Peking University: Fees & Ranking

The short answer

Peking University (PKU) is a public university in Haidian District, Beijing, founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking.^[1] It is ranked 13th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, one place ahead of Tsinghua University (14th).^[2]

For international degree students, PKU’s standard annual tuition is RMB 26,000 (humanities) or 30,000 (sciences) for a bachelor’s, RMB 29,000 or 33,000 for a master’s and RMB 32,000 or 40,000 for a doctorate, according to a page dated 9 April 2024. Many professional and English-taught programmes cost much more.^[3]^[4] Chinese-taught routes require HSK level 6; the required score depends on the programme.^[5]^[6]

Key facts

Official name	Peking University (北京大学)
Location	No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871^[7]
Type	Public university, affiliated with and funded by China’s Ministry of Education; member of the C9 League^[1]
Founded	1898, as the Imperial University of Peking (authorised 11 June, formally established 3 July)^[1]
Students (official, December 2020)	46,113 full-time students: 16,372 undergraduate and 29,741 postgraduate, including 4,369 international students^[8]
Students (other figures)	The president’s message on the same page says more than 48,600 students including nearly 2,500 international students;^[8] Wikipedia lists 49,821 without a date^[1]
Teachers and units	3,401 teachers (December 2020 figure) and 55 schools and departments^[8]
Campuses	Main campus in Haidian; Health Science Center; Shenzhen Graduate School (opened 2001); Changping campus (opened 6 September 2021); a branch in Hanzhong, Shaanxi^[1]
QS World University Rankings 2027	13th (14th in both 2026 and 2025)^[2]
Undergraduate study period	4 to 6 years^[9]
Tuition, standard rates (April 2024 page)	RMB 26,000–40,000 a year, depending on level and subject^[3]
Chinese requirement (examples)	HSK 6 with 210 or more for undergraduate written-test exemption routes (2025 intake)^[5]; HSK 6 above 200 with writing of at least 65 for Chinese-taught Computer Science (2026 intake)^[6]
Application fee	RMB 800, non-refundable^[5]
Official website	english.pku.edu.cn

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Peking University

Peking University was founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking. It became the Government University of Peking in 1912 and the National University of Peking in 1919.^[1] In 1952, during a nationwide restructuring of higher education, it merged with Yenching University, and in 2000 Beijing Medical University joined it.^[1]

The main campus lies in Haidian District on the former site of Qing dynasty imperial gardens.^[1] PKU also runs the Health Science Center, the Shenzhen Graduate School (opened 2001) and the Changping campus (opened 6 September 2021).^[1] PKU is a member of the C9 League, a group of leading Chinese research universities.^[1]

Student numbers differ between sources. PKU’s own facts box (last updated December 2020) gives 46,113 full-time students, including 4,369 international students, while the president’s message on the same page speaks of more than 48,600 students and nearly 2,500 international students.^[8] We could not find a newer official total.

How is Peking University ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Peking University is 13th in the world, up from 14th in 2026 and 14th in 2025.^[2] In the same edition Tsinghua University is 14th, Fudan University 26th and Zhejiang University 47th.^[2] A second table reports the same positions for PKU.^[10]

QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access, so we rely on these two secondary tables rather than on QS itself. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. For the national league table see Best universities in China.

What can you study at Peking University?

The undergraduate programme has a study period of 4 to 6 years.^[9] International applicants reach it by one of four routes: the Yuke pre-university programme (one to two years of preparation), the Boya Overseas Talent Training Program for students recommended by qualifying high schools, the programme without written examination for applicants with qualifying international test scores, and an entrance examination.^[9] Applicants to the Guanghua School of Management, the School of Economics and science and engineering departments must also submit mathematics test results.^[5]

Master’s and doctoral students are admitted by “application + examination”. A master’s takes 2 or 3 years, a doctorate 4 or 5 years, and applicants with only a bachelor’s degree generally need 5 years for a doctorate.^[11] The graduate pages list English-taught master’s and PhD programmes separately from Chinese-taught ones.^[11] The university has 55 schools and departments.^[8]

How much does Peking University cost for international students?

Level	Humanities per year	Sciences per year
Undergraduate	RMB 26,000	RMB 30,000
Master’s	RMB 29,000	RMB 33,000
Doctorate	RMB 32,000	RMB 40,000

These are the rates for degree students on a PKU page dated 9 April 2024. The page says to check the programme brochure for English-taught master’s programmes.^[3] PKU’s 2026 graduate fee list, however, shows the humanities and science master’s and PhD rows as “notification will be provided upon approval”, so confirm the current rate before you budget.^[4]

Programmes with their own fees

The 2026 graduate list gives these examples as totals for the whole programme, not per year:^[4]

Programme	Length	Language	Total tuition
Computer Science, master’s	3 years	English	RMB 150,000
Computer Science, PhD	4–5 years	English	RMB 200,000–250,000
International Relations (MIR), School of International Studies	2 years	English	RMB 150,000
Master of Finance, School of Economics	2 years	Chinese	RMB 99,000
Master of Finance, Guanghua School of Management	2 years	Chinese	RMB 128,000
Global MBA, Guanghua School of Management	2 years	English	RMB 188,000

The Computer Science guide for the 2026 intake states the same fee as RMB 50,000 a year for English-taught master’s and PhD programmes.^[6] Tuition is payable in RMB. New students pay the full amount at registration, and a student who has not paid in full within 30 days of registering is dismissed.^[3]

Scholarships

PKU’s undergraduate page names the Chinese Government Scholarship in two forms: Type A (bilateral programme, applied for through Chinese embassies abroad) and Type B (“Silk Road” scholarship, recommended by the university to the China Scholarship Council).^[5] Living costs are separate; see our Study in China guide.

How do you apply to Peking University?

Applications run through PKU’s International Student Service System at studyatpku.com.^[5]^[6] The details differ by programme, so read the brochure of the programme you want.

Undergraduate (written-test exemption route, 2025 intake): register, choose “Degree Students”, submit the application and pay the RMB 800 fee, then mail hard-copy materials, including a signed commitment form, a self-introduction video and two recommendation letters. Admission needs a preliminary review and a secondary examination. Applicants must be 18 to 25, hold a non-Chinese passport and meet a test threshold such as SAT 1400 plus three AP exams at 4 or above, IB 36 or above, or A-Level 30 or above.^[5]
Graduate (Computer Science guide, 2026 intake): upload authenticated degree certificates and transcripts, a personal statement with a research plan naming your desired supervisor (1,500 words for a master’s, 3,000 for a PhD), a CV, a signed commitment letter, two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors, language scores and a passport page, then pay the RMB 800 fee. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.^[6]

We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ by programme. The undergraduate rounds on the page we read were for the 2025 intake; check the current timetable on the International Student Office site.

Which language level do you need?

Chinese-taught routes: the undergraduate written-test exemption routes require HSK level 6 with a score of 210 or above.^[5] For Chinese-taught Computer Science (2026 intake) PKU asks for HSK 6 with an overall score above 200 and a writing score of at least 65; HSK 7–9 scores are also accepted.^[6]

English-taught programmes: in the Computer Science guide, non-native speakers need TOEFL iBT 100 or higher, GRE 315 or higher, or IELTS 6.5 or higher. Applicants who completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in an English-speaking country, or at an institution where English is the main language of instruction, are exempt.^[6]

These are examples from two pages, not a university-wide rule. PKU’s degree-student page lists no language requirement and points to the programme brochures.^[3]

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is tuition at Peking University for international students?

The standard rates on PKU’s page dated 9 April 2024 are RMB 26,000 (humanities) or 30,000 (sciences) for a bachelor’s, RMB 29,000 or 33,000 for a master’s and RMB 32,000 or 40,000 for a doctorate, per year.^[3] Some programmes are priced separately, for example RMB 150,000 in total for the English-taught Computer Science master’s.^[4]

How is Peking University ranked?

It is 13th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 14th in 2026, and ahead of Tsinghua University (14th).^[2]

Do I need to speak Chinese to study at Peking University?

Only for Chinese-taught programmes, where HSK level 6 is the usual requirement.^[5]^[6] English-taught programmes ask for an English test instead, for example TOEFL iBT 100 or IELTS 6.5 in Computer Science.^[6]

How do I apply as an international student?

You apply online through studyatpku.com, pay an RMB 800 application fee and upload the documents required by your programme.^[5]^[6] Undergraduate applicants can use routes such as the programme without written examination; graduate applicants are admitted by application plus examination.^[9]^[11]

Is Peking University the same as Tsinghua University?

No. Both are public universities in Beijing and members of the C9 League, but they are separate institutions with separate admissions.^[1] See the China ranking for both.