Admissions

PROGRAM INFORMATION

In January 2001, Peking University and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government co-founded the Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University. After twenty-three years of development, the Shenzhen Graduate School, relying on Peking University and based in Shenzhen, has gradually become a research-oriented internationalized campus of Peking University rooted in Shenzhen, and an important part of Peking University's strategy of creating a world-class university.

Founded in 2013, the School of Advanced Materials adheres to the philosophy of “Peking University's tradition, Shenzhen's vitality”, and takes “contributing Shenzhen's wisdom and strength to Peking University's creation of a first-class School of Materials Science and Engineering” as its development goal. Through international cooperative basic research in frontier fields, industrial collaborative innovation in application fields and joint research in interdisciplinary fields, the School focuses on five major specialty directions, including advanced carbon materials, energy materials and materials genome engineering, organic photovoltaic and advanced display materials, new conceptual materials, and materials for life and health.

Applicants for master's and doctoral degree programs for foreign students in the School of Advanced Materials, in addition to meeting the regulations and requirements set forth in the “Peking University Admission Guidelines for Foreign Students in Graduate Schools (Campus-based)” (based on the Guidelines for the current academic year in which the application is being made), they also have to satisfy the other requirements for each program in terms of application qualifications, application materials, English proficiency, and so on, which are described in detail in the enrollment instructions for the academic year of application of the respective colleges.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering

This doctoral program trains students to tackle frontier challenges in materials science. Students conduct original research in one of the three areas - AI for New Materials, Glass and Optoelectronic Materials, or Energy Materials - using AI-driven approaches and advanced experimental methods. The program emphasizes rigorous foundational science, independent research, and global collaboration, preparing graduates for leadership roles in academia, research institutes, and industry.

I. Application Prerequisites

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens holding a valid passport. 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 must present a 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 determine whether an applicant still holds Chinese nationality. If, during the application period or even after admission or registration, the applicant is found to still hold Chinese nationality, the applicant’s application, admission, registration, or enrollment will be nullified.

2. Applicants to master's degree programs must hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and applicants to doctoral programs must hold a master's degree or higher, from an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. Applicants with bachelor's degrees may apply to doctoral programs, subject to the program’s assessment of academic excellence.

3. Applicants to master’s degree programs must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university or college accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. 

4. The applicant’s academic performance, academic level, and language ability should meet the admission requirements for the program they are applying to.

II. Application Period (Beijing time)

Programs taught in Chinese: October 26, 2026 – December 25, 2026

Programs taught in English: October 26, 2026 – March 31, 2027

III. Application Materials

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

1. Graduation and degree certificates, along with degree authentication in Chinese or English. For degree certificates in other languages, applicants must 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 graduated before 2027 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 transc ripts of the applicant’s academic achievement, including courses taken and standards achieved. These must be original documents or notarized copies, in either Chinese or English.

3. A personal statement (including a research plan: 1500 words for the master’s degree program or 3000 words for the doctoral program). Please use the link to download the template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13

4. Résumé and a copy of the Application Commitment letter. Please click the link to download the Commitment letter template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13

5. Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors in the applicant’s major (or equivalent professionals with a relevant academic title), in Chinese or English. Once applicants submit a request, the application system will send a link to the recommenders. Recommenders should click the link and complete the recommendation either by filling out the form online or by uploading a scanned copy of the signed letter. To download the template, click the link: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13

6. Original Chinese or English language test scores.

Applicants to Chinese-taught programs must achieve a score of at least 200 on HSK Level 6 (with a writing score of no less than 65). Applicants who have taken the new HSK Levels 7–9 exam may submit corresponding qualifying score reports.

Applicants to English-taught programs whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL (iBT, 5 points or above; TOEFL scores of 100 or above obtained between September 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026, are also accepted), GRE (above 315), or other evidence of English proficiency.

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

8. Table of contents and abstracts of the applicant’s academic publications and any other original achievements in the applicant’s field (if applicable).

Note: Applicants should scan the original or notarized application documents in color using a scanner. Images taken with a mobile phone or camera are not acceptable.

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

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

IV. Application Review Process

1. Eligibility review. The Office of Academic Affairs of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School reviews the applicant's basic qualifications and forwards the application materials of those who pass the preliminary review to SAM.

2. Academic review. SAM's admissions team convenes an expert panel to review applicants' academic dossiers and overall ability.

3. Interview (second examination round). Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview, held in batches between January and April 2027. The exact format and schedule will be announced separately.

4. Comprehensive assessment. The expert committee assesses candidates' research capacity, language proficiency, innovation capacity, and overall quality, and ranks them.

5. Admission decisions. The SAM Admission Office will review and prepare the preliminary admission list, which will be posted on the official website (/en/) before the end of May 2027. Applicants should monitor the latest notices on the website.

I. Enrollment

Admitted students will complete the registration procedures and enroll at Peking University in late August 2025. The specific time will be announced in the admission notice. Admitted students must register at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School with their valid passport, valid visa and admission letter at the designated time. All students should present their original degree certificates as required upon registration for the enrollment 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. Students who do not pass the enrollment qualification review will be disqualified from enrollment at Peking University.

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

1) The School of Advanced Materials charges tuition fees as follows:

Doctoral Programs: 40,000 RMB per academic year

2) Scholarships

Chinese Government Scholarships

College Scholarships

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.

III. Visa, Medical Insurance and Accommodation

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 Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Nanshan District and apply for a Residence Permit within 30 days in order to obtain a legal status in China.

Medical Insurance: The Ministry of Education of China stipulates that all international students must be medically insured throughout their entire planned period of study. Students are required to purchase the “Comprehensive Insurance Plan for Foreign Students” on the day of registration. Students who do not have valid medical insurance will not be allowed to register.

Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided to students at Yan Yuan Building No. 6, singular room, which costs RMB 1320 yuan per month. Please note that students who live off campus must register with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.

IV. Graduation and Degree Awarding

Students who have completed all the requirements stipulated in the academic plan and passed their thesis defense upon completion of their study are permitted to graduate. After being examined and approved by the Academic Degree Assessment Committee of the university, the corresponding academic degree will be conferred. As the only PKU school operating in a different place, the degree certificate of PKUSZ graduates is approved and issued by Peking University.

V. Additional Notes

1) For further information about SAM, such as the school or department’s basic facilities, research, supervisors and faculty, subjects, research focus, training and grants, please refer to the relevant sections of our website.

2) Graduate students are NOT allowed to be enrolled in two or more programs/universities at the same time.

3) Applicants should actively pay close attention to the latest relevant information posted at the website or sent by the school. Applicants must read and follow the posted instructions/deadlines in a timely way; all consequences caused by the applicant’s personal negligence and other reasons shall be borne by the applicant himself/herself solely.

4) Issues that may arise which are not mentioned here will be handled in accordance with the relevant regulations of the university and higher authorities. If new graduate student admission policies are issued in the year 2025, Peking University will make corresponding adjustments and announce the changes in a timely way.