What the Yenching Fellowship Actually Covers
Full fellowship. But the official website does not publish the stipend amount. Here's what you're actually getting, and the one financial gap that catches many incoming scholars off guard.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
6 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The Overview
The Yenching fellowship covers the big items well: tuition, on-campus housing, a monthly living allowance, one round-trip flight, basic health insurance, field study costs and research-related expenses. With tuition and housing covered in Beijing, you can live comfortably on the stipend — Beijing is affordable by international standards.
The one thing the official site never specifies is the exact stipend amount. Alumni accounts (unofficial) put it at around $500 USD equivalent per month. That number is not on their website. This page is going to tell you what you'll actually have to work with.
Complete Fellowship Breakdown
The official FAQ says every admitted scholar receives the Yenching Fellowship for the first academic year. It covers tuition, accommodation, a travel stipend for one round trip, basic medical insurance, a monthly stipend and research-related expenses. Here is each item in practice.
Tuition — fully covered
PKU tuition is paid in full by the fellowship in Year 1, and by the second-year fellowship in Year 2 for scholars who qualify (see below). This is a genuine master's degree — without the fellowship, international tuition at Peking University runs to tens of thousands of dollars. You pay nothing.
Housing — on campus in Year 1
Year 1 scholars are housed in the newly renovated Shaoyuan 6 dormitory (the Yenching Academy House) on the PKU campus, and living on campus is required in the first year. Most scholars are placed in two-bedroom suites shared with one other Yenching scholar of the same gender. You'll have a private bedroom, a shared bathroom and common area, and in-building facilities. The dormitory is inside the PKU campus — walking distance from everything you need for coursework.
For Year 2, housing support is part of the second-year fellowship for scholars who stay in Beijing: either on-campus housing or an off-campus housing stipend, depending on your situation and the Academy's availability that year.
Monthly stipend — about $500 USD
The fellowship includes a monthly living allowance. The official website does not state the exact figure. Alumni accounts (unofficial) put it at approximately $500 USD equivalent per month (paid in RMB). With tuition and housing already covered, this is enough to live comfortably in Beijing — food, local transport, occasional travel around China, daily expenses.
The stipend doesn't arrive until the end of September. You arrive in early September. Read the cash-gap section below for what to do about this.
Airfare — one round trip
One round-trip journey between your base city and Beijing is covered for Year 1: home to Beijing at the start of the program, and Beijing home at the end of the year. Officially, the base city must be in your country of nationality, and the Academy estimates and calculates the amount. Year 2 airfare is not included. Importantly, the reimbursement typically arrives in October — not before you travel. You need to book and pay for your own flight to Beijing, then get reimbursed. Factor this into your pre-arrival funds.
Medical insurance — basic coverage
Basic health insurance is included in the fellowship. It covers general medical care in China. However, it may not adequately cover pre-existing conditions and the coverage limits may be lower than you're used to at home. If you have ongoing medical needs or medications, look into supplemental international health insurance before you arrive. Also bring enough of any prescription medications for at least 3 months — some may be difficult or impossible to find in China.
Research expenses and field study
The fellowship covers the costs of the compulsory Field Study trip and some research-related expenses. The amount and process for accessing research money varies. Don't count on this for major research travel — but it can help offset basic costs like printing, access to archives, or local field research. First-year scholars can also compete for a Dean’s Research Grant for China-related research projects.
The First-Month Cash Gap
This is critical — read it before you arrive.
- 1Early SeptemberYou arrive in Beijing
Orientation begins.
- 2Mid-SeptemberSpending starts
You need money for food, supplies, dorm deposit, daily life.
- 3Late SeptemberFirst stipend payment arrives
- 4OctoberTransportation reimbursement arrives
That's 3–4 weeks in Beijing before any fellowship money reaches you.
Bring this in personal funds for arrival month. It covers food while settling in, any deposits, basic household items, transportation, and unexpected setup costs. Scholars who arrived without personal savings have found the first month genuinely stressful. This is money you'll get back once the stipend kicks in — just think of it as a float.
Year 2 Fellowship — Not Automatic
The fellowship is initially for twelve months. To be funded in Year 2 you have to apply for the second-year Yenching Fellowship. Officially it is open to scholars who maintained good academic standing and stay in Beijing, and it covers tuition, accommodation support (on-campus house or off-campus housing stipend), basic medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Second-year students who live on campus and take student assistantship roles can receive additional funding.
What's required for Year 2 funding
- Maintaining good academic standing throughout Year 1
- Submitting a formal Year 2 fellowship application (internal process)
- Remaining enrolled in the program and living in Beijing
If you leave Beijing for Year 2
International scholars may choose to complete their Year 2 thesis from their home countries. However, the official FAQ makes the second-year fellowship available only to scholars who stay in Beijing, so if you leave you are not eligible for its housing support or stipend. You keep your enrollment and your path to the degree. The FAQ does not say how Year 2 tuition is handled for scholars who leave, so confirm this with the Academy.
Staying in Beijing for Year 2 keeps your support intact and makes thesis completion significantly easier. Finding a PKU advisor, doing in-person consultations, and accessing PKU library resources are all much harder remotely. Alumni accounts suggest remote thesis work often takes longer.
What the Fellowship Does Not Cover
Trips home, travel within China beyond the program's Field Study, international travel — all on you.
Beyond what's covered by the research budget, books and course materials are your expense.
Your student visa application, any extension fees, and travel documents are your responsibility.
The included basic insurance may not adequately cover pre-existing conditions. Consider supplemental coverage.
If you wear large Western sizes, bring clothing and shoes from home. They're very difficult to source in Beijing.
Specific dietary requirements, Western products, and specialty items may be expensive or unavailable. Bring what you can.
Beijing air quality can be genuinely bad. Most long-term residents run air purifiers in their rooms. Budget ¥500–¥1,500 for a decent one.
The one round-trip airfare is for Year 1 only. Year 2 travel is your own expense.
You'll need a paid VPN service. Set it up before you arrive. Ongoing monthly cost is on you.
Practical Financial Survival Tips
Set up a bank account with no international fees
Your stipend will be deposited in China and you'll need to access it. Use a bank card that doesn't charge international ATM fees or foreign transaction fees. Wise (TransferWise), Charles Schwab (US), or Starling (UK) are common choices among international students and expats in Beijing.
WeChat Pay and Alipay are how China works
Mobile payments are near-universal in Beijing. Cash is rarely used. You'll need to link a Chinese bank account or a foreign card to either WeChat Pay or Alipay early in your arrival. Older scholars report the setup process for foreigners has become easier but still has friction — ask a current scholar for the latest process when you arrive.
On-campus food and transport are genuinely cheap
The PKU campus cafeterias are inexpensive by any measure. Local Beijing food outside campus is also affordable. The stipend stretches well if you live like a local student. Where costs rise quickly: eating at Western restaurants, buying imported food, and personal travel. Be intentional about those.
Now you know what you're getting. Read Life in Beijing for more on day-to-day practicalities — VPN setup, air quality, what to pack, and surviving the first month.