Beijing Foreign Studies University, or BFSU, is one of China's top universities under the direct administration of the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE). It is listed under Project 211 and the Double First-Class Project of China. Guided by its motto "Learn with an open mind; Serve a great cause", BFSU has trained a significant number of professionals with strong language competence who went on to work in and outside China as diplomats, translators/interpreters, educators, entrepreneurs, journalists, lawyers, and bankers, among other occupations.

In the BFSU alumni community, over 500 have worked as ambassadors, and over 3,000 as counselors. BFSU is thus known as "a cradle for diplomats".