Why choose the School of Life Sciences?

By joining the Peking University School of Life Sciences, you will become part of a renowned institution with a history dating back to 1925. Here, you will immerse yourself in a vibrant academic community at the forefront of innovative biological research. As a globally recognized “top 20” university in various rankings, we offer a unique blend of academic excellence and cutting-edge scientific exploration. We are committed to fostering an intellectually stimulating environment that encourages interdisciplinary and innovative research, preparing you to become a future leader in the life sciences.

Faculty

Our faculty is a testament of intellectual excellence, with over 80 professors, including 5 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3 members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and 2 EMBO Members. As leaders in the life sciences community, our faculty provide unparalleled expertise and research opportunities. Research in our laboratories spans a wide range of biological disciplines, from plant biology and ecology to neuroscience, gene editing, structural biology, and systems biology, ensuring a comprehensive education covering both fundamental priniciples and the latest advancements in the field.

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate talent with a solid knowledge base and a global perspective. We aim to foster critical and creative thinking in our graduates, equipping them for diverse and interdisciplinary research in the life sciences. Through rigorous coursework and research training, we provide a variety of academic opportunities that are highly praised by students. Recognizing individual differences, we advocate for personalized training, allowing each student to pursue their research interests under tailored guidance from our faculty.

Admissions Majors

The School of Life Sciences offers doctoral programs in the following disciplines: Plant Sciences, Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Physiology (Neurosciences), Cell Biology (Genetics and Developmental Biology), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, and Biotechnology.

For detailed information on doctoral advisors and specific program requirements, please refer to the official website of the School of Life Sciences:

https://www.bio.pku.edu.cn/en/index/index.html

Method and Length of Study

The study method is full-time. The basic study period is 5 years

Courses Offered at School of Life Sciences

The School of Life Sciences offers numerous professional courses conducted in English. International students may select courses under the guidance of their mentors. The total credits for the courses taken must meet the requirements for a Ph.D. degree at Peking University. Courses currently available in English include:

* Course offering are subject to change annually.

Application Prerequisites

Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with 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 valid passport or citizenship documents dating from before April 30, 2020, along with proof of 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 healthy, both physically and psychologically, with no criminal record, and must abide by the laws and decrees of China and the regulations of Peking University.

3. Applicants for doctoral programs must have attained a master’s degree or higher from an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees may apply for admission to doctoral programs.

4. The applicant’s academic performance, academic level and language ability should meet the admission requirements of the School of Life Sciences he/she is applying for.

 Application Period (Beijing time)

October 20, 2025 – December 23, 2025

Application Materials

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 issued by Ministry of Education of China. 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 graduated before 2026 must upload their degree authentication report during the application period. Applicants expected to graduate in 2026 must provide an official letter from their current university stating their expected graduation date and submit their certificate of graduation upon being pre-admitted.

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

3. A personal statement (3000 words, including a research plan). Please click the link to download the template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13

4. Resume and a copy of the Application Commitment letter. Please click the link to download the template for the Commitment letter: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.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 title), either in Chinese or English. 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. Click the link to download the template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13

6. Original Chinese or English language test scores:

● For Chinese-taught programs, language test scores fulfilling the following standards are eligible for submission.

Note: Qualified HSK 7–9 level scores are also accepted.

● For English-taught programs, applicants whose mother tongue is not English are required to submit TOEFL iBT (100 points or above) or GRE (315 points or above) scores or other certificates to prove their English language proficiency.

7. Passport front page. Applicants must upload the front page of any ordinary passport(s) he/she has used continuously since April 30, 2020, and the current passport must be valid for at least three months after enrollment.

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

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.

 Application Fee

The application fee for each program/major is 800 RMB.

Note: Each applicant may apply for up to two programs/majors. Applicants are required to pay the application fee online before the application deadline. Other currencies or traveler’s checks will not be accepted. Applications with incomplete documents or without payment of the application fee will not be processed. The application fee is NOT refundable.

Examination by the School/Department

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 the academic review.

The school’s admissions team will organize professional expert panels to review the applicants’ academic dossiers. All the submitted application materials will be reviewed to assess the applicant’s overall ability. A shortlist of applicants will be drawn up for the next step of examination.

The second examination round will be held in March 2026. The specific date and time will be decided by the school and posted on the school’s website. Applicants should check regularly for relevant online information to be posted.

The school’s admissions expert committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the candidates’ research capacity, language proficiency, innovation capacity and comprehensive quality in the second examination round.

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 notice of the school.

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 the International Student Division of Peking University.

Deadline: May 31, 2026

Address: Room 330, International Student Division, New Sun Student Center, Peking University. Please note on the envelope: “Graduate student application materials”

4. In late June 2026, the International Student Division will issue an admission notice, a “Confirmation Form for Study in China” (JW201/JW202) and other documents to the admitted students.

Additional Notes

1. For information on Enrollment, Tuition Fees (per year per person), Scholarships, Visa, Medical Insurance, Accommodation, Graduation and Degree Awarding, please refer to 2026 Application Information for International Students at Peking University: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/detail.php?id=729

2. Graduate students are NOT allowed to be enrolled in more than one program/university 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 he/she is applying to. 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 2026, Peking University will make corresponding adjustments and announce the changes in a timely way.

Contact Information

School of Life Sciences, Peking University

Graduate Affairs Office

Email:gsmjwb@pku.edu.cn

Website: www.bio.pku.edu.cn

International Student Division, Peking University

Room 330, New Sun Student Center

International Student Division

Office of International Relations

Peking University, Beijing 100871

People's Republic of China

Tel: (+86-10) 6275 1230

Fax: (+86-10) 6275 1233

Email: study@pku.edu.cn

Web site: www.isd.pku.edu.cn; www.oir.pku.edu.cn