Beijing, Beijing · Founded 1902 · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Beijing Normal University 北京师范大学
Beijing Normal University is the highest-ranked teacher-training university in China and a national research centre for education, psychology, geography, ecology and Chinese language teaching.
Overview
Beijing Normal University is the highest-ranked teacher-training university in China and a national research centre for education, psychology, geography, ecology and Chinese language teaching.
BNU's School of Chinese Language and Culture is one of the two most important institutions in China for teaching Chinese to foreigners, and it issues the internationally recognised Certificate of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (CTCSOL) training programme.
History
BNU was founded in 1902 as the Normal College of the Imperial University of Peking — the origin of China's modern teacher-education system. It became Beijing Normal University in 1923.
The university moved west to Xi'an and then to Lanzhou during the war, returning to Beijing in 1946. In 1952 it absorbed the education departments of several universities, consolidating its national role in pedagogy and psychology.
BNU joined Project 211 (1996), Project 985 (2001) and Double First Class (2017). Its Zhuhai campus opened in 2002 and now hosts several science and engineering schools with a growing international student population.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 271 | 301–400 | 401–500 |
| 2018 | 278 | 301–400 | 401–500 |
| 2019 | 282 | 251–300 | 401–500 |
| 2020 | 277 | 201–300 | 351–400 |
| 2021 | 276 | 201–300 | 301–350 |
| 2022 | 267 | 201–300 | 301–350 |
| 2023 | 262 | 151–200 | 251–300 |
| 2024 | 271 | 151–200 | 201–250 |
| 2025 | 271 | 151–200 | 181 |
| 2026 | 263 | 151–200 | 171 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Haidian Campus (Main) | 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing | Main campus; education, psychology, Chinese language and international student affairs. |
| Changping Campus | Changping District, Beijing | New research campus for science and technology. |
| Zhuhai Campus | 18 Jinfeng Road, Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, Guangdong | Science, engineering, business and design, with large international student residences. |
Faculty and research
Beijing Normal University employs around 3,400 academic staff, including about 8 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. BNU has the largest concentration of education and psychology researchers in China. The School of Chinese Language and Culture and the Faculty of Education supervise international students in English and Chinese.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Education | A+ | Ranked first nationally in every discipline evaluation since 2004. |
| Psychology | A+ | China's leading psychology faculty; cognitive neuroscience is a focus. |
| Chinese Language & Literature | A+ | Combined with China's most prominent international Chinese teaching school. |
| Geography | A+ | Remote sensing and land-surface science. |
| Ecology | A | Grassland and wetland ecology. |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | A | Water and soil remediation. |
| Drama & Film Studies | A+ | Leading Chinese film and television studies department. |
| Systems Science | A+ | Complex systems and non-linear science. |
Grades follow China's national discipline evaluation scheme (A+ is the highest). Consult the university for the most recent evaluation results.
Programmes open to international students
| Programme | Level | Language | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Language and Literature | Bachelor | Chinese | 4 years |
| Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL) | Bachelor / Master | Chinese / English | 4 / 2 years |
| Comparative Education | Master | English | 2 years |
| Psychology | Master / PhD | English | 2 / 4 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–3 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma, BNU entrance examination or interview, HSK 5 for Chinese-taught tracks (HSK 6 recommended for TCSOL). Graduate: degree, transcripts, two references, study plan.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – April. Graduate: December – March. Chinese language programmes run multiple intakes.. Application fee: CNY 500. Tuition: CNY 24,000–30,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 28,000–46,000 for master's; language courses around CNY 26,000 per year.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship (BNU is the largest host institution in China), Beijing Municipal Government Scholarship, BNU President Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mo Yan | Nobel Laureate in Literature | Studied at BNU's Lu Xun School of Literature; China's first Nobel literature laureate. |
| Yu Dan | Cultural scholar | Popular interpreter of classical Chinese philosophy. |
| Liang Xiaosheng | Writer | Leading contemporary Chinese novelist. |
| Gu Mingyuan | Education scholar | Founder of comparative education in China. |
Why students choose this university
- Best possible choice if you plan to teach Chinese or work in education
- Confucius Institute Scholarship quotas are the largest in China
- Beijing campus with a very international student community