Overview
PKU-LSE Double Master’s Degree in International Affairs is a two-year full-time double degree program organized jointly by the School of International Studies of Peking University and the Department of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Students spend the first year studying in Beijing and the second year in London.
The PKU-LSE Double Master’s Degree Program offers an outstanding opportunity for graduate students and young professionals to study general international relations. In the first year, students can take courses in both English and Chinese at SIS, mainly focusing on China and Asia-Pacific studies, as well as the theory and history of global international relations. In the second year, students can choose courses from the Department of International History at LSE.
Entry Requirements
1.Mainland Chinese applicants: Applicants from the Chinese mainland (including those who received bachelor’s degrees overseas) must either gain pre-admission through the Postgraduate Candidates Exempt from Admission Exam system for the International Relations major (Contemporary International Relations specialization) at the School of International Studies (SIS), or successfully pass China’s National Postgraduate Entrance Examination.
2.Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan applicants: Applicants holding permanent identity cards from Macau, Hong Kong, or valid ID card from Taiwan must meet the application eligibility of PKU Graduate Student.
Please visit https://admission.pku.edu.cn/zsxx/gatzs/index.htm.
3.International students: All non-PRC students must meet the application eligibility of PKU International Graduate Student.
Please visit https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/graduate/shushi.html.
Notes：
1. Non-PRC students’ nationalities refer to these recognized by the Chinese government; Chinese government does not accept the British overseas resident (BNO) passport; applicants with dual nationality, after admitted, must enter mainland China using the same nationality as they apply and go through the registration procedures.
2.Residents of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan who have emigrated to other countries and are applying for Peking University as international students must present valid passports or citizenship documents dating before April 30, 2019, along with proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality. Please be noted that 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.
Program Content
This is a two year full-time course. Students will spend the first year at PKU and the second year studying at LSE.
The first year is spent at Peking University, with a focus on public policy and administration in China and the Asia Pacific region.
The second year is spent at LSE and includes a range of compulsory and optional courses, as well as completing a research-based dissertation.
The courses in London will be taught in English, while those in Beijing will be taught in Chinese or English, giving students a choice about which language they want to use for their studie.
Your Application
1.At LSE
To apply for PKU-LSE Double Master’s Degree Program,
Please visit: https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/graduate/lse-pku-double-degree-in-msc-international-affairs#programme-content.
All applicants should apply online before March 10, 2025 via: https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Graduate/Prospective-students/How-to-Apply.
2.At PKU
·Mainland Chinese applicants: Applicants from the Chinese mainland (including those who received bachelor’s degrees overseas) must either gain pre-admission through the Postgraduate Candidates Exempt from Admission Exam system for the International Relations major (Contemporary International Relations specialization) at the School of International Studies (SIS), or successfully pass China’s National Postgraduate Entrance Examination.
·Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan applicants: Applicants holding identity cards from Macau, Hong Kong, or Taiwan must pre-register with PKU Graduate School online at: https://admission.pku.edu.cn/applications/ before 12 noon, January 8, 2025 (Beijing Time).
Please visit: https://admission.pku.edu.cn/zsxx/gatzs/index.htm.
Applicants need to choose International Relations major (Contemporary International Relations) and indicate this program specifically in both online and hard copy versions of the application, as well as on the cover of the application package posted to the designated admission office. Please send soft copies of documents required by PKU Graduate School to lsepku@pku.edu.cn.
·International students: All non-PRC students, only upon receiving an offer from LSE Admissions office, must go to the PKU online application/pre-registration system (http://www.studyatpku.com/) to fill in the application, upload the following documents and pay the pre-registration fee online before March 31, 2025 Beijing time. Project code: SIS-LSE 2025
3. Application Checklist
(1) Degree Documentation
Graduation and degree certificates and degree authentication in Chinese or English. For degree certificates 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 2025 must upload their degree authentication report during the application period. Applicants expected to graduate in 2025 must provide an official letter from their current university stating their expected graduation date, submit their certificate of graduation upon being pre-admitted.
(2) Academic Transcripts
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.
(3) A personal statement
Please click the link to download the template: https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/down/shen/ru.html.
(4) Resume and a copy of the Commitment for Application
Please click the link to download the template for the Commitment:
https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/down/shen/ru.html.
(5) Two recommendation Letters
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.
Please click the link to download the template:
https://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/down/shen/ru.html.
(6) Language Proficiency
IELTS: 7.0 or above（Reading: 7.0 or above; Speaking/ Listening/ Writing: 6.5 or above）.
TOEFL iBT or Home edition: 100 or above（Speaking: 22 or above; Listening; 22 or above; Writing: 24 or above; Reading: 25 or above）.
English test should be taken after October 1, 2023. A student is exempt from English requirement if his/her first language is English or he/she has obtained a degree in an English-taught program in an English-speaking country after September 1, 2020.
Please refer to:https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Graduate/Prospective-students/Entry-requirements/English-language-requirements
(7) Information page of the valid passport (passport type must be ordinary).
The passport’s date of expiry should be after December 2025.
(8) Table of contents and abstracts of the applicant’s academic publications and any other original achievements in his/her field (if applicable).
(9) Additional application documents.
Notes:
1.Applicants should scan the original or notarized application documents in color using a scanner. Images captured by mobile phone or camera are NOT acceptable.
2.The pre-admitted non-PRC 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:
Office for International Programs(B101),
School of International Studies,
Peking University,
No.5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian, 100871, Beijing China.
Tel: 86-10-62759199.
Unless otherwise notified, PKU needs to receive this package by April 15, 2025.
Fees and funding
Year 1 (at PKU, 2025/26):
International (non-Chinese) students: RMB 95,000
Chinese students: RMB 8,000
Year 2 (at LSE, 2026/27):
Home students: £30,400 (provisional)
There are scholarships available at both institutions for students on the double degree program.
For more information, please visit https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/graduate/lse-pku-double-degree-in-msc-international-affairs#programme-content.
Non-PRC students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship for year one at PKU. The scholarship application should be directed to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s home country. The application opens from November 2024 – April 2025 (varied for different countries). The CGS will provide the awardees with a monthly living stipend and assistance with accommodation arrangement. The PKU tuition fee will be partially covered by the CGS (students are expected to seek funding from other sources).
All Students will be eligible to apply for scholarship in year one at PKU. Since 2014, over 50 students have been awarded RMB 2,000-10,000 respectively depending on their overall academic performance in year one at PKU.
Contact Information
PKU Program Office:
·Administrator: Ms. Tong Tianyu
·Email: lsepku@pku.edu.cn
·Phone: +86-10-6275-9199
·Address: B101, School of International Studies, Peking University
LSE Program Office:
·Administrator: Mrs. Nayna Bhatti
·Email: grad.dual.degree@lse.ac.uk