Beijing Foreign Studies University

Why Choose Beijing Foreign Studies University?

Who Are We?

Founded in 1941, Beijing Foreign Studies University is directly under China’s Ministry of Education, among the first national Project 211 universities, a Project 985 Innovation Platform for Advantageous Disciplines university, and among the first Double First-Class universities. It is a foreign studies university with a long history, the largest range of taught languages among Chinese universities and a full range of educational levels. It was among China’s earliest institutions to receive international students, provide international education and teach Chinese.

Where Are We?

The university is in Beijing, China’s capital, in Haidian District, home to many universities and high-tech industries. Its East and West campuses lie on either side of North West Third Ring Road, covering 492000 square meters. Its advantageous location offers highly convenient transport.

What Are Our Strengths?

BFSU offers 122 undergraduate programs and teaches 101 foreign languages covering the official languages of 183 countries with diplomatic relations with China.

It has 4 national key disciplines and 7 Beijing key disciplines. It offers doctoral degrees in 6 first-level disciplines: foreign languages and literatures, management science and engineering, area and country studies, Chinese language and literature, education, and translation. Its 12 master’s degree authorizations cover foreign languages and literatures, management science and engineering, Chinese language and literature, area and country studies, education, political science, journalism and communication, law, applied economics, business administration, Marxist theory and world history. Its 9 professional master’s categories are translation and interpreting, international Chinese language education, international business, finance, journalism and communication, law, accounting, business administration and international affairs. Foreign languages and literatures is a national Double First-Class discipline, and foreign language education has been approved as a Beijing university high-end discipline. In successive Ministry of Education evaluations, its first-level discipline of foreign languages and literatures has received an A+ rating, placing first nationally. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, linguistics ranked 18th, English language and literature 98th, modern languages 151-200, and education 251-300, leading comparable Chinese institutions.

Its high research standards and quality achievements in language teaching, language and literature have earned broad praise in China and abroad. Over more than 80 years, it has upheld the motto, “Inclusiveness, Broad Learning and Earnest Practice,” and become an important base for high-quality professionals in diplomacy, translation and interpreting, education, economics and trade, journalism, law, finance and other international fields. In incomplete statistics, more than 500 alumni have served as ambassadors and over 3000 as counselors, earning it the reputation of the “cradle of the Republic’s diplomats.”

What Are Our Teachers Like?

BFSU has a strong faculty with high academic standards, rich teaching experience and strong professional dedication. It has more than 1200 serving faculty and staff in established posts and nearly 200 long- and short-term international teachers from 65 countries and regions. More than 90% of teachers have studied overseas.

Our Internationalization

Active international exchange and cooperation is a defining feature. BFSU has become an important window for China’s educational openness. It has signed exchange and cooperation agreements with more than 300 universities and academic institutions in over 80 countries and regions. It operates 23 overseas Confucius Institutes across 18 countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas, the largest number among Chinese universities. Each year, more than 4,000 international students from over 100 countries come to study and visit, and it currently has over 1200 long-term international degree students. In 2024, it received an A rating in reaccreditation for higher education of international students in China from the China Education Association for International Exchange and an Excellent rating in Beijing’s quality assessment for such education.

Where Will You Study?

BFSU has approximately 30 teaching units and 54 national, provincial or ministerial research bases. The main teaching institutions receiving international students include the School of Chinese Language and Literature, International Business School, School of International Relations and Diplomacy, School of English and International Studies, International Institute of Chinese Studies, School of International Journalism and Communication (Institute of Art Studies), School of Law, School of Russian, School of Arabic Studies, Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, School of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, National Research Center for Foreign Language Education, School of European Languages and Cultures, School of German Studies, School of Asian Studies, School of African Studies, School of Japanese and International Studies (Research Center for Japanese Studies), School of History (Research Center for Global History), Institute for Advanced Studies in Regional and Global Governance, School of Education, School of International Organizations, and School of Information Science and Technology.

For Those Who Love Reading

Its Multilingual Global Special Collections Resource Center and library hold nearly 1.6 million printed items in 107 languages, approximately 1.41 million electronic books, 873 printed newspapers and periodicals, and 103 databases. Language, literature and culture are the main strengths. As disciplines develop, collections in politics, economics, diplomacy, law, journalism, management and area and country studies have gradually formed systematic holdings.

Greetings from the University

BFSU is a leading Chinese university in foreign language teaching and research and a renowned think tank for international and regional studies. Over more than 80 years, it has educated outstanding Chinese diplomats, politicians, lawyers, journalists, scholars, business leaders and many other professionals. It builds bridges between China and the world, promoting interaction among civilizations and cultural diversity, and is known in China as the cradle of the Republic’s diplomats.

BFSU offers every student the warmth of home alongside a rigorous, multidisciplinary academic curriculum. It is small enough for every student to matter, yet large enough to give everyone an exciting university experience. We believe each student can discover their academic potential, enjoy diverse student organizations and find extensive opportunities for social practice.

Contact Details

International Students Office, Beijing Foreign Studies University, 2 North West Third Ring Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Postal code: 100089

Telephone: +86-10-88810671/88816549

Fax: +86-10-88812587

International Students Office website: http://lb.bfsu.edu.cn

Email: study@bfsu.edu.cn

Online application website: http://study.bfsu.edu.cn