Abstract: In this paper, some world famous universities with characteristics on general educationareselected. On this basis, the paper discusses and exploresthe development of humanities courses and training mechanism in general education for undergraduates in these foreign universities. The author thinks that Chinese universities can learn from their successful experience. The paper suggests thatthe view that professional expertise is more important than comprehensive knowledge should be changed and that the proportion of general education courses and the number of humanities teachers should be increased. It also suggests that a scientific, effective and reasonable humanities courses and training mechanism in general education beestablished so as to turn out more qualified and comprehensively-developed talents.