List of Recognized Higher Education Institutions
University and College
Purpose
To develop students’ personality, teach and research the profound theories of science and arts necessary for the development of the State and human society, and methods of application thereof, and to contribute to the State and human society
Term of School Years
- Bachelor’s degree course: 4–6 years
- Master’s degree course: 2+ years
- Doctoral degree course: 2+ years
Graduate School
General Graduate School, Specialized Graduate Schools, Special Graduate School
Conferment of Degrees
Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree.
Legal Basis
Articles 28–36 of the Higher Education Act
Related Organization: Korean Council for University Education (KCUE)
Related Information: College Admission Information Portal
Industrial College
Purpose
To train industrial human resources who will contribute to the development of the State and society by providing an opportunity for higher education to those who intend to undergo continuing education for the research and study of science and arts or expert knowledge or skills required for industrial society.
Term of School Years
No restriction
Graduate School
Specialized Graduate School, Special Graduate School
Conferment of Degrees
Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree
Legal Basis
Articles 41–46 of the Higher Education Act
Related Information
Teachers’ College
Purpose
To train elementary school teachers
Term of School Years
4 years
Graduate School
Specialized Graduate School, Special Graduate School
Conferment of Degrees
Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree
Legal Basis
Articles 41–46 of the Higher Education Act
Related Information
Junior College
Purpose
To train professionals necessary for developing the State and society by teaching and researching expert knowledge and theories with respect to various fields of society, and cultivating talents.
Term of School Years
2–3 years
Conferment of Degrees
- Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations at a junior college shall be granted an associate degree
- Any person who was admitted to an advanced major programme and has completed the courses determined by school regulations may be awarded a bachelor’s degree
- Any person who has completed a four-year course in junior colleges designed to train medical personnel and determined by school regulations in the department shall receive a bachelor’s degree
Transfer Admission
Those who have graduated from junior colleges or are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under statutes may transfer to universities and colleges, industrial colleges or cyber colleges.
Legal Basis
Articles 47–51.2 of the Higher Education Act
Related Organizations
- Korean Council for University College Education (KCCE)
- Korea Accreditation Board for Vocational Higher Education (KAVE)
Cyber Colleges
These include air colleges, correspondence colleges, air and correspondence colleges, and cyber colleges.
Purpose
to train human resources the State and society need by providing citizens with an opportunity to undergo higher education through distance education via information and communications media, and to contribute to the development of lifelong education by realizing an open learning society.
Term of School Years
- Associate degree courses: 2 years
- Bachelor’s degree courses: 4 years
Graduate School
Special Graduate School (Provided that cyber colleges may establish graduate schools only if they meet the standards prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as the evaluation on educational circumstances and management of curricula, etc.)
Conferment of Degrees
- Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations in an associate degree course of a cyber college shall be granted an associate degree
- Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations in a bachelor’s degree course of a cyber college shall be granted a bachelor’s degree
- Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations in a master’s degree course of a cyber college shall be granted a master’s degree
Legal Basis
Article 52–54 of the Higher Education Act
Related Organization
Korean Council for Open University (KCOU)
Related Information
Technical College
Purpose
To train experts equipped with both theories and practical abilities by having industrial workers undergo continuing education for the research and study of expert knowledge and skills in the industrial field.
Term of School Years
- Associate degree courses: 2 years
- Bachelor’s degree courses: 2 years
Admission Qualifications
- Associate degree courses: persons who have worked for any enterprise for at least the period prescribed by Presidential Decree among those who have graduated from high schools or those who have been recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under statutes.
- Bachelor’s degree courses: persons who have worked for any enterprise for at least the period prescribed by Presidential Decree among those who have graduated from junior colleges or those who have been recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under statutes.
Conferment of Degrees
Any person who has taken associate degree courses/ bachelor’s degree courses of a technical college and completed the courses determined by school regulations.
Legal Basis
Articles 55–58 of the Higher Education Act
Various Kinds of Schools
Definition
A educational institution similar to University and College, Industrial College, Teachers’ College, Junior College, Cyber College, and Technical College.
Conferment of Degrees
- Various kinds of school which are equivalent junior college: any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted an associate degree.
- Various kinds of school which are equivalent to university: any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted a bachelor’s degree.
Legal Basis
Article 59 of the Higher Education Act
School-Type Lifelong Educational Establishment (Major College)
Definition
A high technical school which is converted into a lifelong educational establishment, the graduates of which are recognized as having educational attainment and degree equal to those of graduates of a junior college, after obtaining authorization from the Minister of Education
Legal Basis
Article 31 of the Lifelong Education Act
In-House College-Type Lifelong Educational Establishment
Definition
A lifelong educational establishment, where an operator of the place of business provides education to employers, the graduates of which are recognized as having educational attainment and degrees equal to those of graduates of a junior college or a university, after obtaining authorization from the Minister of Education.
Legal Basis
Article 32 of the Lifelong Education Act
Distance College-Type Lifelong Educational Establishment
Definition
A lifelong educational establishment providing distance education to many specified or unspecified persons or providing them with a variety of information making use of information and communications media, the graduates of which are recognized as having educational attainment and degrees equal to those of graduates of a junior college or a university, after obtaining authorization from the Minister of Education.
Legal Basis
Article 33 of the Lifelong Education Act
Polytechnic College
Purpose
To educate necessary human resources at industrial sites and support the development of vocational ability of workers.
Classification of Courses
- Courses for multi-functional technicians: Education and training courses to nurture workforce with skills and knowledge required by at least two types of occupational categories so that they can contribute to increasing productivity and solving technical problems throughout the entire process from development to manufacture of products.
- Advanced major courses with a degree: Advanced major courses that facilitate and support the continuing education of persons who have graduated from polytechnic colleges or junior colleges and to confer a bachelor’s degree upon them.
Conferment of Degrees
- A person who has completed a course for multi-functional technicians in a polytechnic college shall be granted an associate degree
- A bachelor’s degree shall be conferred in accordance with Article 50.2 (1) of the Higher Education Act on anyone who completes the course determined by school regulations after having been admitted into an advanced major course with a degree established and operated
Legal Basis
Article 39–52.2 of the Act on the Development of Vocational Skills of Workers
Graduate School
Type
- General graduate school: Graduate school, the main educational purpose of which is to learn basic theories of studies and to conduct advanced academic research.
- Specialized graduate schools: Graduate school, the main educational purpose of which is to apply practical theories required for training of human resources in the field of specialized vocations and to conduct research and development related thereto.
- Special graduate schools: Graduate school, the main educational purpose of which is to provide continuing education for working people or ordinary adults.
Legal Basis
Article 29.2 of the Higher Education Act
Graduate School Univeristy
Definition
Universities or colleges that have graduate schools only to train experts in a specific field.
Legal Basis
Article 30 of the Higher Education Act
Conferment of Degrees
Any person who has completed courses determined by school regulations shall be granted a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree
Legal Basis
Articles 41–46 of the Higher Education Act