The University consists of 30 colleges and 12 departments, with 93 specialties for undergraduates,2 specialties for the second Bachelor's degree, 199 specialties for Master candidates and 173 specialties for Doctoral candidates. While still laying stress on basic sciences, the university has paid special attention to the development of applied sciences.

Each year over two thousand overseas students from more than sixty countries attend classes at Peking University. While some are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs, most people come to the University for the Chinese language development program. Peking University's Chinese Language Center offers twenty levels of instruction from beginning through to advance. The curriculum follows standards articulated by the National Committee on the Teaching of Chinese as a Second Language and offers certification at various levels through the HSK. Upon completing the program, the student will receive an official transcript (Certificate) from the University.

International Students

Peking University was among the first universities in China to develop programs for international students. It has trained over 20,000 international students over the past five decades. With a strong focus on education and transference of knowledge, the Peking University has become a major player in providing Chinese language training and culture dissemination to foreign students.

Academic Exchange and International Cooperation

Peking University has also placed great importance on academic exchange and international cooperation with foreign universities, signing agreements with more than 200 universities in 50 countries and regions; thus cultivating a worldwide network for academic exchange and collaboration.

Each year over 300 foreign experts are invited to teach, research or participate in conferences at the Peking University. At the same time, Peking University's faculty and staff make over 5000 overseas visits annually for the same purposes. This enables cross sharing of information between PKU and the rest of the global academic community on the latest cutting-edge developments, with a clear mission of bridging the Peking University with the International community.

Peking University 's Distinguished Guests

As an increasingly international community, the Peking University attracts about 20,000 visits annually to the campus. Among them are predominantly university presidents and eminent scholars. Presidents and Vice Chancellors from renowned institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Munich, Moscow, Tokyo and so forth, have made their footprints at the Peking University.

Based on its outstanding tradition and international reputation, the Peking University has also become an international forum for heads of foreign statesmen, social celebrities and business leaders. Over fifty world famous statesmen, directors of international academic organizations, and famous scientists and Nobel laureates have been conferred with honorary doctoral degrees or professorship, thereby also raising the international profile of the Peking University.

PekingUniversity's Major Collaborations

The Peking University promotes a wide scope of cooperation with leading universities worldwide. It has joint programs with Harvard University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the US for training American Sinologists. It has also co-sponsored intensive training programs pertaining to Chinese society and culture with a number of renowned universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, Waseda and Keio in Japan, and Stanford and Chicago in the US.

In addition, the Peking University has collaborated with the Moscow State University in Russia to establish a joint Graduate School to provide graduate education to both Chinese and Russian students in all kinds of discipline.

In 2003, the Peking University initiated a regular undergraduate student exchange program with the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology.

The Peking University encourages international exchange at all levels and different schools and departments play an important role in academic exchange and cooperation. Fruitful international exchange further enhances better understanding and mutual cooperation between the Peking University and its partner institutions.