I. Program Overview
Anchored in a distinguished tradition, the English major at Beijing Foreign Studies University was among the first in China to be designated a National Key Discipline and to receive authorization to confer the Ph.D. in English Language and Literature; a postdoctoral research station was established in the late 1980s. The program is supported by nationally and municipally recognized teaching teams and first-class major initiatives, a record that has drawn outstanding students and faculty and sustained a reputation for rigorous pedagogy and innovation.
This four-year curriculum combines breadth and depth. Students complete a coherent core—advanced work in language skills alongside gateway introductions to literature, linguistics, contemporary China, Western civilization and classics of thought, intercultural communication, digital humanities, and language intelligence—before moving into structured specialization. Three intellectually distinct pathways—Literatures in English, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, and Social & Cultural Studies—pair required seminars with electives and research-methods training, ensuring sustained engagement with canonical texts, foundational theory, and case-based inquiry.
Pedagogy is sequenced and purposeful. Language development for students runs across all four years, with the first year devoted to intensive, comprehensive training in accuracy, discourse awareness, and communicative competence. From the second year, students enter one of the three tracks while continuing to strengthen language proficiency. Throughout, a content-and-language-integrated approach links disciplinary learning to language growth; all courses are taught in English, and the capstone thesis is written in English.
Graduates are known for robust practical language skills, wide international horizons, analytic acuity, and cross-cultural fluency. They pursue careers across government ministries and foreign missions, multinational enterprises, media and finance, consulting and professional services, state-owned enterprises, and higher education; many also proceed to advanced study. In recent years, roughly a quarter of graduates have matriculated at world-leading universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Columbia, with another quarter recommended for graduate study at BFSU or admitted to top domestic institutions including Peking University and Tsinghua University.
II. Program Objectives
This program aims to cultivate high-level, interdisciplinary, and internationalized talents who are well-rounded in their moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and practical development. Prepared to contribute to China’s global engagement and meet the needs of national and local socio-economic development, graduates will possess a solid command of the English language, strong humanistic literacy, strong cross-cultural competence, a robust interdisciplinary knowledge base, exceptional skills in learning, critical thinking, innovative problem-solving, collaborative teamwork, and leadership, and a profound sense of social responsibility.
Graduates will be distinctively competitive and possess strong potential for sustainable development in a wide range of fields, including foreign-related industries, English education, and academic research. Furthermore, they will be exceptionally well-prepared for advanced studies in disciplines such as English literature, linguistics, translation studies, political science and international relations, economics and finance, sociology, education, law, and journalism and communication.
III. Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students will have acquired the following knowledge, skills and qualities:
(1) Student Attributes
● Intellectual and Moral Foundation: Exhibit a well-formed worldview, a positive outlook on life, and strong values, grounded in high moral character.
● Global and National Consciousness: Possess a deep sense of patriotism integrated with a global perspective, and a strong commitment to social responsibility.
● Collaborative and Innovative Spirit: Demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and innovation, approaching challenges with creativity and a collaborative mindset.
● Disciplinary and Humanistic Literacy: Display fundamental literacy in the discipline of English studies, complemented by a broad understanding of the humanities and sciences.
(2) Foundational Knowledge
● Core Disciplinary Knowledge: Master foundational knowledge of the English language, literature, and culture.
● Global Contextual Knowledge: Understand the history, society, politics, economy, culture, and technology of major English-speaking countries.
● National and Cultural Knowledge: Be familiar with Chinese language and culture, and comprehend the current state of contemporary China and global developments.
● Theoretical and Methodological Foundations: Grasp the basic theories, methods, and academic norms of the English major.
● Interdisciplinary Grounding: Acquire foundational knowledge in related fields across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
● Digital Proficiency: Master relevant technical skills and demonstrate proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for academic and professional purposes.
(3) Core Competencies
● Advanced Language and Communication Skills: Demonstrate high-level English proficiency, strong literary appreciation skills, competence in English-Chinese translation and interpreting, and effective cross-cultural communication.
● Critical and Lifelong Learning Skills: Exhibit strong critical thinking abilities, a capacity for lifelong learning, and proficiency in applying information technology.
● Practical and Research Competencies: Possess innovative and entrepreneurial skills, practical abilities for real-world application, and foundational research capabilities.
● Bilingual and Multilingual Proficiency: Display strong expressive skills in Chinese and a functional level of proficiency in a second foreign language.
● Digital Storytelling and Global Influence: Utilize digital tools and platforms to present Chinese culture and stories, thereby enhancing international understanding. Innovatively combine modern communication methods, such as social media and digital content creation, with traditional culture to effectively communicate China’s voice and increase its global influence.
● Interdisciplinary Synthesis: Deeply integrate knowledge from other relevant fields to become an adaptable, interdisciplinary professional prepared for diverse career paths.
IV. Discipline, Degree, and Length of Study
● Primary Discipline: Foreign Languages and Literatures
● Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts
● Standard Program Length: Four years (Flexible from 3 to 6 years)
● Minor Program: Students may pursue a minor in another discipline concurrently with their major within the designated period of study.
V. Total Credits and Hours
● Total In-Class Hours: 2,432
● Total In-Class Credits: 144
● Practical Training Credits: 12
● Total Program Credits: 156
VI. Honors Degree
To encourage academic excellence, the university offers an Honors Bachelor’s Degree. The requirements are as follows:
(1) Completion of all required professional and honors courses with a strong academic record in non-major courses.
(2) A cumulative GPA ranking in the top 10% of the major for all eight semesters.
(3) Fulfillment of one of the following conditions:
● Winning a second prize or higher at the national or provincial level in one of three major competitions: the China International “Internet+” College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the “Creating Youth” National College Student Entrepreneurship Competition, or the “Challenge Cup” College Student Entrepreneurship Plan Competition.
● Winning a first prize or higher in a national or international academic competition.
● Delivering a keynote speech at a national or international academic conference.
● Publishing at least one academic paper as the first author in a scholarly journal.
● Demonstrating other outstanding achievements (e.g., in innovation, entrepreneurship, or social service).
(4) A clean record with no disciplinary violations or academic misconduct during the period of study.
Students who meet these criteria may be awarded an Honors Bachelor’s Degree upon review and approval by both the university’s degree committees and those of the School of English and International Studies at the time of graduation.
