Based upon the Tibetan Language & Literature Research Office which was established in September 1951, College for Tibetan Studies (CTS) at the Minzu University of China (MUC) was set up in September 2000.

As a basic major of MUC, Tibetan literature is also one of the traditional subjects at the MUC. After the MUC established in June, 1951, a Tibetan language literature research office was founded by Yu Daoquan, a famous Tibetologist as well as the founder of Tibetan studies of China in September 1951 with an aim of meeting the need of people in Tibet and Tibetan-inhabited areas for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. Since 1952, the Tibetan Language & Literature Research Office was included into the Minority Language & Literature Department and it was in 1981, the first Tibetan studies research institute was set up in MUC. In June 1986, the Minority Language & Literature Department was divided into three departments and the major of Tibetan language and literature was attached to the 1st Department of Minority Language & Literature Department.

To meet the demand of development, the MUC decided to form China's first Tibetan Studies Department in March 1993 based upon Tibetan Studies Research Institute and the 1st Department of Minority Language & Literature Department.

In September 2000, Tibetan Studies Academy was established to do research on Tibetan history, politics, culture, literature, art, philosophy, religion, economy, education as well as some other aspects. Since then, the research and education of Tibetan Studies has entered into a new stage in China.

Currently, College for Tibetan Studies has become a Tibetology research base as well as an advanced base to cultivate special talents such as undergraduates, postgraduates and doctors. For half a century, College for Tibetan Studies has fostered groups of graduates for the whole country.

The College for Tibetan Studies has a Tibetan Studies Department and a Tibetan Studies Research Institute to offer Tibetan Language & Literature to undergraduates and Tibetan history, language, literature, Tibetan culture, Tibetan religion, Tibetan economy and Tibetan art to postgraduates. Furthermore, the college also has a Tibetan Language Teaching Research Office, Tibetan Culture Teaching Research Office, Comprehensive Teaching and Research Office and Tripitaka & Tibetan Buddhism Research Office.
　　
The College for Tibetan Studies has one doctorial program of first level discipline and one master program of ethnonymics (Tibetology) with 166 undergraduates, 75 postgraduates, 24 doctors and six students abroad.

Currently, the college has 25 teachers including 6 professors, 6 associate professors, 3 lectors, 9 doctor tutors and 5 master tutors.
　　
As a key unit for China's "211 Project", the College for Tibetan Studies has undertaken two research programs and some other state-level research items.