Founded in 1898, Peking University was originally known as the Imperial University of Peking. It was the first national university covering comprehensive disciplines in China, and has been a leading institution of higher education in China since its establishment. It also served as the highest administration for education at the beginning of its founding.
History
In 1912, the university adopted its present name. At the end of the 20th century, the Chinese government put Peking University at the top of its agenda for promoting higher education, with the aim to build a world-class university in the 21st Century. After merging with Beijing Medical University in 2000, Peking University once again was strengthened in its disciplinary structure.
Education
The university has effectively combined research on important scientific subjects with the training of personnel with a high level of specialized knowledge and professional skill as demanded by the country's socialist modernization. It strives not only for improvements in teaching and research work, but also for the promotion of interaction and mutual promotion among various disciplines.
Research
Thus Peking University has become a center for teaching and research and a university of a new type, embracing diverse branches of learning such as basic and applied sciences, social sciences and the humanities, and sciences of medicine, management, and education. Its aim is to rank among the world's best universities in the future.
Career
The employability of graduates in the international job market has become an important criterion to evaluate the performance of a university and the quality of education it offers. The 2012 Global Employability Survey, conducted by the French consultancy Emerging and the German research institute Tendence among thousands of recruiters from top companies in 20 different countries, ranked PKU graduates No.11 on the list, trailing straight behind other world-renowned universities such as Harvard and Yale, Cambridge and Oxford.
Below you will find scholarships related to Peking University. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
13
By TopUniversities
Climbed 1 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
14
14
13
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
19
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 6 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
31
25
19
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
22
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Climbed 1 places compared to 2025
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
2024
2025
2026
24
23
22
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
13
13
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Accommodation is available only to students who have chosen the on-site course, and the length of the accommodation depends on the length of the on-site course chosen by the applicant,i.e. two weeks if the applicant has chosen a two-week on-site course; If the applicant chooses the four-week on-site course, the length of the stay is four weeks. PKUSSI 2022 will not provide accommodation for students who choose online courses.
Library services
The Peking University library is the largest university library in Asia, with a collection of 9.0195 million books, as well as Chinese and foreign journals and newspapers. The library also serves as a comprehensive modern information center.
Campus life
The students of Peking University enjoy a rich and vibrant campus life. Peking University has been famous for its student activities ever since the time of its foundation. Enjoying the full support from the university, students are encouraged to experience colorful campus lives. There are more than two hundred student-organized associations, and a range of student activities running year-round, which satisfy the different demands of local as well as international students. Through these activities, students cultivate their interpersonal friendship, creativity and leadership.
Im very satisfied with my overall study experience
The faculty was very supportive and knowledgeable. The campus environment was positive and there were good opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom.
Hostel facilities and the admission process could be made faster and more organized.
I had a very good study experience - 8/10. I learned practical skills that are helping me in my career and I would recommend this institute to other students.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromAug 2026 - Dec 2030
Posted onAug 2026
5/5
Im very satisfied with my overall study experience
**What I really liked:**
The faculty was very supportive and knowledgeable. The campus environment was positive and there were good opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom.
**What can be improved:**
Hostel facilities and the admission process could be made faster and more organized.
**Overall summary:**
I had a very good study experience - 8/10. I learned practical skills that are helping me in my career and I would recommend this institute to other students.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromAug 2026 - Dec 2030
Posted onAug 2026
4/5
A Good Foundation in AI and Machine Learning
My overall experience studying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning was positive and helped me build a strong foundation in programming, software development, and AI concepts. I particularly liked the practical aspects of the course, including working on projects and learning technologies such as Python, Java, machine learning, databases, and web development.
The course provided opportunities to apply theoretical concepts through academic projects, which helped me improve my problem-solving and technical skills. The faculty were generally supportive and the college environment provided a good platform to learn and develop professionally.
One area that could be improved is the amount of hands-on exposure to current industry technologies and real-world projects. More industry interactions, internships, research opportunities, updated laboratories, and practical training would make the learning experience even better.
Overall, my degree gave me a useful technical foundation and encouraged me to continue developing my skills in AI, machine learning, and software engineering.