Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) is one of the most prestigious universities of international studies in China and one of the key institutions of higher learning in Guangdong Province. The university, which has a total area of 2172 mu (1.44 km2), is situated in the city of Guangzhou, a city with a long history and a rich cultural legacy, as well as an economic hub in south China. At present, it has three campuses.
The North Campus lies to the north of the Baiyun Hills, and Dalang Campus is not far away. The South Campus lies in Guangzhou University Town (Mega Centre). With an elegant environment featuring green hills, fresh air, and a limpid creek with small bridges across it, the University is an ideal place for study.
The North Campus
The University came into being in June 1995 by merging the then existing Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Languages and Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Trade. The former was established in 1965, then one of the three institutes of foreign languages under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. The latter was founded in 1980, at the time one of the four institutions of its kind under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.?
The South Campus
Currently the University offers 52 BA-degree courses in 18 faculties and? departments, which fall into seven major disciplines, namely literature, economics, management, law, education, science and engineering. The University has been actively pioneering the flexibility in degree course development in order to meet the needs of rapid social and economic changes.
As early as 1981, the University (then Guangzhou Institute of Foreign Languages) won the qualification to confer Master's degrees and later in 1986 it became an institution eligible to award Doctoral degrees. This made it one of the earliest of its kind entitled to do so after the country resumed the enrolment of postgraduate students.
Of all the degree courses offered to students, five are named key disciplines at the provincial level and one at the national level, while eight are named provincial noted specialties. GDUFS has two state-designated research centers, one for research in humanities and social sciences and the other for training students of minor languages. In addition, the university has a province-designated research center for the study of foreign literatures and cultures.
Our students come from over 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the country. Only the best candidates have a chance to be admitted to the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Graduates from GDUFS are expected to be able to take part in international competition with their academic attainment and expertise.
They will be advanced specialists in their respective fields on the one hand, and skilled in general qualities on the other hand, good at using the foreign languages they have learned and able to apply information technology. As what students learn at GDUFS is in high demand, our graduates enjoy a higher employment rate than graduates from most other universities.
At present GDUFS has a staff of 1011, in which full/associate professors amount to 41.8%. In addition, we employ 73 experts/lecturers from other countries. Altogether over 20,000 students are studying at the university, of whom about 19,489 are undergraduates and postgraduates, the others being self-taught learners receiving training in preparation for exams, foreign students learning Chinese, and trainees of other categories.
As the name suggests, GDUFS attaches great importance to, and actively conducts, academic and cultural exchanges with overseas institutions. Such exchanges and collaborations are on the increase and cover more and more fields.
We have so far established links with over 115 universities, academic institutions and cultural organizations in other countries and regions. They include the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Chile, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Province.