Yenching Academy of Peking University Fellowship
Master's in China Studies program at Yenching Academy of Peking University, Beijing, China.
Eligibility
- Recent university graduate. Must hold a bachelor’s degree by August 31.
- Preference will be given to those younger than 28 years old. (Average age of students entering the program is 23.)
- Outstanding academic record.
- Strong interest in interdisciplinary study of China
- Record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership potential
Note: All students and alumni of partner universities are required to apply through their universities. (Stanford is a partner university with Yenching Academy Program).
About the Yenching Academy of Peking University Fellowship
The Yenching Academy of Peking University’s competitive postgraduate scholarship program is designed to prepare an elite class of future leaders to tackle the most challenging issues of the world. Yenching Scholars study a core curriculum and Chinese language instruction tailored to their needs on their way to a Master’s in China Studies.
The fellowships for international Yenching Scholars are for twelve months, during the course of which they complete their coursework and may complete the thesis. A limited number of financial aid packages are available for those who wish to remain on campus for a second year. Degrees are granted upon completion of all coursework and satisfactory defense of the thesis, and are awarded in January and July of each year.
Scholars will elect one of the following areas of concentration: Literature & Culture, History & Archaeology, Philosophy & Religion, Politics & International Relations, Economics & Management or Law & Society. The scholarship covers tuition and fees, accommodation, living costs, round trip airfare to Beijing and field studies costs.
Amount Awarded
Tuition and fees, accommodation, living costs, round trip airfare to Beijing and field studies costs.
Application Process
Yenching Application Requirements Checklist
Campus Yenching applications are to be submitted via SOLO
(SOLO application will open on 10/1/25 and close on 11/6/25)
- Yenching Stanford Cover Sheet
- OGS Nomination Form Waiver 2025 (available through the OGS)
- Completed Yenching Application Form for Partner Universities
- Biographical Information
- Academic Background
- Study Plan
- Personal Statement - (maximum 750 words) in English, should include a self-introduction and well-articulated explanation of how the candidate would make the most of the Yenching Academy program experience, as well as how it would benefit the candidate’s career.
- Statement of Research Interest (maximum 1,500 words excluding citations) should include key research question(s), background to study and/or summary of literature, and study design, that could reflect your academic training.
- Curriculum Vitae / Resume
- Stanford Official Transcript (scanned copy) (unofficial transcripts are not acceptable)
- Certificate of Enrollment (see registrar’s office link)
- Two Academic Letters of Recommendation and Two Yenching Recommendation Forms (available at the OGS) by campus deadline.
- The recommendations should be written by full professors or associate professors (or equivalent titles) from Stanford. In the letters, the references should comment on the applicant's achievements (academic abilities), character (personal qualities), and potential (leadership potential and suitability of the program).
- Recommenders for Stanford applicants will not upload their letters to the Yenching Academy online application portal.
- Recommendation writers submit to our office directly at globalscholarships@stanford.edu. The OGS will forward the electronic letters to the Yenching Academy.
- Letters should be on letterhead with the signature and submitted as a PDF.
The Application
- To apply through Stanford University, candidates need to submit their application via SOLO by our campus deadline.
- References need to submit directly to our office in a PDF by this date too.
- Please do not submit your online application through the Yenching system at this point for the campus level. Only submit via SOLO.
Our Stanford scholarship campus committee for Yenching Academy will review and evaluate applications and then decide on the nominations. Exact timeline will be determined shortly. Nominees will then complete and submit the online application by the end of November.
Our office will forward the application materials including the letters of recommendation to Yenching Academy for further selection at the beginning of December.
Campus Application Deadline
The Yenching Academy Fellowship has a campus process and requires a Stanford endorsement. Therefore, you need to be aware of two deadlines: a campus deadline and a national deadline. The campus deadline is typically in early November and the OGS will forward applications by the national deadline. We encourage you to begin your application early. Fill out the Stanford Yenching Intent to Apply form if you intend to apply this cycle.
National Application Deadline
December 1, 2026
Additional Info
Find additional information, including application criteria, at the Yenching Academy of Peking University Fellowship.