Kyung Hee University Announces Major Changes to 2026 Admissions
Seoul, South Korea – Kyung Hee University has unveiled ample revisions to its undergraduate admissions process for the 2026 academic year, aiming to broaden access and refine selection criteria. The university plans to admit a total of 5,380 students,encompassing 2,965 through the 2026 entrance exam and 2,415 via on-time recruitment. An additional 615 students will be selected through occasional recruitment methods,including essay-based and practical skills assessments.
Key Changes for 2026 Admissions
Several key changes are being implemented for the 2026 admissions cycle. These include new regional balanced application qualifications, updated minimum academic standards for Neo-Renaissance scholarships, and expanded opportunities for multi-child families. These changes reflect the university’s commitment to diversity and equitable access to higher education.
Student avoidance Screening (Regional Balanced Program)
The student Avoidance Screening, designed to support students recommended by their high school principals, has expanded its eligibility criteria. Previously limited to graduates of domestic high schools, the program now includes students graduating between February 2024 and February 2026. The selection process prioritizes thorough curriculum evaluation (30%) and school life records, including attendance and service (70%).
The Major Autonomous Selection System (radio) will select 49 students for autonomous engineering and 158 for free engineering departments. Recruitment for each department and the radio companies will be conducted separately, with the international campus curriculum primarily focusing on the Department of Free Engineering. Evaluation for this system will be based solely on comprehensive curriculum evaluation.
Comprehensive Student Affairs
A total of 1,546 students will be recruited through the general student affairs track,divided into Neo-Renaissance Screening (1,068),Possibility Balance Screening I (388),and Opportunity Balance Screening II (90). The Neo-Renaissance Screening now includes pharmaceutical sciences, with a focus on academic performance.The first stage of this screening relies entirely on document evaluation, selecting three to four times the number of available positions. The second stage combines an interview (30%) with the first-stage document evaluation (70%). Interviews will be approximately 10 minutes long and focus on motivation, values, personality, and personal documents.
Opportunity Balance Screening I and II utilize a combined evaluation method, weighting document evaluation at 70% and student curriculum at 30%. These screenings will not differentiate between applicants based on veteran status, farming/fishing background, basic living benefits, or family support. They will integrate criteria for children from various backgrounds, including large families, occupational hazard groups, multicultural families, and families with disabilities.
Evaluation factors for comprehensive documents vary by department,with general departments emphasizing academic competency (40%) and community capacity (20%). Autonomous and free engineering departments prioritize career competency (40%) and self-directed competency (40%), reflecting subject selection, research, activities, and experience.
Did You Know? Kyung Hee University was founded in 1949, initially as a language institute, and has grown into a comprehensive university renowned for its humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences programs.
Excellent Essay Writing
A total of 474 students will be selected based on essay writing. Minimum SAT scores vary by program, with humanities, natural sciences, and autonomous engineering requiring a combined score of under 5, while medical and pharmaceutical programs require a combined score of under 4. The sports program requires a score of less than one level in one area.Korean history requirements are within 5 grades for all programs. Essay exams are categorized by subject area, with the natural sciences requiring a mathematics exam and medical/pharmaceutical programs mandating both mathematics and a science subject (physics, chemistry, or life sciences).
Practical Excellent Screening
A total of 330 students will be admitted through practical excellent screening. Evaluation criteria have been updated for Korean painting, conversation, and sculpture, shifting from a two-stage process (performance evaluation and student grades) to a single-stage evaluation based solely on student grades. For design and ceramics, the weighting of student grades has increased from 30% to 40%, while the practical exam weighting has decreased from 70% to 60%.
Departmental Reorganization and Name Changes
Kyung Hee University is restructuring its academic departments. The Department of Business Management and Accounting Department have been integrated into a new Management Accounting Department. The mechanical engineering department has been reorganized as the Department of mechanical Engineering, with autonomous selection. The Department of Accounting and Taxation has been renamed the Department of Accounting, and the Department of Electronics and Engineering has been renamed the Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, with the addition of a Semiconductor Engineering Department.
The university will also reflect student department comparison and service records in the Student Avoidance Screening and Practical Excellent Screening processes, emphasizing consistent school life engagement.
Pro Tip: Prospective students should carefully review the updated evaluation criteria for each program to tailor their applications effectively.
Openness and Information Disclosure
To promote fairness and transparency, Kyung Hee University will disclose detailed results from previous admissions cycles, including grade distributions, candidate scores, interview evaluations, and essay scores. This information will be available on the Admissions Office homepage.
| Admissions Category | 2026 Enrollment Target | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance Exam | 2,965 | No significant changes reported. |
| On-Time recruitment | 2,415 | Expanded eligibility for Student Avoidance Screening. |
| Occasional Recruitment | 615 | Updated evaluation criteria for practical skills assessments. |
| Neo-Renaissance Screening | 1,068 | inclusion of pharmaceutical sciences. |
What aspects of these changes do you think will most benefit prospective students? How might these changes impact the overall applicant pool?
The trend towards holistic admissions, as seen at Kyung Hee University, reflects a broader shift in higher education globally. Universities are increasingly prioritizing factors beyond standardized test scores, such as demonstrated leadership, community involvement, and personal resilience. This approach aligns with research suggesting that non-cognitive skills are strong predictors of academic success and long-term career outcomes (Duckworth, A. L.,et al., 2007). The emphasis on regional balance also addresses concerns about educational inequality and aims to provide opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Student Avoidance Screening? It’s a program supporting students recommended by their high schools, now with expanded eligibility.
- What are the minimum SAT scores for medical programs? A combined score of under 4 in the three areas is required.
- How are comprehensive documents evaluated? Evaluation factors vary by department, focusing on academic and community competencies.
- What changes were made to the practical excellent screening? Evaluation criteria were updated, with a greater emphasis on student grades.
- Where can I find detailed admissions results from previous years? On the Kyung Hee University Admissions Office homepage.
We hope this detailed overview of the changes to Kyung Hee University’s 2026 admissions process is helpful.We encourage you to explore the university’s website for more information and to share this article with anyone who might find it useful. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments – we’re always happy to hear from our readers!
