The surge in international student enrollment comes in the wake of the government’s ambitious initiative unveiled in August 2023, aiming to attract 300,000 international students by 2027.
The surge in international student enrollment comes in the wake of the government’s ambitious initiative unveiled in August 2023, aiming to attract 300,000 international students by 2027.
South Korea has seen an uptick in international student enrollment, with the number reaching 182,000 in 2023, up by 9 percent from the previous year’s count of 167,000.
The surge in international student enrollment comes in the wake of the government’s ambitious initiative unveiled in August 2023, aiming to attract 300,000 international students by 2027, the Erudera reported.
Under the initiative, 220,000 students are earmarked for degree courses, while 80,000 are allocated for non-degree courses.
The initiative, dubbed the Study Korea 300K Project, underscores South Korea’s aspirations to bolster its economy through a skilled workforce and reflects the government’s acknowledgment of the intensifying global competition for international students.
This surge in international student enrollment aligns with South Korea’s broader objective to establish itself as a premier destination for international education.
Annually, both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice conduct assessments of South Korean universities’ internationalization efforts to refine the management of international student influx and tackle issues pertaining to illegal immigration within this demographic.
In a positive trajectory, 134 universities were recognized last year for their compliance with the Ministry of Education’s internationalization standards, indicating a notable enhancement in their curriculum’s global orientation.
The recognition primarily encompasses academic and language exchange endeavors, with over 100 universities lauded for their robust curricular offerings and 75 universities commended for their language exchange initiatives.
However, as a testament to stringent quality control measures, approximately 20 universities faced visa issuance restrictions due to failure to meet the prescribed standards.
Looking ahead, South Korean authorities are poised to intensify efforts to attract more international students, with a particular emphasis on expanding government scholarship quotas, notably the Global Korea Scholarships.
The spotlight will shine on students interested in STEM fields to double the number of scholarships awarded in these domains.
Furthermore, increased quotas for students from countries such as Poland, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Pakistan, particularly those eyeing programs in defense and nuclear technology, are on the horizon.
The steady rise in international student enrollment in South Korea over the years, depicted by a progressive trajectory from 124,000 students in 2017 to the recent figure of 182,000 in 2023, underscores the country’s growing prominence as an educational hub on the global stage.
South Korea’s “Study Korea 300K Project” carries the ambitious goal of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027.
The initiative comes as South Korea acknowledges the growing need for highly skilled workers and intensifying competition for top international talent.
Doubling scholarships and diversifying enrollment
To realize this objective, the government is implementing various measures, including simplifying permanent residency procedures and increasing the allocation of government scholarships, notably the Global Korea Scholarships.
Priority will be given to students applying for STEM fields, with plans to double the number of scholarships for these students compared to the previous year’s count of 1,335.
Moreover, Korean universities are encouraged to expand English-medium instruction to enhance their competitiveness.
Despite achieving a significant 17.6 percent year-over-year growth – a total enrollment of 207,125 in June 2023 – the target of 300,000 represents a 30 percent increase over five years, aligning with South Korea’s ambition to rank among the world’s top 10 study-abroad destinations by 2027.
To accommodate the growing number of international students, Korean universities are set to introduce more scholarships and ease residency permits.
Additionally, they are reducing language requirements, lowering the minimum bank balance, and allocating more work hours for applicants.
Scholarships will be directed to individual countries, with expanded quotas for students interested in defense and nuclear technology fields, aiming to diversify the student population and reduce reliance on specific countries like China, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan.
To enhance the appeal of Korean higher education and encourage international graduates to stay for employment after graduation, the government plans to expedite permanent residency applications for individuals with Korean graduate and postgraduate degrees, shortening the current six-year process to three years.
Modifications to the International Education Quality Assurance System are also under consideration, potentially relaxing proficiency level requirements on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (Topik) to admit entrants with only Level 3 proficiency.
However, some stakeholders, like a director of international student affairs at a university in the Gyeongsang region, expressed a preference for maintaining a certain language standard due to applicants’ often insufficient proficiency in both Korean and English.
In addition to scholarships and relaxed language requirements, the South Korean government aims to lower the minimum bank balance required for student visas, facilitate permanent residency, and allow increased work hours for students studying in the country.
