BLCU aims for 16,000 intl students by 2030

Beijing Language and Culture University plans to expand its international student population to 16,000 by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), with degree-seeking students expected to reach 8,000, according to university president Duan Peng.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Duan said BLCU currently hosts 12,000 international students for the 2025 academic year — a 3.5-fold increase from 2023. Among them, 4,300 are undergraduate, master's or doctoral candidates, marking a fivefold rise in degree-seeking students over the same period. The university now ranks first in China for both total international enrollments and degree-pursuing international students.

"Our historical peak was in 2009, with about 8,000 to 9,000 international students. Today we have surpassed that," Duan said."Back then, degree students numbered around 1,500; now we have over 4,300 — more than double."