Master of Laws (LL.M.)

Founded in 1898, Peking University was originally known as the Imperial University of Peking. It was the first national university covering comprehensive disciplines in China, and has been a leading institution of higher education in China since its establishment. It also served as the highest administration for education at the beginning of its founding. And so far, there are 5000 international students from about 80 countries studying in Peking University.They are provided by many English-taught programs, including several double degree programs and programs run in cooperation with major universities around the world. SICAS gives it five stars.

An Overview of the LL.M. Program The Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program in Chinese Law is a Graduate Law program offered by Peking University Law School. It has a focus on Chinese Civil and Commercial Law and the language of instruction is English. This program provides an intensive instruction in Chinese law. Leading faculty members will offer Chinese law courses specially designed for international students. Teaching will comprise of both lectures and small-group seminars. Additionally, Peking University regularly attracts top scholars and practitioners in Chinese law and students will have first-hand access to such distinguished guests. There are also optional subjects in non-law areas such as politics, economy and society to facilitate students’ understanding of China's culture. The LL.M. Program offers valuable internship opportunities to work in the top law firms and other legal institutions in China to help the students to get a better comprehension of the Chinese legal system and its cultural underpinnings. Through the program, students can establish a solid foundation for their career development in China. The duration of the program is 2 years (4 semesters). The first year is full time course-work with class attendance. The second year is set aside for thesis writing, legal practice and internship. Students are required to enrol in a minimum of 36 credits and write a master’s thesis. They have the option to stay in China or return to their home country in the second academic year, but they must attend the thesis defence before the end of the 4th semester. This degree is equivalent to the Master of Laws degree offered to Chinese students. No more than 30 students will be admitted into this program in the year. Academic advisors will be assigned to each student for his/her study and thesis. Chinese students in Peking University Law School are also available to offer personal counselling. Course List Chinese Civil Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Contract Law (Credit Unit: 2) Chinese Company Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Economic Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Foreign Investment Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Intellectual Property Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Civil Procedure and Arbitration Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure (Credit Unit: 3) Chinese Judicial System (Credit Unit: 2) International Law as Applied in China: Theory and Practice (Credit Unit: 2) Chinese Family Law (Credit Unit: 2) Legal Chinese (Credit Unit: 2) General Information of China (Credit Unit: 2) Fieldwork (Credit Unit: 2) Elementary Chinese (Credit Unit: 4) Credit and Thesis Requirements Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 36 credits including all required courses and pass all course examinations. In order to obtain the LL.M. degree, students must complete the master’s thesis relating to Chinese law and pass the thesis defence. A master’s thesis between 12,000 and 20,000 words is recommended. The thesis should be written in Chinese or English. Students who produce thesis that is written in English should provide an abstract in Chinese. After being approved by Peking University Degree Committee, the students will receive the LL.M. Program’s graduation certificate and degree diploma. Tuition The tuition for the whole program is 160,000 RMB. Students should pay 80,000 RMB in the first fall semester before registration and the other 80,000 RMB in the second. The tuition should be paid in RMB. Room and Board Students should afford their own accommodation. Peking University Law School will assist the students to arrange their accommodation. Scholarship The program offers merit scholarships for 5 students, each of whom can receive 8,000 RMB. Library and Internet At Peking University, law students have ready access to the materials of legal research through library collection and networked electronic information sources. Databases like Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw are available in the law library. Deadline for Application The deadline for application is March 20, 2012. All application materials should reach the program office before the deadline. Admission Decisions The Admission Committee will make decisions according to the applicants’ materials after approved by Peking University. Official admission letter will be sent out in June, 2012. Registration Time September 2012. The students will be notified about the exact entrance time in the admission letter.

Message from the President

Since its establishment in 1898 as the first national comprehensive institution of higher learning ever founded in China, Peking University has been regarded as a symbol of modern Chinese education. With our democratic administration laying great emphasis on academic freedom and scientific research, we have proudly produced a great number of scholars in various areas of concentration and specialty. The student body, faculty, and alumni of Peking University have made significant research achievements and generated an incredible number of works of scholarship in both the arts and the sciences.

Our institution has always been at the forefront of China’s modernization, from offering innovative academic instruction to bolstering new overseas relationships. With current trends of worldwide globalization demanding rapid development in the social, economic, and technological spheres of Chinese society, Peking University utilizes its traditional strengths in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to make further progress in engineering, applied sciences, education, and numerous other interdisciplinary fields of study, resulting in the marked improvement of Peking University’s academic disciplinary system. With these serving as the basis for projected advancement, we at Peking University hope to provide scholarly contributions to society, cultivate capable and inventive young minds, and ultimately better Chinese society both internally and on the global front.

With the full-hearted support from the Chinese national government, Peking University has high hopes of becoming a world-class university in the 21st century.

For the international students who will study in Peking University,there are two options for your accomodation as following : 

On-Campus

A. Student rooms in Posts and Telecommunications Hotel: with air conditioner, color TV, telephone, bathroom, and room-cleaning service, about 5 minutes away from Peking University campus by foot. 58 RMB per day per bed for two- or three-room apartment with two beds in each room. 95 RMB per day for single room.
B. Student rooms in Zhongguanyuan Global Village PKU: with color TV, telephone, Internet access, air conditioner and bathroom.
Self-funded Students are required to find their own living accommodation. Please note that students who live off campus must register to the local police station.
C. Student rooms in Shaoyuan Building No. 9 (on-campus): with color TV, telephone, Internet access, air conditioner and bathroom; two persons share one room.
D. King-size rooms in Shaoyuan Building (on-campus):with color TV, telephone, refrigerator, Internet access, bathroom, and air conditioner; two persons share one room.
Notes: Due to the limited accommodation on campus, the Shaoyuan International Students Residences can only provide the house for scholarship students.

Off-Campus (300-600 RMB/day)

The Worker Club 
20 minutes walking distance from PKU
No. 23 Cheng Fu Road, Haidian District Beijing China

You Dian Liaoyangyuan 
10 minutes walking distance from PKU

Sariz International Hotel
20 minutes walking distance from PKU

Beijing Xihua Hotel 
5 minutes walking distance from PKU west-south gate

PekingUni International Youth Hostel
15 minutes walking distance from PKU

Resource Hotel
1 minute walking distance from PKU

FURAMA HOTELS
10 minute walking distance from PKU
68 North 4th Ring West Road (South of Haidian Bridge; Leftbank Community Building)

Estimated cost of living (For your reference)
Board (meals): approximately 15,000 RMB/year
Transportation and other miscellaneous costs: approximately 5,000 RMB/year
Accommodation: approximately 30,000 RMB/year
   

3 Steps to Apply to a Chinese University

1. The program is only designed for non-Chinese-nationality, Kong Hong, Macao and Taiwan applicants under the age of 40.
2. Applicants should comply with Chinese laws and Peking University’s rules and respect the customs of Chinese people.
3. Applicants must have a first law degree (J.D., LL.B. or the equivalent) from a law school. Those who don’t have any of the above-mentioned law degree but have a Bachelor’s degree and substantial law-related working experience can also apply for this program.
4. All applicants who are not native English speakers or who did not have a postsecondary education entirely conducted in the English language must take the TOEFL or IELTS examination. The Program requires a minimum score of 92 in TOEFL IBT, or 6.5 in IELTS with 7.0 in IELTS writing.
5. A health certificate is required before registration.

1.  Photocopy of valid passport
With photo, passport number &expiration date and name included.

2.  Passport-sized photo
A passport-sized photo taken recently of the applicant.

3.  Bachelor's degree diploma
Graduation certificate should be in Chinese or English.If not, it should be translated into Chinese or English and be notarized.

4.  Transcript of undergraduate school

5.  Two recommendation letters
From professor,associate professor or equivalents.

6.  Certificate of English proficiency test
IELTS or TOEFl will only be required if the applicant is not a native English speaker.

7.  Personal Statement
Personal Statement with the applicant's signature, written in Chinese or in English. You can download a template or sample from here.

8.  Copy of article or papers published

9.  Resume
Written in Chinese or in English