About the Institute
The Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes University was established in September 2015 and began full operations in April 2016. Founded in partnership between Oxford Brookes University and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP)—a major academic publisher affiliated with Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)—it is the only Confucius Institute in the world with a dedicated focus on publishing and the international book trade, reflecting a distinctive model that extends beyond language instruction into the cultural and commercial dimensions of the written word.
Located in Oxford, the Institute draws on the city’s exceptional concentration of academic and publishing expertise to advance Chinese language education, cultural exchange, and Sino-British publishing collaboration. Since its founding, the Institute has enrolled over 7,300 students and operates three teaching sites across Oxfordshire and the surrounding region.
Programmes and Activities
Chinese Language Teaching & Proficiency Tests
The Institute offers 22 course types for university students, school-age learners, and adult members of the public. The curriculum spans beginner through advanced levels of Mandarin, alongside specialist offerings in exam preparation (HSK, HSKK, YCT), Chinese calligraphy, and tutorial support. Teaching sites cover Oxford and Milton Keynes, and enrolment in the 2025 academic year exceeded 1,600 students.
Proficiency examinations (HSK, HSKK, and YCT) are held on a regular schedule. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute was one of a small number of UK test centres to offer hybrid in-person and online examination formats, and continues to attract candidates from multiple countries.
Faculty Development and Academic Research
The Institute provides ongoing professional development for local Chinese language teachers through training workshops, peer observation, and pedagogical seminars. Alongside classroom support, it has developed an academic platform centred on its publishing identity, hosting research exchanges and specialist training in areas where language education and international publishing intersect.
Cultural Programmes
Since its founding, the Institute has delivered over 600 cultural events with a combined attendance of more than 46,000. In 2025 alone, 82 events—including public lectures, cultural workshops, and academic seminars—drew over 5,400 participants. Programming spans Chinese language promotion, cultural heritage, Sino-British literary exchange, and international book culture.
Signature events include:
· Nihao China Spring Language Camp—an annual Chinese New Year immersion programme for young learners
· Chinese New Year Celebrations—public performances and family activities in Oxford
· Discovering Sanxingdui—a series of lectures and exhibitions on ancient Chinese civilization
· China at the Oxford Literary Festival—a dedicated China strand within one of the UK’s most prominent literary festivals
· OxTrail—participation in Oxford’s largest annual community charity event
Signature Initiatives
The Institute’s most distinctive contribution lies in its publishing partnership work, a sustained effort to connect the Chinese and British publishing industries at the professional level.
Since 2017, the Institute has hosted the Oxford China Publishing Summer School, the International Book Editor Training Programme, and the Senior Chinese Publishing Professionals International Exchange Conference, addressing themes including digital publishing, rights management, and international market development. To date, more than 590 publishing professionals from over a hundred institutions—including the Higher Education Press, People’s Education Press, the Commercial Press, and Zhonghua Book Company—have attended residential programmes in the UK, with a further 1,500-plus participants joining via online courses.
Complementary initiatives include the Young Publishers’ Residency under the China Studies Program, the Discover China Future Bridge Publishing Summer Camp, and study visits to China for UK publishing students, incorporating participation in the Beijing International Book Fair and the Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair.
Through these programs, the Institute has established itself as a substantive platform for Sino-British publishing dialogue, supporting Chinese publishing professionals in developing international networks while giving British counterparts direct access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing publishing markets.
Looking Ahead
The Institute will continue to develop its Chinese language curriculum while deepening its specialist focus on publishing and literary exchange. Priorities include expanding digital and multilingual distribution channels for Chinese content, strengthening academic and rights-trading partnerships between the UK and China, and further developing its role as an internationally recognized centre for Sino-British cultural and publishing cooperation.
Contact
Chinese Director: CHEN Xi
UK Director: Angus Phillips
Email: ci@brookes.ac.uk
Website: www.brookes.ac.uk/confucius-institute
Phone: +44 1865 48 4414
Address: Headington Hill Hall, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
