Beijing Foreign Studies University Adds Punjabi as 102nd Language: Indian Professor's Appointment and Course Details

Updated: September 22, 2026 | Original development: March 2026

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in China has added Punjabi to its foreign-language offerings and invited Indian academic Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa to teach the language and support the development of Punjabi studies. The addition brings the institution's reported language offerings to 102.

The development was reported in March 2026, with Professor Bajwa invited to serve as a foreign expert in Punjabi language and South Asian studies for the 2026–27 academic session. The initiative includes language instruction, teaching about Punjab's history and culture, preparation of learning materials and training Chinese teachers.

For students interested in international language education, the announcement illustrates how a university can build a language program beyond basic vocabulary and grammar. The reported academic activities also involve cultural studies, research supervision and faculty development.

The initiative should not, however, be confused with the announcement of a new degree open to international applicants. Public reporting confirms the inclusion of Punjabi and the academic appointment, but it does not establish a separate Punjabi bachelor's degree, admission portal, tuition fee or scholarship scheme.

BFSU Punjabi Course: Key Highlights

Which University Has Introduced Punjabi in China?

The institution is Beijing Foreign Studies University, commonly abbreviated BFSU. It specializes in foreign-language education and international studies.

The name matters because Beijing contains several universities with different academic programs. Readers should not confuse BFSU with Peking University, Beijing Language and Culture University or Beijing Normal University.

Punjabi has been added to BFSU's language offerings alongside existing Indian-language instruction. Before the addition, the university was reported to teach 101 languages, including Hindi, Tamil and Urdu.

With Punjabi included, the reported total reached 102.

When Was Punjabi Added?

The development was reported in March 2026. Professor Bajwa's appointment was also reported at that time.

A later article published in September revisited the development, but the available evidence does not support describing September 22 as the original launch date.

For accurate education-news coverage, the event date and article-update date must remain separate. Students searching for the latest information should be able to distinguish a new admission announcement from an update about an earlier academic initiative.

Who Is Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa?

Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa is an Indian academic associated with the Central University of Punjab in Bathinda.

She has served as a professor in the Department of Punjabi and as dean of the university's School of Languages, Literature and Culture.

BFSU invited her to serve as a foreign expert in Punjabi language and South Asian studies for the 2026–27 academic session.

Her reported responsibilities extend beyond classroom instruction. They include developing teaching materials, supervising graduate students working in relevant language programs and helping train Chinese faculty members to teach Punjabi.

What Will Professor Bajwa Teach?

The reported academic assignment includes Punjabi language, the history of Punjab and aspects of Punjabi culture.

These areas are related but distinct. Language instruction develops the ability to read, write, understand and communicate. Historical and cultural instruction provides the context necessary to interpret literature, social practices and regional developments.

Combining these subjects can help learners understand Punjabi as a living language rather than a collection of isolated words.

Reported Academic Activities

The table summarizes reported responsibilities and their educational purposes. It is not an official semester-wise syllabus.

Why Is Punjabi Being Taught at BFSU?

Foreign-language universities offer languages to support communication, translation, research and international understanding.

Punjabi is used by communities in India, Pakistan and the global diaspora. Academic study of the language can support research into literature, history, migration and cultural exchange.

For a university with established foreign-language and regional-studies programs, Punjabi can complement existing South Asian language offerings.

The initiative may also help researchers work with Punjabi-language materials that are not readily accessible through translations.

Is Punjabi the First Indian Language at BFSU?

No. The university already offered Indian languages, including Hindi and Tamil, and also taught Urdu before Punjabi was added.

The significance of the development is the expansion of the university's language portfolio, not the introduction of Indian-language education for the first time.

Punjabi and Other South Asian Languages at BFSU

This is a selection of relevant languages, not a complete list of BFSU's 102 offerings.

What Is the Punjabi Language?

Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language with a substantial literary tradition and a wide international community of speakers.

It is written using different scripts in different contexts. Gurmukhi is widely used for Punjabi in India, while Shahmukhi is commonly used in Pakistan.

Students studying Punjabi may therefore encounter questions about script, pronunciation, vocabulary, literature and regional variation.

The reporting about BFSU identifies Gurmukhi among the areas covered by the new instruction. It does not establish that every script or regional variety will be taught in every course.

What Is Gurmukhi?

Gurmukhi is a script used to write Punjabi, particularly in India.

Learning a script is different from learning a spoken language. A student may recognize spoken words without being able to read them, or learn to read basic text before developing fluent conversation skills.

A structured language course typically needs to address both literacy and comprehension, although the exact balance depends on the curriculum.

Will Students Learn Punjabi Literature?

The reported initiative includes language, history and cultural instruction. Literature and folklore are also identified in accounts of the curriculum.

Studying literature can introduce learners to different periods, genres and social contexts. However, no complete reading list or prescribed set of authors was verified for this article.

Applicants should consult the university's course documentation if they need specific information about texts, assessment or credits.

Who Is the Program Intended For?

Reporting identifies Chinese students, foreign-service personnel and researchers among the audiences for BFSU's foreign-language education.

Professor Bajwa's responsibilities also include supporting graduate students working in South Asian language programs.

This does not establish that the same course is open to all audiences under identical admission rules. Eligibility for a university course, professional training program or research supervision may differ.

Can Indian Students Apply for the Punjabi Course?

The reports reviewed do not establish a dedicated international admission route for the new Punjabi offering.

Indian students interested in studying at BFSU should check the university's current international admission catalog, program eligibility, language requirements and available places.

They should not assume that a newly introduced language automatically creates a separate degree or scholarship opportunity.

What Are the Course Fees?

A specific tuition fee for the Punjabi offering was not confirmed in the reporting reviewed.

Fees may depend on whether instruction is delivered as a degree component, elective, short course or another academic arrangement.

Publishing a generic BFSU tuition figure as the fee for this particular offering would be misleading.

Is There a Punjabi Scholarship at BFSU?

No scholarship specifically attached to the Punjabi initiative was verified for this article.

Students should distinguish university-wide scholarship opportunities from funding dedicated to a particular program. The existence of one does not establish eligibility for the other.

Why Is Chinese Faculty Training Important?

One of Professor Bajwa's reported responsibilities is to train Chinese teachers in Punjabi instruction.

Faculty development can help a university sustain a language offering beyond the tenure of a visiting academic. Local instructors may eventually be able to teach introductory courses, develop learning materials and support students between visiting appointments.

The extent of future staffing, however, depends on the institution's decisions. No permanent staffing plan or number of future Punjabi faculty members was confirmed.

What Does Graduate Supervision Involve?

Graduate supervision generally supports students conducting advanced academic work, including the development of research questions, methods and written outputs.

In this initiative, Professor Bajwa is expected to supervise students in relevant South Asian language programs.

That does not establish the creation of a separate Punjabi master's or doctoral degree. Students seeking research admission must verify the available program and supervisor arrangements.

What Does the Initiative Mean for Punjabi Studies?

The addition provides another institutional setting for Punjabi-language instruction outside South Asia.

It may create opportunities for learners and researchers to engage with Punjabi texts and cultural materials, while teacher training could support the continuation of instruction.

Those are potential educational implications. They should not be presented as evidence of confirmed enrollment growth, new diplomatic agreements or future employment outcomes.

What Does It Mean for India-China Academic Exchange?

The appointment involves an Indian academic taking up teaching and research responsibilities at a Chinese university.

It represents an institutional academic connection involving language education. The reports do not establish a broader government agreement, a student-exchange quota or a new bilateral scholarship program arising from the appointment.

What Should Prospective Students Verify?

1. Whether Punjabi is offered as a standalone course or part of another program.
2. Which students are eligible to enroll.
3. The teaching language and script covered.
4. The academic calendar and course duration.
5. Whether the course carries academic credits.
6. The assessment method.
7. Any tuition or additional fees.
8. Whether international applicants are eligible.
9. The current instructor and departmental contact arrangements.
10. Whether any scholarship specifically covers the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Chinese university added Punjabi?

Beijing Foreign Studies University.

2. When was the development first reported?

March 2026.

3. How many languages does BFSU offer after the addition?

The reported total is 102.

4. Who was appointed to teach Punjabi?

Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa.

5. Which Indian university is she associated with?

The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.

6. What is her academic assignment?

She was invited as a foreign expert in Punjabi language and South Asian studies for 2026–27.

7. Will the initiative cover Punjabi history?

Yes. History and cultural instruction are among the reported responsibilities.

8. Will Chinese teachers receive training?

Yes. Teacher training is part of Professor Bajwa's reported assignment.

9. Is a separate Punjabi degree confirmed?

No separate degree announcement was verified.

10. Are tuition fees and scholarships announced?

No program-specific tuition or scholarship details were confirmed in the reports reviewed.

Latest Update

Beijing Foreign Studies University added Punjabi to its language offerings in March 2026, bringing the reported total to 102. Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa was invited to teach the language and support South Asian studies during the 2026–27 academic session. Students seeking admission should verify the current course structure and eligibility directly through the university's academic information.