It is a public research university located in Beijing with strong emphasis on basic disciplines of humanities and sciences. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China.

A normal school referred to an institution that aimed to train school teachers in early twentieth century, and this terminology is preserved in the official names of such institutions in China. So far the university has altogether 55 undergraduate degree programs, 162 master programs, and 100 doctoral programs. Sixteen of them are honored as national key disciplines.