30% of New Students at Capital Area and National Universities Enrolled as 'Undeclared Majors'

38,000 New Students Next Year Have No Major
About Fourfold Increase from 9,925 This Year

Universities located in the Seoul metropolitan area and national universities are set to select 3 out of every 10 freshmen next year through a non-major admission system (major autonomy selection system). The number of freshmen admitted under the non-major system at these universities will reach approximately 38,000.

The Ministry of Education announced the key details of the 2025 college admission plan on the 30th. The Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) unanimously approved the admission plan at the University Admission Committee meeting held on the 24th.

According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 37,935 students will enter 73 universities?comprising universities in the Seoul metropolitan area and national universities?under the major autonomy selection type for the 2025 academic year. This accounts for 28.6% of the total recruitment at these universities. Among the 51 universities in the metropolitan area, 38, and among the 22 national universities, 15 will recruit more than 25% of their freshmen through the non-major system next year.

Earlier in January this year, the Ministry of Education announced a financial support policy that grants additional points to universities expanding non-major admissions. This initiative aims to expand students' freedom to choose their majors and foster convergent competencies by innovating the admission process to allow greater major selection freedom from the recruitment stage. Approximately 1.46 trillion KRW in financial support will be provided to universities based on qualitative evaluations reflecting their efforts to expand non-major admissions. Universities can receive funding even if they do not meet the non-major recruitment ratio, but those recruiting 25% or more through the non-major system will receive an additional 10 points.

As government financial support varies depending on the expansion of non-major admissions, universities have significantly increased their non-major recruitment rates compared to last year. Regardless of type, non-major admissions in metropolitan and national universities accounted for only 6.6% (9,925 students) in 2024, but this will expand approximately fourfold to 28.6% in 2025. Several universities, including Korea University, Konkuk University, and Samyook University, which previously had no non-major admission system, have newly established such programs.

However, not all of the approximately 37,000 students admitted will be able to autonomously choose from "all majors" after enrollment. The Ministry of Education has divided the major autonomy selection system into two types: Type 1 allows students to choose their major from all majors except health care and teacher education after admission; Type 2 restricts major selection to within a specific field or college.

Most universities have opted to expand Type 2. Among the 51 metropolitan universities, the recruitment ratio for Type 1 is 13.1% (11,408 students), and for Type 2, 16.4% (14,240 students). For national universities, Type 1 accounts for 7.5% (3,436 students), and Type 2 for 19.3% (8,851 students). Kim Hyoshin, Director of the Regional Innovation University Support Division at the Ministry of Education, explained, "Some universities plan to operate the major autonomy selection system within colleges or fields first before expanding Type 1, which covers all majors from the start."

Regarding concerns that expanding non-major admissions might cause side effects such as concentration in popular majors, the Ministry of Education stated it will respond by supporting career exploration. Director Kim said, "Changes in students' major preferences and demand are inevitable, but the problem arises when students simply chase popular majors without considering their aptitude and interests. If universities provide systematic career exploration support to freshmen entering through the major autonomy selection system, we expect the phenomenon of vague concentration on specific majors to be alleviated."

The Ministry of Education plans to support the proper establishment of non-major admissions in practice to ensure the effect of "guaranteeing students' freedom of choice." Director Kim emphasized, "If students concentrate in specific majors, we will institutionally support various methods to realize the purpose of the selection system, such as inviting professors from diverse fields as adjunct or joint faculty members."

The 2025 major autonomy selection recruitment status by university will be posted on the 'Daehak Eodiga' website.