📖 About the university

Peking University is a public research university in Beijing, founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, making it the oldest modern national university in China. It is a member of the C9 League and is included in Project 985, Project 211, and the Double First-Class initiative, and it has long stood at the centre of the nation's intellectual and political life. Historically it was a birthplace of major reform and cultural movements in modern China, and it remains a leading centre for the humanities, social sciences, and basic sciences. The university is especially distinguished in fields such as Chinese language and literature, philosophy, history, law, economics, physics, and the life sciences, and its Health Science Center is a major centre for medical education.

The main campus, known as Yan Yuan, occupies former imperial garden grounds in the Haidian district and is famed for its classical landscaping, including the Weiming Lake and the Boya Pagoda, giving it one of the most celebrated settings of any Chinese university. Peking University maintains extensive global partnerships and hosts a large and diverse international student community. International applicants can study the Chinese language and take HSK preparation, and the university offers a range of degree programs, including options taught in English at the graduate level. It is best suited to intellectually curious students with strong academic records, particularly those drawn to the humanities, social sciences, law, economics, or fundamental research.

🎯 Fields of study

🏛️ Colleges & schools

🌆 About Beijing

Beijing is China's capital and the political, cultural, and educational heart of the country, home to its leading government institutions and many of its top universities. With a metropolitan population of around 21 million spread across sixteen districts, it is a vast city that blends imperial history with cutting-edge modernity. The climate is temperate and continental, bringing hot, humid summers and cold, dry, and often windy winters. Its landmarks are world-famous, including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall winding through the surrounding mountains. Local food ranges from crispy Peking roast duck to zhajiangmian noodles and street-side jianbing pancakes. Getting around is easy thanks to one of the world's largest metro systems, major international airports, and high-speed rail links to the entire country. For an international student, Beijing offers an unmatched concentration of universities, libraries, museums, and cultural life, though the pace is fast and living costs are among the highest in China.

💰 Fees & costs

💡 General estimates for international students in China; they vary by major and university, and the official figure is always on the university website.

🛂 Visa requirements by nationality

These are the general steps for the China student visa (X1/X2); details vary by the Chinese embassy in your country.