In a landmark development for international academic relations, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has announced the official launch of its Kurdish Language and Literature program, scheduled to begin in September 2026. This initiative marks the first time the Kurdish language will be taught on a formal academic basis in the People’s Republic of China.

The program, which received official accreditation from the Chinese Ministry of Education following years of preparation, is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Kurdish linguistics. According to Dr. Barzan Jaafar, a specialist in the Chinese language and lecturer at Salahaddin University in Erbil, the curriculum will focus on the Sorani dialect for the first three years of study, with the Kurmanji dialect introduced in the fourth year.

The university plans to admit between 10 and 20 students annually. Due to the strategic nature of the program, the first cohort will begin their studies via an online system, establishing a new academic bridge between Beijing and the Kurdistan Region.

This development is part of a reciprocal academic exchange. While BFSU establishes its Kurdish department, Salahaddin University in Erbil continues to expand its Chinese Language Department, which currently enrolls over 100 students. Additionally, a Chinese language examination center has been operational in Erbil since 2022, facilitating cultural and educational immersion programs for Kurdish students in China.

This initiative is regarded as a significant diplomatic and cultural signal. By institutionalizing Kurdish studies, China is recognizing the Kurdistan Region as a distinct and rich cultural and linguistic entity. The ultimate goal of the program is to cultivate a new generation of Chinese specialists capable of strengthening commercial, diplomatic, and cultural ties between China and the Kurdish-speaking regions in the future.