Most doctoral students and  students for MS degree are recruited from elite universities in China without going through the normal procedure set by the Ministry of Education. Acceptance is based on the academic record in undergraduate study and on-site interview. This only applies to students who have not received their bachelor degree yet.

Another source of Ph.D. students is the Master program. Students in the Master program may file a petition for the doctoral program with a successful pass of qualifying exams. Their academic performance and personality observed in our school also help us to make a decision.

A few Ph. D. students and MS students are admitted via the annual entrance exam, followed by an on-site interview, in which all faculty participants provide an independent judgement on the applicants to evaluate their background knowledge, scientific development level, research potentiality and innovative ability. SMS and The Graduate School of PKU decide who are recruited according to their judgement.