Korea University rises in global rankings, sets sights on world’s top 30
University accelerates international collaboration and sustainability initiatives to redefine its global role
Views of Korea University's old campus on the left and new campus on the right / Courtesy of Korea University
Marking its 120th anniversary this year, Korea University is charting an ambitious goal to become one of the world’s top 30 universities.
While steadily climbing the global university rankings, the university is intensifying its commitment to addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges and expanding international partnerships to move closer to the upper echelon of universities globally.
The university’s global reputation continues to rise, reflecting its growing academic competitiveness.
In the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Korea University climbed to 156th place, a notable leap from 189th the previous year.
The university also maintained its position among the world’s top 100 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, securing the 61st spot and reinforcing its status as a globally competitive research university.
Under its new slogan, “We are the next,” the university is reinforcing its global leadership by investing heavily in research and education aimed at addressing humanity’s most urgent challenges, including climate change, food security, aging populations and social inequality.
Through the K-Club initiative, the university has established a global research network uniting over 100 top scholars from around the world and discussed future-oriented strategies and global research collaborations in July.
The university is also pursuing its KU Nobel Project, a long-term initiative aimed at supporting its faculty and alumni with the goal of producing Nobel Prize, Fields Medal or Turing Award laureates within the next decade.
To address global challenges, the university is actively conducting joint research with leading institutions such as Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It has also established joint research funds with University College London, National University of Singapore and Peking University, through which a total of 18 international research projects are currently underway.
Hosting the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025 also marks a key step in strengthening Korea University’s position within the global higher education community, providing a platform to expand its academic network.
Domestic and international students pose together for a graduation photo at Korea University in Seongbuk District, Seoul. Courtesy of Korea University
In addition, the university is accelerating its globalization efforts, backed by a steady increase in international faculty and students.
The number of international students rose from 4,230 in the first semester of 2023 to 6,240 in 2024, accounting for 22.8 percent of the total student population. The university also plans to expand its foreign faculty to make up 10 percent of the total by 2030 — raising the number from the current 83 to 146 — to further enhance its global teaching and research capacity.
As part of the university’s sustainability initiative, Korea University has reorganized its ESG (environmental, social and governance) Committee into the JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) Sustainability Committee to strengthen education and research for its goals.
The committee is expanding sustainability programs across undergraduate and graduate levels and extending environmental education to local communities through online and continuing education platforms. It also promotes diversity and inclusion on and off campus, ensuring equal access to resources and information regardless of gender, language or nationality.
Meanwhile, Korea University is emphasizing “glocalization” — an approach that goes beyond internationalization to integrate and advance Korea’s unique identity within a global framework. The initiative aims to maintain global standards while reflecting distinct Korean values in education and research.
As part of this effort, the university became the first four-year university in Korea to establish an entertainment-focused program exclusively for international students, offering courses that encompass K-content and the creative industries.
It also launched a new division to help international students develop skills tailored to employment opportunities at leading Korean companies through career-linked academic programs.