Beijing Normal University
北京师范大学
China's flagship for teacher education and educational science, grown from the Imperial University of Peking's 1902 education department.
- Students
- 34,000
- Tuition
- CN¥24,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1902
- QS World Ranking
- #237
- 2027 edition
About BNU
Beijing Normal University grew out of the Education Department of the Imperial University of Peking, founded in 1902, which began teacher training in Chinese higher education. Today it is a comprehensive research university under China's Ministry of Education, part of Project 985, Project 211 and the Double First-Class initiative, known above all for teacher education, educational science and basic disciplines in the sciences and humanities.
BNU has a main campus in Haidian District, Beijing, and a second campus in Zhuhai, Guangdong. It is organised into 3 faculties, 29 schools, 9 research institutes and 5 academies, with more than 34,000 full-time students and 2,762 full-time teachers as of March 2026. Its university name was written in calligraphy by Mao Zedong in 1950, and its emblem shows a muduo, an ancient Chinese bell that symbolises the sound of teaching.
For international students, BNU offers 40 bachelor's majors, all taught in Chinese, from Chinese Language and Literature, Education and Psychology to Law, Economics, Artificial Intelligence and Astronomy. Applicants need HSK 5 (or HSK 4 for Chinese as a Second Language and Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages), a CSCA report and an interview. It suits students who already speak good Chinese and want a strong, humanities-leaning university in Beijing.
学为人师，行为世范
“Learn, so as to instruct others; act, to serve as example to all” — university motto
Why students choose BNU
BNU is best known for teacher education and educational science, and ranks joint 134th in the world in THE's 2026 rankings.
The 40 majors open to international undergraduates include Education, Psychology, Chinese Language and Literature, Law, Artificial Intelligence and Astronomy.
Chinese as a Second Language needs only HSK 4 (180+), a gentler entry point than the HSK 5 required elsewhere.
Nobel laureates Mo Yan and Liu Xiaobo both studied at BNU as postgraduates.
Admissions
2027 intake (BNU's published brochure is for the past 2026 intake)
Selectivity
BNU does not publish an admission rate for international undergraduates. Admission is decided by an entrance examination made up of the CSCA written test and a BNU interview, alongside transcripts, HSK results and a recommendation.
Typical entry requirements
| High school graduation certificate | Equivalent to a Chinese high school diploma or above, notarised or authenticated, with full transcripts; applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged 18 to 40 (under-18s need a guardian in China) |
|---|---|
| CSCA | Valid CSCA report in the subjects required by your major |
| HSK | HSK 5 with at least 180 for most majors; HSK 4 with at least 180 for Chinese as a Second Language and Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages; test taken no earlier than 1 November 2023 |
Deadlines
- 2026 intake, online application - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding PassedMarch 15, 2026 (closed)
Previous cycle: online applications ran November 15, 2025 to March 15, 2026, and results were sent from June 2026. Dates for 2027 had not been published as of September 29, 2026.
- Chinese Government Scholarship Non-bindingSet by the China Scholarship Council and Chinese embassies
Apply via campuschina.org or the local Chinese embassy, and also submit the CSC application form and physical examination form to BNU.
BNU's latest undergraduate brochure is for the 2026 intake (online application November 15, 2025 to March 15, 2026). A 2027 brochure had not been published as of September 29, 2026; if it follows the same pattern, applications would open in mid-November 2026.
How to apply
Register on BNU's Online Application System for International Students (international.bnu.edu.cn), choose up to two majors, upload documents and pay the 500 RMB application fee online. After initial review, mail the paper originals (application form, notarised diploma and transcripts, handwritten personal statement in Chinese, teacher recommendation, passport copy and non-criminal record). Submit your CSCA report, then take BNU's interview for each major you applied to.
What admissions looks for
- Chinese proficiency matched to your major: HSK 5 (180+) for most, HSK 4 for Chinese as a Second Language.
- CSCA results in the subjects your major requires.
- Strong high school results, with specific subject averages for some majors such as Psychology.
- A good interview, a teacher recommendation and a handwritten personal statement in Chinese.
- For arts majors, demonstrated expertise with supporting materials.
Tips for applying to BNU
- 1 Check the Major Catalog before booking the CSCA: required subjects differ by major (Math only for some, Chinese plus Math for others).
- 2 If you apply for two majors, prepare for two interviews: BNU interviews you separately for each.
- 3 Write your personal statement by hand, in Chinese; printed statements are not accepted.
- 4 Mail your paper documents as soon as you pass the initial review, by EMS, DHL, FedEx or UPS: late documents end your application.
- 5 Make sure your HSK certificate is dated no earlier than 1 November 2023.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
BNU offers the BNU New International Students Scholarship and the Silk Road Muduo Scholarship, which covers tuition, a living stipend and comprehensive medical insurance for citizens of Belt and Road countries with excellent entrance exam results, for the length of the degree subject to an annual review. Applicants can also seek the Beijing Government Scholarship, the Chinese Government Scholarship (via the China Scholarship Council or a Chinese embassy) and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship.
- Tuition waiver, living stipend and medical insurance for the full degree (Belt and Road countries)
- Silk Road Muduo Scholarship
- RMB 500, non-refundable
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Education
BNU's defining field, covering Education, Pre-school Education, Special Education and Educational Technology.
Psychology
Taught in the Faculty of Psychology; requires HSK 5 plus Chinese (Science) and Math in the CSCA and at least 80% in high school Mathematics and Physics.
Chinese Language and Literature
The school where novelist Su Tong studied; needs HSK 5 and the CSCA Math test.
Chinese as a Second Language
Designed for international students, with an HSK 4 (180+) entry bar and a humanities fee of RMB 24,000 a year.
Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages
Taught at BNU's Zhuhai Campus in Guangdong, for students who want to teach Chinese.
Geographical Science
Covers physical geography, human geography and urban-rural planning, geographical information science and natural resources.
Research
- BNU has 9 research institutes and 5 academies alongside its 29 schools.
- Its libraries hold more than 7.7 million books and 9.3 million e-books.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Geographical Science
- School of Chinese Language and Literature
- School of International Chinese Language Education
- School of Journalism and Communication
- School of History
- Law School
- Business School
- School of Arts and Communication
- School of Artificial Intelligence
- School of Mathematical Sciences
Student life
BNU's main campus sits at No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street in Haidian, Beijing's university district, and a second campus in Zhuhai hosts programmes such as Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. International students can live in on-campus international student dormitories with single, double and other room types, booked online after admission, or live off campus after registering with the local police.
- Two campuses: Beijing (Haidian) and Zhuhai (Guangdong).
- Cooperation ties with nearly 160 universities and international organisations in over 40 countries and regions.
- The university's name was written in calligraphy by Mao Zedong in 1950.
- Olympic champion gymnast Chen Yibing studied at BNU.
Housing. International student dormitories on the Beijing campus offer single and double rooms and are booked online (for 2026 entrants, from July 1 to August 15); Chinese Government full scholarship holders have rooms arranged for them.
Location
BNU's Beijing campus is at No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street in Haidian District, in the north-west of the capital. Beijing offers museums, historic sites and a large international community, and BNU's own dormitories are the simplest housing option for new international students. The Zhuhai campus, which hosts Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages, is in Guangdong province in southern China.
Nearest airport: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK); Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Notable alumni
- MY Mo YanNovelist, 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature; enrolled in 1988 in a postgraduate programme run by BNU with the Chinese Writers' Association and received a master's degree in literature from BNU in 1991
- LX Liu XiaoboWriter and dissident, 2010 Nobel Peace Prize; postgraduate student in BNU's Department of Chinese Literature (MA 1984, PhD 1988), where he then taught
- ST Su TongNovelist; entered BNU's Department of Chinese in 1980
- XJ Xie JunWomen's world chess champion and president of the Chinese Chess Association; doctoral studies in psychology at BNU
- CY Chen YibingOlympic gold medallist gymnast (2008 team and rings)
Frequently asked questions
Does Beijing Normal University offer undergraduate degrees in English?
No. BNU's bachelor's programmes for international students are taught in Chinese, and most majors require HSK 5 with a score of at least 180.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to BNU?
Yes. The written part of BNU's entrance examination is the CSCA, and each major lists the CSCA subjects it requires. You also take a BNU interview.
How much does BNU cost for international undergraduates?
RMB 24,000 a year for humanities and social sciences, or RMB 27,700 for science, engineering and arts majors, according to the 2026 brochure. The application fee is RMB 500.
When is the BNU application deadline?
For the 2026 intake, online applications ran from November 15, 2025 to March 15, 2026. The 2027 dates had not been published as of September 2026.
Can I apply to two majors at BNU?
Yes, you can apply for two majors in one application, but you will need to take an interview for each.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- BNU Admission Office (International Students): 2026 Undergraduate Admission Brochure
- BNU Admission Office (International Students): 2026 Major Catalog for Undergraduate International Students
- BNU Admission Office (International Students): Silk Road Muduo Scholarship
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