[4] In 2009, Michael Wines referred to the university as "one of the most progressive institutions" in a New York Times article.

In 2002, BNU signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Beijing municipal government to become the 10th university participating in Project 985.

Its 2009 demographic data shows that 40% of its enrolled students were from western China, one third were from rural areas and a quarter were from low-income families.

[10] Beijing Normal University was among the first Chinese institutions to accept international students.

[40] The original campus was near Hepingmen and Liulichang in the center of Beijing during the Republic of China period.

It is located in central northwest Beijing in Haidian district between the second and third ring roads.