Zhuoyue Scholarship Program 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship at Peking University
The Zhuoyue Scholarship Program 2026 offers international students an opportunity to pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in China Studies at Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing, China.
Provided through the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program – Chinese Government Scholarship, the program is designed for international professionals and emerging leaders who demonstrate strong academic ability, leadership potential, international experience and clear long-term aspirations.
The scholarship supports students undertaking an interdisciplinary Master’s program examining China and its role in the world.
About the Zhuoyue Scholarship
The Zhuoyue Scholarship is provided by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and is fully funded.
The scholarship is tenable for one academic year during the Yenching Academy program. Scholarship recipients are required to complete the required academic credits during their first year on campus.
During the second year, students work on their Master’s thesis and complete the required thesis defense outside mainland China.
About Yenching Academy
Yenching Academy of Peking University offers an English-taught, two-year Master’s degree program in China Studies.
The program is interdisciplinary and brings together students from different countries and academic backgrounds. It is designed to develop a deeper understanding of China through the humanities and social sciences while encouraging intercultural exchange, leadership and professional development.
All Yenching Scholars live on campus during their first academic year and must complete the required coursework during that period.
Compulsory courses include China in Transition, Field Study, Topics in China Studies Lecture Series, Academic Writing and Chinese Language.
Students can work with academic advisors to develop individual study paths based on their interests.
Research Areas
The Yenching Academy offers six major research areas:
- China Studies – Philosophy and Religion
- China Studies – Economics and Management
- China Studies – Law and Society
- China Studies – Politics and International Relations
- China Studies – Literature and Culture
- China Studies – History and Archaeology
Academic or professional experience related to the applicant’s selected research area is preferred.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens holding a valid passport.
Candidates must be under 45 years of age, in good physical and mental health, have no criminal record and agree to comply with Chinese laws and Peking University regulations.
Applicants must hold, or be on track to obtain by 31 August of the enrollment year, a Bachelor’s degree in any field.
Applicants must also have at least three consecutive years of employment experience in an eligible professional category. This may include serving as a chief staff member or equivalent in government, holding a senior management position in an institution or enterprise, working in administrative management in higher education or research institutions, or having work or internship experience with an international organisation.
Candidates should demonstrate an outstanding academic record, leadership potential, community engagement and social responsibility.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must meet the required English proficiency standard unless they qualify for an exemption.
Accepted minimum scores include:
- IELTS Academic: Overall 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: Overall 100
- Cambridge English Scale: Overall 185
Native English speakers and students or graduates of primarily English-taught degree programs at undergraduate level or above are not required to submit an English proficiency test score.
Application Documents
Applicants are required to prepare documents in English. These include a personal statement of up to 750 words, a Statement of Research Interest of up to 1,500 words, a curriculum vitae of no more than two pages, academic documents, official transcripts, employment or internship certification and two academic recommendation letters.
Applicants must also provide the required English language test report and an employer leave certificate covering the relevant study period.
Application Process
The scholarship requires two separate online applications. Applicants first apply to Yenching Academy and, after receiving a pre-admission letter from Peking University, submit the Chinese Government Scholarship application.
According to the published 2026 instructions, the Yenching Academy application deadline was 1 December 2025, while the Chinese Government Scholarship application deadline was 31 March 2026.
The program is therefore a useful opportunity to monitor for future scholarship cycles for applicants interested in studying China, international relations, law, economics, politics, culture and other interdisciplinary fields.
For the next intake, prospective applicants should check the latest Yenching Academy and Chinese Government Scholarship announcements for updated eligibility requirements and deadlines.
