Founded in 1993, the School of International Education and Exchange of Shanxi University was formerly known as the International Exchange Center of Shanxi University, which was the window for the internationalization of education for Shanxi University.

The school is one of the foundations of Chinese education, determined by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and the organization receives overseas students who have won the Confucius Institute Scholarship, and it will also enroll those overseas students winning the Chinese Government Scholarship.

The school is mainly responsible for the enrollment and management of overseas students (including self-financed students, exchange students, students winning the Confucius Institute Scholarship and the Chinese Government Scholarship), Chinese training as well as international cooperative education and research. The school aims to publicize Shanxi University, promote globalization of education, carry out international exchanges, and become in close ties with and an active bridge to communicate with overseas Chinese.

The School of International Education and Exchange has opened short- & long-term Chinese courses and Chinese culture courses for foreign students, which not only provides opportunities for them to learn Chinese languages and cultures, but also builds connections for them to major in all levels and it helps overseas Chinese descendants inherit Chinese languages and cultures.

Enrolling overseas students since 1981, Shanxi University has cultivated more than 1,000 students from more than 50 countries as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan of China. Some of the students learn Chinese and some prepare for their Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorial degrees. Most of the graduate students are now working for embassies of other countries in China, diplomatic agencies, associations, or worldwide joint ventures within China, which contributes to friendly cooperation between China and other countries and regions.