Beijing Normal University

Overview

Beijing Normal University is under guidance of the Ministry of Education, and a renowned institution of higher learning, emphasizing teacher education and basic learning in the arts and sciences. The university’s predecessor, Normal College of the Imperial University of Peking, was founded in 1902. In 1908, the school changed its name to Advanced Normal College of the Imperial University and became independent. In 1912, the name again changed, to Beijing Advanced Normal School, and finally, in 1923 the name changed to Beijing Normal University, the first Normal University in Chinese history. In 1931 and 1952, respectively, Peking Women’s Normal University and Fu Jen Catholic University were merged into Beijing Normal University.

For over a century, Beijing Normal University has shared the same fate as the Chinese people’s struggle to gain independence, freedom, democracy, and prosperity, and the school has played a significant role in patriotic movements that include the May 4th Movement (1919) and the December 9th Movement (1935). Over the years, the school has been home to a large group of renowned intellectuals and scholars, who have promoted culture and stimulated education. Among them Li Dazhao, Lu Xun, Liang Qichao, Qian Xuantong, Wu Chengren, Li Jinxi, Chen Yuan, Fan Wenlan, Hou Wailu, Bai Shouyi, Zhong Jingwen, Qi Gong, Hu Xiansu, Wang Kunren, and Zhou Tingru. Adhering to a fine tradition of "Patriotism, Progress, Honesty, Sincerity, Truth-Seeking, Innovation, and being a paragon of virtue and learning", meanwhile embodying the spirit of "Learn to be an Excellent Teacher; Act as an Exemplary Person", for over one hundred years, Beijing Normal University has formed a philosophy of "Pursuing study, cultivating oneself, and helping the world.

Among the National Key universities constructed during the time of China’s Seventh and Eighth Five-Year Plans, Beijing Normal University was confirmed as one of the nation’s first 10 key universities and entered into the first "211 Project" Construction Program during the Ninth Five-Year Plan. During the 2002 Centennial Celebration, the Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipality emphasized collaboration with development of Beijing Normal University. The Ninth Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing listed Beijing Normal University among the institutions that they support building world-class universities. Over the Tenth Five-Year Plan period, the university was listed among the nation’s "985 Project" Construction programs.

Total area of Beijing Normal University covers 172.6 acres, and the school has over 3,000 faculty and 21,000 full-time students, including 8,700 undergraduates, 10,000 graduates, and 1,800 long-term international students. The campus has one education faculty, 22 schools and colleges, 2 departments, and 24 research institutes (centers). The library boasts over 3.88 million volumes and some 100,000 GB of digital resources.

The comprehensive disciplinary strength of Beijing Normal University puts the school at the forefront of the nation’s advanced teaching institutions. In 2002, it was one of the first six universities with independent examination and approval authority for undergraduate majors. The university offers 57 different undergraduate majors, 162 Master’s degree programs, 100 Ph.D. programs, 18 different rotating post-doctoral posts, and 16 primary subjects Ph.D. and Master’s degree programs. There is five primary subjects, 11 secondary subjects accorded national key subject status, and two secondary subjects accorded national key (fostering) subject status. Moreover, three primary subjects accorded key subject status of Beijing Municipality, nine secondary key subjects of Beijing Municipality, and one interdisciplinary program accorded key subject status of Beijing Municipality. Programs cover 11 disciplinary categories, excluding military science, and comprise a comprehensive curriculum. According to assessment results of primary subjects in 2009 as issued by the Ministry of Education Academic Degree Center, the three primary subject, education, psychology, and Chinese language and literature ranked first, and 15 other subjects ranked among the top ten in the country.

Beijing Normal University is a force for the nation’s research in the humanities, social sciences and technology innovations. The university houses four state laboratories (2 joint programs), 8 Ministry of Education key laboratories, 5 Ministry of Education engineering research centers, 5 Beijing Municipality key laboratories, 2 Beijing Municipality engineering and technology centers, and 7 key research bases in human and social sciences of the Ministry of Education. The university publishes 14 professional journals.

Renowned for its rich educational resources, the university is one of the national bases for talent development with high quality and creativity. It houses 3 national bases for arts; foundation subjects; talent development and scientific research, 5 national bases for science offering a foundation in scientific research and teacher development, 5 innovative exemplary laboratories for human resource development of the Ministry of Education, and 2 national exemplary centers for experimental education. . The school has a national base for talent training in life sciences and technology, a national base for teaching Chinese as a second language, and a national base for university students in quality-oriented education.

There is 1,734 full-time instructors, of whom 82 percent hold doctoral degrees and 12 percent obtained their degrees abroad. There are 8 academicians from the Academy of Sciences and Academy of Engineering, 11 academicians employed simultaneously by the two academies, 3 emeritus professors, 5 senior professors, 24 Changjiang scholars, 25 winners of China national foundation awards for distinguished young scientists, 21 candidates for outstanding talents projects, 113 winners of inter-millennium and new century talents awards supported by the Ministry of Education, 7 winners of national famous teachers awards, and 29 winners of the Beijing Municipality famous teachers awards in higher education. Beijing Normal University has a national natural sciences foundation for innovative research group, 3 subjects’ innovation and talent introduction groups for higher institutions, Ministry of Education and State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, P.R. China, 9 national teaching teams, and 10 Beijing Municipality teams for teaching excellence.

Beijing Normal University enjoys a program of broad international exchanges, signed cooperative agreements with almost 300 universities and research institutes from more than 30 nations and districts and programs for exchange students with over 20 universities, in places that include the United States, UK, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. BNU has co-established Confucius Institutes with the University of Manchester, UK, the University of Oklahoma, USA, San Francisco State University, USA, Dawson University, Canada, and Sherbrooke University, Canada. Long-term international students at BNU come from over 69 different countries and regions, 65% of them are pursuing academic degrees.

Since implementation of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of China, the development objective is to create a distinctive and high-quality "World-Renowned Research-Oriented University," It has followed the developmental philosophy of "Stabilizing the Current Scale, Optimizing Structure, Highlighting Characteristics, and Innovating Independently" and implemented strategies for development in teacher education, subjects, talents, scientific research, talents to strengthen university, internationalization,, insurance of development conditions, and institution innovations. The school has grasped opportunities of reforms and developments to meet national strategic needs, and to strengthen the country via human resources and innovative national construction.

Programs

Schools & Departments and Majors

BNU offers courses in a wide range of disciplines, as well as numerous specialized academic Masters and PhD programs. For details of specific majors offered, please refer to lists of Masters majors and PhD majors. The university offers a Masters degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages and English-taught Masters programs. For more details, please consult "Introduction to Beijing Normal University English-Taught Masters Programs" or visit our website at http://www.bnulxsh.com.

Study Mode, Duration and Tuition

Study duration for academic graduate students (both Master's and Ph.D programs) is three years (full-time). Study Duration for Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages is 2 years.

Standard Tuition: (Currency: RMB)

Undergraduate programs

BA in Chinese language

The undergraduate degree program helps students to learn Chinese teaching, trade and business, and cultural communication.

It includes three specialties: Chinese language and culture, business Chinese, and Chinese education.

Non-Degree Program

Beijing Normal University has a Chinese Language program, General Advanced Study’s program and Senior Advanced Studies program for international students in the spring semester 2013. The deadline for application is Dec. 31, 2012. Please login on http://www.bnulxsh.com and apply online. After filling out the form, please print it.

The applicant and guarantor should sign it. Please post the application form and all other application materials to the International Students’ Office and make sure your materials will arrive by Dec 31, 2012. The International Students’ Office will reply in 45 days. Detail requirements of applications are as followed:

"Twin City" Summer Program 2012

Beijing Normal University (BNU) and East China Normal University (ECNU) jointly host the four-week "Twin City" Summer program. In the 2012 Summer Program, we will offer two courses: "Contemporary Development of China" and "Chinese Language and Culture". Each course is equivalent to a standard semester-long course in U.S. universities and colleges accounting for 3 credits. Students can choose one or both courses to study. The program offers intensive small-class Chinese language courses, Chinese cultural classes, and lectures on development of Chinese society. By spending two weeks in Beijing and Shanghai respectively, students can obtain a better understanding of Chinese culture and society and experience different types of city life.So study in China, and choose our "Twin City" Summer Program.

Contact Us

Office of International Students & Scholars' Affairs:

Beijing Normal University

No.19, Xin Jie Kou Wai St, Haidian District, Beijing 100875,China

Telephone: +86 10 5880 7986, +86 10 5880 8364, +86 10 5880 0325.

Fax: +86 10 5880 0823

Website: http://www.bnulxsh.com/english/index.htm