Kyungpook National University
Kyungpook National University (KNU) is one of the top universities in South Korea, widely recognized as one of the ten Flagship Korean National Universities. Located in Daegu, the country’s fourth largest city, it boasts a motto of "Truth, Pride, Service.”
Established in 1946 through the elevation of several colleges to national status, KNU formally unified in October 1951, marking its inception as a comprehensive university. The university's expansive footprint includes its primary Daegu Campus and the Sangju Campus, collectively spanning approximately 1,380,427 square meters. KNU's academic infrastructure currently encompasses 17 colleges and 3 schools dedicated to undergraduate programmes offering 98 majors, complemented by 15 graduate schools that offer a wide array of 146 master's and 133 Ph.D. programmes, alongside 2 professional graduate programmes and 12 specialised graduate programmes. This extensive academic framework underscores KNU's commitment to diverse and advanced educational offerings. More details can be found in the accompanying infographic.
Student Body, International Programmes, and Scholarships
Kyungpook National University has a substantial student body, with an enrollement of over 38,000 students. It actively promotes internationalisation, reflected in its diverse student population. As of recent data, KNU hosts over 1,300 international students. The university offers a variety of courses in English to cater to its international cohort and provides various support programmes, including fully-funded Ph.D. programmes, as described below.
Full Scholarships to Full-Time Ph.D. Students
Starting from the fall semester of the 2025 academic year, KNU will implement a system to provide full tuition scholarships to full-time Ph.D. students and integrated master's-Ph.D. students. This initiative will allow full-time graduate students to dedicate themselves to their studies and research in a stable environment. It also represents a strategic move to transform KNU into a research-focused university and strengthen its global academic competitiveness.The scholarships will be awarded to Ph.D. students and integrated master's-Ph.D. students who complete full-time registration in the graduate school system, with most recipients benefiting from full tuition coverage.
Through this scholarship programme, KNU plans to effectively alleviate the financial burden on graduate students and actively attract talented full-time students with strong research capabilities. This will establish a foundation for nurturing world-class research talent, extending beyond the local region.
Other International Student Support Programmes
- Exchange Student Programme: Allows students from partner universities to study at KNU for a semester or year.
- Double Degree Programme: Offers opportunities for students to earn degrees from both KNU and an international partner institution.
- Global Summer School: A short-term programme providing a unique intercultural experience with lectures on global issues and leadership.
- Cultural Experience Programmes: Activities and excursions to help international students better understand Korean culture and adapt to life in Korea.
- Tutor Programme: A 1:1 matching system pairing international students with senior KNU students for academic and social support.
- Employment Assistance: Provides lectures and programmes to aid international students in their job search.
- Language Tutoring Mentorship (KNU International Writing Center): Provides exchange students and double-degree students with paid internship opportunities as one-on-one language mentors for various English speaking and writing programmes.
- Global Internship Programme: Based on a diverse network of Korean companies, KNU offers international students the chance to integrate internships into their exchange semester(s).
Growing Worldwide Recognition
KNU is highly regarded both nationally and internationally. In the 2024 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), it was ranked 10th in Korea (1st among National Universities) and 420th in the world. In the 2025 THE (Times Higher Education) Asia University Rankings, KNU ranked 1st among national universities for the fourth consecutive year, achieving 91st place in Asia and 14th in South Korea.
3rd Globally in THE University Impact Rankings - A First for a Korean University
KNU ranked within the global top 20 in 6 of the 17 SDG categories, including: 2nd in Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), 12th in Zero Hunger (SDG 2), 13th in Life on Land (SDG 15), 16th in Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), 16th in No Poverty (SDG 1), and 20th in Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
In addition to these results, KNU has maintained its 1st ranking among Korean national universities in other world university evaluations, such as the QS World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) conducted by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, U.S. News & World Report, and CWUR.
KNU Global Initiative Center for Exchange
One reason for KNU’s strong performance in the various world university rankings is its recent focus on developing a “glocal” (global + local) research and academic environment. Specifically, KNU announced the establishment of the ‘KNU Global Initiative Center for Exchange’ as part of its 2024 Glocal Innovation Project. Through these initiatives, KNU aims to comprehensively expand its international exchange programmes and provide students with a wider variety of opportunities for international experience.KNU’s ‘Glocal University’ Innovation Project
Following its selection in 2024 for the Glocal University 30 Project, KNU is now focusing on achieving the following five major goals: 1) transition to a research-oriented university, 2) increased global academic mobility, 3) research-oriented educational innovation, 4) youth researcher town creation, and 5) regional win-win open education.Global Exchange Hub & Global Matching Majors
As an additional part of its 2024 Glocal Innovation Project, KNU plans to establish a 'Global Exchange Hub' and utilise it as a core centre for attracting outstanding international students, student exchange, and joint degree programme operation, with a focus on strategically selected overseas partner universities in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The university also plans to select 30 'Global Matching Majors' with the aim of developing more double degree programmes through collaborative education matching between KNU's majors (departments) and those of the selected overseas partners. The plan includes the promotion of both faculty and student exchange through curriculum matching with the selected partners.
With these multifaceted internationalisation strategies in place, KNU is determined to succeed in global mobility education innovation. The university aims to provide students with broader international experiences and capabilities, while also contributing to the development of sustainable global talent through close cooperation with the international community.