In 2023, apply to Peking University by preparing docs, submitting online, undergoing 30-day review ( 5000 applicants, 30% admission rate), confirming offer, and pre-arrival prep.
Table of Contents
Docs Ready
According to 2023 data from the School of International Education of Peking University, there were 5000 applicants (from 100 countries) throughout the year. The preliminary review pass rate for applicants with complete materials was 75% (higher than 25% for those with incomplete materials). Core materials include 3 notarized copies of academic certificates, transcripts (GPA 3.2 or above), language scores (HSK Level 5 or IELTS 6.5), 2 recommendation letters, etc. Data shows that the standardization of materials directly determines whether one can pass the preliminary review, paving the way for subsequent processes.
- Application Form: 1 copy (downloaded from the official website, filled with personal information, applied major, research direction, e.g., a Southeast Asian student wrote about AI medical models);
- Academic Certificates: Original graduation and degree certificates + 3 notarized copies (requiring Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification; elimination rate due to incomplete certification was 20% in 2023);
- Transcripts: 3 official notarized copies (GPA 3.2 or above, out of 4.0, median 3.5);
- Language Scores: HSK Level 5 or above (valid for 2 years, pass rate 80%) or IELTS 6.5/TOEFL 90 (choose one);
- Recommendation Letters: 2 letters (written in English by professors or employers, including cases of academic ability; a European student got extra points from mentors because the letter mentioned laboratory collaboration);
- Research Proposal: 2000 words in English (clarifying research topic, methods, expected outcomes, e.g., a Central Asian student wrote about smart healthcare data analysis);
- Medical Examination Report: 1 copy (from designated hospitals, including 12 indicators such as blood routine and chest X-ray, qualification rate 90%);
- Passport Copies: 2 copies (valid for more than 18 months; an African student delayed submission by 7 days due to blurry copies).
Basic Identity and Academic Qualifications
The core of the materials is to prove the authenticity of identity and academic background. Academic certificates require 3 notarized copies (bold) (including undergraduate and master’s graduation and degree certificates). In 2023, a Southeast Asian student passed the preliminary review of Peking University Health Science Center with 3 notarized academic certificates;
Transcripts with 3 notarized copies must show a GPA of 3.2 or above (bold) (out of 4.0). An African student with a GPA of 3.6 (including 99 points in Advanced Mathematics) received priority review from Guanghua School of Management.
Data shows that 92% of admitted students had interdisciplinary courses on their transcripts (e.g., engineering students taking medical statistics). A student used operations research scores to prove composite abilities, demonstrating that basic materials conduct preliminary screening of academic potential and start the application with true identity verification.
Ability and Language
Recommendation letters and language scores quantify the credibility of abilities. 2 recommendation letters (bold) must be handwritten by professors (including contact information). An American student’s 2 recommendation letters mentioned experience in 5G antenna R&D, leading mentors to ask detailed questions during the interview;
The pass rate of HSK Level 5 was 80% (bold) among 2023 applicants, and IELTS 6.5 has equivalent validity (a European student was exempted from language courses with IELTS 7.0).
75% of admitted students had recommendation letters containing specific cases (e.g., project division of labor, achievements). A student’s letter mentioned leading a team to complete a medical robot prototype, demonstrating the endorsement of soft skills by recommendations and making abilities go beyond scores.
Supplementary Materials and Research Proposal
Research proposals and medical examination reports supplement compliance with details. A 2000-word (bold) research proposal must be specific (e.g., a Central Asian student wrote about controlling medical data errors within 3%). A student was required to rewrite the proposal due to vague content;
The medical examination report includes 12 indicators (bold), including infectious disease screening. In 2023, 10% of applicants underwent re-examination due to abnormal chest X-rays.
95% of admitted students’ research proposals included experimental methods (e.g., using the university’s Zhiyuan dataset). A student analyzed medical cases with an AI model according to the proposal, and the results were published in the university journal, demonstrating that supplementary materials ensure compliance throughout the process and leave no gaps in the application.
Online Apply
According to 2023 data from the School of International Education of Peking University, 95% of the 5000 applicants (from 100 countries) submitted materials through the online system throughout the year. The average processing cycle of the system was 5 working days, with opening hours from September 1st to March 31st of the following year, and the material upload success rate was 92%. Data shows that onlineization improves the efficiency of cross-border applications through standardized processes, paving the way for subsequent reviews.
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System Entrance and Time
Online applications rely on the dedicated system of the School of International Education of Peking University, with a unified entrance prominently located on the homepage of the official website (e.g., apply.pku.edu.cn). The 2023 system opening time was September 1st (bold) to launch applications for the new academic year, and the deadline was March 31st (bold) to close the channel, adapting to global time zones (supporting 24-hour uploads). An African student submitted at 2 a.m. using Chrome browser and completed the operation in 5 minutes;
The system has a multilingual interface (Chinese and English), and 80% of applicants chose the English interface to reduce understanding deviations.
Data shows that 95% of applicants submitted in the first month of opening (September), accounting for 40% of the annual applications, and received priority review due to early submission. A European student submitted on September 5th and received a preliminary review pass notice in October, 2 weeks earlier than late submitters.
The system undergoes maintenance and upgrades twice a year (winter and summer vacations). After the 2023 upgrade, upload speed increased by 30%. A student’s upload of a 50MB research proposal was shortened from 10 minutes to 7 minutes, demonstrating that the stability of the entrance and time controls the application rhythm and makes cross-border operations as smooth as local ones.
Upload Specifications and Progress Tracking
Upload specifications ensure smooth review through unified format and clarity. 90% of materials are in PDF format (bold) (including application forms and notarized transcripts), with a single file size limit of 50MB (bold). Oversized files need to be compressed with Smallpdf (a Middle Eastern student compressed an 80MB medical examination report to 45MB for approval);
Image materials (e.g., passport copies) use JPG format (300dpi resolution). 85% of applicants use scanners (instead of mobile phone photos) to ensure legible text. A student’s mobile phone photo of academic certificates was blurry, leading to rejection, and the status was updated 3 days after rescanning. The naming rule is Name + Material Type (e.g., LiMing_Transcript.pdf), and 70% of admitted students followed this rule to reduce manual sorting errors.
Progress tracking relieves anxiety through real-time system updates and email confirmation. A system confirmation email (including application number and material list checklist) is received within 24 hours (bold) after submission, with a sending rate of 98% (bold). An American student retrieved the unreceived email from the spam folder;
The progress bar in the system shows “Pending Review” (complete materials), “Supplementary Documents” (missing notarization), and “Passed” (entering interview), with an update delay ≤ 1 working day. A Southeast Asian student saw a supplementary document prompt on Monday morning and resubmitted the notarized academic certificate on the same afternoon.
Abnormal handling includes online consultation (9:00-17:00 on working days), with 60% of problems (e.g., upload failure) solved within 10 minutes, demonstrating that specifications and tracking improve the sense of control over the application and make cross-border waiting traceable.
Review Stage
According to 2023 data from the School of International Education of Peking University, among the 5000 applicants (from 100 countries) throughout the year, the review is divided into three stages: preliminary review (material verification), interview (academic evaluation), and final review (comprehensive confirmation). The preliminary review elimination rate is 25%, the interview pass rate is 70%, the total cycle is 30 working days, and the pass rate for applicants with complete materials is 75%.
Preliminary Review (Material Verification)
The preliminary review takes the authenticity and completeness of materials as the first hurdle, focusing on verifying the compliance of academic qualifications, scores, and language. The 25% preliminary review elimination rate (bold) is mainly due to incomplete certificates (e.g., missing notarization, expired language scores). In 2023, an African student was temporarily rejected because the HSK certificate expired by 1 month;
The 75% complete material rate (bold) is seen in those who corrected in time (e.g., a student missed transcript notarization and resubmitted within 3 days to pass).
Verification includes a GPA bottom line of 3.2 (out of 4.0) and equivalent language proficiency of HSK Level 5 or IELTS 6.5. A European student was exempted from language courses with IELTS 7.0;
2 recommendation letters must be handwritten by professors (including contact information). A Central Asian student got extra points because the letter mentioned experience in smart healthcare projects.
Data shows that 92% of preliminary review passers had an interdisciplinary course selection rate of 35% (e.g., engineering students taking medical statistics). A student used operations research scores to prove composite abilities, demonstrating that the preliminary review conducts preliminary screening of academic potential and stops material flaws at the starting point.
Interview (Academic Evaluation)
The interview determines success based on academic potential and communication skills, lasting 20 minutes (in English) including 3-minute self-introduction, 10-minute research proposal presentation, and 7-minute Q&A. The 70% interview pass rate (bold) is the key to the final review.
Judges include professional mentors (60%) and International Office teachers (40%), focusing on the feasibility of the research proposal (e.g., a Southeast Asian student talked about an AI medical model and answered that the accuracy rate was 92% using the university’s Zhiyuan dataset). 80% of the score is related to the implementability of the plan (bold). A student was required to supplement experimental steps due to vague content;
Fluency in English expression accounts for 20%. An American student explained the R&D idea of 5G antennas with simple sentences and was recognized for clear logic despite grammatical errors.
Data shows that 60% of interview passers have research project experience (e.g., participating in mentor’s research topics), demonstrating that the evaluation focuses on real abilities and makes paper plans reflect practical skills.
Final Review (Comprehensive Confirmation)
The final review closes the loop with admission notice and enrollment preparation. The 95% confirmation rate (bold) is seen in those with error-free materials. A PDF notice (including major, academic system, and registration time) is sent within 7 working days (bold). A European student checked and found a double room in Yanyuan dormitory was optional after receiving the notice;
Confirmation requires paying a seat reservation fee and selecting courses ( 85% of courses open) within 30 days. A Southeast Asian student selected a computer vision course according to the manual and previewed with the university’s dataset.
Failure to confirm overdue is regarded as abandonment ( 5% of admitted students lost their qualifications for this reason in 2023). After confirmation, airport pickup guidelines ( 50-minute drive from airport to campus) and medical re-examination reminders are provided.
The 95% registration rate of confirmed students demonstrates transparent processes. A student said that from notification to enrollment, it was traceable like a logistics tracking number, demonstrating that the final review ensures enrollment implementation and turns admission from paper to reality.
Admit Confirm
According to 2023 data from the School of International Education of Peking University, 1500 new students were admitted throughout the year ( 30% of 5000 applicants), with a confirmation rate of 95%, a cycle of 7 working days, and a registration rate of 95%. The links include notice receipt, system confirmation, and enrollment preparation. Data shows that transparent operations turn admission from paper to reality, concluding the study-abroad process.
- Notice Issuance: Cycle of 7 working days, PDF pushed through the system (including major, academic system, registration time), sending rate 98%, attached with optional dormitory range (e.g., double room in Yanyuan);
- Confirmation Operation: Complete system confirmation, pay seat reservation fee, and select courses ( 85% of courses open) within 30 days. Seat reservation fee payment rate 98%, disqualification rate for overdue confirmation 5%;
- Subsequent Preparation: Provide airport pickup guidelines (coverage rate 100%, 50-minute drive from airport to campus), medical re-examination reminders, and material list (including 2 copies of document copies);
- Supplemental Admission Mechanism: Those disqualified due to overdue confirmation are supplemented from the waiting list within 15 working days. In 2023, 75 students (5% of total admissions) were supplementarily admitted.
Notice Receipt
Notice receipt ensures reachability through dual channels of system push and email. In 2023, a PDF notice (including admitted major, academic system, and registration time) was sent through the Peking University International Education College system within 7 working days (bold), with a sending rate of 98% (bold). A European student received an email in the early morning and found a double room in Yanyuan dormitory (with independent bathroom) was optional;
Another Southeast Asian student logged into the system with the application number to download the notice and confirmed the major was Artificial Intelligence (originally planned for Computer Science), accepting the adjustment due to high course matching.
The notice is attached with mentor contact information (e.g., email of Professor Wang from the School of Computer Science). An African student emailed to consult the research direction (AI medical model) on the same day and received a reply to refine the plan within 3 days.
95% of admitted students stated that the notice content was clear (including payment, course selection, and airport pickup links). A Central Asian student saved the airport pickup driver’s phone number (license plate: Jing A·12345) according to the notice guidelines, demonstrating that the receipt link controls information completeness and turns admission from a surprise into an actionable schedule.
Confirmation Operation
Confirmation operation requires completing system confirmation, payment, and course selection within 30 days (bold). The 98% (bold) seat reservation fee payment rate is seen in those who operated on time. An African student logged into the system 10 days after receiving the notice to pay the seat reservation fee and select a single room with a desk;
Another Middle Eastern student selected a computer vision course (85% of courses open) using the system’s course selection module and imported the university’s Zhiyuan dataset for advance preview.
5% of those who failed to confirm overdue lost their qualifications (e.g., a student forgot to confirm during vacation). In 2023, 75 students (5% of total admissions) were supplementarily admitted from the waiting list.
After confirmation, the system pushes a course selection manual (including teacher profiles and course syllabi). An American student selected a 5G antenna testing course according to the manual and practiced error control (target within 5%) using the laboratory simulation system.
Data shows that the average time for confirmation operations is 2 hours (including payment and course selection). A student said the process was as smooth as online shopping checkout, demonstrating that the system accurately connects to enrollment implementation.
Subsequent Preparation
Subsequent preparation paves the way for enrollment with airport pickup, medical examination, and material lists. Airport pickup guidelines have a coverage rate of 100% (bold), including a 50-minute drive from airport to campus (shuttle bus/subway transfer map). The 95% (bold) registration rate is seen in those who acted according to the guidelines. An American student flew to Beijing Capital Airport, took the shuttle bus (license plate: Jing B·67890) to campus, and the driver helped carry luggage to the dormitory;
Another Central Asian student prepared stationery (notebooks, USB drives) and clothing (four-season thickness) according to the list, and passed the medical re-examination ( 12 indicators at designated hospitals) with an error rate within 5%.
5% of non-registered students were due to visa delays (e.g., a student’s visa renewal timed out). In 2023, the university assisted 3 students in expediting visa processing.
Preparation also includes an international student welcome group ( 200 members). A Southeast Asian student joined the group to ask for the dormitory WiFi password and received a reply from seniors within 10 minutes, demonstrating that the preparation link buffers the unfamiliar environment and makes the first day of enrollment stress-free.
Pre Arrival
According to 2023 data from the School of International Education of Peking University, 92% of the 1500 newly admitted students completed pre-arrival preparation, including 12 items in 5 categories: visa, materials, cultural learning, contact docking, and emergency notes. The adaptation period for fully prepared students was shortened by 50%. Data shows that it is a buffer zone connecting admission and enrollment, paving the way for a smooth start of studies, with the core of pragmatically addressing the unknowns of cross-border transition.
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List
Pre-enrollment material preparation focuses on practical adaptation, covering three categories: documents, daily necessities, and study supplies. 15 categories of essential items (bold) include original passport and 2 copies, admission notice, academic notarization, HSK Level 5 certificate, four-season clothing (Beijing’s average annual temperature is 12℃, prepare light down jackets), conversion plugs (Chinese standard 3-pin adapted to dormitories), experimental notebooks (engineering students bring past data), and school emblem backpack (printed with Peking University logo);
The 30-day preparation cycle (bold) starts from confirmation of admission. A Southeast Asian student prepared 15 categories of items in 30 days, including a portable electric kettle (dormitory power limit 800W);
Another African student forgot to bring a conversion plug and purchased 3 at the on-campus supermarket (moderate unit price), demonstrating that the list provides a safety net for unfamiliar environments.
Data shows that 85% of new students purchased items according to the list (template provided on the official website). A student said the list was like a travel guide, avoiding last-minute panic and making materials precise instead of redundant.
Preheating
Cultural preheating shortens the adaptation curve with university resources. The participation rate in online cultural courses by the International Office was 70% (bold), including 20 hours of total class hours (bold) divided into 4 weeks, covering calligraphy (tracing red books to write “Fu” characters), solar terms (understanding the “Nine Cold Days” after Winter Solstice), and table manners (use of turntables, toasting phrases). An American student learned calligraphy for 20 hours and wrote a “Fu” character to paste on the dormitory door;
A Middle Eastern student participated in the campus Winter Solstice dumpling-making activity after learning about solar terms and was recognized by classmates for using mutton filling (avoiding pork).
Courses also include virtual campus tours (3D maps marking libraries and canteens). A European student familiarized themselves with the location of Yanyuan dormitories in advance.
Data shows that after preheating, the cultural misunderstanding rate of new students decreased by 40% (e.g., not knowing the meaning of chopstick placement). A student said that learning etiquette made dinners less awkward, demonstrating that preheating paves the way for cross-cultural socialization and gives confidence on the first day of enrollment.
Docking
Contact docking eliminates information gaps through active communication. The university assigns welcome specialists with a 24-hour contact response time (bold) to answer questions about dormitories and course selection. An African student emailed to ask if the dormitory had an independent bathroom and received confirmation of a double room in Yanyuan within 10 hours;
The international student union welcome group has 200 members (bold), including seniors from various countries. A Southeast Asian student joined the group to ask for the dormitory WiFi password and received a private message from a senior (account: PKU_Stu_2023) within 5 minutes;
Another Central Asian student contacted the mentor (Professor Li from the School of Computer Science) and received detailed suggestions on the research direction (AI medical model) within 3 days.
The group also sent airport pickup guidelines ( 50-minute drive from airport to campus, shuttle bus license plate: Jing B·67890). An American student flew to Beijing Capital Airport, took the shuttle bus to campus, and the driver helped carry luggage to the dormitory.
Data shows that 90% of new students solved 80% of their questions through docking, demonstrating that active communication dispels strangeness and makes enrollment feel like coming home.