LSE – PKU Double MSc Degree in International Affairs

About the MSc programme

Organised jointly by Peking University and LSE since 2006, this two-year full-time double master’s degree programme offers an outstanding opportunity for graduate students and young professionals. The first year is spent at the School of International Studies at Peking University, studying the international relations of China and the Asia Pacific region. The second year is spent at LSE, studying the theory and history of global international relations. The programme offers the following benefits:

• Experience a full academic programme in both China and Europe.
• Combine an empirical and a theoretical approach to contemporary international affairs.
• Engage at an advanced level with the latest academic research and undertake your own research-based term work and dissertation.

How to apply

All applicants apply via LSE. This includes applicants from the People's Republic of China, and areas of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and PKU students.

1. All applicants from the mainland of People's Republic of China who do not have dual citizenship (ie do not hold a second passport) must either have the recommendation eligibility to the SIS (保研) or pass the National Entrance Examination for Postgraduate students in China (考研).
2. Applicants holding identity cards from Macau, Hong Kong, or Taiwan do not need to take the National Entrance Examination, but must register with PKU Graduate School: grs.pku.edu.cn/zsxx/gat/# by 15 December 2016. Applicants need to indicate this programme in both online and hard copy application materials, as well as on the cover of application materials posted to the designated office.
3. All non-PRC students, upon accepting the offer, must go to the PKU online application (pre-registration) system (www.studyatpku.com/), fill in the PKU form, pay the pre-registration fee of CNY 400 online by 24 April 2017, then print out and sign the form and, together with TWO passport size photos and a copy of the passport page with name, post it to:

Ms. XUE Yanfeng, Programme Officer,
B101, School of International Studies,
Peking University,
No.5 Yiheyuan Road,
100871, Beijing China.

PKU needs to receive this package by 5 May 2017. If you fail to complete the above mentioned registration with PKU and mail the required documents before the deadline, you will not be able to enrol at PKU for 2017.

For further information about the National Entrance Examination for Postgraduate students in China and about the application process please contact Mr Zhang Chunping, Director of International Programs Office, on lsepku@126.com or edulis@126.com or call +86 10 6276 5111 or fax +86 10 6275 8954

IMPORTANT - For this programme dual citizenship means you have a full passport of another country, aside from the passport, residence permit or identity card for the People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan

Review

All applications will be reviewed by a joint admissions panel.

Applicants from Mainland China, upon meeting the eligibility of applying to this programme, will take the written test arranged by SIS, and both written test and interview arranged by the joint committee from both LSE and PKU.

For international applicants and those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, interviews (via phone or skype) will be arranged when necessary.

Admission

For joint admission notification will be sent by LSE on behalf of both institutions by the end of May. An official PKU admission letter and visa form (for international students) will be sent by early July.
Except in special circumstances (for example illness or bereavement,) we do not allow entry deferrals. Candidates who have to withdraw are welcome to reapply in the following year.

Programme details

At Peking University, students take a core course on Chinese Politics and Diplomacy and can select other courses among the wide variety on offer in the School of International Studies. Students can choose among courses taught in English and in Chinese. They complete the first year programme by writing and defending a dissertation on a topic relevant to their studies. The dissertation can be written in English or in Chinese.

Year one: PKU

Students are required to achieve 22 credits plus finish and defend a dissertation while studying at Peking University in the first year. Please note: The PKU dissertation does not count towards any credits at PKU but it is compulsory. Students cannot progress to year two at LSE without successfully completing year one at PKU.

Compulsory courses

• Chinese Politics and Diplomacy
• Dissertation and Oral Defence (the dissertation can be written either in Chinese or English)
• Chinese language (for international students)
• Applied English for Chinese students

Students will be expected to choose five courses from a range of options.

Year two: LSE

You can find the most up-to-date list of optional courses for LSE-PKU Double MSc Degree in International Affairs in the Programme Regulations section of the current School Calendar.

You must note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, some circumstances may cause the School to subsequently change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to circumstances outside of its control. You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee places on its courses. You should visit the School's Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the Updated graduate course and programme information page.

Degree Conferral

Upon successful completion of studies at both institutions, students will be conferred Master Degree of Law and Master Degree of Sciences by PKU and LSE respectively.

Graduate destinations

Graduates from the programme have been employed all over the world in a wide variety of international organisations, multinational corporations, public entities, and the media sector. Many students have also advanced to doctoral research.