Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS)
Master of Economics
Shenzhen, China
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
31 Mar 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
CNY 60,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Find out 'How to Apply': https://english.phbs.pku.edu.cn/Academics/Master/How_to_apply.htm
Key Summary
Program Highlights
- The Master of Economics program focuses on a core curriculum in economic theory and applications.
- This is a two-year, full-time program in which international students learn alongside Chinese peers in an environment of cross-cultural dialogue.
- All courses are instructed exclusively in English, as is all academic support provided by faculty, TAs, and staff members.
- The faculty members of this program have earned their Ph.D. degrees from top-ranked universities over the world.
- This program has been granted EPAS accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
Master's program applicants are eligible to apply for school scholarships to support their studies at PHBS. Award levels are full-tuition scholarship and half-tuition scholarship. PHBS urges all international applicants to include the scholarship application supplement in their application.
Financing Your PHBS Education
Peking University HSBC Business School strives to attract the most qualified candidates from around the world. We not only seek applicants with strong academic track records and applicable work experience, but also those who have demonstrated a passion for their field of study and who can articulate their interest in studying in China.
In order to attract high-caliber candidates, PHBS offers a multitude of financing options for domestic and international students. Those interested in attending HSBC Business School will undoubtedly find a means of their educational experience here, either through the direct assistance of the school or through Chinese government grants.
School-Funded Scholarships
Each year, HSBC Business School selects recipients of school-funded scholarships from the pool of MBA and Master's program applicants. Recipients are selected based on a variety of factors, the most significant of which is the applicant's academic record. PHBS sets aside a large grant each year to be used exclusively for student scholarships, a portion of which is awarded to outstanding international applicants. For international students, there are two award levels for the MA program and 1 award level for the MBA program. Full tuition scholarship and half-tuition scholarship for MA program and Half tuition scholarship for MBA program. At the end of each academic year, the status of these scholarships is evaluated based on student performance at PHBS.
Most impressively, the school-sponsored scholarships are not contingent on Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant positions (For MA programs only). While Master's degree students are encouraged to participate in on-campus activities and employment, their involvement does not determine scholarship status. In this regard, HSBC Business School is exceptional in providing no-strings-attached funding for Master's candidates.
To apply for this scholarship please download the application and send it along with your application documents.
Chinese Government Scholarship (international applicants only)
For those applicants who do not receive school-sponsored scholarships, the Chinese government offers grants to international applicants interested in pursuing higher education in China. Each year the China Scholarship Council (CSC) awards funding to hundreds of foreign students studying in China. While the CSC-funded scholarship will not fully cover the tuition cost at PHBS, the grant will go a long way towards easing the financial burden of relocating to China to study.
The Masters of Economics program curriculum is heavily quantitative-based and therefore requires students to have a high level of mathematical skills. It is recommended that students who apply for this program have an undergraduate degree in a related or quantitative field such as economics, finance, mathematics, engineering, etc. It's strongly recommended that students have taken courses in both Economics and Mathematics. Economics courses that are recommended are Principle Economics, Intermediate to Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics and Econometrics. Math courses that are recommended are Linear and Matrix Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Real Analysis.
To obtain the Master of Economics degree from Peking University HSBC Business School, students are required to fulfil 54 credits in 18 courses, including 11 required courses, 7 elective courses (minimum of 6 major elective courses and up to 1 non-major elective courses), complete 2 required courses that do not count for credit (Graduate Thesis Seminar and Outdoor Leadership Training Program) and complete a Master’s thesis and pass a thesis defence.
General Prerequisite
Does not count in the 54 credits for degree completion, but the credits and grade are included on the PKU transcript and calculated into GPA.
- Chinese I (Chinese II prerequisite)
- Chinese II (Business Chinese prerequisite)
General Required
- Graduate Thesis Seminar
- Outdoor Leadership Training Program
- Master’s Thesis and Defense
Major Required
- Advanced Microeconomics(I)
- Advanced Macroeconomics(I)
- Applied Econometrics
- Advanced Econometrics
- Introduction to Chinese Economy
- Business Chinese I
- Business Chinese II
- Independent Study of China
- Business Ethics and Research Methodology
- Writing in English
- Business Mathematics
Major Elective
- 6 courses
Non-Major Elective
- 1 course
Demonstrate your commitment and readiness to succeed in business school by taking the GMAT exam – the most widely used exam for admissions that measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Download the GMAT mini quiz to get a flavour of the questions you’ll find in the exam.