Call for Applications: English-Taught Doctoral Program in Information Science at Peking University

Overview

Doctoral Program in Information Science (English-taught)

Program Language: English

Duration and Credits

• •  Program Duration: 4 years (full-time)

• •  Total Credits Required: 19
  • °  Public Compulsory Courses: 4 credits
  • °  Academic Writing: 1 credit
  • °  Compulsory Major Courses: 8 credits
  • °  Elective Courses: 6 credits

Program Objectives 

Research Areas

• •  Theory of Information and Knowledge Organization
• •  Information Service Institutions and Users
• •  Information Analysis and Metrics
• •  Computational Social Science and Digital Humanities
• •  Information and Data Governance

Eligibility Requirements

• •  Non-Chinese citizens holding valid foreign passports. Applicants from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan who have acquired foreign nationality must hold valid foreign passports or nationality certificates obtained before April 30, 2020, along with proof of canceled Chinese nationality.
• •  Applicants should hold a Master's degree.
• •  Proficiency in English. Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate and postgraduate programs were not taught in English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency. Applicants who are required to demonstrate their English proficiency can do so by providing TOEFL scores of no less than 100 or an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no sub-score lower than 5.5 or GRE  score of no less than 315.
• •  Demonstrated research capability, analytical skills, and a strong interest in information management, digital society, and data governance.

Application Timeline

• •  Application Period: October 20, 2025 - January 15, 2026
• •  Application Deadline for English-taught Doctoral Program: January 15, 2026

• •  Degree certificates and authenticated transcripts (English or Chinese).
  • °  The working languages are Chinese and English. If the degree certificate is in another language, both the original document and a notarized Chinese or English translation must be uploaded. Applicants who obtained their degree certificates from overseas (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) institutions are generally required to submit a Degree Certification Report from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). Applicants who obtained their degree certificates from institutions in mainland China are generally required to submit a Degree Certification Report from the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC).
  • °  NOTE: In principle, graduated applicants must submit the Degree Certification Report at the time of application. Prospective graduates are required to submit an original Certificate of Expected Graduation or Study Certificate during the application period. Upon receiving a provisional admission offer, they must submit the official degree and graduation documents prior to enrollment
• •  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
• •  Personal statement (approximately 3,000 words), including a research plan
  • °  Please provide a brief introduction of your academic background and a detailed research plan for your graduate studies. A template can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13
• •  CV and commitment letter
  • °  A template for the commitment letter can be downloaded from https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13
• •  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
  • °  After the applicant submits the request, the recommender will receive a system-generated email. They can then follow the instructions in the email to either complete an online recommendation or upload a scanned copy of the recommendation letter signed by them.
  • °  A template can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/cn/down/brochures.php?cate=13
• •  Proof of English proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate and postgraduate programs were not taught in English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency.
  • °  Applicants who are required to demonstrate their English proficiency can do so by providing TOEFL scores of no less than 100 or an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no sub-score lower than 5.5 or GRE  score of no less than 315.
  • °  Applicants are exempt from the English Proficiency requirement if they have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) in an English speaking country or at an institution where English is the main language of instruction.
• •  Information page of the valid passport (passport type must be ordinary). The passport’s date of expiry should be after December 2025
• •  Table of contents and abstracts of the applicant’s academic publications and any other original achievements in his/her field (if applicable)
• •  NOTE: For all the supporting documents mentioned above, clear color scans obtained using a scanner must be submitted. Documents captured using mobile phones or digital cameras are not acceptable.
• •  NOTE: Once an applicant confirms and submits passport details (including name, nationality, gender, and date of birth) and the uploaded photo during the application stage, no modifications are permitted until after enrollment.
• •  NOTE: Applicants must carefully review and ensure that all documents (including two recommendation letters) are compliant and complete before submitting the application. The applicant shall bear full responsibility for any failed application review due to incomplete or non-compliant materials.

Selection Process

• •  Initial review by International Students Office
• •  Comprehensive evaluation and interviews by the department from March to April 2026
• •  Announcement of admissions results by late May 2026

Tuition and Scholarships

• •  Tuition fees as per university guidelines, which is 200,000 RMB in total
• •  Available scholarships for international students include:
  • °  Chinese Government Scholarship  - "High-Level Graduate" Program:
    • •  Covers full or partial tuition fees.
    • •  Provides accommodation.
    • •  Provides comprehensive medical insurance.
    • •  Provides monthly living allowance in accordance with relevant standards.
  • °  Beijing Government Scholarship for International Students:
    • •  Category A: Covers tuition fees, provides accommodation, provides comprehensive medical insurance, and provides a monthly living allowance.
    • •  Category B: Covers tuition fees, provides accommodation, and provides comprehensive medical insurance.
    • •  Category C: Covers tuition fees and provides comprehensive medical insurance.
  • °  Peking University Scholarship for International Students:
    • •  Covers full or partial tuition fees.
    • •  Provides comprehensive medical insurance.
    • •  Provides monthly living allowance in accordance with relevant standards.
  • °  NOTE: The evaluation and disbursement of all scholarships are subject to the relevant national and university regulations. For further information, please visit the International Students Division website: www.isd.pku.edu.cn

Visa, Insurance, and Accommodation

• •  Students must apply for 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 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 with scholarships that cover accommodation. Self-funded students should find their own living accommodation on campus or off campus. Please note that students who live off campus must register with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.

Graduation Requirements

• •  Completion of required credits and program requirements
• •  Successful dissertation defence and publication of scholarly work

Peking University
Department of Information Management
Oct 2025