Pusan National University (PNU) is able to enjoy various administrative benefits thanks to the high Korean proficiency of the international students. Not only do we receive additional points in related government projects, but the visa issuance process for international students entering PNU has been simplified and graduate students can obtain an electronic visa, regardless of nationality. 

On February 12th, PNU announced that the university was selected as the “Superior Accredited University,” the highest grade in the Education Internationalization Competency Accreditation System organized by the Ministry of Education. Being selected as a “Superior Accredited University,” which demands more stringent criteria, is a first for PNU this year, while we have been selected as an “Accredited University” every year since 2020. In this year, 15 universities were selected from all around the country, excluding graduate schools. 

According to the PNU International, PNU has met both the core indicators as an accredited university and the criteria for the superior accredited university. PNU has also fulfilled the additional requirements for a superior accredited university along with growth in indicators such as dropout rate, tuition burden rate for international students and students for language courses, completion rate of sexual violence prevention education, implementation of education understanding Korean laws, accredited language proficiency, enrollment rate of medical insurance, which we have maintained as an accredited university. These additional requirements include, more than 50% of the language proficiency standards of students in the degree course, less than 2% of illegal stay rate, and no violations of the Immigration Act in the past three years.

PNU International attributes PNU’s selection factor, as a superior accredited university, to the students’ high language proficiency. PNU has recorded a compliance rate of over 70% in accredited language proficiency, which is significantly higher than the criteria of over 30% for freshmen and over 40% for new students. Kim Eun-Yeong (Associate Director, Domestic Cooperation), stated, “PNU sets higher language proficiency standards than other universities to recruit excellent students.”

PNU only accepts applications for admission from those who have achieved Level 3 course on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) or have completed the Level 3 or higher at the Language Education Institute. Graduation requires obtaining TOPIK Level 4 or higher. These criteria can be adjusted upwards for individual departments, with 22 departments requiring Korean proficiency higher than Level 4. Among them, four departments require a TOPIK score of Level 5 or higher. Compared to nearby national universities such as Chonnam National University, Jeonbuk National University, Kyungpook National University, and Pukyong National University, PNU is the only one to require TOPIK Level 5 or higher at the undergraduate level (reported by “Channel PNU” on April 27th, 2023).

When selected as a superior accredited university, it brings several administrative benefits. The list of superior accredited universities will be published on the official website of the Ministry of Education, foreign governments. Associate Director Kim explained, “Through the status of the nationally accredited university, students will consider PNU as a priority when students choose to go to a universities abroad.” PNU also can admit foreign graduate students without limits on enrollment numbers, and receive preferential treatment in Global Korea Scholarship or when hosting overseas Korea Study Abroad Fair.

Benefits for students also increased. By granting the examination of visa issues and setting a limit on the duration of stay, the visa issues for international students applying to PNU are simplified, and prospective graduate students can obtain electronic visas regardless of their nationality.

Meanwhile, PNU’s high standard for accredited language proficiency is also considered a factor that makes it difficult to attract international students. As the required level of Korean proficiency for admission and graduation continues to rise, cases of rejection are increasing even if a certain level of Korean proficiency is met. Departments that require high admission criteria explain that high Korean proficiency is essential to carry out the curriculum. PNU international students have also shown that being higher than the condition for Korean language skills are necessary to understand classes (reported by “Channel PNU” on April 27th, 2023).

Reporter Choi Yun-Hui

Translated by Ha Chae-Won