Kyung Hee University to Select 3,006 Students for 2027 Admissions with Revised Evaluation Criteria

Kyung Hee University plans to select 3,006 students, accounting for 55.3% of its total admissions for the 2027 academic year, aiming to find intellectuals, future leaders, and global citizens. This year's early admissions focus on refining the evaluation criteria for student records and strengthening penalties in non-academic areas, such as attendance and school violence, along with some changes to the essay format. The university intends to assess applicants' academic growth, sustained interest in their major, and community engagement more precisely.
 
The most significant change is the detailed breakdown of the evaluation criteria for the comprehensive student evaluation. The previous criteria have been specified into six categories. Specifically, academic ability will be assessed as follows: academic achievement 25%, academic attitude and inquiry skills 15%; career ability will include efforts and achievements in major-related subjects 25%, and career exploration activities and experiences 15%; community ability will be evaluated based on collaboration and communication skills & leadership 10%, and sharing, consideration, sincerity, and adherence to rules 10%. This aims to provide a more nuanced view of students' academic achievements and active participation in school life.
 
However, for applicants to the self-directed and liberal arts programs, 'self-directed ability' (efforts and achievements in subject completion 25%, career exploration activities and experiences 15%) will be evaluated instead of career ability, focusing on their initiative in exploring majors.
 
For the subject-specific evaluation (regional balance evaluation), academic achievement will account for 30%, academic attitude and inquiry skills 30%, and efforts and achievements in major-related subjects 40%, clarifying the weight of qualitative assessments (self-directed and liberal arts programs will reflect academic achievement 50%, academic attitude and inquiry skills 50%).
 
For applicants in the natural sciences, the completion and achievement levels of recommended subjects will be key evaluation factors, making careful verification essential. The document evaluation will be conducted by two admissions officers who will comprehensively review the entire school record, and interviews will be held as individual assessments based on submitted documents, lasting about 10 minutes (two evaluators per one applicant).

The criteria for penalties in non-academic areas have become stricter. In calculating attendance scores, previously only unexcused absences were considered; now, unexcused tardiness and early departures will be converted into unexcused absences at a rate of two instances equating to one day of absence. Notably, for school violence incidents, penalties will now apply to previously unpenalized actions classified as levels 1 to 3, deducting 1% from the total score, while the penalty rates for levels 4 to 9 have also been expanded compared to the previous year, enhancing the verification of community ability.
 
The essay format for the 'Social Science Essay' under the excellent essay applicant category will also change. The number of questions will be reduced from three to two, and the previously burdensome math essay questions will be eliminated. Instead, an integrated essay based on provided materials, including charts and statistical data, will be introduced, necessitating training in data interpretation and logical critique skills.
 
The admissions office at Kyung Hee University advises, "Rather than mere academic excellence, it is important to design coursework and exploration activities consistently linked to one's career path," adding that interview candidates should prepare to logically explain the content and significance of the activities listed in their student records.
 
Meanwhile, Kyung Hee University is significantly expanding students' autonomy in choosing their majors, aiming for an 'open university, open learning, open major' approach. Following the restructuring of the self-directed major program at the Seoul campus and the establishment of a liberal arts program at the international campus in 2025, the university will introduce new programs in business accounting, tourism and entertainment, mechanical engineering, and global communication starting in 2026, allowing for 100% autonomy in major selection within departments and programs.