Korean universities are making changes to international student applications and here’s the big picture
Korean universities are shaking up the status quo for international student applications for the forthcoming 2024 spring semester.
Gone are the days when applicants were required to submit personal statements, with a handful of universities also revising their Korean language proficiency requirements.
The upcoming admissions cycle witnesses a significant shift in application requirements, with personal statements and study plans no longer on the list.
This transformation came into effect with the enforcement decree of the Higher Education Act of 2022, which prohibits universities from demanding personal statements, self-introductions or study plans from prospective students starting from the 2024 spring semester.
The Ministry of Education aimed to level the playing field by eliminating external influences such as a student’s family’s socioeconomic background from affecting admissions.
The focus has now pivoted towards evaluating students based on academic merits like academic performance history, awards, and standardized test results.