Regional universities excel in student support category

Seoul-based universities continue to lead the pack in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027, securing the top 30 spots. However, their dominance is less pronounced in the student support category, where regional universities are stepping up efforts to assist international students in securing employment and adjusting post-graduation.

Out of the evaluated 60 universities nationwide, 18 of the 24 universities in Seoul made it to the top 30, reinforcing the capital's longstanding internationalization prowess. Notably, five out of nine schools in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon made the list, alongside four of the 13 universities in metropolitan cities beyond the capital.

In stark contrast, only three out of the 14 universities in provincial areas managed to secure a place in the top 30, highlighting a significant gap in internationalization capabilities compared to their Seoul and other metropolitan counterparts. This disparity underscores that internationalization capabilities remain largely concentrated in the capital region.

The education, research, and graduate outcomes categories echoed this regional pattern, with Seoul topping the charts, followed by Gyeonggi and Incheon, metropolitan cities outside the capital.