Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) is the birthplace of modern medical education in China, having pioneered both the eight-year clinical medicine program and baccalaureate nursing education in the country. Across virtually every field of modern medicine in China, PUMC scholars have served as either founders or trailblazers, endowing the institution with a unique status and profound social influence in Chinese medical education. The University is known for its distinctive educational philosophy, consistently adhering to a training model characterized by "selective admission, quality education, and rigorous graduation standards." It is renowned for cultivating interdisciplinary talents with genuine expertise, rigorous academic integrity, noble medical ethics, and superb clinical skills. PUMC has not only produced towering figures in Chinese medicine such as Lin Qiaozhi, Huang Jiasi, and Wu Jieping, but also nurtured a large cohort of internationally acclaimed clinicians, medical scientists, medical educators, nursing leaders, and healthcare administrators, earning it a prestigious reputation both at home and abroad.

The University currently offers three undergraduate programs: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), Nursing, and Pharmacy. The Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program) was established in 1917, and the undergraduate Nursing program in 1920; both are designated as State-Level Distinguished Programs and National First-Class Majors. The undergraduate Pharmacy program was newly launched in 2024.

The Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program) spans eight years with an annual enrollment quota of 95 students. During the pre-medical phase, students study natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities at Tsinghua University. In the medical phase, students complete basic and clinical

medicine coursework, clinical clerkships, research training, and thesis work at the main PUMC campus. Students who graduate with outstanding academic performance and meet degree requirements are awarded the Doctor of Medicine degree. The program adheres to the principles of "an integrated eight-year curriculum with strengthened foundational knowledge, an emphasis on practical skills and overall competencies, holistic optimization, and a focus on both clinical practice and scientific research." It aims to cultivate future medical leaders of high moral character who possess a broad foundation in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and related medical disciplines, solid clinical skills, exceptional professionalism, diverse developmental potential, and who aspire to excellence and innovation.

The four-year undergraduate Nursing program has an annual enrollment quota of 140 students. Graduates who meet degree requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. Alumni have become leaders and key professionals in the nursing field, playing a vital role in advancing the development of nursing in China. To date, nine graduates have received the Florence Nightingale Medal—the highest international honor in nursing—making PUMC the top nursing school in China in this regard.

The four-year undergraduate Pharmacy program is designed to cultivate high-caliber, interdisciplinary leaders for the pharmaceutical industry. Beginning in 2024, PUMC and Beijing Normal University (BNU) jointly enroll undergraduate pharmacy students, with each institution admitting 15 students annually. Students spend the first two years completing general education and foundational courses at BNU, followed by two years of specialized pharmacy coursework, practical training, and foundational research at the PUMC School of Pharmacy. Outstanding graduates may be recommended for admission to graduate programs without entrance examinations, enabling them to become elite pharmaceutical professionals aligned with the demands of new quality productive forces. Pharmacy at PUMC is a national "Double First-Class" discipline, and in 2025, PUMC’s Pharmacology & Toxicology entered the global top 0.01% in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI).