South Korea bars 20 universities from issuing student visas

South Korea has barred 20 institutions from issuing student visas for a year after finding failures in their oversight of foreign students, as the government tightens scrutiny amid rapid growth in inbound enrolments.

According to the Ministry of Education, 16 universities offering degree programmes and four institutions operating Korean language courses have been designated as “universities requiring strict screening on visa issuance”.

Except under extraordinary circumstances, they will not be permitted to issue student visas for one year.

The designations follow the ministry’s annual review of international student management, conducted jointly with the Justice Ministry.

The evaluation examines areas including the qualification of Korean language tutors, rates of illegal stay among foreign students and student satisfaction with Korean language programmes.

Universities found to fall short of the required standards can face sanctions ranging from tighter screening to restrictions on issuing visas.

Institutions facing such restrictions include Geumgang University, Suwon Catholic University, Joong-Ang Sangha University and Hyupsung University.

Efforts to boost overseas enrolments come amid mounting demographic pressures on South Korea’s higher education sector, as institutions grapple with shrinking domestic cohorts and increasing reliance on international recruitment to sustain enrolments and finances.

The number of international students reached 253,000 in 2024, up 21 per cent from 209,000 the previous year, according to education ministry data.

Government targets for international enrolments have been framed as part of a strategy to offset demographic decline and labour shortages, with some institutions pivoting sharply toward overseas markets and graduate recruitment.

At the same time, more universities have secured accredited status under the international student management system.

In the latest evaluation cycle, 181 institutions were designated as accredited, compared with 158 the previous year.

Accredited institutions are rewarded with lighter visa scrutiny for incoming students and are more likely to be selected to host scholars under the state-run Global Korea Scholarship programme.

They are also prioritised for government-backed overseas recruitment fairs.

Officials said the rise in accredited providers reflected both heightened institutional interest in expanding international intake and adjustments to the evaluation framework introduced in the latest cycle.

The assessment system was revised this year in an effort to ease paperwork requirements for universities.

However, sanctions were strengthened for institutions judged to have inadequately managed international students, including in areas such as admissions screening and career support.

Some academics have warned that the emphasis on numbers could strain support systems and increase risks of poor student experience if growth is not matched with robust services.

tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com