Eligibility requirements

Applicant qualifications: 

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field, awarded no later than 31 August in the year in which you wish to enrol at Yenching Academy.
• Outstanding academic record.
• Strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China.
• Record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement and social responsibility.
• Indications of leadership potential.
• Proficiency in English - see details below.

English proficiency

To demonstrate your English proficiency, you must submit one of the following test results. Note that students/alumni of English-taught degree programmes are exempted from submitting an English test result. 

• IELTS Academic: overall 7.0 (not older than 2 years at the time of application)
• TOEFL iBT: overall 100 (not older than 2 years at the time of application)
  We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
• Cambridge English (Advanced): overall 185 
• CET 6: overall 600 
• TEM 4: pass level of “良好”or above 

Important: If you take an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge test, also ask the test organisation to send your results directly to “Yenching Academy of Peking University”. The TOEFL institution code is C488.

What qualities should a Yenching Scholar possess?

The Yenching Academy seeks talented, high potential individuals whose collective diversity will create a rich learning and living environment. The best way to understand what the Yenching Academy is looking for in candidates is to review the bios of previous scholars, available on the programme’s website. Note that candidates should have a strong interest in China, but do not need to have Chinese language study experience.

Exclusions

• Yenching Academy does not set a strict age limit for applicants, but to date, no students over the age of 28 have been admitted to the programme. The average age of students entering the programme is 23.
• Whilst following the Master of Arts in China Studies, Yenching scholars are not permitted to join other degree programmes at Peking University.

Scholarship or loan amount

The Yenching Academy provides a generous postgraduate scholarship that covers tuition fees, a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between each scholar’s base city and Beijing, accommodation, a monthly stipend and field study costs.

Information sessions

Students are invited to join the live information session during the International Experience Week. Please use the registration form of the International Experience Week to sign up for that specific live session. 

Application process

1. Prepare application materials

First prepare the following materials:

• Completed Yenching Academy application form.
• Personal statement written in English (max. 750 words). 
  Include a personal introduction and the reasons why you wish to be a Yenching Scholar. The name of the document must be 'Your full name + Personal Statement'.
• Statement of research interest (max 1500 words excluding citations).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Copy of your current Leiden University transcript(s).
• Copy of any other university diplomas/transcripts.
  If your university documents are not issued in English or Chinese, also include a certified English translation. 
• English test result: for required scores and exemption criteria see 'Eligibility requirements' above. 

2. Request recommendations

Next, ask two professors (hoogleraar) or associate professors (UHD/universitair hoofddocent) to complete the recommender form. They should then send the form directly to internationalrelations@sea.leidenuniv.nl before 23 November at 9.00 CET. The email title should mention 'Yenching Academy' and your name.

Difficulty obtaining recommendations? 
Have you had insufficient contact with professors or associate professors to ask them to write a detailed recommendation for you? This could be, for example, due to the large number of students on your study programme. In this case, you can request permission to submit a recommendation from an assistant professor (UD/Universitair docent) who holds a PhD. To request permission, send a mail to: internationalrelations@sea.leidenuniv.nl, detailing the reason for your request and the name of the assistant professor. 

3. Submit application to Leiden University

Before 23 November at 9.00 CET, submit your application materials by email to internationalrelations@sea.leidenuniv.nl. The subject line of your email must include ‘Yenching Academy’.

Are you a citizens of  Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, or Taiwan? Different application procedures apply. See Yenching Academy website. However, you must still submit your application to Leiden University by the deadline stated above.

4. Submit your application to Peking University, Yenching Academy

Before 1 December at 9.00 Beijing time, also submit your application via Yenching Academy's Admissions Portal. Your application must be identical to the one you submit to Leiden University. 

Note: the deadline stated on the Yenching Academy website differs from Leiden University’s internal deadline. This is because the Leiden Selection Committee needs additional time to review your application.

Selection process

• Leiden University will pre-select and nominate up to six candidates to Yenching Academy. Being nominated does not guarantee you a place, but it does mean your application will be given extra consideration. 
• Leiden University will inform you before the winter break if you have been nominated.  
• Yenching Academy will consider all nominated candidates.
• Yenching Academy will contact selected candidates directly to schedule interviews in the winter or early spring. Most will be held online.
• Yenching Academy will issue acceptances on a rolling basis. The majority of admission decisions will be made in the following (late) April.

Programme information

Programme duration

The Yenching Academy programme is two years in duration. However, international students are only required to stay in Beijing for the first year. All scholars in good standing have the option to extend the fellowship for a second year, if they wish to remain in Beijing. Those who leave campus after one year may complete their theses and thesis defence via Skype.

Residential College

The Yenching Academy classrooms and offices are located in the Jing Yuan Courtyard in the heart of the Peking University campus. Yenching Scholars and visiting faculty will reside nearby, in dormitory facilities that have common lounges, a library and a cafeteria.

Further information

• See the Yenching Academy presentation for Leiden University students 2021.
• Also visit the ​​​Yenching Academy website.