Overview of the Program
The Master of Laws (LL.M.) Program in Chinese Law is a graduate law program offered by Peking University Law School，focusing on Chinese civil and commercial law. The language of instruction is English.
Peking University is a pre-eminent university in China, well-known for her long history, rich culture, distinguished alumni, enlightened education policies and exciting campus life. Established in 1904, the Law School has become a leading institution for legal education and a potent force for legal development in China. The Law School frequently cooperates with the government, law firms and the business community in the development of cutting-edge legal, social and commercial policies. The Law School also has many international connections and partnership programs with leading universities and legal institutions. PKU Law School is ranked 33rd globally in QS 2022 for law, 5th in Asia.
With China's rapid economic growth and growing presence on the world stage, the knowledge of Chinese law has become an essential resource for international students and legal professionals engaged with China. Peking University Law School established the LL.M. Program in Chinese Law to address the needs of the international community in seeking a comprehensive and systematic understanding of Chinese law from a first-class legal institution.
This program provides intensive instruction in Chinese law. Leading faculty members will offer Chinese law courses specifically designed for international students. The teaching will be comprised of both lectures and small-group seminars. In addition, Peking University regularly attracts top scholars and practitioners in Chinese law and students will have first-hand access to such distinguished presenters. There are also optional subjects in non-law areas such as politics, economy and society to facilitate students’ understanding of China's culture. Moreover, courses on Mandarin Chinese are available for the improvement of language skills and adaption to local life.
The LL.M. Program offers students opportunities to visit top law firms and other legal institutions, such as the Supreme People's Court of China, the Intellectual Property Court, and the law enforcement authorities in China, with a hope to avail them with a better comprehension of the Chinese legal system and its cultural underpinnings. The program office also offers assistance to students in seeking internship opportunities at top law firms. Through the program, students can establish a solid foundation for their career development relating to China.
This degree is an equivalent of Master of Laws degree currently offered to Chinese students. The duration of the program is 1-2 year. No more than 30 students will be admitted into this program in the year of 2023. Academic faculty advisors will be assigned to each student for his or her study and degree thesis. Chinese student partners in Peking University Law School are also available to offer help.
Course List
Fall Semester
Course Name |
Course Catalogue |
Credits |
Chinese Civil Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Company Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Judicial System |
Required |
2 credits |
Legal Chinese |
Elective |
2 credits |
Elementary Chinese |
Required |
2credits |
Lecture Series on Contemporary China |
Required |
2 credits |
Fieldwork |
Required |
1 credit |
Spring Semester
Course Name |
Course Catalogue |
Credits |
Chinese Foreign Investment Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Intellectual Property Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Civil Procedure and Arbitration Law |
Required |
3 credits |
Chinese Contract Law |
Required |
2 credits |
Chinese Economic Law |
Required |
3 credits |
International Law as Applied in China: Theory and Practice |
Required |
2 credits |
Legal Writing |
Required |
1 credit |
Commercial Law and Regulatory Issues in China’s Economic Development |
Elective |
2 credits |
Fieldwork |
Required |
1 credit |
Program Faculty
Bian Renjun
Assistant Professor; LL.B., Peking University; LL.M., University of California, Berkeley; J.S.D., University of California, Berkeley; Postdoc Research Fellow, Peking University
Cao Zhixun
Assistant Professor; LL.B., Peking University; LL.M., Peking University; Ph.D. in law, Peking University; Postdoctoral Researcher, Shanghai Jiao Tong University KoGuan Law School
Chen Ruoying
Associate Professor; LL.B., Peking University (1999); M.Juris, Oxford University (2000); LL.M (2005) and J.S.D. (2010), the University of Chicago Law School; John. M. Olin Fellow in the Law and Economics Program; Visiting Lecturer and Visiting Assistant Professor, The University of Chicago Law School
Chen Yifeng
Associate Professor; LL.B., Nanjing Normal University School of Law; LL.M., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University Law School; visiting scholar at University of Helsinki, Cambridge University
Deng Feng
Professor; LL.B., LL.M. and Ph.D. in Law, Renmin University of China; Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School
Fu Yulin
Professor; LL.B., Wuhan University; LL.M., Peking University; Ph.D. in Law, Renmin University of China; Post-Doctoral Researcher, Peking University; Visiting scholar at Tuebingen University in Germany, Northeastern University, Université de Montréal in Canada and Yale University
Gao Wei
Associate Professor; LL.B., Wuhan University; LL.M., Heidelberg University; Dr.iur., University of Bern
Ge Yunsong
Professor; LL.B., Nanjing University; LL.M., Peking University; Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; LL.M., Yale University
Guo Li
Professor&Vice Dean of Peking University Law School; LL.B., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; LL.M., Harvard Law School; LL.M., Southern Methodist University School of Law; Visiting Professor, Cornell Law School; Visiting Scholar, Vanderbilt Law School; Research Fellow, German Humboldt Foundation
He Jian
Associate Professor; LL.B., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; Ph.D. in Law, University Mannheim; Postdoctoral fellow, Renmin University
Jin Jinping
Associate Professor; LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University Law School; Visiting scholar at UMKC, Yale Law School and University of Michigan Law School; Post Doctor, China Academy of Social Science; Vice Director of the Center for Real Estate Law and Assistant Director of the Center for Nonprofit Organizations Law at Peking University Law School
Jiang Su
Associate Professor; LL.M., Ph.D. in Law, Postdoctoral Researcher, Peking University Law School; Visiting Scholar, Berkeley Law, University of California; Postdoctoral Researcher, Max-Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg, Germany
Ling Bin
Professor; LL.B., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University Law School; LL.M., Yale Law School
Liu Zhewei
Associate Professor; LL.B., Beijing Normal University; LL.M., Peking University; Ph.D. in law, Peking University; Postdoctoral Researcher, Tsinghua University Law School. Visiting Scholar at UCLA Law School
Liao XueXia
Assistant professor; LL.B., Sun Yat-sen University; Master of Law, Sun Yat-sen University; PhD in International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva; post-doctoral fellow, Peking University Law School
Lou Jianbo
Professor; LL.B., LL.M., Peking University; Ph.D. in Law, Queen Mary College, University of London; Senior Lecturer in Chinese Commercial Law, University of Cambridge; Visiting Researcher at Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary, University of London
Peng Chun
Assistant Professor; LL.B., Peking University; Mjur DPhil in Law, University of Oxford; Postdoctoral fellow, Peking University
Xu Defeng
Professor; LL.B., LL.M., Peking University; Magister, University of Munich; Doctor of Law, Peking University; Postdoctoral Fellow, Renmin University of China; Ph.D. in Law, University of Munich
Yang Ming
Professor; LL.B., LL.M., Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Doctor of Law, Renmin University of China; Postdoctoral Fellow, Peking University; Visiting Scholar, University of California Berkeley
Research areas: Intellectual property law, competition law
Yan Tian
Assistant professor; LL.B., LL.M., Peking University; LL.M., J.S.D., Yale Law School
Zhang Kangle
Assistant professor; Bachelor degree in international politics, Peking University; Master degree in law, Peking University; PhD in International Law, University of Helsinki, Finland; post-doctoral fellow, Peking University Law School
Zhang Qi
Professor; LL.B., Jilin University; LL.M., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; Senior Visiting Scholar, Yale Law School; Visiting Scholar, HOKKAIDO University School of Law, Heidelberg University Law School and Harvard Law School; Executive Director of the Institute of Comparative Law and Legal Sociology, Peking University
Zhang Qianfan
Professor; LL.B., University of Maryland; Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School; Visiting Researcher at Heidelberg University Law School; Executive Director of the Institute of Comparative Law and Legal Sociology, Peking University
Zhao Hong
Professor; LL.B., LLM., Ph.D. in Law, Peking University; Former Member (2016-2020) and Chairperson of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO); In the indicative list of panelists of WTO dispute settlement; Arbitrator at CIETAC, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration and Shanghai Arbitration Commission; Aarbitrator on the panel of International Investment Dispute at Beijing Arbitration Commission.
Zuo Yilu
Assistant Professor; LL.B., Tsinghua University; LLM., Tsinghua University; LL.M., Yale Law School; J.S.D., Yale Law School.
Quotes from Alumni
Shinsuke Yakura (LL.M., 2008)
Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
I had studied in the U.S., U.K., as well as Japan before came to Peking University. With the wonderful track record of making a difference and engaging with the world, PKU Law School didn’t disappoint me. Many of the teachers there have lived and studied overseas, so they had a good understanding of what I wanted to get out of my time at Beijing. They were also very helpful and generous with their time. Moreover, classmates from many different countries and backgrounds formed a diverse and cosmopolitan study body within a supportive environment. One of the many advantages I gained during my time there was the new friendships and professional contacts I made.
In addition to academic courses, the generic research and transferable skills also enhanced my future career opportunity. The internship I did at local law firms in Beijing prepared and benefited me a lot for the China related practice. The investment in both time and money that I made in doing the LL.M. at Peking University has already been repaid to me many times over. The LL.M. program has not only opened many professional doors for me, perhaps more importantly it has resulted in binding friendships and relationships that I truly value and which I am sure will continue to grow and deepen over the rest of my life.
Jane Jie Sun (LL.M., 2010)
CEO, Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Beijing is the political center of China, as well as a gateway to the world. It is an international city attracting transnational professionals while sending many of its best and brightest abroad. It is a vibrant territory where entrepreneurs link China with the rest of the world. It is definitely the ideal location to study Chinese Law. I enjoyed the LL.M. program at Peking University Law School since it laid a really solid foundation on Chinese Law and gave me the tools I needed to succeed. The LL.M. program gave me the opportunity to meet extremely talented people from different backgrounds. The diverse range of courses taught by truly passionate and highly skilled professors also allowed me to develop both a practical and business oriented view of the law.
In today’s global economy, understanding and appreciating other legal systems is essential. I gained a comprehensive overview of the law with a notable focus on China and international business market. As a result, it enabled me to be a good bridge between China and the rest of the world. I appreciate the passion and enthusiasm of the professors, staffs and students. Peking University Law School has equipped me well for being a CFO and CEO of Ctrip. I hope all the students will find that the LL.M program strengthens their understanding of the legal system in China, which represents the fastest growing economy in the world.
Gavin Denton (LL.M., 2011)
Founder & Arbitrator, Arbitration Chambers Hong Kong
Taking the LL.M. at Peking University was one of the most important decisions I ever made in terms of my personal life and my career. While I had to give up full-time work for a year and invest time in writing my thesis, that investment it is already starting to pay huge dividends in terms of my practice as an international arbitrator. There are very few western trained lawyers with any genuine understanding of Chinese law, history and culture and by spending two years in China, I was fortunate enough to begin to gain an understanding of China's past and to learn about the development of law and the increasingly important role that law will play in shaping China’s future.
As an international arbitrator dealing mainly with Chinese related disputes, the LL.M. has been invaluable both in terms of providing me with a solid foundation in Chinese law, but also in developing a network of leading Chinese academics and practitioners that I can call upon to discuss issues of Chinese law when I need to. Besides the obvious academic benefits of the LL.M. program, spending time in Beijing provided me with the opportunity to learn more about China’s history, culture and its people. Trying to develop an understanding of Chinese law without the necessary context provided by these other fundamental aspects of Chinese society would be almost impossible. And such context can really only be understood and appreciated by spending time in China. To those of you considering doing the LL.M. at Peking University, I wholeheartedly recommend the course to you and wish you all much success in the future.
Jordan Gifford-Moore（Exchange Student, 2014）
2017 Rhodes Scholar
I had an incredible time at PKU Law School. The Professors have a deep knowledge of the legal system and the body of international students were able to provide interesting comparative perspectives from their home countries. I was also grateful for the chance to learn from the local PKU law students, who were all very welcoming and interesting to meet with. I learned a great deal about the practical aspects of Chinese law, including administrative, civil, constitutional, and corporate law. At the same time, I made many lifelong friends among the local PKU student body and my international student classmates of the LL.M. Program.
Also, one of my favorite aspects of attending PKU was the global nature of the university. I found that PKU acted as a hub for international speakers, conferences, events, ideas, and opportunities. Being such a highly regarded institution, PKU is able to provide a genuinely unique experience for its students, which I am very grateful to have enjoyed.
The Cohort of Students
Our students come from diverse backgrounds. 189 students from 46 countries have already graduated and obtained the degree for Master of Laws since 2006.
Timetable
(Scheduled in accordance with the University's Academic Calendar of the year 2022-2023, subject to some minor changes for the year 2023-2024）
Fall semester |
Registration for 2022 LLM Students |
Before or on Aug. 29 |
Orientation Week for 2022 LLM Students |
Aug. 29-Sept. 4 |
Lectures begin |
Sept. 5 |
Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday |
Sept. 10-12 |
National Day Holiday |
Oct. 1-3 |
Dissertation Advisor Determination Deadline *For one-year program and second year student |
Oct. 28 |
Dissertation Proposal Submission Deadline *For one-year program and second year student |
Nov. 25 |
Winter Vacation |
Classes end- Feb. 19 |
Spring Semester |
Lectures begin |
Feb. 20 |
Deadline for Submitting Dissertation for Anonymous Review *For one-year program and second year student |
Mar. 15 |
Labor Day Holidays& PKU anniversary Day |
Apr. 29-May 7 |
Summer Vacation |
Starts from June 26 |
Oral Defence for Degree Thesis* |
June 1 (approx.) |
Graduation Ceremony of Law school* |
In late June |
Graduation Ceremony of PKU* |
July 5 |
Admission Requirements
1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport, with no criminal records, healthy both physically and psychologically, friendly to China and must abide by the laws and decrees of China. Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan who have emigrated to other countries and are applying to Peking University as international students must present valid passport or citizenship documents dating from before April 30, 2017, along with proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality.
2. Applicants for master’s degree programs must have attained a bachelor’s degree and students who graduated from non-Chinese universities must hold a bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by the Ministry of Education of China. (Grade skipping or joining in the middle of the course is not permitted.)
3. Applicants must have (1) a first law degree (J.D., LL.B. or the equivalent) from a law school, or (2) a Bachelor’s degree plus substantial law-related working experience.
4. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English or who did not have a postsecondary education entirely conducted in English language must take the TOEFL or IELTS examination. The Program requires a minimum score of 90 in TOEFL IBT, or 6.5 in IELTS with 6.5 in IELTS writing.
Postsecondary education entirely conducted in English language should provide a statement or certificate issued by the Registrar (or equivalent) confirming that the sole language of instruction and assessment of the degree was English.
Application
Application Materials
An applicant should submit the following materials. All documents should be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
(1) Peking University Application Form for International Students (master and Ph.D. programs) with a photograph affixed. Please visit http://www.studyatpku.com, fill in the application form and submit it online, then print a hardcopy for reference.
(2) Graduation certificate and degree diploma (must be original documents or notarized copies either in Chinese or English). Note: Students expecting to graduate in 2023 should provide an official letter from the current university stating their expected graduation date.
(3) Official transcripts of your academic achievement up to the present (must be original documents or notarized copies either in Chinese or English).
(4) A personal statement (including the research plan, about 1500 words; please click the link to download the template: http://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/down/shen/ru.html).
(5) Two recommendation letters from a professor(s) or associate professor(s) related to your major (or equivalent professionals with relevant academic title). Click the link to download the template: http://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/down/shen/ru.html. Please note that the recommendation letters have to be original with signature and in Chinese or English. (Recommendation letters can also be sent to llmpku@pku.edu.cn directly by the recommender.)
(6) Original or photocopy of the TOEFL or IELTS test scores, if your mother tongue is not English or did not have a postsecondary education entirely conducted in English. The latter one should provide a statement or certificate issued by the Registrar (or equivalent) confirming that the sole language of instruction and assessment of the degree was English.
(7) One photocopy of valid passport (passport type must be ordinary).
(8) A Resume or CV (with coloured photo).
(9) A certificate or evidence of Chinese language proficiency (if applicable).
Note: Except for the recommendation letters, 2 sets (one original and one copy) of the above-mentioned application materials must be submitted as originals or verified copies will be required upon enrolment at the universities. All documents should be in Chinese or English and originals or notarized copies. All documents are not retrievable.
Deadline for Application
The deadline for application is Mar. 31, 2023.
*All hard copy application materials should reach the program office before the deadline. Acceptance of mailed application materials will be based on the postmark date. Before mailing, please send the whole set of application materials as scanned copy to llmpku@pku.edu.cn in case any delay in transit.
Application Fee
The application fee is 800 RMB.
Note: Incomplete application materials or application without application fee will NOT be processed. The application fee is NOT refundable. Applicants are required to pay the application fee before submitting the application materials. Acceptable payment includes cash, payment with the UnionPay bank card or through online payment. RMB only, any other currency or traveller’s check will not be accepted.
Admission Decisions
Official admission letters will be sent out around the end of June 2023.
Enrollment
Admitted students will enroll in early September 2023.
The specific time will be announced in the admission notice. Admitted students must go through the admission and registration procedures at Peking University in strict accordance with the time specified in the admission notice.
Credit and Thesis Requirements
Students are required to enrol in a minimum of 37 credits including all compulsory 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 shall be 12,000 words or more, and be written in Chinese or English. A thesis that is written in English shall include a summary in Chinese of at least 3,000 Chinese characters.
After approved by the Peking University Degree Committee, the students can receive the LL.M. Program’s graduation certificate and the degree certificate for the Master of Laws.
Tuition Fee and Scholarships
(1) Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for this program is RMB 160,000.
Students should pay RMB 160,000 in the fall semester before registration. The tuition fee should be paid in full in RMB.
(2) Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are available (ranging from thousands of RMB to that covering tuition plus stipend):
1. Scholarship for Youth of Excellence Scheme of China (YES-China)
2. Chinese Government Scholarship
3. Beijing Government Scholarship
4. PKU Law International Student Scholarship
5. Hu Yuanxiang Scholarship for LL.M. Program
6. Korean Alumni Association Scholarship (upon availability)
Visa, Medical Insurance and Accommodation
1) Visa
Students admitted to PKU should apply for a student visa at the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in their country with the letter of admission and the JW201/202 form. International students who will study in China for over 6 months are required to obtain an "X1" visa, which will only be valid for 30 days upon arrival in China; upon arriving in China, they must come to the International Student Division and apply for a Residence Permit within 30 days in order to obtain a legal status in China.
2) Medical Insurance
The Ministry of Education of China stipulates that all international students must be medically insured throughout their entire planned period of study. Students are required to purchase the ‘Comprehensive Insurance Plan of Foreign Students’ on the day of registration. Students who do not have valid medical insurance will not be allowed to register.
3) Accommodation
Accommodation will be provided to students with scholarships that cover accommodation.
Self-funded students should find their own living accommodation on campus or off campus. Please note that students who live off campus must register with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
Additional Note
For further information, please refer to “2023 Application Information for International Students (Master's Degree and Ph.D. Degree)” at http://oldisd.pku.edu.cn/info/1467/7059.htm.
Contact Us
Website: en.law.pku.edu.cn
E-mail: llmpku@pku.edu.cn
Tel: (8610) 62751699
Fax: (8610) 62756224
Mailing Address:
Office of the LL.M. Program in Chinese Law
Room107, Peking University Law School
Beijing, 100871
People’s Republic of China
