Merton College student awarded prestigious Yenching Academy Fellowship

Merton College is delighted to announce that Delaney Lim has been awarded a highly competitive Yenching Academy Fellowship at Peking University. The Yenching Academy is recognised as one of China’s most prestigious graduate programmes, selecting a small cohort of exceptional scholars worldwide for its fully funded Master’s degree at Peking University, widely regarded as China’s leading university.

Delaney, an Exhibitioner and Postmaster Scholar in his final year reading Jurisprudence (Law), has built an impressive record of academic and professional engagement with China. He has served as a visiting research scholar at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and as a Des Voeux Chambers Oxford (Junior) Scholar. Later this year, he will join the Yenching Academy, where his research will explore how Chinese cultural frameworks shape dispute resolution along the Belt and Road Initiative.

In a statement, the Admissions Office of Peking University said:

"Following another highly competitive application cycle, our Admissions Committee was deeply impressed by Delaney’s outstanding achievements and personal qualities. We are excited about the valuable contributions your student will bring to our vibrant international community and look forward to witnessing his unique academic and professional journey at the Yenching Academy. We also anticipate continuing our collaboration with University of Oxford and supporting its promising future applicants."

Founded in 2014, the Yenching Academy aims to advance the global study of China through an interdisciplinary, English‑taught Master’s programme that bridges the Humanities and Social Sciences. Its first eleven cohorts represent 89 countries and regions.

Reflecting on the fellowship, Delaney said:

"I receive this fellowship with deep gratitude and great humility. It would not have been possible without the remarkable community of friends and tutors at Merton. I am especially grateful to Dr Rory Gregson and Dr Natalie Mrockova for their unwavering support and for inspiring me to look beyond familiar boundaries."

Delaney will join the Academy’s twelfth cohort in September, comprising 96 international students and 28 Chinese students. Through coursework, independent research, and field studies, the cohort will examine China’s past, present, and future, with particular focus on the country’s development and its evolving role in global affairs.