Beijing Normal University

Overview

Beijing Normal University (BNU) is one of China’s leading universities and also among its oldest. Classified as a Class A Double First Class University by the country’s education ministry, it is known for its high research output and strong programs on education, humanities, and sciences. The school is also part of China’s Project 211 and Project 985, both of which aim to elevate the reputation of Chinese higher education institutions. Apart from offering a wide variety of academic and research programs, BNU also currently has affiliations with three high schools.

BNU is organized into 41 faculties, schools, and departments centered on a broad range of disciplines, including education, psychology, geographical science, philosophy, and business. It offers around 51 undergraduate, 185 graduate, and 142 doctoral programs, of which 16 are considered national key disciplines. Besides education and humanities, the most reputable courses include geology, geophysics, philosophy, geography, social policy and administration, linguistics, and modern languages.

Research at BNU is conducted in its 74 laboratories as it releases 10 publications on top of individually released studies. The studies cover numerous fields, including national disciplines like engineering, science, and technology. Unique to BNU’s research is its Proteomics lab, which is the only university-based lab of its kind in the country. Moreover, the university manages a six-hectare science park that accommodates research centers and business enterprises.

BNU has four campuses, with its main facility in the Haidan District and the other ones at Changping, Xicheng, and in Zhuhai, Guangdong. It has a library network that carries over 5.1 million physical volumes and 8.7 million digital resources. The institution houses an abundance of amenities, ranging from housing and dining spots to sports facilities and spaces for arts and culture. Furthermore, BNU provides an airport pickup service at the start of every semester.

Established in 1902, BNU started out as the Imperial University of Peking’s Faculty of Education, which was a premier institution for teacher training. The faculty separated from the university to become an independent institution in 1908. It became the country’s first normal university in 1923 and was renamed Beijing Normal University in 1949.

As of 2020, BNU welcomes more than 10,100 undergraduates, 12,700 postgraduates, and 2,000 teaching staff. It has entered collaborative partnerships with around 500 organizations and universities from over 30 nations, foremost of which is its collaboration with Princeton University in the United States. The university also invites more than 900 scholars and professors to conduct lectures and seminars for learners.

BNU’s notable alumni include Liu Xiaobo (writer), Chai Ling (psychologist), Mo Yan (author), Yu Dan (professor), Timothy Geithner (United States politician), and Lang Ping (volleyball player).

BNU aims to maintain a community of learners underpinned by innovation, progress, sincerity, and patriotism, as it provides them with a combination of virtue and learning. It also plans to address issues that plague global society and bring recognition to Chinese education.