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 47 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 176 countries and regions in the world.

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 1252, including 725 in teaching and researching, 332 of which have advanced titles. At present, BLCU has 9 doctoral programs, 24 postgraduate programs, and 22 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, law, engineering, education, and management. As of September 2009, there are over 27,430 Chinese students, including 152 PhD candidates, 1,165 in postgraduate programs and 3,598 undergraduate students, and 8,871 foreigners in the university.

BLCU always attaches great importance to international exchanges and co-operations. As the country opens up, the university is also broadening its cooperation and exchanges with numerous foreign countries, and has built partnerships with 210 universities from 39 countries within a sophisticated, multidisciplinary and fruitful framework designed for international education. BLCU has set up branch schools in the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand, and launched joint undergraduate and postgraduate programs with Hokuriku University in Japan, Keimyung University in Korea, Rangsit University in Thailand, Groupe Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Troyes, University of Applied Sciences Konstanz, University of Manchester, Macquarie University and Harvard University.

The university publishes three kinds of core periodicals, namely, “Language Teaching and Research”, “International Chinese Teaching”, “Research on the Chinese Culture”. Up till now, the university press has published some 1,500 text books in diversified fields, and made widespread influence both at home and abroad. Educational institutions and training organizations of various kinds in around a hundred countries have adopted the text books of teaching Chinese as foreign language published by BLCU press.

(Statistics quoted are up till September, 2009)