Beijing Forestry University
北京林业大学
China's leading forestry and landscape architecture university, on Beijing's university corridor in Haidian.
- Students
- 26,458
- Tuition
- CN¥24,800
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1952
- QS World Ranking
- 731-740
- 2027 edition
About BFU
Beijing Forestry University traces its history to the forestry section of the Imperial University of Peking in 1902. It was set up as Beijing Forestry College in 1952 by merging the forestry departments of Beijing Agricultural University and Hebei Agricultural College, and took its current name in 1985. It reports directly to the Ministry of Education, is co-sponsored by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Beijing government, and is a Project 211 and Double First-Class university, with Forestry and Landscape Architecture as its Double First-Class disciplines.
BFU is built on biology and ecology, with particular strengths in forestry, landscape architecture, forestry engineering, soil and water conservation, grassland science and agricultural and forestry economics. It has about 26,000 students and 2,200 faculty across 17 schools, offers 68 undergraduate programmes (including tracks), and says it has trained more than 200,000 graduates, including 16 academicians. A second campus in Xiong'an has been under construction since 2024.
International undergraduates choose from 37 majors listed for 2026-27, from Forestry and Landscape Architecture to Wood Science, Furniture Design, Finance and Animation. Bachelor's programmes are taught in Chinese, so applicants need HSK 4 and, from 2026-27, CSCA test scores. BFU suits students who want to work on ecology, green design or natural resources in the capital, at a tuition of CNY 24,800 a year.
知山知水，树木树人
“Knowing the Land, Bettering Mankind (the university's official English rendering)” — university motto
Why students choose BFU
Forestry and Landscape Architecture are national Double First-Class disciplines, and BFU says Forestry ranked 1st in China's national discipline assessment.
The 2026-27 undergraduate catalogue for international students lists 37 majors, including rare options such as Wood Science and Engineering, Furniture Design and Engineering, Grassland Science, and Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating.
International undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A), the Beijing Government Scholarship and the university's Experience Beilin Scholarship.
The main campus is on Qinghua East Road in Haidian, next to the Xueyuan Road cluster of Beijing universities.
Admissions
2027-28 intake (the latest published guide is for the past 2026-27 intake)
Selectivity
BFU does not publish an admission rate for international students. Applications pass a first review by the International College's admissions team and a second, academic review by the school offering the programme.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | Non-Chinese citizen aged 18-30 with a high school graduation certificate and a valid passport |
|---|---|
| HSK | HSK 4 or above (bachelor's programmes are taught in Chinese) |
| CSCA | Chinese (STEM or Liberal Arts version) and Mathematics for every school; optional Chemistry for Forestry, Biology, Environmental Science, Grassland, Ecology and Landscape Gardening/Horticulture; optional Physics for Technology, Information Science, Soil and Water Conservation, and Landscape Architecture/Urban and Rural Planning; Economics and Management and Art take Chinese (Liberal Arts) and Mathematics only |
Deadlines
- Beijing Government Scholarship and Experience Beilin Scholarship - PAST CYCLE Non-binding PassedJune 8, 2026 (closed)
Both scholarships were applied for through BFU for the 2026 intake; scholarship candidates are selected from pre-admitted students.
- September 2026 intake - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding PassedJune 15, 2026 (closed)
Undergraduate application deadline in the 2026 BFU Undergraduate Admissions Brochure.
- CSCA test sessions Non-bindingSessions in January, March, April, June and December
The first CSCA was held on December 21, 2025. Register at csca.cn and take the test before submitting your BFU application.
- Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) Non-bindingSet by the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country
Apply through the embassy or consulate, choose Type A and list Beijing Forestry University as your first-choice institution.
BFU had not published a 2027-28 undergraduate guide as of September 29, 2026. For the 2026-27 intake the application deadline was June 15, 2026 and the BGS and Experience Beilin scholarship deadlines were June 8, 2026, so expect a similar early-summer deadline for September 2027. Book a CSCA session well ahead, because the score report must be submitted with the application.
How to apply
Apply online through the BFU application system and upload your passport, notarised highest education certificate, high school transcript, HSK certificate (HSK 4 or above), CSCA score report, study plan, non-criminal record, two recommendation letters and a Foreigner Physical Examination Form (notarised Chinese or English translations if needed). After the International College's first review, pay the non-refundable CNY 800 application fee; the relevant school then does an academic review before admission results are issued.
What admissions looks for
- A completed high school education with a transcript and a notarised diploma.
- Chinese proficiency of at least HSK 4, since bachelor's programmes are taught in Chinese.
- CSCA scores in Chinese and Mathematics, plus Physics or Chemistry where your school lists it as optional; the university says optional subjects can make an application more competitive.
- A study plan and two recommendation letters that support your choice of programme, reviewed by the school's academic committee.
Tips for applying to BFU
- 1 Check which CSCA Chinese paper your school needs: most schools take Chinese (STEM), while Economics and Management and the School of Art take Chinese (Liberal Arts).
- 2 Take the optional Physics or Chemistry CSCA paper for engineering, landscape or life-science majors; BFU says it can improve your competitiveness.
- 3 If your Chinese is below HSK 4, BFU runs a preparatory programme, but preparatory students also have to take the CSCA before moving on to a bachelor's degree.
- 4 Apply for a degree place first: BFU picks Beijing Government and Experience Beilin scholarship holders from pre-admitted applicants, and those deadlines came a week before the admission deadline in 2026.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
Undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship Type A through the Chinese embassy in their home country; it covers tuition, accommodation, insurance and a living allowance. The Beijing Government Scholarship fully or partly covers tuition, and the Experience Beilin Scholarship fully or partly covers tuition and accommodation. All scholarship holders face an annual review, and those who fail it become self-funded.
- CNY 800 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
- CNY 50 a day in the 2026 brochure (about CNY 18,250 a year; the accommodation page lists CNY 50-60 a day); water and electricity extra
- On-campus double room
- CNY 800 a year
- Insurance
- Full tuition, accommodation, insurance and living allowance
- Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (September intake)
Forestry
A national Double First-Class discipline, which BFU says ranked 1st in China's national discipline assessment.
Landscape Architecture
BFU's other Double First-Class discipline; the School of Landscape Architecture also teaches Landscape Gardening, Ornamental Horticulture and five-year Urban and Rural Planning.
Wood Science and Engineering / Furniture Design and Engineering
Taught by the School of Materials Science and Technology, whose bamboo-based 'Sea Bamboo Pipes' form the core structure of an offshore solar platform launched in 2026.
Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating
A BFU specialism behind the Xiji model of Loess Plateau restoration and the China-Mongolia Desertification Control Cooperation Center that the university operates.
Wild Animals and Nature Reserve Management
Offered by the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation; BFU leads an international alliance on migratory bird flyways and publishes the journal Avian Research.
Grassland Science
A dedicated School of Grassland Science, reflecting BFU's role in adding grasslands to China's national ecosystem framework.
Research
- BFU runs 2 national key laboratories in forestry and 114 national or ministerial research platforms, including the National Flower Engineering Technology Research Center.
- It hosts the world's largest forest and grass germplasm bank and operates its own ecological monitoring satellite.
- BFU researchers published a Cell paper on the Chinese pine genome, bred non-shedding poplar varieties and built the world's first genome variation map of the mei (plum blossom).
- The university publishes the journals Forest Ecosystems and Avian Research and has 28 international joint laboratories, including with the University of British Columbia.
Schools & faculties
- School of Forestry
- School of Landscape Architecture
- School of Soil and Water Conservation
- School of Biological Science and Technology
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation
- School of Grassland Science
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- School of Materials Science and Technology
- School of Technology
- School of Information Science and Technology (School of Artificial Intelligence)
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Art and Design
BFU reports a graduate placement (employment or further study) rate above 94% in recent years, with over 45% of graduates from ecology-related majors working in their field.
Student life
International students live in Building No. 9 on the west side of the campus, in single and double rooms with a fridge, air-conditioning, desk and internet, shared washrooms on each floor and public kitchens. The campus has nine residence halls, two large cafeterias, a library, a natural history museum focused on forest life and a university history museum opened in 2022. An international Students Advisory Committee and Student Ambassadors organise events for international students. The Society of Scientific Exploration and Wilderness Survival, a student environmental group that has won China's Prize of the Earth, is one of BFU's most influential clubs.
- The Liangxi Cup student science and entrepreneurship competition, named after China's first Minister of Forestry, Liang Xi.
- The Society of Scientific Exploration and Wilderness Survival, a student environmental group that has won the Prize of the Earth.
- BFU Museum with collections on forests, wetlands, grasslands and deserts, plus a History Museum opened in October 2022.
- Jiufeng National Forest Park, whose main peak rises to 465 m, serves as the university's teaching and research forest farm.
Housing. International students can live in the International Student Apartment (Building No. 9); a double room costs CNY 50-60 a day (the 2026 brochure quotes CNY 50) and a single CNY 100-120 a day, with water and electricity charged separately.
Location
BFU's main campus is at 35 Qinghua East Road in Haidian District, in north-west Beijing's university belt near Wudaokou, alongside the cluster of universities on Xueyuan Road. Students have the capital's museums, parks and metro on their doorstep, and field teaching uses the university's own forest farm, Jiufeng National Forest Park in Haidian, as well as sites across China.
Nearest airport: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Notable alumni
- KY Kongjian YuLandscape architect known for the 'sponge city' concept and founder of Turenscape; bachelor's and master's in landscape architecture from BFU
- XG Xu GuanhuaChina's Minister of Science and Technology, 2001-2007; graduated from BFU in 1963
- ZX Zhang XinshiPlant ecologist who founded quantitative vegetation ecology in China; graduated in 1955
- ZS Zhang ShougongForestry scientist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Chinese Academy of Forestry; master's and PhD in forestry at BFU
- LW Li WenhuaEcologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; studied at what is now BFU after 1949
- YW Yin WeilunBiologist and silviculturist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and later BFU president; graduated from Beijing Forestry College
Frequently asked questions
Does Beijing Forestry University teach bachelor's degrees in English?
No. BFU's international undergraduate programmes are predominantly taught in Chinese, so applicants need HSK 4 or above. Its English-taught options are mainly at postgraduate level.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to BFU?
Yes. From 2026-27 every international undergraduate applicant, including scholarship applicants, must submit CSCA scores in Chinese and Mathematics; Physics or Chemistry is optional depending on the school.
How much is BFU tuition for international students?
For 2026-27, undergraduate tuition is CNY 24,800 a year, plus CNY 50-60 a day for a double room, CNY 800 a year insurance and a CNY 800 application fee.
When is the BFU application deadline for September 2027?
BFU had not published its 2027-28 guide by late September 2026. For September 2026 the deadline was June 15, 2026, and scholarship deadlines were June 8, 2026, so plan for a similar early-summer deadline.
Can I get a scholarship at Beijing Forestry University?
Undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship Type A through their home-country Chinese embassy, and for the Beijing Government Scholarship and Experience Beilin Scholarship through BFU after applying for admission.
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.
- BFU International College: 2026 BFU Undergraduate Admissions Brochure (PDF)
- BFU International College: Notice on the Submission of CSCA Test Results for Undergraduate Applications
- BFU International College: Admission overview
- BFU International College: Application procedure
- BFU International College: Tuition and accommodation
- BFU International College: Scholarships
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