Peking University — Full Profile & Ranking 2026

Peking University (PKU, also called Beida) is a public research university in Beijing, founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking. It is often described as China’s first modern national university and is a member of the C9 League, an alliance of nine leading Chinese research universities. PKU is known for humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and medicine, and its campus in the Haidian district is one of the best known in China.

For international applicants, the key point is language: Peking University’s undergraduate programmes are mainly taught in Chinese, so applicants must show Chinese ability or plan a preparatory year. Postgraduate options include more English-taught programmes.

Peking University is ranked 13th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. It moved up one place from 14th in the previous edition and is the highest-ranked university in mainland China. Tsinghua University ranks 14th, up from 17th.

QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.

Source: QS TopUniversities and the QS World University Rankings 2027 press release (18 June 2026).

PKU offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes, and it is known for:

• Humanities and Chinese studies — literature, history, philosophy, and archaeology
• Natural sciences — mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life sciences
• Medicine — through Peking University Health Science Center
• Economics and management — including Guanghua School of Management
• Social sciences, law, and international relations
• Yenching Academy — a well-known English-language master’s programme in China studies

For the full list, see PKU’s official website.

International undergraduate admission at PKU is run by the International Students Division. Details below were checked in October 2026; confirm them on the official site before applying, because dates for 2027 entry may differ from 2026.

Undergraduate Admissions (International Students)

Graduate Admissions

Master’s and doctoral applicants apply through PKU’s graduate admissions system, and many programmes use English or have English-taught tracks. Check each programme’s own page.

Official source: PKU International Students Division.

PKU does not publish an official acceptance rate for international undergraduate applicants. Competition for Chinese applicants through the national gaokao is extremely high, but that is a different system and should not be compared directly with international admission.

Any single percentage you see online for international admission is an unverified estimate. Use the published entry requirements and exam format for your route as the real guide.

• Decide whether you can study in Chinese. If not, check the Yuke preparatory route or look at English-taught graduate programmes
• Choose your route: entrance examination or international test scores
• Note that the 2026 window ran from 1 January to 28 February and prepare early for 2027
• Prepare your school documents and the RMB 800 application fee
• Prepare for the Chinese, English, and Mathematics examinations if you take the exam route
• Apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship and other scholarships through the correct channel and by the correct deadline
• Check Chinese student visa requirements
• Verify every date, fee, and requirement on PKU’s official website before applying

PKU’s published tuition for international undergraduates is announced separately each year. For the 2026 entry round, PKU’s official page said tuition details would be notified after approval, and payment is made online, by UnionPay card, or in RMB cash.

Earlier figures such as ‘RMB 26,000–40,000 per year’ that appear online were not confirmed against the official page for this edition, so treat them as estimates. Living costs in Beijing are additional.

Confirm all fees on the PKU International Students Division site.

PKU lists three scholarship types for international undergraduates:

• Chinese Government Scholarship: covers tuition, housing, medical insurance, and a monthly living allowance; PKU says applicants must take part in the CSCA examination
• Beijing Government Scholarship: Type A (full coverage), Type B (tuition, housing, insurance), or Type C (tuition and insurance)
• Peking University Scholarship: full or partial tuition exemption with insurance and a living stipend

PKU says scholarships are awarded after a comprehensive evaluation, and qualified applicants need not apply separately for some awards.

See also our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027. Scholarships are not guaranteed.

Pakistani applicants follow the same process as other international applicants. Practical points:

• Chinese Government Scholarship: Pakistani students can apply through the CSC portal, through HEC Pakistan as the nominating agency, or through a university portal. ProPakistani reports a bachelor’s monthly stipend of about CNY 2,500, with deadlines that vary by university (for example 31 March 2026 for that round). Check the official scholarship site.
• Language: undergraduate teaching is in Chinese, so plan Chinese study (HSK) or the preparatory route
• English-taught options: look at graduate programmes if you cannot study in Chinese
• Visa: international students need a Chinese student visa, issued by the Chinese authorities. No outcome is guaranteed.
• Agents: you can apply directly, so a paid agent is not required

See also our Top 10 Universities in Pakistan (2026) for home-country options.

• The Haidian campus in north-west Beijing is known for its lake, gardens, and historic buildings
• Beijing offers a huge cultural, technology, and government environment
• Student societies, sports, and cultural events are a large part of life
• Living costs in Beijing are lower than in many Western capitals, but housing availability for international students should be checked early

• PKU has a very large research output in the sciences, medicine, and the humanities
• Beijing has major technology, finance, government, and education employers close to campus
• Chinese language ability strongly affects job options in China
• PKU does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes

• Mao Zedong — worked in the university library as an assistant librarian in 1918–19
• Hu Shih (professor and later president of the university) and Lu Xun (lecturer) were among the major modern Chinese thinkers and writers who taught here
• Many leading Chinese scientists, academics, and public figures

Peking University
5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China
International Students Division: isd.pku.edu.cn
Official website: pku.edu.cn