Beijing Normal University, a key university under the administration of the Ministry of Education, is a renowned institution of higher education known for teacher education, education science and basic learning in both the arts and the sciences. The university’s predecessor, the Normal College of the Imperial University of Peking, was founded in 1902. In 1908, the school name was changed to Advanced Normal College of the Imperial University and the school became independent. In 1912, the name changed again, to Beijing Advanced Normal School, and then, in 1923, the name changed yet again to Beijing Normal University, the first Normal University in Chinese history. In 1931 and 1952, respectively, Peking Women’s Normal University and Fu Jen Catholic University merged to create Beijing Normal University.

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). Over the years, the school has been home to a large group of renowned intellectuals and scholars, who have promoted culture and stimulated education, to name a few: Li Dazhao, Lu Xun, Liang Qichao, Qian Xuantong, Wu Chengshi, Li Jinxi, Chen Yuan, Fan Wenlan, Hou Wailu, Bai Shouyi, Zhong Jingwen, Qi Gong, Hu Xiansu, Wang Kunren and Zhou Tingru. Adhering to a fine tradition of “Patriotism, Progress, Honesty, Sincerity, Truth-Seeking, Innovation and being a paragon of virtue and learning” while embodying the spirit of “Learn, so as to instruct others and Act, to serve as example to all,” for over a hundred years Beijing Normal University has lived by the philosophy of “Pursuing knowledge, Cultivating personality, and Helping the whole world.”

Among the national key universities built during the time of China’s Seventh and Eighth Five-Year Plans, Beijing Normal University is acknowledged as one of the nation’s first ten key universities. The school entered into the first “211 Project” Construction Program during the time of the Ninth Five-Year Plan. On the occasion of the 2002 Centennial Celebration, the Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipality said they attached great importance to collaboration in the development of Beijing Normal University. The Ninth Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing listed Beijing Normal University as among the institutions it was supporting to become world-class universities. Over the Tenth Five-Year Plan period, the university was listed on the nation’s “985 Project” Construction program.
　
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.

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. Moreover, there are 5 first-level disciplines accorded key discipline status by Beijing Municipality, 9 second-level key disciplines of Beijing Municipality, and 1 interdisciplinary program accorded key discipline status by Beijing Municipality. These programs cover 12 disciplinary categories, excluding military science, and comprise a comprehensive discipline structure. According to the 2012 assessment results (the 3rd time) for first-level disciplines issued by the Academic Degree Center of the Ministry of Education, the 5 first-level disciplines – namely, Education, Psychology, Chinese History, Geography and Ecology – ranked first. The 3 first-level disciplines, namely, Chinese Language and Literature, Theatre, Film and Television and System Science – ranked second. There are 10 first-level disciplines in the top 5; 17 in the top 10; and 24 in the top 20 in China. As per the 2012 World University Rankings released by QS, BNU ranks 252, up by 48 from 2011and it is number 8 among universities on mainland China.