The Silk Road Program is a Chinese Government Scholarship administered at Peking University for students selected after admission. It supports study in fields identified as important to Belt and Road partner countries, including green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, taxation, finance, disaster mitigation and education.
PKU recommends candidates to the China Scholarship Council on merit and according to the requirements of specific study programs. Recommended candidates then complete the national scholarship application.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition coverage.
- Housing, a living stipend in China and comprehensive medical insurance.
- Funding lasts for the standard length of the admitted study program.
- Renewal for each following year requires passing the annual scholarship review.
Eligibility
- Applicants must first meet the admission requirements of the relevant PKU study program.
- For current graduate routes, master’s applicants normally need a bachelor’s degree, while doctoral applicants normally need a master’s degree; science and engineering routes may admit exceptional bachelor’s degree holders directly to doctoral study.
- PKU selects nominees on merit and in line with the requirements of the specific program.
- Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens holding a valid passport.
- PKU describes the scholarship as developing talent for Belt and Road partner countries, and publishes no exhaustive list of eligible countries.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor · Master
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Application process
- 1Apply to and obtain admission to an eligible Peking University study program.
- 2PKU reviews admitted candidates against the scholarship and specific program requirements and recommends selected candidates to the China Scholarship Council.
- 3If nominated, complete the Chinese Government Scholarship application form and upload the required materials in the national application system.
- 4After receiving the scholarship, complete and pass the annual review to retain funding for the next academic year.
Program timeline
October 20–December 23, 2025
General PKU graduate application period for 2026 entry.
Usual Silk Road Program recommendation and scholarship application period.
March–April each year
General PKU graduate second-round examinations.
March 2026
General PKU graduate enrollment.
Early September 2026
Each academic year
Scholarship review for continued funding.