History
For over a century, Beijing Normal University has from the beginning shared a fate as regards the Chinese people’s struggle to gain independence, freedom, democracy and prosperity, and the university has played a significant role in patriotic movements that have included the May 4th Movement (1919) and the December 9th Movement (1935).
Education
The comprehensive disciplinary strength of Beijing Normal University puts the school at the forefront of the nation’s advanced teaching institutions. In 2002, BNU was one of the top six universities with independent examination and approval authority for undergraduate majors.
The university offers 58 different undergraduate majors, 166 Master’s degree programs, 111 Doctoral degree programs, 25 different rotating post-doctoral posts, and 24 and 36 Doctoral and Master’s degree programs for first-level disciplines. At present, there are 5 first-level disciplines, 11 second-level disciplines accorded national key discipline status, and 2 second-level disciplines accorded national key (fostering) discipline status.
Research
Renowned for its rich educational resources, Beijing Normal University is one of the national bases for talent development of high quality and creativity. It houses 2 national bases for a basic foundation for talents and scientific research in the arts, 5 national bases for a basic foundation for scientific research and teacher development in the sciences, 5 innovative exemplary laboratories for human resource development of the Ministry of Education, and 3 national exemplary centers for experimental education.
Beijing Normal University Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to Beijing Normal University. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Provided by university
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Silk Road Muduo Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Provided by university
Grant
400 EUR
Deadline
Not specified
New International Student Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Beijing Government Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2025
ServiceScape Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
12250 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2025
Moving Mates Scholarship
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
15 Sep 2025
Headway’s Book Lovers Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
25000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Fountainhead Essay Contest
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
25000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
5000 CAD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Pinsky Law New Venture Development Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
25 Aug 2025
Women Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Coupons Plus Deals “Save for Future” Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2025
Essay Writing Contest from EduLegit
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
17 Sep 2025
Annual Students' Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2025
$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
09 Jul 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
02 Jul 2025
Jewish Heritage Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
L. Austin Weeks Undergraduate Grant
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
University Ranking
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2025
146 31
2024
177 74
2023
251
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
151
2023
151 50
2022
201
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
271 1
2024
272 -10
2023
262
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
-
2024
206 63
2023
269
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Student services
Beijing Normal University (BNU) is a comprehensive research university that is directly under the administration of the Ministry of Education of China, with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Beijing Normal University ranks among the top universities in China in terms of its comprehensive strength. It is a key university in the Chinese “Project 985” and “Project 211” and is one of the first “Double First-Class”
Housing services
Student apartments fully implement property management, with the philosophy that “management educates people, environment educates people, and services educate people.” Freshmen have the option to bring their own bedding, or take the bedding provided by the dormitory management center.
Moreover, laundries with both large and small size machines are set up to provide cleaning services for students. Dormitories are equipped with TV, telephone, electric fan, and other functional furniture. Broadband communication is available in each dormitory. The reception hall, clean and elegant, is provided with desks and chairs and also a newspaper stand.
Library services
On behalf of the Beijing Normal University Library, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to BNU students, faculty members and staffs. We in the Library are here to provide you with diverse resources and services to support your academic and personal goals.
Medical services
When away from home, University students have to learn to take care of themselves. If they become ill, they need to go to a medical care facility for timely treatment. The BNU hospital is located on campus, so that students may be treated in time. At the hospital one needs first register with his or her student card.
Campus life
The main campus (North Taipingzhuang Campus) of Beijing Normal University covers 172.64 acres that serve as an important place for the university to carry out educational activities. The school has 22,000 full-time students, including 8,900 undergraduates, 11,300 graduates and 1,800 long-term international students. The campus has 1 education faculty, 22 schools and colleges, 2 departments and 36 research institutes (centers). The library boasts over 4.1 million volumes and some 17,300 GB of digital resources, with 1,400 GB e-books.
Sports facilities
In college life, even though study is the primarily important thing, regular exercise is as equally important as our study. A healthy body is a prerequisite for all else. Students need to do appropriate relaxation after a period of intense study, since exercise can help relieve stress and enhance physical fitness. There are many sports facilities at BNU, including Qiu Jiduan Stadium, the east and west playgrounds, a volleyball court, a tennis court, a handball court, a table-tennis room, and an old stadium.
Student clubs
Academic Student Associations
- CJ Fun Study Group
- OM Study Group
- Baihualin Russian Study Group
- Chunqiu Study Group
- E-Commerce Study Group
- Law Study Group
- China's Traditional Culture Study Group
- Chemistry Study Group
- Accounting Association
- Education Study Group
- Economics Study Group
- Folk Custom Study Group
- Exploration Study Group
- Human Resource Management Association
- Biology Study Group
- Astronomy Study Group
- May 4 th Arts Study Group
- Xiyan Debate Study Group
- Psychology Study Group
- English Club
- Resource Study Group
Accreditation
The 12th Party Congress of Beijing Normal University set out the development objective to build BNU into a world-class university by the middle of the century. BNU vows to – during the implementation of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of China – adhere to the work principle of “human-oriented reform and innovation, optimizing structure, giving prominence to special features and enhancing quality,” holding fast to a strategy of enhancing education quality and following a development philosophy that emphasizes connotation, innovation and specializing and that is open to building the school into a world renowned university.