun Jianai, who later served as Minister of the Personnel Ministry under the Qing court, was appointed to administer the university.  Recommended by Li Hongzhang, Emperor Guangxu appointed the American missionary William Alexander Parson Martin to serve as dean of the Western Learning Department.

The Guangxu emperor’s reform initiatives were strongly opposed by powerful conservatives of the Qing court.  On September 21, 1998, Empress Dowager Cixi, with the support of the conservatives, abruptly terminated the Hundred-Day Reform and put Guangxuunder’s house arrest in Zhongnanhai.  Cixi’s coup d’etat was followed by the immediate rescission of all the policies and laws enacted by Guangxu and its reformist supporters, the Imperial University of Beijing was the only part of the reform that survived.

In 1900, the university was paralyzed by the Boxer Rebellion, later in the year, the “Allied Forces of the Eight Powers” （八国联军） entered Beijing and the university operation was continually suspended.  In 1902, “Jingshitongwenguan”, a school established by the Qing court in 1862 for foreign language learning, was incorporated into the Imperial University of Beijing.  In 1904, the university sent 47 students to study abroad, which marked the first time a Chinese higher education institution sent students to foreign countries.

After the Xinhai Revolution, the Imperial University of Beijing was renamed “Peking Government University” in 1912 and then “Beijing National University” in 1919 [19] (Simplified Chinese: 国立北京大学; Traditional Chinese: 國立北京大學 ; pinyin: Guólì Běijīng Dàxué).

On May 1, 1919, some students at Peking University learned that the Treaty of Versailles would allow Japan to receive the rights of colonization of Germany in Shandong Province.  An assembly was quickly organized at Peking University that included these students and representatives of other universities in Beijing.  On May 4, students from thirteen universities marched to Tiananmen to protest the terms of the Versailles Treaty and demanded that the Beiyang government refuse to sign the treaty.  Protesters also demanded the immediate resignation of three officials: Cao Rulin, Minister of the Ministry of Transportation, Zhang Zongxiang, Chinese Ambassador to Japan and Lu Zongyu, Minister of Currency, who believed they were in cooperation with the Japanese.  The protest ended with some protesters beaten and arrested, and Cao Rulin’s house was burned by the protesters.  After the May 4 protest, students, workers and merchants from almost every major city in China went on strike and boycotted Japanese products in China.  The Beiyang government finally agreed to release the arrested students and dismissed the three officials under intense public pressure, China’s representatives in Paris refused to sign the Versailles Treaty.

These protests, now known as the May 4 Movement, have been widely regarded as one of the most important turning points in modern Chinese history.  In its broadest sense, the May 4 Movement led to the establishment of radical Chinese intellectuals who mobilized peasants and workers to the communist party and obtained the organizational strength that would solidify the success of the Communist Revolution.

After the May 4 Movement, Li Dazhao, who was then the director of the Peking University Library and also professor of economics, founded the first communist organization in Beijing, while Chen Duxiu founded another communist organization in Shanghai.

In 1920, Peking University became the first Chinese university to accept students.

Peking University admission

It takes at least 8 to 10 weeks after the application deadline to send the formal admission letter.  We may inform you to attend an interview or request additional materials according to your application process during this period.  If accepted, we will send you an admission letter and other relevant documents.  To track the progress of your application, contact the International Students Division by email or phone.  Due to our limited staff, we may not respond immediately to all inquiries.

Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport, over 18 and under 25, have obtained a high school diploma.  Residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have emigrated to other countries and are requesting admission to Peking University as international students must present a valid passport or citizenship documents prior to April 30, 2011, along with a  Proof of residence abroad of at least 2 years between April 30, 2011 and the application deadline (9 months of residence abroad per year can be considered as one year).

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Peking University application deadline

The Application Materials must be received before the final deadline on March 31st deadline, 24:00 hours Beijing time. Please note that rollingadmission deadlines are December 1, January 1, March 1 and March 31.

How to get into Peking University

To get into Peking. You need to go to the University official website and choose a program of study and submit the required materials.

Application Materials to Submit

• After completing the Peking University Application Form for International Students on-line please print and attach a passport-style photograph.
• Senior high school graduation diploma (Students expecting to graduate should provide an official letter stating expected graduation date, and submit the graduation diploma if admitted), which should be original documents or certified copies in Chinese or English.
• Official transcripts of your academic achievement up to the present, including courses taken and standard achieved (original documents or certified copies in Chinese or English)
• One photocopy of your valid passport (passport type must be ordinary)
• Additional materials may be required

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Notes:

Visa: Successful applicants should bring their Letter of Admission and their JW201/202 form to the Chinese consulate or embassy to apply for their Student Visa. A study period of 6 months and above requires an X1 visa. Accepted applicants need to exchange their X1 visas to a Residence Permit at the Office of International Relations within 30 days of arrival in China. If your period of study is less than half a year, you may apply for an X2 visa.

Medical insurance: Peking University’s regulations require that all international students must be medically insured throughout their entire planned period of study. Students are required to purchase the Comprehensive Insurance Plan of Foreign Students provided by Ping An insurance company on the day of registration, which has been recognized and recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Education. Students who do not have valid medical insurance are not allowed to register.

Peking University acceptance rate

Now, let’s talk about Peking University acceptance rate. For domestic students from China, the admission rate is very low. However, it is a different story for international students. It is still hard for international students, but it is not as difficult. It is estimated that around 15% of international students who apply get accepted. In order to be eligible to apply, you need to learn Chinese and take a Chinese proficiency test if you are applying for undergraduate programs. Also, you would need tests like SAT/ACT if you are applying for undergraduate programs or GRE if you are applying for graduate programs.

Peking University tuition fees

Tuition

 
Estimated cost of living (For your reference)

• Accommodation:               approximately 35,000 RMB/year
   Board (meals):                    approximately 15,000 RMB/year
   Transportation and other miscellaneous costs: approximately 5,000 RMB/year

Peking University majors

Here are all the majors available at Peking University:

• Clinical, pre-clinical & health
• Other Health
• Medicine & Dentistry
• Law
• Law
• Business & economics
• Economics & Econometrics
• Accounting & Finance
• Business & Management
• Arts & humanities
• Archaeology
• History, Philosophy & Theology
• Architecture
• Art, Performing Arts & Design
• Languages, Literature & Linguistics
• Psychology
• Psychology
• Life sciences
• Biological Sciences
• Agriculture & Forestry
• Social sciences
• Sociology
• Geography
• Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
• Communication & Media Studies
• Computer science
• Computer Science
• Engineering & technology
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• General Engineering
• Physical sciences
• Mathematics & Statistics
• Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
• Physics & Astronomy
• Chemistry

Peking University ranking

Peking University programs

International students have the following options of study at Peking University:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree-granting programs;
• Visiting students program (non-degree granting);
•  Pre-university program;
• Short-term language courses or Chinese studies programs.

Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with good health, valid passport, above the age of 18, and should abide by Chinese law and the regulations of Peking University. They should also respect Chinese social customs.

Undergraduate program: Students must complete the curriculum within 4 to 6 years and meet the designated number of credits. Successful graduates will receive a graduation certificate along with a bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the regulations of the Degree Committee.

Master’s Program: Students are required to complete the curriculum within 2-3 years, complete the designated number of credits, complete a master’s thesis and defend it in front of a panel of experts. Successful graduates will receive a graduation certificate along with the Master, in accordance with the regulations of the Degree Committee. The application period is usually in the fall semester of each year, while the faculty test is carried out during the spring semester of the following year (to be notified by the respective faculties).

Peking University currently offers 12 master’s programs fully taught in English, in a variety of areas that include international relations, Chinese law, public policy and business administration. Detailed descriptions can be found in the respective program brochures.

Doctoral program: students must complete the curriculum within 4-6 years (under normal circumstances), meet the designated number of credits, conduct research, complete the doctoral thesis and defend it in front of a panel of experts. Successful graduates will receive a graduation certificate with the doctorate, in accordance with the regulations of the Degree Committee.

Senior visiting student program: candidates must have at least a master’s degree. Older visiting students are usually supervised by a professor from the university or department who accepts them to conduct research on a specific subject. The program is one year, however, upon request, the student may be considered for an extension. Upon graduation, the student will receive a certificate of achievement.

General program of visiting students: candidates must have completed at least one year of university studies at their own university. The following options are available to join undergraduate courses or improve Chinese language proficiency:
 

• GVS1: Overseas Universities with student exchange agreements with Peking University may select students of non-Chinese nationality for an exchange program at Peking University for a Chinese language course or specific undergraduate courses.
• GVS2: International students awarded with Chinese Government Scholarships or Confucius Institute Scholarships may take Chinese language courses or undergraduate courses at Peking University.
• GVS3: Students may apply for a Chinese language course or undergraduate courses through individual or group applications.

Research Scholars: Candidates must have a doctorate or have the title of associate or higher professor. Academic researchers will have access to university resources and may collaborate with professors from the university or department that accepts them to carry out a specific investigation. Most successful candidates have established prior contact with professors in their private fields, anyone who wishes to come as an academic researcher is highly recommended to find a supervisor in advance. Research academics enjoy flexible application dates and research durations. Applications can be sent at any time, and the duration of the study varies between a month, a semester or a year. 

Peking University courses

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Peking University online courses

Peking University is determined to make its education openly accessible to students in China and around the world. With over 3000 faculty members, Peking University offers excellence in teaching and learning. Founded in 1898, Peking University (PKU) was the first national comprehensive university in China. For the past 115 years, with its hundreds of thousands of outstanding alumni, Peking University has made prominent contributions in the humanities and sciences to further China’s prosperity and progress.

Peking University determined to be offering free online courses to students from any part of the world. The link below lists all the online courses available at Peking University.

See Peking University online courses – See Link Here

Peking University Schools

Peking University Notable alumni

Here is a full list of the noble alumni, who were once students of Peking University, and have gone on to make their mark in different fields of life.

Writers

• Fan Changjiang – journalist and writer
• Feng Youlan 冯友兰 – philosopher[7]
• David Hawkes – writer and translator
• Dolma Kyab – writer (currently political prisoner)
• Andrew Lau – writer and poet
• Mao Dun 茅盾 – writer and journalist
• Shen Qing 沈清 – Publisher of Rui, monthly magazine of Financial Times
• Qian Xuantong 钱玄同 and Liu Bannong 刘半农 – writers and promotioners of the New Culture Movement
• Lulu Wang – best-selling Dutch-language writer
• Jan Wong – writer (one of the first western students permitted to study since 1949)
• Xu Zhimo 徐志摩 – poet
• Zhang Chengzhi – writer
• Zhu Ziqing 朱自清 – poet
• Wen Yuan-ning faculty and author of Chinese classic ‘Imperfect Understanding’
• Gui Minhai – writer and bookseller
• Liu Zhenyun- novelist and screenwriter

Academics

• Hu Shih with visiting guests at the Peking University
• Michael Halliday – developed systemic functional grammar
• Tian Gang 田刚 – mathematician
• Tang Tao 汤涛 – mathematician
• Li Yining 厉以宁 – economist
• Tsung-Dao Lee (Li Zhengdao) 李政道 B.S. 1946 – Honorary professor, physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (physics, 1957)
• Yang Zhenning 杨振宁 B.S. 1942 – Honorary professor (at Tsinghua as well), physicist, Nobel Prize laureate, 1957
• Justin Yifu Lin 林毅夫 – economist (now the chief economist of World Bank)
• Yu Jie – First house church leader to meet an American president (May 2006, meeting George W Bush in the White House)
• Yu Min – physicist, Father of Chinese H-bombs
• Luo Jialun 罗家伦 – leader of the May Fourth Movement, president of Tsinghua University
• Fu Sinian 傅斯年 – educator and linguist; leader of the May Fourth Movement, creators of the Academia Sinica, former president of National Taiwan University
• Gu Jiegang 顾颉刚 – a Chinese historian; the founder of the Skeptical school of early Chinese history, known as yigupai; best known for the seven volume work Gushi Bian (古史辨 “Debates on Ancient History”).
• Shang Yue 尚钺 – a Chinese economic historian and an author; best known for his contribution on the idea of sprouts of capitalism
• Ren Jiyu 任继愈 – Chinese historian and philosopher, former director of the National Library.
• Deng Jiaxian 邓稼先 – a nuclear physics expert; a leading organizer and key contributor to the Chinese nuclear weapon programs.
• Qian Sanqiang 钱三强 – a nuclear physicist and education administrator; a leading organizer and key contributor to the Chinese nuclear weapon programs; former president of Zhejiang University
• Zhu Guangya 朱光亚 – a renowned nuclear physicist of China, key contributor to China’s “Two Bombs, One Satellite” projects.
• Zhou Guangzhao 周光召 – expert on particle physics, discoverer of PCAC (partial conservation of axial current), an important step toward the understanding of symmetry breaking; former director of the Chinese Nuclear Weapons Research Institute and president of the Academica Sinica.
• Gang Liu 刘刚 – a mathematician and computer scientist.
• Ji Xianlin – linguist, historian, indologist, writer, vice president of Peking University (since 1978)
• Yitang Zhang 张益唐 B.S. 1982, M.S. 1985, mathematician Discovered upper bond of prime numbers as close to 70, 000, 000, and won Ostrowski Prize (2013) Cole Prize (2014) Rolf Schock Prize (2014) MacArthur Fellowship (2014).
• Li Bulou 李步楼 – a translator and philosopher. Holds the honor of “Experts with outstanding contributions” given by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
• Yingying Zhang[8]
• Tu Youyou 屠呦呦 – a pharmaceutical chemist and educator. She is best known for discovering artemisinin (also known as qinghaosu) and dihydroartemisinin, used to treat malaria, which has saved millions of lives. For her work, Tu received the 2011 Lasker Award in clinical medicine and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura.

In politics

• The gate of the Flora Temple on the eastern bank of the Weiming Lake
• Bo Xilai 薄熙来 – Former Party Secretary General of Chongqing, Former Minister of Commerce
• Cai Wu 蔡武 – Minister of Culture
• Deng Nan 邓楠 – Former Vice minister of the State Science and Technology Commission
• Deng Pufang 邓朴方 – founder and Chairman of China Disabled Persons’ Federation
• Guo Gengmao 郭庚茂 – Governor of Henan Province
• Hu Chunhua 胡春华 – Youngest governor in China, former First Secretary of the Communist Youth League
• Hu Deping 胡德平 – vice chairman of All-China General Chamber of Industry & Commerce Party, Secretary of National Association of Industry and Commerce, and vice minister of the Propaganda Department
• Li Keqiang 李克强 – Premier of China, Politburo Standing Committee member
• Li Yuanchao 李源潮 – Vice President of China, Politburo member
• Li Zhaoxing 李肇星 – minister of foreign affairs
• Lu Hao 陆昊 – First Secretary of Communist Youth League of China
• Yuan Chunqing 袁纯清 – Governor of Shaanxi Province, Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
• K. Natwar Singh – India politician
• Chen Duxiu 陈独秀 – founding member and leader in the Communist Party of China
• Zhang Guotao 张国焘 – founding member and leader in the Communist Party of China
• Li Dazhao 李大钊 – founding member and leader in the Communist Party of China
• Mao Zedong 毛泽东 – founding member and leader in the Communist Party of China
• Mulatu Teshome – President of Ethiopia (2013-).
• Deng Zhongxia 邓中夏 – founding member and leader in the Communist Party of China
• Wang Dan 王丹 – Leader of the Tiananmen protests in 1989
• Fang Lizhi 方励之 – Spiritual leader of the Tiananmen Protests in 1989
• Shen Tong 沈彤 – Author, Pro-democracy activist
• Yue Xin 岳昕 – feminist and Marxist activist, participant in The 2018 Jasic Incident.
• Qiu Zhanxuan – undergraduate student at Peking University, head of Peking University Marxist Society.

In business and media

• Boya Pagoda by the Weiming Lake, one of the landmarks on the campus
• Among the “top 300 richest in China”[9] 27 graduated from Beida, much higher than any other Chinese university. The second ranking school is Zhejiang University, with 17 alumni on the list.

• Li Yanhong 李彦宏 – founder of Baidu.com
• Wang Xuan 王选 – founder of Founder Co.
• Wang Zhidong 王志东 – founder of Sina.com
• Yu Minhong 俞敏洪 – founder of New Oriental Education Group
• Peggy Yu 俞渝 – founder of dangdang.com, the largest online retailor in Chinese language.
• Li Ning 李宁 – Olympic gold medalist, founder of Li Ning Group[10]
• Huang Nubo 黄怒波 – founder of Zhongkun Real Estate Group
• Yu Liang – CEO of China Vanke Group
• Shen Tong 沈彤 – founder and president of VFinity
• Hou Yifan – chess player
• Lu Zhengyao, billionaire businessman, chairman of Luckin Coffee[11]
• Avram Glazer, executive Co-Chairman of Manchester United

Peking University scholarship

Applications are open to apply for the Peking University Scholarship in China every end of the year. International Students, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan can apply. One of the scholarships, Yenching Academy of Peking University is a Fully Funded Scholarship to Earn a Master Degree.

Each Year they Award 125 Scholarships and 80% International Students are admitted.

There is No Registration Fee for the Scholarship. Peking University Scholarship is a Fully Funded Scholarships in China & You must avail this scholarship.

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Available Fields & Major

The Yenching Academy offers a Diverse Fields in Master’s program in China studies for English speakers to study in China scholarship.

The Following Disciplines are Available for Masters Candidates For Free Scholarship to study in China.

• Economics and Management
• History and Archaeology
• Philosophy and Religion
• Politics and International Relations
• Law and Society
• Literature and Culture
• Financial Coverage

Peking University Scholarship in China for international students is a Free Scholarship in China, Fully Funded Scholarship for all the international students & will cover the following expenses.

• Full Tuition Fees
• Full Accommodation
• Monthly Stipend
• Field Study Costs
• One Round-Trip Travel Fare
• Living costs to cover campus living costs and expenses related to field studies.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Following Eligibility Criteria will be Consider to be eligible for Yenching Academy of Peking University Scholarship.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field awarded no later than August 31, 2020An Outstanding Academic Record
• Strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China
• A record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and Leadership potentia
• English proficiency.
• Required Documents
• Please submit the following documents in English for Peking University China scholarships
• Completed online application form.Personal statement (750 words or less).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Official transcript(s).
• Diploma(s) or Certificate(s) of Enrollment.
• Two letters of recommendation.

Conclusion

Throughout its history, Peking University has played an important role “in the center of the main intellectual movements” in China.  Beginning in the early 1920s, the university became a center for the emerging progressive movements of China.  The faculty and students played important roles in the origin of the New Culture Movement, the protests of the May 4 Movement and other important cultural and socio-political events, to the extent that the history of the university has been closely linked to the modern China.  Domestic and international students are welcome to apply for admissions at Peking. Do well to visit the official University website for more information and application.

Official website Pinking University