For 2026 doctoral admissions, the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) at Peking University will continue to implement the “Application–Assessment” system, which is based on a comprehensive evaluation of applicants’ overall academic quality and research potential.

Applicants from Mainland China must apply and submit required materials in accordance with the University’s doctoral admissions brochure and the School’s specific admissions guidelines. Applicants from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and international students should follow the relevant admissions brochures and submit their application materials accordingly. The assessment schedule, content, and procedures are the same for Mainland, Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan, and international applicants

I. Application Requirements

1. Applicants must support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, maintain a correct political orientation, love the motherland, possess good moral character, and abide by laws and regulations.

2. Applicants for doctoral study must meet one of the following academic requirements:

· Have obtained a master’s degree or a doctoral degree;

· Be a current master’s degree candidate (the master’s degree must be obtained before enrollment in the year of admission. Applicants who obtained their degree from overseas institutions must obtain the degree before the re-examination in the year of admission and provide the “Certification of Foreign Academic Degrees” issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education);

· Individuals who have obtained a bachelor’s degree for at least six years (calculated from the date of obtaining the bachelor’s degree to the date of doctoral enrollment) may apply under the category of equivalent academic qualifications. Applicants applying under equivalent academic qualifications must have published at least two academic papers (as first or second author) in nationally recognized core journals in the relevant discipline or closely related research field, or have received a provincial- or ministerial-level research award related to the applied discipline (ranked among the top five contributors).

3. Applicants must meet the physical and mental health requirements stipulated by Peking University for graduate student admission medical examinations.

II. Enrollment Quota

Please refer to the Peking University 2026 Ph.D. Admissions Catalogue.

III. Application Procedures

1. Online Application

1. Applicants must log in to the Peking University Graduate Admissions Website (https://admission.pku.edu.cn/applications/) between 09:00 on October 20, 2025 and 17:00 on November 20, 2025 to complete the online application and upload the required materials. Detailed instructions for online registration can be found in the Doctoral Application Announcement. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered invalid.

2. The application fee is RMB 200 per application preference. The fee must be paid online through the PKU Graduate Admissions System within the designated application period. Once the payment is successfully completed, the application fee is non-refundable.

3. Applicants must truthfully complete all required personal and academic information in the online application system and submit authentic materials. After the School receives the application materials or after the application deadline has passed, no modifications to the submitted information will be permitted. Applicants bear full responsibility for any consequences resulting from incorrect information, false declarations (including personal image information), or other inaccuracies that affect their eligibility for subsequent assessments or admission.

4. Each applicant may apply for only one major, one research direction, and one supervisor within the School. Information regarding supervisors and their enrollment status can be found on the School’s website under Education and Teaching – Graduate Education – Introduction to Doctoral Supervisors of the School of Journalism and Communication.

2. Materials Submission

After successful online registration, applicants must submit the following materials:

1. Application Registration Form for Peking University 2026 Ph.D. Program

(The form can be downloaded from the application website only after successful online registration and payment. After printing and confirming, applicants must sign their name on pages 2 and 3.)

2. Copy of applicant’s ID card.

3. Copy of highest academic degree and diploma certificate.

(Current master’s students must submit an official certification letter issued by their graduate school or department. Before enrollment, they must obtain a nationally recognized master’s degree certificate or, for overseas degrees, a “Certification of Foreign Academic Degree” issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education. Applicants who have already obtained overseas degrees must submit this certification at the time of application.)

4. Official transcripts (original copies) from undergraduate and master’s programs.

(Applicants who have already obtained a master’s or doctoral degree, as well as current master’s students, must provide transcripts from both undergraduate and master’s stages; both are required.)

5. Master’s thesis (or abstract and table of contents for current master’s students), published academic papers, and other original research achievements.

6. Personal statement (approximately 3,000 words), including understanding of the discipline and proposed research plan.

Template available at:

https://admission.pku.edu.cn/zsxx/bszs/bssqkh/index.htm

7. Two recommendation letters from experts at the rank of associate professor (or equivalent professional title) or above in the relevant discipline. Recommenders must complete and submit the recommendation letter online and seal the original letter with their signature across the envelope seal. (Please refer to the PKU Graduate Admissions website for the online submission process.) Applicants must retain the original sealed recommendation letters and mail them together with other application materials to the School of Journalism and Communication.

8. Copy of proof of foreign language proficiency. Provide at least one of the following:

① English

a) CET-6 score of 500 or above (taken after September 1, 2021);

b) TOEFL (iBT) score of 100 or above (taken after September 1, 2024);

c) IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or above (taken after September 1, 2024);

d) TEM-4 or TEM-8 certificate (taken after September 1, 2021);

e) Degree obtained from an English-medium program in a native English-speaking country or region (degree awarded after September 1, 2021).

② Other languages (French, German, Japanese, Russian only)

a) Degree obtained in France, Germany, Japan, or Russia, with thesis written in the respective language (after September 1, 2021);

b) Degree obtained in a French, German, Japanese, or Russian major in a Chinese university, with thesis written in the respective language (excluding second bachelor’s degrees; awarded after September 1, 2021).

9. Applicants applying with equivalent academic qualifications must additionally submit:

At least two academic papers published in nationally recognized core journals in the relevant or closely related research field (as first or second author), OR certificates of provincial- or ministerial-level research awards related to the applied discipline (ranked within the top five contributors).

Important Notes:

1. The information contained in the hard-copy application materials must be fully consistent with the online application information. Any inconsistency will result in invalid application status.

2. The School only enrolls full-time doctoral students.

3. Requirements for mailing application materials:

① All required materials should be arranged in the specified order and secured with a slide binder (do not staple). Place them in an envelope (Items 1–8 are mandatory). Please ensure all materials are complete before mailing. Incomplete applications will be deemed invalid.

② Clearly indicate the following information in bold font on the front of the envelope: Applicant’s Name, Phone Number, Applied Major, and Intended Supervisor.

③ Materials must be delivered to Room 231, School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University no later than 5:00 PM on November 24, 2025. The delivery date (not the postmark date) will be used to determine timeliness. Late submissions will be considered invalid and will not be processed.

④ Mailing address:

Room 231, School of Journalism and Communication

Peking University

Beijing 100871, China

Tel: +86-10-62758122

⑤ Applications submitted online only without mailing materials, or mailed materials without completing online registration, or materials not delivered on time, will not be accepted.

⑥ To ensure timely delivery, only EMS courier service is accepted. Please clearly mark the envelope as “PhD Application Materials.” Application materials will not be returned once received.

IV. Selection Process

1. Review of Application Materials

After receiving the application materials, the School of Journalism and Communication will conduct a review.

2. Preliminary Review

· In early December 2025 (tentatively), the School will conduct a preliminary review based on applicants’ submitted materials, evaluating foreign language proficiency, academic background, and research potential.

· Based on the review results and the annual enrollment quota, candidates will, in principle, be shortlisted for further assessment at a ratio of approximately 3:1. This ratio may be adjusted depending on the applicant pool.

· The list of shortlisted candidates, along with details regarding the re-examination (second-round assessment), including time and specific arrangements, is expected to be announced on the School’s website in early December 2025.

3. Re-examination

1. The re-examination is tentatively scheduled for mid-to-late December 2025. Applicants should refer to the official re-examination notice published on the School’s website for detailed procedures and requirements.

2. Prior to the re-examination, applicants must present the original copies of their ID card, academic degree certificates, and proof of foreign language proficiency for verification by the School.

3. Applicants holding degrees obtained overseas must also provide the “Certification of Foreign Academic Degrees” issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (Ministry of Education) for verification.

4. If the School has concerns regarding the authenticity of any academic degree certificates or language proficiency documents, applicants must submit official authentication reports issued by recognized authorities as required. Applicants who fail to meet the verification requirements will not be permitted to participate in the re-examination.

5. Applicants applying with equivalent academic qualifications must additionally take written examinations in Political Theory and two core master’s-level courses in the relevant discipline.

6. Applicants must attend the re-examination at the designated time and location announced by the School. Failure to attend as required will be regarded as voluntary withdrawal.

V. Admission

1. Each admissions expert panel will admit candidates whose assessment results meet the passing requirements, ranking them from highest to lowest total score according to the planned enrollment quota.

2. The results of the preliminary review and re-examination are valid only for the current admission year. Applicants who fail to participate in the preliminary review or re-examination within the specified timeframe for the current admission cycle will not be admitted.

VI. Academic Integrity and Discipline

1. Applicants must guarantee the authenticity of their academic degree certificates, personal information, other application details, and all submitted materials. Any applicant found to have engaged in academic misconduct, violations of professional ethics, dishonesty, or related misconduct will, once verified, have their application, admission, or enrollment eligibility revoked at any time.

2. Applicants are expected to uphold discipline and examination integrity. During the re-examination period, candidates must comply with the University’s examination regulations and the commitments outlined in the “Re-examination Integrity Statement” they have signed. Before the completion of the re-examination process, candidates are prohibited from disclosing or disseminating any examination content or related information.

Candidates, examination staff, or other relevant personnel who violate examination administration regulations or examination discipline in graduate admissions, thereby affecting the fairness and integrity of the examination, will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the Education Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Measures for Handling Violations of National Education Examinations (Order No. 33 of the Ministry of Education). Where violations constitute unlawful acts, legal responsibility shall be pursued by judicial authorities in accordance with the law; where crimes are constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued accordingly.

3. If University staff discover that an applicant has forged documents, the case will be immediately reported to the public security authorities.

4. It is strictly prohibited for any internal department or staff member of the University to organize or participate in examination or admissions coaching activities. Current students are prohibited from organizing or participating in cheating assistance, false promotion, or other examination-related illegal activities. Admissions personnel who have immediate family members or other interested parties applying for doctoral admission in the same year must recuse themselves from the relevant admissions work. Violations will result in accountability measures against the responsible departments and individuals.

VII. Information Disclosure and Supervision

1. In accordance with the principles of openness, fairness, and impartiality, the School of Journalism and Communication will publish relevant information regarding doctoral admissions—including admissions guidelines, assessment procedures, the list of candidates for re-examination, and the proposed admission list—on its official website.

2. The Graduate Admissions Office and relevant departments of the University will supervise the entire doctoral admissions process of the School. The School will establish a two-tier review mechanism consisting of an Admissions Working Group—led by the Vice Dean in charge of graduate affairs, School leadership, and the School’s Party Discipline Inspection Committee member—and an Admissions Expert Panel to oversee the admissions process.

Applicants who have objections to any stage of the doctoral admissions process may submit a written and signed complaint to the School, which shall accept and respond to the complaint. If the applicant is dissatisfied with the response, they may request a further review from the Graduate Admissions Office.

VIII. Additional Information

1. The duration of study, graduation and employment arrangements, tuition fees, scholarships and financial aid, and student accommodation shall be implemented in accordance with the University’s official admissions brochure.

2. Information regarding prospective doctoral supervisors may be found on the School’s website under “Introduction to Doctoral Supervisors of the School of Journalism and Communication.”

3. Applicants are advised to regularly check the School’s official website for updates regarding specific schedules and requirements at each stage of the admissions process. The School will not provide separate individual notifications.

4. If higher authorities issue new doctoral admissions policies for the 2026 admission cycle, the University and the School will make corresponding adjustments and announce them in a timely manner.

5. The School of Journalism and Communication reserves the right of final interpretation of this notice.

IX. Contact Information

· Graduate Admissions Office, School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University

o Telephone: +86-10-62758122

Office Address: Room 231, School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University

Postal Code: 100871

School Website: http://www.sjc.pku.edu.cn

· Graduate Admissions Office, Peking University

o Telephone: +86-10-62751354

Email: grszsb@pku.edu.cn

Office Address: Room 502, New Sun Student Center, Peking University

Postal Code: 100871

Graduate Admissions Website: https://admission.pku.edu.cn/index.htm