Founded in 1898, Peking University (PKU) is the first national university in Chinese modern history. Peking University now consists of five faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Medicine, and Information and Engineering. The University has 43 colleges and departments, and offers 105 undergraduate programs, 291 graduate programs, and 249 doctoral programs. While still laying stress on basic sciences, the university has paid special attention to the development of applied sciences. In October 2007, there were 14,170 undergraduates, 11,249 postgraduates and 5,979 doctoral candidates.

There were also on campus approximately 2,587 longterm international students from 80 countries. Among them, there were 1,947 Degree-Seeking students.

Peking University is also famous for outstanding research facilities and high qualifying teachers and researchers with extensive research interests and profound knowledge. Today the University has 5,568 full-time faculties, of whom 1,577 are professors and 1,986 are associate professors, 52 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Science, and 7 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

At present, Peking University has 12 national key laboratories, 46 state key laboratories, 2 national engineering research centers and 6 affiliated hospitals and health centers.

The Peking University library is the largest university library in Asia, with a collection of 7.7 million books, and Chinese and foreign journals and newspapers. The library also serves as a comprehensive modern information center.

Peking University places great importance on academic exchange and cooperation with foreign universities, research institutes and multinational enterprises. She has signed agreements with more than 200 universities in 50 countries and regions.