Beijing Forestry University (BFU) has a history that dates back to 1902 when the Forestry Section of the Agriculture Department of the Imperial University of Peking was established. In 1952, a nationwide effort to restructure higher education meant that the Forestry Department merged with Hebei Agricultural Institute to form the Beijing Forestry College. In 1960 the college gained university status and was renamed in 1985 as Beijing Forestry University. BFU is one of China’s Project 211 universities.
The university is located in the Haidian District of Beijing, China. Haidian is the second-largest district in urban Beijing and is home to over two million people. It is also home to a large majority of the city’s universities and therefore many of its inhabitants are students.
The university is organised academically into 14 schools and colleges. There is also a Graduate School, a School of Continuing Education and a School of International Studies. The university offers 57 undergraduate courses, 116 masters programs, 39 PhD schemes and five post-doctoral research stations. Although it specialises in forestry, the university has developed into a multidisciplinary university, allowing students to study a range of disciplines including biology, soil and water conservation, and landscape architecture.
The university has developed partnerships with over 170 higher education institutes in 30 different countries. Through these international relations the university is able to participate in academic, scientific, and technological exchanges.
The university prides itself on its sustainability work and eco-friendly projects. Throughout the academic year the university’s staff and students participate in environmental awareness events such as the Green Long March and the Eco-Civilisation Bimonthly Forum.