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EduAtlasHub·University Brochure
Est. 1941
Public

Beijing Foreign Studies University

"Cradle of Diplomats"
🇨🇳 China ◯ Beijing ◍ 11% international ⬡ Asia
Last updated: September 15, 2026
Official Site → Apply Now
QS World 2026
#1201-1400
Global Ranking
Acceptance
Not Available
Students
8579
Tuition/yr
Not Available
Employed
Not Available
Faculty Ratio
Not Available
Quick Summary

Beijing Foreign Studies University began in 1941 as a wartime language-training unit for the Chinese Communist Party and has grown into China's leading institution for foreign-language education, teaching 101 languages to roughly 8,600 students. It sits under the historical influence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has produced senior diplomats such as former US ambassador Cui Tiankai alongside figures like Nobel laureate Gao Xingjian. The university combines language and international-studies degrees with a dedicated International Business School for English-medium business education. It remains a China's Project 211 and Double First-Class institution based in central Beijing.

01
Institutional Profile
Who they are

BFSU was founded in 1941 as the Russian Language Team within the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political College, established specifically to train interpreters and diplomatic personnel during wartime, and it has kept that mission-driven, language-first identity ever since. It teaches 101 foreign languages, more than any other university in China, spanning everything from major European and Asian languages to less commonly taught languages tied to China's regional diplomatic priorities. Its alumni roster includes Cui Tiankai, who served as China's ambassador to the United States for more than eight years, illustrating the university's direct pipeline into the country's diplomatic corps. Students who want a campus built around language and international-affairs training, rather than a broad multidisciplinary research university, will find that focus reflected in BFSU's degree structure, from its School of English and International Studies to its International Business School.

Subject Strengths
LinguisticsModern LanguagesEnglish Language and Literature
Founded1941
TypePublic
Total Students8579
Intl Students11%
Faculty RatioNot Available
CampusUrban
Campus SizeNot Available
Affiliated HospitalsNot Available
AccreditationMinistry of Education of China; listed under China's Project 211 and Double First-Class Construction initiatives
02
Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#1201-1400
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
Not Available
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
Not Available
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate, postgraduate (master's), and doctoral programs, plus non-degree Chinese language training programs administered through the School of Chinese Language Education.
Programs
Not Available
PhD Programs
Not Available
Online Programs
Not Available
Research Centers
BFSU concentrates its research in foreign-language pedagogy, translation studies, and area/country studies rather than the natural sciences, reflecting its origin as a language-training institute for China's diplomatic corps. It hosts a National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education, a designated Ministry of Education key research base for language-education policy.
Research Output
Ministry of Education of China; listed under China's Project 211 and Double First-Class Construction initiatives
Accreditation
04
Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTS6.5
TOEFL85
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates

Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.

Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Applications for degree programs run through the BFSU International Students Service System, and the university has stated its 2025-2026 portal opens October 15, 2025 through May 31, 2026, so applicants should confirm current-cycle dates on the official portal rather than assume a fixed annual deadline. Because BFSU teaches 101 foreign languages and many programs are delivered in Chinese, applicants to Chinese-medium programs should be prepared to submit HSK scores, while English-medium programs such as those in the International Business School require IELTS or TOEFL instead. Given the university's roots as a diplomat-training institution tied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, admissions essays and interviews often reward candidates who can point to concrete cross-cultural or language-study experience rather than general interest in China. Contacting the specific school (e.g., the School of English and International Studies vs. the International Business School) directly is advisable since document requirements vary by department.

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05
Cost Ledger
Amounts in Renminbi

Detailed fee information for this university is being updated. Check the official website for current tuition and cost figures.

Scholarships AvailableChinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and Beijing Government Scholarship are both available to eligible international applicants at BFSU.
Financial AidYes, through government-funded scholarship schemes such as the Chinese Government Scholarship and Beijing Government Scholarship rather than university-funded need-based aid.
Work-StudyNot Available
Calculate My Cost →
06
Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate, postgraduate (master's), and doctoral programs, plus non-degree Chinese language training programs administered through the School of Chinese Language Education. programs total
ProgramLevelDuration
Foreign languages and literatureBACHELOR3-4 YRS
English language and literatureMASTER1-2 YRS
International RelationsPHD3-5 YRS
International Business (International Business School)MBA12-24 MO
Journalism and CommunicationBACHELOR3-4 YRS
View All Programs →
07
Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Industry Connections
BFSU's alumni network runs deep into China's foreign-affairs establishment: graduates include Cui Tiankaithe longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the United Statesand Jin Liqunpresident of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bankgiving the university enduring institutional ties to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and multilateral finance institutions. The university's International Business School maintains connections to multinational employers seeking bilingual and multilingual graduates for China-facing roles. Because BFSU was founded directly under the Communist Party's Central Committee before being placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairsits career pipeline into diplomatic and civil-service roles is more structurally embedded than at a typical comprehensive university. State media organizationsincluding Xinhua News Agencyhave also historically recruited BFSU language graduates for foreign-bureau reporting.
Notable Alumni
Cui Tiankai (longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the United States), Jin Liqun (president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), Gao Xingjian (Nobel Prize in Literature laureate), Yang Lan (co-founder and chairperson of Sun Media Group), He Jiong (television host)
08
Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, on-campus dormitories are available for international students, typically in shared or single rooms depending on program level.
Sports Facilities
Not Available
Student Clubs
Model United Nations society, international student associations, and language-specific cultural clubs tied to BFSU's various language departments.
Library Resources
Not Available
Exchange Programs
Not Available
Summer Programs
Not Available
✦
What sets it apart
Teaching 101 foreign languages under one roof is BFSU's defining structural feature, a scale that grew directly out of its founding as a wartime language-training unit rather than a general university that later added languages as a department. The university was placed under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the founding of the People's Republic of China, a governance link that shaped its curriculum toward diplomacy, translation, and international relations. Its Nobel laureate alumnus Gao Xingjian, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, studied French at BFSU, underscoring how the university's language training has fed into fields well beyond government service. BFSU is also included in China's Project 211 and Double First-Class Construction national initiatives, which channel additional state funding into designated priority institutions.
09
Funding
Scholarships matched to China

Below is a curated index of international funding opportunities and external scholarship programs that eligible students may apply for when attending this institution.

Schwarzman Scholars Fully Funded $4,000 personal stipend for the program year Deadline: September 2027 (Class of 2028-2029, U.S./Global applicants) → Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) Fully Funded 2,500 - 3,500 CNY per month (Stipend) Deadline: Varies by program and embassy; generally January to April annually → Peking University Scholarship (PKUS) for International Students Fully Funded Full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend of 2,000 to 3,000 RMB depending on the degree level Deadline: Usually early March to April annually (Dates vary by department and program) → Tsinghua University Scholarship (TUS) Fully Funded Covers tuition and provides a living allowance up to 42,000 CNY per year depending on the degree level Deadline: January 15 (First Round), March 15 (Second Round) - Varies by year → Belt and Road Scholarship Fully Funded Up to HKD 120,000 for undergraduate and HKD 140,000 for postgraduate per year Deadline: Varies by university (Typically between November and March for the following September intake) → HUST International Student Scholarship Fully Funded Monthly living allowance of 3,000 RMB (Master's) or 3,500 RMB (PhD), plus a full tuition waiver and free on-campus accommodation Deadline: 1 March 2026 (2026 intake, Chinese University Program) → View all China scholarships →
10
Questions
Answered
What is the acceptance rate?+
Not available. Check the official website.
What English score do I need?+
Requirements: IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL 85.
How much does it cost per year?+
Estimated total cost is not available per year including tuition and living.
Are scholarships available?+
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and Beijing Government Scholarship are both available to eligible international applicants at BFSU.
What is the application deadline?+
Not available. Check the official website.
Can I work while studying?+
International students can typically work part-time (20 hrs/week) during term.
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