A bold college experiment begins

The Ministry of Education will increase the quota for undecided majors at national universities across the country and private universities in the capital region starting with the 2025 school year. This means that applicants who haven’t yet chosen a major can be matriculate first and declare during sophomore year. The removal of rigid barriers in university departments can help widen students’ choices. The quota increase reflects the need for our education to keep up with the times in the fourth industrial age.

Applicants to the tech-intensive Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) apply to the entire university, not for a specific major. In their second year, students can choose any courses of study at the school. Korea’s elite tech academy KAIST has been running a similar program. Seoul National University (SNU) also has a quota for the undeclared — but the share of such students in the university’s total admissions is less than 1 percent.

The education ministry plans to raise the undeclared quota to more than 20 percent of enrollment in universities in the capital region next year and more than 25 percent from 2026. This year’s high school seniors will be the first class subject to the change. Although the government’s guideline is not binding, most universities will likely follow it in order to receive subsidies. Some have already acted. SNU and Hanyang University are considering bumping the quota for undeclared applicants to 300 to 400.

Entering universities without a pre-determined major can have many advantages. Universities will gain more flexibility and independence in creating new fields or converging various concentrations to keep up with the changing times. Universities can revamp antiquated fields of study. Students will also be granted more choice, and fewer would end up trapped in unwanted majors.

But side effects may arise. Undeclared majors often favor fields that guarantee jobs after graduation. Over-concentration in certain departments during sophomore year can deepen imbalances in tertiary education. Humanities and basic science departments already short of students can run into even bigger problems.

The policy must be fine-tuned so that basic studies are not neglected. The Ministry of Education plans to announce detailed guidelines in the coming months. The ministry must heed various opinions to augment the merits of the policy while minimizing its fallout.