Fully Funded Master’s in China: Yenching Academy 2027 Applications Open, Deadline Nov 30

Peking University’s Yenching Academy has opened applications for its 2027 cohort, a fully funded, interdisciplinary master’s fellowship focused on China, open to graduates of any academic discipline and any nationality except Chinese citizens. The international application deadline is November 30, 2026, at 9:00 AM Beijing Time.

What the Yenching Academy Fellowship Covers

• Full tuition fees
• On-campus accommodation
• A monthly living stipend
• One round-trip international travel allowance
• Funding for field study activities and academic excursions

What the Programme Is

Yenching Academy admits roughly 120 scholars a year, with international students making up around 75% of the cohort. It’s an interdisciplinary master’s built specifically around the study of contemporary and historical China, combining coursework, research, field studies, and leadership development, with scholars living and studying together in Beijing alongside faculty, policymakers, and researchers across a wide range of fields.

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Who Can Apply for the Yenching Academy Fellowship

• A bachelor's degree in any field, or final-year undergraduates expecting to graduate before the 2027 intake begins.
• An outstanding academic record.
• A genuine interest in the interdisciplinary study of China.
• Evidence of leadership, extracurricular achievement, community engagement, and social responsibility.
• Proof of English proficiency (see below).
• Nationality requirement: applicants must be non-Chinese citizens holding a valid passport. Former citizens of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan who apply as international candidates must present a valid foreign passport or citizenship document issued before April 30, 2021, along with official proof of cancellation or renunciation of their Chinese nationality.

English Proficiency Requirements

If you completed your undergraduate degree entirely in English or are a native English speaker, you are generally exempt from submitting a test score. Otherwise, you will need to take one of the following tests after September 1, 2025:

• IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall
• TOEFL iBT: 100 overall (use institution code C488)
• Cambridge English Advanced: 185 overall
• CET-6: 600 (China-specific test)
• TEM-4: Pass level "Good" or above (China-specific test)

Scores must be sent directly from the testing organisation. Self-reported scores aren't accepted, and Yenching Academy currently does not accept TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, or IELTS One Skill Retake. 

Required Application Materials

All materials must be submitted in English through Yenching Academy's own online admissions portal:

• Completed online application form
• Personal statement (750 words or less)
• Statement of Research Interest (up to 1,500 words, excluding citations)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official academic transcripts
• Degree certificate or certificate of enrolment
• Two academic recommendation letters, specifically from full professors or associate professors (or equivalent) in your intended field of study

If your university is one of Yenching Academy's Partner Universities, check with them directly; you may need to complete an internal nomination or pre-selection process before applying to the Academy itself.

Why It Matters for Indian Students

A fully funded interdisciplinary master's, with no restriction on undergraduate discipline, is a genuinely rare combination; most China-focused funded programmes lean toward specific fields like Chinese studies, international relations, or Mandarin-language tracks. Yenching Academy's openness to "any academic discipline" widens the door considerably, and the recommendation-letter requirement (professors specifically, not just any reference) plus the research-interest statement suggests the selection bar rewards candidates who've already done meaningful academic or research work, not just strong grades.

Given rising India-China engagement across trade, technology, and regional diplomacy, a credential and network built around deep interdisciplinary China expertise is a distinctive addition to a CV that few Indian applicants currently pursue, which may work in a strong candidate's favour given the scale of the applicant pool this fellowship likely draws globally.

Have questions about whether your academic background fits this fellowship's research focus? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.