View source for Beijing Normal University

{{Short description|Public research university in Beijing, China}}
{{Redirect|Beishida|minor planet|8050 Beishida}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Beijing Normal University
 | native_name            = {{native name|zh-hans|paren=no|北京师范大学}}
 | caption                = Seal of the university
 | latin_name             = 
 | image_name             = Beijing Normal University logo.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | motto                  = {{lang|zh-hans|学为人师、行为世范}}<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.bnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj/index.html |title = 北京师范大学简介|access-date = June 24, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140629205029/http://www.bnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj/index.html |archive-date = June 29, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
 | mottoeng               = Learn, so as to instruct others; Act, to serve as example to all.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Information -Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/about/generalinformation/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref>
 | established            = {{start date and age|df=y|1902}}
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]]
 | head_label             = [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|Party Secretary]]
 | head                   = Cheng Jianping
 | president              = [[Yu Jihong]]
 | faculty                = 2,637 (2025)
 | students               = 38,718 (2025)
 | undergrad              = 16,543 (2025)
 | postgrad               = 22,175 (2025)
 | city                   = 
 | country                = 
 | campus                 = 
 | campus_size            = 
 | affiliations           = [[Beijing–Hong Kong Universities Alliance|BHUA]], [[Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao University Alliance|GHMUA]]
 | colours                = {{color box|#003DA5}} Dark Blue<br>{{color box|#0077C8}} Light Blue
 | website                = {{ubl|{{URL|https://www.bnu.edu.cn|bnu.edu.cn}}|{{URL|https://english.bnu.edu.cn}}}}
 | logo                   = Beijing Normal University logo and wordmark in Chinese and English characters.svg
 | address                = 19 Xinjiekouwai St, [[Haidian, Beijing]], China
 | module                 = {{infobox Chinese
  | child     = yes
  | t         = 北京師範大學
  | s         = 北京师范大学
  | p         = Běijīng Shīfàn Dàxué
  | tp        = Běi-jing Shih-fàn Dà-syué
  | w         = {{tone superscript|Pei3-ching1 Shih1-fan4 Ta4-hsüeh2}}
  | mi        = {{IPAc-cmn|b|ei|3|.|j|ing|1|-|sh|i|1|.|f|an|4|-|d|a|4|.|xue|2}}
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  | j         = bak1 ging1 si1 faan6 daai6 hok6
  | y         = Bākgīng Sīfaahn Daaihhohk
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  | altname = Abbreviation
  | c2        = 北师大
  | p2        = Běishīdà
  | tp2         = Běi-shī-dà
  | w2          = {{tone superscript|Pei3-shih1-ta4}}
  | mi2         = {{IPAc-cmn|b|ei|3|-|sh|i|1|-|d|a|4}}
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}}

'''Beijing Normal University''' ('''BNU''') ({{Langx|zh|北京师范大学}}) is a public university in [[Haidian, Beijing|Haidian]], [[Beijing]], China. It is affiliated with the [[Ministry of Education (China)|Ministry of Education of China]], and co-funded by the Ministry of Education and the [[Beijing Municipal People's Government]]. It is a renowned institution of higher education known for teacher education, education science and basic learning in both the arts and the sciences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beijing Normal University |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/beijing-normal-university |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> The university is part of [[Project 211]], [[Project 985]], and the [[Double First-Class Construction]].<ref name="Chinese Department of Education">{{Cite web |url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A22/moe_843/201709/t20170921_314942.html |title=教育部 财政部 国家发展改革委 关于公布世界一流大学和一流学科建设高校及建设 学科名单的通知 (Notice from the Ministry of Education and other national governmental departments announcing the list of double first class universities and disciplines)}}</ref>

== History ==
Beijing Normal University (BNU) traces its origins to 1902, when the Department of Education of Imperial University of Peking ({{Lang|zh|京师大学堂师范馆}}) was established under the decree of the [[List of emperors of the Qing dynasty|Qing Dynasty Emperor]]. As the first institution in Chinese history dedicated primarily to teacher training and educational specialization, it laid the foundation for modern higher education in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BNU History-Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/about/bnuhistory/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> In 1908, the school became independent and was renamed the Supreme Education School of Peking ({{Lang|zh|京师优级师范学堂}}).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学 |url=https://www.bnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xsyg/index.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=www.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref>

By 1923, the institution had evolved into the National Beijing Normal University ({{Lang|zh|国立北京师范大学校}}),<ref name=":0" /> marking the first use of the "[[Normal University]]" designation in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BNU History-Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/about/bnuhistory/index.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> A significant expansion occurred in 1931 when the Peking Women's Normal University ({{Lang|zh|北平女子师范大学}}) merged with the university, then known as Peking Normal University ({{Lang|zh|北平师范大学}}).<ref name=":0" /> Following the [[establishment of the People's Republic of China]] in 1949, the institution was renamed Beijing Normal University.<ref name=":0" />

The university underwent further consolidation in 1952 when [[Fu Jen Catholic University]] was merged into BNU as part of a nationwide reorganization of higher education.<ref name=":0" /> Seven years later, in 1959, the Chinese Ministry of Education designated BNU as one of China's 20 [[National Key Universities]], affirming its leading role in academia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-25 |title=建国以来重要文献选编第十二册 |url=http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64184/64186/66666/4493334.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130424150923/http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64184/64186/66666/4493334.html |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date= |website=}}</ref>

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, BNU strengthened its position through participation in major national initiatives. It was included in [[Project 211]] (1996), a program aimed at enhancing around 100 universities for 21st-century development, and later in [[Project 985]] (2002), which sought to elevate a select group of institutions to global prominence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学是985还是211大学？_大学生必备网 |url=https://www.dxsbb.com/news/30049.html |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=www.dxsbb.com}}</ref> The university gained international recognition in 2009 when ''[[The New York Times]]'' described it as "one of the most progressive institutions" in China.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wines |first=Michael |date=2 November 2009 |title=China Dismisses Minister of Education |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/world/asia/03china.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

BNU's academic standing was further solidified in 2017 when it was listed among China's [[Double First-Class Construction]] universities (comprising 36 institutions), with 11 of its disciplines ranking among the nation's best.<ref>{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学及12个学科入选第二轮"双一流"建设名单-北京师范大学新闻网 |url=https://news.bnu.edu.cn/zx/ttgz/126543.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=news.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> That same year, BNU expanded its footprint by partnering with the [[Guangdong Provincial Government]] and Zhuhai Municipal Government to establish a new campus in [[Zhuhai]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=sina_mobile |date=2017-08-30 |title=北师珠变成广东第三所985？真相来了！ |url=https://news.sina.cn/2017-08-30/detail-ifykpzey3081876.d.html?from=wap |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=news.sina.cn}}</ref> The BNU Zhuhai Campus received official approval from the [[Ministry of Education (China)|Ministry of Education]] in April 2019, marking a new phase in the university's development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About-北京师范大学珠海校区英文网 {{!}} Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai |url=https://english.bnuzh.edu.cn/About/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=english.bnuzh.edu.cn}}</ref>[[Image:BNUbell.jpg|360x360px|thumb|The Mu Duo Gilded Bell]][[Image:BNUcampus.jpg|272x272px|thumb|right|Beijing Campus View]]
[[File:Lize building BNUZ.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Zhuhai Campus View]]
== Academics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! State Key Laboratories at Beijing Normal University
|-
| State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-06 |title=National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning |url=http://brain.bnu.edu.cn/en/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706224857/http://brain.bnu.edu.cn/en/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology (Beijing Normal University) |url=https://espre.bnu.edu.cn/english/ |access-date=19 April 2022}}</ref>
|}

=== International collaboration ===
Beijing Normal University is part of a university consortium, including the [[University for Continuing Education Krems]], [[Eötvös Loránd University]], [[Hochschule Osnabrück|Hochschule Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences]], [[Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology]] and the [[University of Tampere]], which offers an [[Erasmus+]] joint master's degree and a Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Marihe - Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education |url=http://www.marihe.eu/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=www.marihe.eu}}</ref>

Beijing Normal University was among the first Chinese institutions to accept international students. It is particularly popular for its [[Mandarin Chinese]] study programs. Among its most prestigious programs is ''Princeton in Beijing'', a collaboration with [[Princeton University]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRINCETON in BEIJING - |url=http://www.princeton.edu/pib/ |website=www.princeton.edu}}</ref>

The university collaborates with the [[Singapore University of Social Sciences]] (SUSS) on SUSS's Master of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collaborations with Overseas Universities|url=http://www.suss.edu.sg/Partnership/UProgrammes/Pages/Overview.aspx|newspaper=SUSS|date=29 May 2018|access-date=29 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529202950/http://www.suss.edu.sg/Partnership/UProgrammes/Pages/Overview.aspx|archive-date=29 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Beijing Normal University is the seat of the [[BRICS Universities League]] Secretariat with BNU as a leading university in terms of [[BRICS]] higher education and academic cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-05 |title=University League helps push talent into the world |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/kindle/2017-09/05/content_31588133.htm |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>

=== Rankings and reputation ===
{{Infobox Chinese university ranking
| BCUR_N = 19
| WS_N = 29
| CUAA_N = =14
| QS_N = 10
| THE_N = 10
| LINE_1 = 0
| QS_A = 61
| THE_A = 26
| LINE_2 = 0
| ARWU_W = 101–150
| QS_W = =247
| THE_W = =134
| USNWR_W = =173
}}[[Image:BNUgym.jpg|266x266px|thumb|right|Gymnasium and Recreation Complex]]As of 2025, BNU was ranked first in China, 2nd in the Asia-Pacific, and 7th in the world by the [[QS World University Rankings|''QS World University Rankings by Subjects'']] for "Education and Training",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=QS World University Rankings for Education & Training 2025 |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/education-training |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> which are historical strengths for the Faculty of Education that originated as a "[[normal university]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-11 |title=Faculty of Education_Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/schoolsdepartments/byx/113268.htm |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref>

BNU is ranked 36th among the Global Top 100 Innovative Universities according to the World's Universities with Real Impacts (WURI) Ranking 2021.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Global Top 100 Innovative Universities - WURI |url=https://www.wuri.world/global-top-100-innovative-2021 |access-date=2021-10-15 |website=WURI |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of 2025, Beijing Normal University is featured in the top 200 global universities as ranked by the [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]], the [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]], and the [[U.S. News & World Report]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Best Global Universities Rankings: Beijing Normal University |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/beijing-normal-university-506588 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=U.S. News & World Report |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-04 |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/CHN/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/scores |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Beijing Normal graduates are highly desired in China and worldwide; in 2017, its graduate employability rankings were placed in the global top 200+ universities with high-achieving graduates.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Beijing Normal University |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/universities/beijing-normal-university |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101212831/http://www.topuniversities.com/universities/beijing-normal-university |archive-date=2017-01-01 |access-date= |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> 

Internationally, Beijing Normal University was regarded as one of the most reputable Chinese universities by the ''[[Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings]]'', where it has ranked #126 globally.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-25 |title=World Reputation Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/reputation-ranking |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]: 101-150th<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2025 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref>
* [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]: 134th worldwide, 26th in Asia and 10th in China<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=Asia University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025/regional-ranking#!/length/50/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/scores |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World University Rankings 2026 |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref>
* [[U.S. News & World Report]]: #173 globally<ref name=":1" />

==Campus==
The main campus is in the [[Haidian District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/|title=Home|publisher=Beijing Normal University|access-date=2020-08-17|quote=No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R.China}}</ref> with other Beijing campuses in the [[Changping District]] and [[Xicheng District]] as well as a campus in [[Zhuhai]], [[Guangdong]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/lifeatbnu/mapscampuses/campuses/index.htm|title=Campuses|publisher=Beijing Normal University|access-date=2020-08-17}}</ref>

The original campus was near [[Hepingmen]] and [[Liulichang]] in the center of Beijing during the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] period. After Fu Jen University merged with BNU the Fu Jen campus in [[Shichahai]] became the Northern Campus of BNU.

Beijing Normal University's current campus was built in 1954. It is located in central northwest Beijing in Haidian district between the second and third ring roads. It is the closest of all Haidian universities to [[Tiananmen Square]].

Its campus hosted the [[U.S. Olympic Team]] during the [[2008 Beijing Olympics]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEMKewSp6eo|title=US Olympians Train at Beijing Normal University|date=21 August 2008|work=YouTube|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/33/98/article214019833.shtml |title=U.S. Athletes to train for Olympic Games at Beijing Normal University |access-date=2010-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429112959/http://en.beijing2008.cn/33/98/article214019833.shtml |archive-date=2009-04-29 }}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
<!-- Only for persons with their own article on ENWP -->
*[[Mo Yan]], writer, 2012 [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] laureate
*[[Liu Xiaobo]], writer and dissident, 2010 [[Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate
*[[Su Tong]], novelist
*[[Bi Shumin]], writer
*[[Cao Shui]], poet, novelist and screenwriter
*[[Xie Jun]], chess grandmaster
*[[Zhu Jin (astronomer)|Zhu Jin]], astronomer
*[[Lang Ping]], gold medalist in [[1984 Summer Olympics]] women's volleyball, and former head coach of the U.S. women's national volleyball team
*[[Chen Yibing]], gymnast, [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics]] gold medalist
*[[Xu Jialu]], professor of Chinese, politician, and former vice chairman of the [[National People's Congress]]
*[[Yuan Guiren]], professor of philosophy, and the former [[Minister of Education]] of the People's Republic of China
*[[Chen Zongxing]], a Chinese male politician, who served as the vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
*[[Liu Bin (politician, born 1937)|Liu Bin]], a Chinese official who previously served as the National Chief Educational Inspector
*[[Yu Dan (academic)|Yu Dan]], professor well known for her popular and controversial lectures about the [[Analects]] broadcast on [[China Central Television]]
*[[Wang Dezhao]] or Ouang Te Tchao, prominent Chinese physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, student of French physicist Paul Langevin and founder of [[underwater acoustics]] in China, Officier of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
*[[Xiaodong Wang (biochemist)|Wang Xiaodong]], elected member of the [[United States National Academy of Sciences]], former biochemist at the [[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]], and currently Director and Investigator at the [[National Institute of Biological Sciences]], Beijing (NIBS, Beijing)
*[[Liang Jun (activist)|Liang Jun]], teacher and women's rights activist
*[[Li Peng (physiologist)|Li Peng]], a Chinese physiologist who is a professor at [[Tsinghua University]], and currently president of [[Zhengzhou University]].
*[[Chang Kai]], a Chinese physicist currently serving as research fellow at the Institute of Semiconductors, [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] (CAS).
*[[Ayouduo]], Chinese singer 
*[[Timothy Geithner]], 75th [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]]. He attended as a language student studying [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] in 1982 as an undergraduate at [[Dartmouth College]].<ref name="Cross">{{cite web|last=Cross|first=Ester|title=Folt celebrates Beijing Normal University partnership|url=http://thedartmouth.com/2012/09/27/news/folt|publisher=The Dartmouth|access-date=January 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109004711/http://thedartmouth.com/2012/09/27/news/folt|archive-date=November 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Kirsten Gillibrand]], United States Senator from New York. She attended as an undergraduate in [[Dartmouth College]]'s FSP program.<ref name="Cross"/>
*[[Connie Britton]], actress. She also attended as a language student in [[Dartmouth College]]'s FSP program and was the roommate of [[Kirsten Gillibrand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thedartmouth.com/2012/10/11/arts/britton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013163116/http://thedartmouth.com/2012/10/11/arts/britton |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |title='Nashville' star Connie Britton '89 sits down to discuss her new show |date=October 11, 2012 |first=Sydney |last=Ayers |access-date=2012-10-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2013/10/connie-britton-on-roomie-kirsten-gillibrand-174530 |title=Connie Britton on roomie Kirsten Gillibrand |date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |first=McDevitt |last=Caitlin |publisher=Politico}}</ref>

== Affiliated high schools ==

*[[Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University]]
*[[The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University]]
*[[The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University]]

== See also ==
*[[List of universities in China]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://english.bnu.edu.cn/ BNU Official Site] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080205204937/http://bbs.mdjs.org/ MDJS BBS @BNU ({{in lang|zh}}, telnet, ssh)]
*[http://www.oiegg.com/ BNU Student Forum {{in lang|zh}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005083140/http://www.oiegg.com/ |date=2007-10-05 }}

{{coord|39|57|26|N|116|21|45|E|display=title|region:CN-11_type:edu_source:dewiki}}

{{Beijing Normal University}}
{{Haidian District}}
{{Changping District}}
{{Xicheng District}}
{{The first batch of 16 national key universities of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Project 211}}
{{Project 985}}
{{BRICS Universities League}}
{{Universities and colleges in Beijing}}
{{Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance}}
{{Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance}}
{{Associations of independent college admissions of Chinese universities}}
{{Zhuhai Topics}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Beijing Normal University| ]]
[[Category:Teachers colleges in China]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Beijing]]<!--For Changping and Xicheng Campuses-->
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Haidian District]]<!--Haidian Campus-->
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Guangdong]]<!--Zhuhai-->
[[Category:Project 211]]
[[Category:Project 985]]
[[Category:Plan 111]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1902]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in China]]
[[Category:Zhuhai]]
[[Category:Vice-ministerial universities in China]]
[[Category:1902 in Beijing]]