Beijing Union University is a regular comprehensive higher education institution at municipal administrative level, established in 1985 with approval of Ministry of Education. It was originally from branch colleges of some key universities in Beijing, which came into being in 1978.
　　March 6, 1985, Beijing municipal government decided to establish Beijing Union University (BUU), with twelve colleges under it: Liberal Arts and Science College (former branch of Peking University), Economic Management College (former No.1 branch of
Renmin University of China), Liberal Arts and Law College (former No.2 branch of Renmin University of China), Vocational Technical Teachers’ College (former branch of Beijing Normal University, merged from No.1 and No.2 branches of Beijing Normal University in December 1982), Foreign Language Teachers’ College (former branch of Beijing Foreign Studies University), Tourism College(former branch of Beijing International Studies University), Automation Engineering College (merged from former No.1 and No.2 branches of Tsinghua University), Electronic Engineering College (former branch of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications), Mechanical Engineering College (former No.1 branch of Beijing University of Technology), Light Industry Engineering College (former branch of Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, merged from No.1 and No.2 branches of Beijing Institute of Aeronautics), Textile Engineering College (former branch of Beijing Institute of Technology), Traditional Chinese Medicinal Science and Medicine College(former branch of Beijing Beijing University of Chinese Medicine) .
　　In May 1985, more colleges joined in BUU, including Chemistry Engineering College（former Beijing Chemistry Engineering University）, Electrization Railway College（branch of former Northern Jiaotong University）, Aviation Engineering College（former the third branch college of Beijing Institute of Aeronautics）. These are the fifteen branch colleges of BUU during its early establishment period.
　　September 1986, Light Industry Engineering College BUU changed its name into Construction Material & Light Industry College BUU.
　　December 1989, Electrization Railway College BUU was canceled.
　　June 1990, Economic Management College BUU merged into Beijing University of Technology.
　　June 1990, Aviation Engineering College BUU was laid off from Beijing Union University.
　　March 1993, Foreign Language Teachers’ College BUU merged into Capital Normal University.
　　June 1993, the International Language and Culture College of Haidian Zoudu University became affiliated to BUU, and changed its name into International Language and Cultural College of BUU.
　　March 1994, Department of Archives, Law, and Politics of Liberal Arts and Science College and Law 　　College BUU were merged, and Liberal Arts and Science College eliminated, and Arts and Science College BUU formed.
　　March 1994, Liberal Arts and Law College BUU was renamed into Retraining College BUU.
　　March 1994, Electronic Automation Engineering College BUU established into BUU after merge of Automatization Engineering College and Electronic Engineering College.
　　December 1995, Electronic Automation Engineering College BUU integrated into BUU.
　　January 1996, BUU moved to Road 97 beisihuandong, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
　　December 1997, Construction Material and Light Industry College merged into headquarter university BUU, and became Information College and Applied Technology College, together with Electronic Automation Engineering College.
　　December 1997, Textile Engineering College BUU renamed into Business College BUU.
　　January 2000, Special Education College BUU established.
　　February 2000, Advertisement College BUU set up.
　　December 2000, Mechanical Engineering College BUU merged into headquarter university of BUU.
　　February 2001, Traditional Chinese Medicinal Science and Medicine College BUU merged into Capital University of Medical Sciences.
　　June 2001, Oriental University City Information and Technology College BUU established (it became affiliated to BUU in 2004; later changed its name into Oriental Information & Technology College).
　　April 2002, BUU’s Information College, Applied Technical College, Mechanical Engineering College changed into: Information College, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Automation College, and Management College.
　　July 2002, Chemical Engineering College BUU renamed into Biochemical Engineering College.
　　February 2003, Vocational Technical Teachers’ College BUU changed its name into Teachers’ College BUU.
　　September 2003, Netcom Software Technology College came into being.
　　March 2004, Pinggu College BUU built.
　　April 2005, established International College BUU.

　　At present, Beijing Union University has 17 colleges: Arts and Science College, Teachers’ College, Business College, Biochemical Engineering College, Tourism College, Information College, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Automation College, Management College, Special Education College, Advertisement College, International Language and Culture College, Oriental Information and Technology College, Netcom Software Technology College, Pinggu College, Retraining College, International College.