The Graduate School of Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University (GSE, BFSU) was established in 2015. In line with BFSU’s strategic development plan to become a world-class, internationally-oriented university distinguished by its comprehensive approach to foreign language education, the school reorganized the original Graduate School of Education into the School of International Education in April 2018, which was officially inaugurated on May 25, 2018. As educational disciplines entered a period of rapid development, the school restored its name to the Graduate School of Education in May 2025.

The establishment of GSE responds to the practical needs of China’s education reform and development, aligns with global trends in educational reform, and embodies BFSU’s deep commitment to education and comprehensive educational vision. From its inception, BFSU has clearly positioned the School’s academic mission: to develop educational disciplines with distinctive BFSU characteristics, focusing on educational research from a global perspective. BFSU’s “Double First-Class Initiative” formally designates the discipline of Education as a priority area for accelerated development. Building on BFSU’s strengths in linguistics, diverse language programs, and area studies, GSE is committed to examining Chinese education within a global context, conducting comprehensive research on educational practices and models across different countries and regions to inform China’s educational reform and talent development initiatives. Upholding BFSU’s established traditions and distinctive approach to talent development, the School strengthens cross-cultural education and multicultural engagement, systematically developing distinctive features in international talent cultivation.

GSE focuses on excellence in teaching and research while actively engaging in community outreach, cultural initiatives, and international partnerships. The School takes an interdisciplinary approach to education research, with particular emphasis on multicultural and cross-cultural educational exchanges. Core research areas include comparative education, higher education, educational policy and law, and curriculum and pedagogy. The School has established strong programs in comparative education and higher education research, while expanding its work in vocational education and international education. Committed to supporting educational development in China and advancing international education research and practice, the School aims to contribute to scholarship and policy development as both a teaching and research institution and an educational think tank.

Currently, GSE offers doctoral and master’s degree programs in Education as a first-level discipline, supported by various research platforms including international exchange programs, a Ministry of Education Philosophy and Social Sciences Laboratory, and university-level research centers. Building on this disciplinary foundation, the School focuses on its core strengths while developing an integrated approach that combines international horizon with local expertise. Through this work, the School seeks to advance educational studies and strengthen BFSU’s position in the field of global education research and practice.