Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
PKU English requirements by programme (2026 entry)
From each programme's admissions notice on PKU's international students site:
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science, master's and PhD | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 100 or GRE 315 |
| New Media, master's | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 100 |
| LL.M. in Chinese Law | 6.5 with 6.5 in writing | TOEFL iBT 90 |
| International Relations (MIR) | 7.0 | TOEFL iBT or Home Edition 100, GRE 315, Linguaskill 180 |
| Yenching Academy, China Studies | 7 overall | TOEFL iBT 100, Cambridge 185 |
| PKU-LSE double master's | 7.0 (Reading 7.0, others 6.5) | TOEFL iBT 100 with section minimums |
Exemptions and test dates
Computer Science exempts applicants with a bachelor's degree or higher from an English-speaking country or an English-medium institution. Yenching exempts native speakers and graduates of primarily English-taught degrees. PKU-LSE exempts native speakers and those with an English-taught degree from an English-speaking country awarded after 1 September 2021.
Test dates matter: New Media, MIR and Yenching need tests taken after 1 September 2024, and PKU-LSE after 1 October 2024.
Free test: are you at Peking University's score yet?
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Tests Yenching does not accept
Yenching Academy does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake, and only takes scores sent directly by the testing body.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your PKU programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Peking University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do I need for Peking University?+
It depends on the programme: 6.5 for Computer Science, New Media and the LL.M., and 7.0 for Yenching Academy, International Relations and PKU-LSE.
Does Peking University accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
Yenching Academy does not. Check the notice for other programmes.
Do I need IELTS for Peking University if my degree was in English?+
Most programmes exempt applicants whose earlier degree was taught in English, though the exact wording differs by programme.
How recent must my IELTS be for PKU?+
For New Media, MIR and Yenching, taken after 1 September 2024; for PKU-LSE, after 1 October 2024.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in China accepting IELTS 6.5
- Tsinghua University IELTS requirement
- Fudan University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for China
- IELTS One Skill Retake explained
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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