An aerial view of Yeungnam University. [Yeungnam University]
An aerial view of Yeungnam University. [Yeungnam University]

Yeungnam University will accept early admissions applications for the 2027 academic year from 9 a.m. Sept. 7 through 6 p.m. Sept. 11, the university announced Monday.

The early admissions round will recruit a total of 4,225 students, including 333 spots outside the standard enrollment quota, as part of the university's overall 2027 intake target of 4,630.

Within the standard quota, 2,519 seats are allocated under the school record-based academic track — broken down into 1,414 general students, 866 regional talent candidates, 160 equal-opportunity general applicants, four regional equal-opportunity medical applicants, 41 creative talent candidates, four regional physician selection (wide-area) applicants and 30 military science special applicants. An additional 1,013 seats fall under the comprehensive school record track, comprising 989 outstanding potential candidates, 15 regional talent applicants and nine regional physician selection (clinical area) applicants. The practical skills and performance track accounts for 360 seats — 326 in practical skills and 34 as special talent applicants. Outside the standard quota, 188 seats go to the school record-based academic track, covering 183 rural and fishing-village students and five pharmacy equal-opportunity applicants. Another 145 seats are reserved under the comprehensive school record track for graduates of specialized high schools (65) and employed graduates of specialized high schools (80).

This year's early admissions cycle introduces a new AI convergence major within the Department of Computer Science, aimed at cultivating talent aligned with industry demand. The department's existing software convergence major has been renamed the software security major.

Also new this year, the pre-medicine program will select 13 students through a regional physician selection track being introduced for the first time. For the pre-medicine comprehensive school record regional talent track, the minimum College Scholastic Ability Test requirement has been revised to a combined rating across four subjects — Korean, mathematics, English and science exploration (top one subject).

The College of Free Major Selection will add a creative talent track, broadening applicants' options. Admission results will be announced Nov. 17 for the practical skills and special talent tracks, and Dec. 18 for all other tracks.

The military science department is also the only program in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province region that selects prospective officers through an agreement with the Army.

All admitted students receive full tuition covered by military service incentive funds and are given priority access to on-campus dormitories.

Graduates are commissioned as Army officers, and after completing their mandatory service period, they may apply for long-term service to continue a career as military professionals.

Yeungnam University ranked first nationwide among private four-year universities in government subsidy receipts, based on a 2025 survey.

According to fiscal support statistics from the University Finance Information Service, Yeungnam University secured a total of 107.4 billion won ($77.1 million) in external fiscal support in 2025, combining funding from the Ministry of Education, other government sources, local governments and other institutions.

The university surpassed major private universities across the country to secure the largest external fiscal support among all private universities nationwide, demonstrating its competitiveness as a regional anchor institution.

Yeungnam University achieved a 100 percent freshman enrollment rate for two consecutive years in the 2025 and 2026 academic years.

In the 2026 admissions cycle, entrance scores rose in 54 of 67 early admissions units (80.6 percent) and in 60 of 63 regular admissions units (95.2 percent).

In the 2026 World's Universities with Real Impact ranking announced last May, the university placed third globally in "student exchange and openness" and fourth in "visionary leadership." In the 2027 QS World University Rankings released subsequently, it ranked first among comprehensive private universities outside the Greater Seoul area in South Korea, placing 791st to 800th in the world.

The university climbed more than 100 places in the global rankings in a single year, drawing international attention.

Jeong Jeong-sun, head of Yeungnam University's admissions office, said the College of Free Major Selection — with an intake quota of 380 students — is drawing growing interest as demand for interdisciplinary talent rises. "The college offers students the opportunity to choose from a wide range of majors through a flexible academic structure and an open major system," Jeong said.

Jeong added that the university has ranked among the top five universities in South Korea in the Leiden Ranking for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025. "We are also showing a clear upward trend in major global university evaluations announced this year, and the world is taking notice," he said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com