English Department

The English program of Harbin Institute of Technology was established in 1985 and is among the first engineering-focused universities in China to set up an English major. In 1985, it launched a master’s program for graduate students; by 1988, it began admitting undergraduate students under the program name “Science and Technology English.” In 1992, the program pioneered the implementation of a dual-degree system in English nationwide (with English as the second degree). In 1996, it gained the authority to confer master’s degrees in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, followed by the authorization to award master’s degrees in English Language and Literature in 2005. By 2010, the program had been approved as a master’s program in Foreign Languages and Literature as a level one discipline, as well as a professional master’s program in Translation. In 2012, it started enrolling graduate students pursuing a master’s degree specifically in “Translation Studies.”

In 2008, the program received an “Excellent” rating in the national assessment of English majors. In 2011, it was recognized as a Key Major in Heilongjiang Province and, that same year, earned the title of “Advanced Unit for Undergraduate Teaching” from Harbin Institute of Technology. In 2016, the program ranked first in the province-wide pilot evaluation of English majors in Heilongjiang. By 2019, it had been designated as a National “First-Class Major.”

From 2011 to 2019, the program implemented a specialized track system, admitting undergraduates pursuing either an English-major or an English-minor combined with a major in Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Automation. In 2020, the program joined Harbin Institute of Technology’s cluster of humanities-based experimental majors. And starting in 2023, it began recruiting students seeking a second degree in English.

The English Department currently has 20 faculty members, including 14 English teachers and 6 teachers specializing in German and French. Among the department's faculty, one serves as a member of the Teaching Steering Committee for English Programs at Higher Education Institutions under the Ministry of Education, while another holds the position of Vice President of the Heilongjiang Provincial Foreign Language Association. Additionally, the department boasts one provincial-level Outstanding Teacher and one university-level Teaching Leader; two provincial-level Rising Stars in Teaching and two university-level Rising Stars; three professors, ten associate professors, and 10 supervisors of master’s students. Ten faculty members hold doctoral degrees, and one is a postdoctoral researcher. Notably, all 20 faculty members have studied or pursued advanced studies abroad.

The English Department aims to cultivate individuals who possess a deep sense of Chinese identity, an international perspective, a spirit of innovation, and a strong sense of social responsibility, coupled with profound humanistic literacy. Graduates will demonstrate solid foundational skills in the English language, systematic expertise in English studies, as well as comprehensive knowledge in related humanities and natural sciences. They will also exhibit exceptional proficiency in using English effectively, positioning themselves as versatile, high-caliber English professionals capable of meeting the nation’s needs across fields such as foreign affairs, education, culture, technology, and economics.

The program is committed to substantive, internally-driven development, emphasizing a cross-disciplinary approach to fostering innovative talent. It highlights the unique strength of interdisciplinary learning, leveraging its expertise in cross-cultural communication to enhance students' ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts. To this end, the department offers specialized courses in cross-cultural communication and comparative studies of Chinese and English-speaking cultures, while integrating cutting-edge ideas and concepts from the field of cross-cultural studies into other academic disciplines. This ensures that teaching and research advance in tandem, reinforcing the program’s commitment to both academic excellence and practical application.  

Moreover, the program places great emphasis on nurturing scientific literacy, showcasing the institution’s distinctive focus on science-based English education. The curriculum strikes a balanced blend of general education and specialized training, offering foundational courses in natural sciences like computer science and mathematics to cultivate students’ analytical and logical thinking. At the same time, it features a series of specialized courses—such as advanced reading in technical English and hands-on translation practices—that underscore the university’s unique strengths in preparing English-language professionals for careers in science and technology.

The English Department has established partnerships with the University of Warwick in the UK, Trinity Western University in Canada, and Dordt University in the U.S., sending 10 undergraduate students annually to study abroad through exchange programs. Students can take advantage of the university’s international exchange platform to pursue studies at prestigious institutions such as Columbia University, Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, Stony Brook University, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. They can also participate in summer programs at universities like Aarhus University in Denmark, the University of Birmingham in the UK, and Cardiff University in the UK, as well as engage in exchange opportunities at universities in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Additionally, students can leverage the exchange network of the domestic C9 universities to study at other C9 institutions.

Among English department undergraduates, 20% of students have the opportunity to directly pursue a master’s degree without taking an entrance exam, while approximately 20% go on to earn their master’s degrees at universities both in China and abroad. Domestic institutions for further studies include prestigious universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing University, Fudan University, Tongji University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, and Harbin Institute of Technology. Overseas institutions offering advanced programs include George Washington University in the United States.

Leading international universities such as the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S., the University of Southern California in the U.S., the University of Warwick in the UK, University College London in the UK, the University of Edinburgh in the UK, the University of Glasgow in the UK, the University of New South Wales in Australia, the University of Melbourne in Australia, Western University in Canada, and the National University of Singapore. Among undergraduate graduates who opt for direct employment, the majority find positions at large enterprises, public institutions, and renowned educational and research organizations.

Students from the English Department have achieved outstanding results in academic competitions, earning over 40 provincial-level or higher awards across various contests, including the “FLTRP Cup” National English Speech Competition, the National College English Contest, the 21st Century “Coca-Cola Cup” National English Speech Competition, the China “Good Student” English Competition, and the Excellence League Universities' National English Speech Competition.