These are Korea's best universities for international students, according to the government

K-campus

Published: 13 Feb. 2024, 16:00 Updated: 14 Feb. 2024, 15:23

These are Korea's best universities for international students, according to the government

International students pose for a photo during an orientation session held at Korea University last February [NEWS1]

Choosing a Korean university to apply to can be a difficult decision for international students, but checking which universities have received a badge of recognition by the government can help narrow it down.

The Ministry of Education's International Education Quality Assurance System (Ieqas), along with outstanding Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) host evaluations, are factors that students can take into consideration.

The Education Ministry has been issuing Ieqas since 2011 to acknowledge universities that offer quality education and support for international students.

This year's certification was awarded to 134 degree program-providing universities along with 90 universities that provide language courses, all of which are listed on the government's Study in Korea website.

Those universities will receive preferential treatment for the next three years, meaning students will be subject to eased visa screening procedures and allowed to work an additional five hours per week.

Schools are evaluated by international students' illegal stay ratio, availability of university-funded scholarships, students' Korean language proficiency and available academic and career-related support.

Students and perspective students, however, should keep their eyes on “outstanding” leqas institutions.

The 18 universities selected this year are Konkuk University, Kyungpook National University, Keimyung University, Duksung Women's University, Dongguk University, Pusan National University, University of Seoul, Seoul Theological University, Seokyeong University, Sungshin Women’s University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Hongik University, Korea National University of Science and Technology, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management.

Outstanding institutions also receive preferential treatment but have to satisfy a stricter criterion, with only universities that have been Ieqas-certified for three consecutive years or more being eligible for the title. Universities need an illegal stay ratio of less than 2 percent, and at least 50 percent of their students need to meet a Korean proficiency requirement: which is Topik level 3 or above for incoming students and Topik level 4 or above for other upperclassmen.

Kyungpook National University, in particular, was acknowledged for its career support programs.

The university hosts special lectures for international students, inviting alumni to talk about their job searching and working experience as foreigners. Career seminars are also hosted twice a year to teach students about the overall business environment and ways to get a job in Korea.

Hanyang University was recognized for its international student-friendly curriculum.

Its Korean Language and Business Communication major, a program that only international students can select, is centered around doing business in Korea. Although many universities offer English courses for international students, the university's elective courses like Basic Mathematics are also available in Chinese.

KDI School of Public Policy and Management was found to successfully prepare international students for studying in Korea.

Its incoming attendees have to take a one-month KDIS Online Preliminary Education (KOPE) program before they start their studies. The program is conducted online and teaches students about research ethics, economics, basic math and the overall university system.

Students attend the CAU Global Fair at Chung-Ang University in November of last year [CHUNG-ANG UNIVERSITY]

Chung-Ang University was recognized for its infrastructure for international students.

The university's course registration system is available in not only English, but also in Chinese. The school also offers various language learning programs and fairs for international students alongside physical infrastructure such as prayer rooms. The university dorm also has a separate kitchen that only makes halal-certified food.

“Being recognized as an outstanding Ieqas-certified university, we are introduced to foreigners as a university that offers excellent education and support for international students on the Education Ministry's official websites,” said Woo Su-han, the university's vice provost of international affairs. “There's various expectations for Chung-Ang University as a global university, and we will do our best to attract talented international students and create more opportunities for international research and exchanges.”

Keimyung University received recognition for the Korean language support it offers to foreigners abroad, which helps attract more students to study in Korea.

The university has locations of its Korean language training center, known as the Keimyung Korea Center, in countries such as the United States, China, Vietnam and Tajikistan.

The centers offer Korean-language education and events that allow visitors to experience Korean culture. They also host regular information sessions for the university's prospective students.

The Ministry of Education operates an additional accreditation system that recognizes outstanding host institutions for GKS students.

Far fewer universities are given this title. Only four were selected this year: Konkuk University, Pusan National University, Korea University and Jeonbuk National University.

Konkuk University and Pusan National University were chosen as both outstanding Ieqas universities and outstanding GKS hosts.

Global Korea Scholarship recipients at Pusan National University pose for a photo during a trip to the Institute for Korean Food last year. [PUSAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

Pusan National University was recognized the outstanding mentoring programs it offers to GKS students. Konkuk University was also acknowledged for its mentoring programs and housing support — the school provides dorms to all GKS students as well as money to use for dorm fees.

“We were selected as an outstanding university because we carefully select talented international students while helping them easily adapt to Korea,” said Yi Moon-suk, the dean of Pusan National University's office of international affairs. “We will do our best so that Pusan National University can become an exemplary model for Korean higher education.”

Korea University and Jeonbuk National University, the remaining outstanding GKS hosts for this year, were given Ieqas certification but were not recognized as an outstanding Ieqas university.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]