Founded in 1962, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) was originally named the Higher Preparatory School for Foreign Students. In June 1964, it was renamed Beijing Language Institute. In the same year, 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 to Chinese students, of training teachers specializing in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and of offering language training to candidates with an intention to go abroad.

For nearly 40 years after it was founded, the university has trained some 50,000 foreign students who are proficient in Chinese and who are familiar with the Chinese culture, from over 160 countries and regions in the world. Nowadays, more than 6,000 international students and over 2,000 Chinese students come and study in the university each year.

With the largest scope and the longest history of its kind in the area of teaching the Chinese language and culture to foreigners, BLCU boasts an array of qualified teachers. Of its over 700 teachers and specialists, there are about 300 professors and associate professors. The university also invites a number of famous Chinese and foreign scholars as adjunct professors. Since the practice of the policy of reform and opening up, BLCU has made conscientious efforts to optimize its disciplines, updating its specialties creating new fields and developing former interdisciplinary subjects. To this end a new discipline system has been set up, which is rational in structure and substantial in content.

The university now has the College of the Chinese Language, the College of Foreign Languages and the Predeparture Training Center, the College for Teachers of Chinese, the College of Intensive Chinese Training, the Continuing Education College, the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Computer Science and Technology and other teaching departments. Now the curriculums in this university cover a wide range of subjects from short-term, speeded-up programs and continued education to undergraduate courses, degree courses for the bachelor, master and doctor -- a syllabus characterized by a multi-level, multi-discipline education. The standards of education of BLCU enjoy widespread recognition and favorable comments both at home and abroad. Apart from teaching departments, there are accessorial departments such as the Center for Studies of Chinese as Second Language, the Language Research Institute, the Language Data Processing Institute, the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) Center, University Press and Library.

Along with the unfolding of China's policy of opening up, BLCU is also increasing its cultural exchanges with numerous foreign countries. It has established joint teaching centers in Beijing, Tianjin and Shandong Province, and has set up overseas representative offices in South Korea, Japan and Singapore. All these activities add to the accumulation of  experience in extending education at home and abroad.