The predecessor of BFSU was the Russian Brigade of the Third Branch of the Military and Political University for Resistance Against Japan, established in 1941, which later evolved into Yan’an Foreign Languages School. As the first foreign language institution founded by the Communist Party of China, it carries a distinct revolutionary heritage and profound patriotic spirit. The university has long upheld a tradition of excellence in ideological and political education, as well as Marxist theoretical education. As early as the Yan’an period, the curriculum included both political studies and foreign languages. In 1951, the university established the Marxism-Leninism Teaching and Research Office. This unit underwent several transitions, including periods as the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Philosophy and Social Sciences, before being officially renamed the School of Marxism in June 2014.

The School has consistently prioritized developing distinctive strengths in disciplinary development and theoretical research, establishing Marxist Theory as a key discipline. In 2018, the university was authorized to offer a master’s degree program in the first-level discipline of Marxist Theory, with primary research directions including Fundamental Principles of Marxism, Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, and Ideological and Political Education. This was followed by the 2016 designation as the Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for Research on the Global Influence of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,in 2018, it was approved as a research base of Beijing Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,and later the 2020 accreditation as a Beijing Municipal Key Institute of Marxism Development. Anchored in BFSU’s historical legacy and grounded in advancing the revolutionary heritage, Marxist studies, and research on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the School distinguishes itself through comparative studies integrating historical and contemporary perspectives, theoretical and practical approaches, and Chinese and global viewpoints. This integrated framework has solidified its distinctive academic advantages and enabled it to fulfill its institutional mission.

The School consistently prioritizes faculty development as the cornerstone of its growth strategy, emphasizing internal cultivation, comprehensive enhancement, and selective recruitment of outstanding talents to forge a synergistic academic team. Currently, the School maintains a dynamic cohort of Middle-aged and young teachers with an average age below 45, all graduates from prestigious Chinese universities specializing in Marxist Theory or related disciplines. Faculty members have earned national and municipal honors including National Outstanding Teacher; Four Batches of Leading Talents Program (Beijing Municipal) in Beijing's Propaganda and Culture System; Annual Most Influential Teacher in Ideological and Political Education; Distinguished Professor and Teacher of Ideological and Political Theory among Beijing Universities; Beijing People's Teacher Nominee Award; Model Worker in Moral Education; and Beijing Teaching Ethics Pioneer.

Dedicated to educating students with both knowledge and moral integrity, the School integrates pedagogical inquiry with scholarly research, translating academic findings directly into classroom instruction. This approach has generated a virtuous cycle between teaching and research, significantly elevating the quality of ideological and political courses while yielding substantial scholarly outcomes. Over the past five years, the faculty have published over 220 articles in leading publications including the "Three Newspapers and One Journal" (People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Economic Daily, and Qiushi Journal), Social Sciences in China, Studies on Marxism, Beijing Daily, and Qianxian; secured 23 national and provincial-level research projects; and established a solid foundation for developing the School into a  highland for Marxism Theory education, research, dissemination, and talent cultivation in the capital.