Why should Taiwan students watch it now?
Applications for the 2027 cohort at Yenching Academy of Peking University opened on 1 September 2026 Open application. The official admission page clearly lists the "Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions of China" application channels, so that the Taiwan applicants are not attempting to do so in an unidentified international capacity, but have officially designated paths.
The deadline for application is November 30th, 2026 9 a.m. (Beijing time) 。
Content of the grant
Yenching Academy states that admitted scholars receive a first-year fellowship covering:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Life and school allowances
- One round-trip transportation allowance
- Fees for field research courses
Second-year fellowship funding requires good academic standing and continued study in Beijing and is not automatically guaranteed for two years. The official FAQ requires students from Taiwan to remain in Beijing in year two and attend the interview and thesis defence in person. Include these requirements in budget planning.
Official FAQ: Years of funding and school attendance rules 。 Campus Pictures CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Important for applicants from Taiwan
Substantive update on 25 September 2026: English certification and two sets of procedures
Today we read Yenching Academy's admissions page and UC Berkeley's 2027-cycle guidance. Berkeley reminds applicants from Taiwan to complete both the Academy and Peking University graduate admissions procedures. Berkeley's 23 November noon Pacific deadline is an internal campus deadline, not a universal deadline for applicants from Taiwan. Yenching Academy's deadline remains 30 November 0900 (Beijing/Taiwan Time) , with Peking University's supplementary procedure governed by its current notice.
The official rules state that applicants from Taiwan cannot automatically use the general international-applicant English-test waiver even after an English-taught degree. Those without test results must take the required English courses after enrolment; check the application system's document requirements. Students and alumni of partner institutions must first complete their institution's pre-selection.
Check: Official admissions and awards at the Yankyung College ／ UC Berkeley Work in Independent School and Taiwan Application Reminder 。
Applicants from Taiwan must follow the official Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan application pathway rather than assuming the general international-applicant checklist applies. In addition to Yenching Academy's application, a supplementary application under Peking University's graduate admissions rules is required.
If your university is part of the Yanjing College Partnership, you will have to confirm whether there is a pre-selection time frame at the school, because the deadline may be earlier than 30 November.
For whom?
It is better suited to have good academic performance, cross-cutting interests, international experience, and hopes that Chinese research will be at the core of its extension to political, economic, legal, historical, cultural or social studies and young professionals.
What can be done now?
- To confirm whether their universities are co-operative institutions of Yanjing College, and whether pre-selection is required.
- Taiwan has applied for education, English proficiency, reference letters and personal statements.
- Let's not wait until November to prepare the statement of interest in research and future planning.
- The additional documentation required by the University of Beijing Hong Kong/Austro Graduate Admission System was re-checked prior to submission.
