Beijing Foreign Studies University

Beijing Foreign Studies University
北京外国语大学
Motto兼容并蓄 博学笃行
TypeNational
Established1941; 85 years ago (1941)
AffiliationsBHUA
PresidentYang Dan
Faculty2,428
Students8,579 (932 international students)
Undergraduates5,088
Postgraduates2,559
440
Location
Beijing
,
China
Campus
Websiteglobal.bfsu.edu.cn/en/ Edit this at Wikidata
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese北京外国语大学
Traditional Chinese北京外國語大學
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBěijīng Wàiguóyǔ Dàxué
BFSU West Campus
BFSU East Campus

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU; 北京外国语大学) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education. The university is part of Project 211 and the Double First-Class Construction.

BFSU is a sister university of Peking University (PKU), with both institutions affiliated with the Education Working Committee in the Haidian District. Given their affiliation with the same committee, the two universities also maintain institutional and academic links, including the appointment of a former president of one university as president of the other, as well as cooperation in courses and degree programmes.

History

BFSU was affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from its establishment in 1941 to the early 1980s. During this period, the university primarily focused on training diplomats and foreign language specialists for China's foreign service. In the 1980s, BFSU expanded its academic offerings to include international studies and research. In December 2014, the Institute for Global History was founded to promote research on global interactions, and three years later, in December 2017, the School of History was established under Professor Li Xuetao to provide courses on world and Chinese history from a global perspective, emphasizing multilingual and cross-cultural research.

BFSU's motto, "Embrace diversity, pursue broad learning and earnest practice" (兼容并蓄，博学笃行), was proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao in a congratulatory letter for the university's 70th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Cai Yuanpei's idea of "freedom of thought and compatibility" during his presidency at Peking University, reflecting a global vision, openness to different cultures, and the integration of knowledge with practical action.

BFSU has trained generations of Chinese diplomats and civil servants. BFSU alumni are well known in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of State Security.

Rankings and reputation

The Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press under BFSU

BFSU is a research university specializing in foreign language studies. It is considered one of the most prestigious in its field in the country.: 201  BFSU ranked 17th out of almost 3,000 higher education institutions in China according to statistics based on the Gaokao from 2012 to 2023.

Beijing Foreign Studies University ranked first among universities in China specializing in language studies and research in the recent edition of the Best Chinese Universities Ranking. The university consistently features in the top 100 international universities in linguistics as ranked by the QS World University Rankings by subjects. BFSU is also highly ranked by the world universities rankings in "Arts and Humanities", "Modern Languages", "English Language and Literature" and "Education".

The International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University is accredited from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Rivalry

The university has produced an array of senior diplomatic officials and proudly claims itself as "the cradle of PRC diplomats". However, having trained hundreds of Chinese ambassadors, China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) also considers itself "the cradle of Chinese diplomats". Rivalry between students of the two universities continues to the present day.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "北外新闻网". news.bfsu.edu.cn. Retrieved 2026-08-09. Peking University president (former president of Beijing Foreign Studies University): “On behalf of its sister universities, Peking University extends its congratulations. Beijing Foreign Studies University and Peking University are exceptionally close sister universities and have maintained close fraternal ties for 80 years.”
  2. ↑ "HAO Ping". www.globalyoungleadersdialogue.com. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  3. ↑ "2026-2027学年秋季学期清华大学、北京外国语大学部分课程面向我校本科生开放选课的通知 - 通知公告 - 北京大学教务部". www.dean.pku.edu.cn. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  4. ↑ Wang, Zi (2021-06-25). "The School of History and the Institute for Global History, Beijing Foreign Studies University". Journal of Cultural Interaction in East Asia. 12 (1): 79–83. doi:10.1515/jciea-2021-2005. ISSN 2747-7576.
  5. ↑ "温家宝总理贺信与北外校训". Sohu (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2022-04-27. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Goldman, Russell (August 25, 2023). "Isabel Crook, Who Witnessed China's Transformation, Dies at 107". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ "School of International Journalism and Communication". Beijing Foreign Studies University. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "高校排名：2014年中国语言类大学排行榜". Archived from the original on 2016-01-16. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Pei, Minxin (2023-12-31). The Sentinel State: Surveillance and the Survival of Dictatorship in China. Harvard University Press. doi:10.4159/9780674296459. ISBN 978-0-674-29645-9. JSTOR jj.10860939. OCLC 1419055794.
  10. ↑ "【2018版中国大学近5年录取分数排行榜】". Huadong Normal University. 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "2020版中国大学录取分数排行榜". 搜狐新闻. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "ShanghaiRanking's Best Chinese Universities Ranking". www.shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  13. ↑ "ShanghaiRanking's of Chinese Language Universities". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  14. ↑ "Linguistics". Top Universities. Archived from the original on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  15. ↑ "Beijing Foreign Studies University". Top Universities. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  16. ↑ "ShanghaiRanking-Univiersities". www.shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  17. ↑ "International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University". www.aacsb.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  18. ↑ Retrieved 2018-08-30 https://news.ifeng.com/photo/history/200707/0702_1398_146517_7.shtml
  19. ↑ "Chinese English educationist Xu Guozhang passed away". www.ourchinastory.com. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  20. ↑ "He Jiong's resignation sparks outpouring on Weibo[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  21. ↑ "Lan Yang | Columbia Global Centers". globalcenters.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  22. ↑ Okoshi, Masahiro; writer, Nikkei staff. "Respected internationalist has intellectual roots in Chinese classics". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  23. ↑ "Jin Liqun". Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  24. ↑ "HAO Ping-Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding, PKU". en.igcu.pku.edu.cn. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  25. ↑ "Tiankai CUI | Speakers | CCGC USA". www.cgccusa.org. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  26. ↑ "Foreign Policy Association". Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  27. ↑ "contributors_Hu Xijin - China Academy". 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  28. ↑ "The Nobel Prize in Literature 2000". Nobelprize. October 7, 2010. Archived from the original on October 7, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.

39°57′15″N 116°18′15″E / 39.95417°N 116.30417°E / 39.95417; 116.30417