Dynamic Korea
Would you like to know about the real 'Gangnam Style'? Maybe you've heard of Korean figure skating phenom Kim Yuna, gold medalist and popular international spokesperson. Perhaps you watched Yuna on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone or your LG flatscreen TV, or maybe you car danced to one of the Korean Wave's many popular K-pop stars while riding around in your Hyundai Sonata. What all of these things have in common is they all come from South Korea, which also happens to be home to one of Asia's most prestigious universities, Pusan National University, or PNU. The university is located in Korea's second-largest city, Busan, a dynamic and exciting city located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula almost within viewing distance of Japan. Oh, and if you're curious about the spelling, PNU has retained the original romanization of the city's name, which was changed from 'Pusan' to 'Busan' in the early 2000s, because of the university's long and storied history as 'PNU.' If you want a summer destination like no other in Asia, PNU in Busan is the place you want to be!
Educational Experience
PNU is one of the top-ranked universities in Korea and leads the nation in research and higher education. Established in 1946 and funded by the Korean government, the university provides educational opportunities in almost all areas of study and supports the needs of quality higher education in Korea's southeastern region. PNU's contribution to the area's economy and society has been incalculable.
International Programs
PNU wants to continue to make its mark on global society and culture. In an effort to further internationalize, the university recently tripled the number of courses provided in English across all disciplines. The university now features international programs that are particularly welcoming to international students, including the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), the PNU Summer School Program, and the Department of Global Studies (DGS) with its Global Studies Program (GSP) and Korean and East Asian Studies Program (KEASP). Combined with our top-tier Korean language courses, these programs present a panoply of wonderful opportunities to learn about Korea at the university level, while also enjoying Busan's beautiful mountains and beaches.
Academic Excellence
PNU's academic excellence has been repeatedly reaffirmed by the Korean government's assessment of the university's ranking. PNU placed third in the number of publications in SCI-registered journals and fifth in the number of publications in SCI-registered journals per faculty among all four-year colleges in Korea. In addition, PNU took second place among all of Korea's four-year colleges by registering 33 project teams in Brain Korea 21 (BK21) Phase 2 projects, which brought in nearly KRW 146 billion (~$126 million) in added revenue for the school. In the assessment of the project's first year, 15 PNU project teams received a grade of "excellent" from the national government.
Campus System
PNU also takes great pride in its specialized campus system. The university has four campuses within an hour's drive of one another. The main campus is in the Jangjeon area in the north of Busan and is the site for the university's Humanities and Arts, Natural and Social Sciences, Engineering, Education, Pharmacy, Human Ecology, and Business colleges. The Yangsan and Ami campuses are PNU's two full-service hospitals providing treatment in both Western- and Oriental-style medicine. The Miryang campus northwest of Busan is the site for Biotech and Nanoscience. You can find beautiful trees and streams on the Jangjeon campus, state-of-the-art medical facilities at the Yangsan and Ami campuses, and pastoral beauty and serenity at the Miryang campus.
Fast Facts
1946 Founded as the first national university in Korea
12 colleges, 27 graduate schools, 41 major organizations
36,548 Enrolled students (Undergraduate 22,168; Master's 6,751; Doctoral 1,537; with an additional 6,000 students connected to the school)
1,187 Full-time professors
15:1 Student-to-professor ratio
1,547 International students from 80 countries taking degree courses
291 International students from 20 countries taking intensive Korean language courses
41 countries, 277 institutions as international partners
12 Residential Housing Facilities
12 colleges, 27 graduate schools, 41 major organizations
36,548 Enrolled students (Undergraduate 22,168; Master's 6,751; Doctoral 1,537; with an additional 6,000 students connected to the school)
1,187 Full-time professors
15:1 Student-to-professor ratio
1,547 International students from 80 countries taking degree courses
291 International students from 20 countries taking intensive Korean language courses
41 countries, 277 institutions as international partners
12 Residential Housing Facilities
Academic Standings
No. 1 among national universities in Korea
No. 11 among domestic universities
No. 69 among Asian universities, according to the 2016 Chosun Ilbo and QS Asian University Rankings
No. 1 in the number of published papers per professor among national universities in Korea in 2014
No. 1 in the number of alumni executives in Top 10 (domestic) corporate groups among regional universities in 2012
No. 4 in the number of executive posts (88) in Korea’s top four corporate groups-Hyundai Motors, LG, SK, and Samsung in 2012
No. 5 among university research centers as evaluated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2011.
No. 11 among domestic universities
No. 69 among Asian universities, according to the 2016 Chosun Ilbo and QS Asian University Rankings
No. 1 in the number of published papers per professor among national universities in Korea in 2014
No. 1 in the number of alumni executives in Top 10 (domestic) corporate groups among regional universities in 2012
No. 4 in the number of executive posts (88) in Korea’s top four corporate groups-Hyundai Motors, LG, SK, and Samsung in 2012
No. 5 among university research centers as evaluated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2011.