School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) enrolls international students to study for master's and Ph.D. degrees through the "Application + Examination" method in 2027. MSE is dedicated to educating innovation-minded scholars with a global perspective and understanding of China.

The Materials Department of Peking University was established in 2005 and has been ranked top 1‱ of ESI, the 6th of US News and the 16th of QS by subject in the world. MSE emphasizes research in Energy Materials, Optoelectronic Materials, Biomaterials, Composite Materials, and Emerging Materials. We warmly welcome talented international students to join us!

For more detailed information on research fields, please refer to https://www.mse.pku.edu.cn/en/

1. Major Catalog

Major: Materials Science and Engineering (0805)

Applicants do not need to specify a research direction at the time of application.

2. Study Mode and Program Duration

Full-time enrollment; courses are taught in Chinese or English.

For students with a master's degree pursuing a doctoral program, the typical duration is 4 years.

For students with a bachelor's degree pursuing a doctoral program directly, the typical duration is 5 years.

For students with a bachelor's degree pursuing a master's program, the typical duration is 3 years.

3. Application Prerequisites

Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

1) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. For residents of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan who have emigrated to another country and are applying to Peking University as international students: they must present valid passport or citizenship documents issued before April 30, 2021, and provide proof of the cancellation of Chinese nationality.

Note: The exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ of China reserves the right to judge whether an applicant still has Chinese nationality. If during the application period or even after the admission or registration the applicant is judged to be still holding Chinese nationality, his/her application, admission, registration or even enrollment will be nullified.

2) Applicants should be both physically and psychologically healthy, have no criminal record, and must abide by the laws and decrees of China and the regulations of Peking University.

3) Applicants for master's degree programs must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a university/college accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. Applicants for doctoral programs must hold a master's degree or higher from an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. Outstanding bachelor's degree holders may apply directly for doctoral programs.

4) Applicants' academic performance, academic level, and language proficiency must meet the admission requirements of the program. The specific language proficiency standards are as follows:

Chinese-Taught Program: HSK Level 6 with a total score of 200 or above and a writing (essay) score no lower than 65. Applicants who have taken the new HSK Levels 7-9 may submit the corresponding qualified score report.

English-Taught Program: Applicants whose native language is not English must submit any one of the following supporting documents:

• GRE score of 315 or above;

• IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or above;

• TOEFL iBT score of 100 or above (for tests taken after September 1, 2025 and before January 21, 2026, under the old 0–120 scoring system), or 5 or above (for tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, under the new 1–6 scoring system);

• Completion of an English-taught degree program, with the degree thesis written in English and the degree obtained;

• Publication (or acceptance) of a professional academic paper in English;

• Other evidence demonstrating one's English proficiency.

4. Application Period (Beijing Time)

Chinese-taught programs: October 26, 2026 – December 25, 2026

English-taught programs: October 26, 2026 – February 14, 2027.

5. Application Process

Visit the International Student Service System (http://www.studyatpku.com), fill in the application and upload the following documents:

1) Graduation and degree diplomas in Chinese or English and the degree authentication report. For degree diplomas in other languages, applicants are required to upload both the original copy and a notarized copy in Chinese or English. Degree diplomas awarded by overseas universities must be authenticated by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, Ministry of Education, P. R. China (CSCSE). Degree diplomas awarded by universities on the Chinese mainland must be authenticated by the Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education, P. R. China (CSSD).

Note: Applicants who have already graduated must upload their degree authentication report during the application period. Applicants expected to graduate in 2027 must provide an official letter from their current university confirming their expected graduation date and submit their graduation certificate upon pre-admission.

2) Official transcripts of the applicant's academic achievement, including courses taken and standards achieved. These must be original documents or notarized copies, either in Chinese or English.

3) A personal statement (including a research plan: about 1500 words for the master's degree program, about 3000 words for the doctoral program).

l Applicants for the Chinese-taught program should write the personal statement in Chinese, and applicants for the English-taught program in English. Template: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13

l Please elaborate in your personal statement on 1–2 research directions in the School of Materials that interest you (new energy materials, optoelectronic materials, life and health materials, new structural materials, and carbon materials).

4) Resume and a copy of the Application Commitment Letter. Template: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13

5) Two recommendation letters from professor(s) or associate professor(s) related to the applicant's major (or equivalent professionals with relevant academic titles), either in Chinese or English. Applicants for doctoral programs must submit one recommendation letter written by their master's supervisor; applicants for master's programs must submit one recommendation letter written by an expert in the relevant discipline from the applicant's undergraduate institution. Once applicants submit a request, the application system will send a link to the recommenders, and the recommenders should click the link and complete the recommendation either by filling out the form online or by uploading the scanned copy of the signed letter. Template: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13

6) Original language test scores: HSK score report for the Chinese-taught program; TOEFL or GRE score report for the English-taught program. See Item 3.4) for specific standards.

7) Passport front page. Applicants must upload the front page of all ordinary passport(s) they have used continuously since April 30, 2021, and the current passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of enrollment.

8) Academic achievements (if applicable): table of contents and abstracts of the applicant's academic publications, and any other original achievements in his/her field.

Note: Applicants should scan the original or notarized application documents in color using a scanner. Images captured by mobile phone or camera are NOT acceptable.

The applicant's passport details (including name, nationality, gender, date of birth, and uploaded photo) submitted during the application phase, once confirmed, cannot be modified prior to enrollment.

Applicants must thoroughly review and ensure that all required documents (including two letters of recommendation) are complete and meet the specified standards before submission. Consequences resulting from incomplete or non-compliant materials will be borne solely by the applicant.

6. Application Fee

Each applicant may apply for up to two programs/majors. The application fee for each program is 800 RMB.

Applicants are required to pay the application fee online before the application deadline (follow the instructions of the International Student Service System for online payment). Only RMB payment is accepted; any other currency or traveler's check will not be accepted. The application fee is NOT refundable. Applications with incomplete documents or without application fee payment will not be processed.

7. Examination by the School

1) The International Student Division will review the applicant's basic qualifications. After passing the review, the application materials will be forwarded to the admissions office of the school for academic review.

2) The school's admissions team will organize professional expert panels. All the submitted application materials will be reviewed to assess the applicant's comprehensive capacity. A shortlist of applicants will be drawn up for the next step of examination.

3) The second examination round is scheduled from January to March 2027. The specific format, requirements and schedule will be posted on the school's website (https://www.mse.pku.edu.cn/en/). Applicants should check regularly for relevant online information. The members of the expert committee will score independently on site, evaluating the applicant's professional competence, research ability, language proficiency, creativity and overall quality.

7. Admission

1) On the basis of the school's examination results, the Admission Office will review and make the preliminary admission list.

2) The preliminary admission list will be posted by the school before the end of May. Applicants should pay close attention to the latest related notices of the school/department.

3) The pre-admitted candidates should download and print the application form and, together with other required original application documents (except for degree diploma and recommendation letters), deliver or mail the materials to Peking University before May 31, 2027.

Address of Chinese-taught program: Room 330, International Student Division, New Sun Student Center, Peking University. Please note on the envelope: "Graduate student application materials"

Address of English-taught program: Room 331, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University. Please note on the envelope: "Graduate student application materials"

4) In late June 2027, the International Student Division will confirm and notify the admitted students of the admission results, and issue the admission documents.

8. Enrollment

Admitted students will complete the registration procedures and enroll at Peking University in early September 2027. The specific time will be announced in the admission notice. Admitted students must register at Peking University with their valid passport, valid visa and admission letter at the designated time. All students should present their original degree diplomas as required upon registration for the admission qualification review. Students with degree diplomas awarded by overseas universities should, in addition, submit the authentication report issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange. If the relevant certificates have not been obtained before enrollment in the year of admission, the admission qualification shall be invalid.

9. Tuition Fees (per year per person) and Scholarships

1) Tuition Fees

Master's degree program: TBA

Ph.D. degree program: TBA

2) Scholarships

New international students may apply for the following scholarships:

(1) Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B): includes full/partial tuition waiver, free accommodation, monthly living expenses and medical insurance provided in accordance with the regulations.

(2) Beijing Government Scholarship for International Students: Type A includes tuition waiver, free accommodation, medical insurance and monthly living expenses provided in accordance with the regulations; Type B includes tuition waiver, free accommodation and medical insurance; Type C includes tuition waiver and medical insurance.

(3) Peking University Scholarship for International Students: includes full/partial tuition waiver, monthly living expenses and medical insurance.

Note: The evaluation of applicants for scholarships will be carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations of the government and the university. For more information, please refer to the International Student Division's website (http://www.isd.pku.edu.cn).

10. Visa, Medical Insurance and Accommodation

1) Visa: Students admitted to PKU should apply for a student visa at the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in their country with the letter of admission and the JW201/202 form. International students who will study in China for over 6 months are required to obtain an "X1" visa, which will only be valid for 30 days upon arrival in China; upon arriving in China, they must come to the International Student Division and apply for a Residence Permit within 30 days in order to obtain legal status in China.

2) Medical Insurance: Students are required to purchase the "Comprehensive Insurance Plan for Foreign Students" in China. Students who do not have valid medical insurance will not be allowed to register.

3) Accommodation: Admitted international students will be accommodated at the New Yanyuan Campus (Changping District) under the unified arrangement of the school.

11. Graduation and Degrees

Upon completion of all the requirements of the training program with qualified grades and passing of the thesis defense, students will be permitted to graduate; the corresponding degree will be conferred upon approval by the University's Degree Evaluation Committee.

Contact Information

Tel: (+86-10) 62756697

Email: gmsezb@pku.edu.cn

Faculty of MSE: https://www.mse.pku.edu.cn/en/People/Faculty_A_Z.htm

*For other matters not covered, please refer to the 2027 Application Information for International Students (Master's Degree and Ph.D. Degree) of Peking University.

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Peking University

October 2026