Since 1985, when the university began recruiting international students, more than 3,000 foreign students have pursued their studies at its various departments. Presently, there are over 400 students from about 20 countries; among whom there are degree students, non-degree students and short-term Chinese Language students.

   In 2010, the university begun accepting enrollments of both Chinese and international students in the MA Program of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. Today, Xinjiang University is a member of the Central Asia International Council Centre of Chinese Language, and has established two Confucianism Institutes in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Novosibirsk, Russia respectively. Moreover, the university is the host university for the Chinese Government Scholarship students, the Confucianism Institute Scholarship students, and the Silk Road Learning Chinese Scholarship students.