New rankings gauge Korean universities by global influence, not just research

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The Korea Times’ new university ranking system, the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER), offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be a global campus. It focuses on global competitiveness, using a sophisticated framework of 22 indicators across four key categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes.

This year, the ranking evaluated 54 four-year institutions with substantial foreign student populations, relying on publicly available data to ensure impartiality and transparency. At the heart of KGER is its focus on internationalization, with 63.2 percent of the total score devoted to factors that directly shape campus experience for global students.

Graphic by Bae So-young, Cho Sang-won

In the education category, international student ratio among enrolled students, diversity of nationalities, ratio of international students meeting language proficiency requirements and their academic retention rate were among the factors assessed.

Research takes on a distinctly global dimension in the rankings. Institutions are evaluated on the number of international research papers per faculty member, the extent of cross-border collaboration, global citation impact and success in leading international journals. Funding is also factored in, with special attention to external and international grants, to provide a clear picture of how each university competes and collaborates on the world stage.

KGER’s student support segment goes beyond numbers to examine the day-to-day experiences of non-Korean students. By assessing per-student spending, scholarship generosity and housing support, the ranking highlights how well universities accommodate international students. In doing so, it provides a road map for institutions seeking to create a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.

Graduate trajectories paint the final picture. KGER assesses alumni influence across society, from politics to finance, law and beyond. This offers not just a snapshot of institutional success, but a window into the networks and reputations that foreign students may benefit from after they graduate.

One of KGER’s most striking features is that metrics directly related to internationalization account for a majority of the total score. By highlighting factors such as the proportion of foreign students, international research collaborations and support for overseas students, the ranking offers a new lens on Korean universities, revealing their “global DNA” and reshaping how they are perceived on the world stage.

For data analysis, the June 2025 Public Disclosure of University Information was used as the primary reference for this year’s rankings, while research achievements were drawn from Naver Scholytics and graduate impact data was sourced from both the Korea Times archives and public sector datasets.