Address of Beijing Normal University: No. 19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing 100875, P. R. China

World Ranking:
No. 232 in QS World University Ranking.
In 2014, it ranked 42nd in the QS World University Ranking for Education.

Total number of students:
20,000-24,999 students, with 21,000 full-time students, 8,700 undergraduates, and 10,000 graduate students.

Total No of International Students:
1,800 long-term international students from over 69 countries. International students comprise 10% of the university’s student population.

Total No of Faculties:
3,100 teachers in total, 1,734 of which are full-time

What to Expect from Beijing Normal University

Beijing Normal University, or Beishida for locals, is one of the earliest schools in Asia to offer teacher training or Education courses. It carries the motto “studying to teach and acting to an example.”The University has a long history of doing just what their motto states. Their main campus (called the North Taipingzhuang Campus) was built in 1954. Before that, it was called the Normal College of the University of Peking. It changed names again in 1912 to Beijing Advanced Normal School.

Finally, in 1923, it solidified its identity as Beijing Normal University, making history as the first normal university in China. They later merged with another women’s university called Fu Jen to create the Beijing Normal University that students know of today.

Through the years, it has housed a good number of Chinese intellectuals. Renowned names such as Li Dazhao, who co-founded the Communist Party of China, Lu Xun, a short story writer and literary critic who wrote in classical Chinese, and Liang Qichao, a journalist, and philosopher who helped spread the reform movement.

The University ambitiously lives on the mantra “Pursuing knowledge, cultivating a personality, and helping the whole world.” By following this motto, the University has reached many heights and formed a unique position in the country with people from all around the world coming to study and move towards their professions with the help of the Beijing University.

Beishida’s Academic Reputation

The university covers a 172.6-acre tract of land.  Consistently described as the “oasis for study in Downtown Beijing,” the Beijing Normal University is considered in China’s top ten key universities. The Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipality are partnering long-term with the University for their Education programs. The People’s Republic of China is supporting this university and building it as one of the world-class universities as one of their “985 Project” Construction programs.

The University is said to be having 55 undergraduate degree programs right now which they are teaching, along with that it is also offering 162 of the master’s programs and 100 for the doctoral degrees. Out of these, there are 16 programs considered as national key disciplines because of their quality and importance to the country. The University has also built its reputation by these programs.

Overall Academics and Research

The programs, in both academics and research, of BNU, are categorised into twelve disciplines. The first level was issued by the Academic Degree Center of the Ministry of Education. These include the programs of Education, Psychology, Chinese History, Ecology, and Geography. The other first level disciplines include Theater, Film, Literature and the Chinese Language, which rank second. This is still exclusive of other programs such as military science and discipline structure, which the University is also renowned for. The primary focus of these research programs are in the key disciplines which are around 15-20, and significant work has been carried out in each discipline.

Research Institutes

Beijing Normal University has 36 research institutes distributed on its two campuses. It has four state laboratories. Eight dedicated to the Ministry of Education, along with five engineering research centres. Five laboratories and two engineering research centres are for the Beijing municipality. There are 65 key laboratories. As Education is their stronghold, they have also allocated seven key research bases in human and social sciences for Education.

There are strategic bases for National science and the arts. They have three national art centres, five national science bases for scientific research, laboratories for human resource development. It has also recently become a force to reckon within humanities and social sciences. The university publishes 14 professional journals every year. With all these laboratories and research institutes the University is seeking to create more and more significance by publishing journals every year to be known as a well reputed University by their research as well. Research work done by the institutes are publicised for the same purpose, and many of them are internationally recognised as well.

Faculty and Student Ratio

On average, there is one teacher for 11 students. There are currently 1,734 full-time teachers, 200 of which have been awarded PhDs from abroad. The university has three emeritus professors, five senior professors. For those interested in Marxist research and engineering, they have six experts who can lead the academic body. The university has also produced its fair share of National great teachers’ awards. 154 of their teachers are winners of Inter-millennium and New Century Talents awards. They also have 3 Subject Innovation and Talent groups for higher education established by China’s Ministry of Education, as well as the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

With the faculty and student ratio that low and the qualifications of the teachers and professors that high, the university is surely producing some great talent in different fields. The competence level of the teachers in Beijing University is said to be one of the best in China right now, and it is also inspiring other Universities to match up with the Beijing University in this area.

Best Programs and Courses Available

The university offers 57 undergraduate majors and 162 master’s degree programs. For those searching for higher learning, it has 100 PhD programs and 18 post-doctorate posts. BNU is most esteemed in three broad courses – education as the first, psychology being second, and Chinese language and literature as third. They have been ranked first in China, at one time, or another for their Education undergraduate programs. There are more options in “Introduction to Beijing Normal University English-Taught Masters Programs.”The Chinese language taught at the University is of significant help for the overseas students who want to learn Chinese to mix up with the environment. The teachers there are not only from China or natives but different parts of the world teaching Chinese to the students, which helps students even more.

Opportunities for International Students

Each partner university has their version of the Study Abroad Program. The gist of the program though is to teach advanced Chinese to international students in a summer program. The College of Chinese Language and Culture was specifically opened for international students. Here, students get a chance to interact every day with locals, attend classes with Chinese students, and visit the architectural areas of China every day as part of the program. Apart from that, there are several scholarship programs offered to the international students on a different basis. These programs help students to relax from financial stress and focus on their studies more. The University also assists in accommodating the students by providing them different accommodation facilities.

Extra-curricular Activities

There are currently four clubs on campus for students interested in the following disciplines: dance, music, and volunteerism.

The University has many language courses however they are very tough to understand, and you may take some time to adjust to the study systems here. The English version of the institution is not well organised, and it is quite a difficult job finding any information on the same. In classes, students can speak only Chinese which makes it very tough for the English students. The language barrier existing makes it difficult to complete easy tasks like register for classes. In that case, it’s best to use a translator.

In recent decades, Beishida has substantially broadened its international exchange programs with over 30 countries. It has partnered with over 300 universities and institutions in countries like the United Kingdom including the University of Manchester in its establishing its Confucius Institutes, the United States specifically the University of Oklahoma, San Francisco State University, and Dawson University, Canada specifically Sherbrooke University, South Korea and Japan.

So if you are looking for the perfect solution for your education woes, this can be the solution to your problems but be prepared for the difficult schedules and language issues.

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