Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) was founded in 1962, and was originally named the higher preparatory School for Foreign Students. In 1964, it was renamed as Beijing Language Institute by the State Council. And then in 1996, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the school was designated as Beijing Language and Culture University.

It is the only international university in China with its main task set at teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreign students. Meanwhile it also undertakes the tasks of teaching foreign languages as well as Chinese, computer science and technology, finance and accountancy to Chinese students, providing training courses for teachers specialized in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and offering predeparture language training to candidates intending to go abroad.

BLCU has the longest history, the largest scope, and the most qualified teaching faculties of its kind in the area of teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreigners. Over the past 40 years since its establishment, the university has trained hundreds of thousands of foreign students who are proficient in Chinese and familiar with the Chinese culture, from over 160 countries and regions in the world. And it has a full-time teaching staff of more than 800.

Up to now, BLCU has set up a new discipline system which is distinctive in feature, clear in advantage, rational in structure, and substantial in content. Now the curriculums in this university cover a wide range of subjects, from short-term, speeded-up and online programs, to degree courses for the bachelor, master and doctor. And its standards of education enjoy widespread recognition and favorable comments both at home and abroad.

The University comprises of 11 teaching units and 13 research institutions, with the number of teaching and administrative staff totaled 1425, including 829 in teaching and researching, 303 of which have advanced titles.

At present, BLCU has 9 doctoral programs, 24 postgraduate programs, and 16 undergraduate programs, including 1 national key discipline, 2 municipal key disciplines, and 1 humanities and social sciences key research base of regular universities designated by the Ministry of Education. The education scope covers a wide range of fields, including literature, economics, history, law, engineering, education, and management. Now there are over 13,000 students in the university, including 9,000 foreigners and 4,000 Chinese.

BLCU always attaches great importance to international exchanges and co-operations. With the expansion of China’s exchanges and co-operations with other countries, the university is also increasing its co-operations and exchanges with numerous foreign countries, and right now it has built partnerships with 157 universities from 31 countries in the world.

Joint teaching centers have been established in some other provinces and cities of the country, and the overseas branch schools have been set up in the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand as remarkable results of education extending. And all this helps in accumulating experiences in further improvement.