Competition Rate Hits 11.80 to 1 in Regular Admissions
Clear Preference for Industry-Contracted Departments Amid Job Market Challenges
In the 2026 regular college admissions, employment-linked departments, especially those with semiconductor contract programs, stood out in popularity. In particular, departments partnered with SK Hynix saw a concentration of applicants, even recording the highest competition rate among major universities in Seoul. Analysts say that the trend of "practical applications" among test-takers, driven by guaranteed employment after graduation, scholarship benefits during enrollment, and recent expectations of large performance bonuses, was directly reflected in the competition rates.
Parents attending the college admission guidance briefing for the 2026 regular admission held on the 13th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
According to an analysis by JinHaksa and other college admissions agencies of the competition rates for the 2026 regular admissions, which closed on December 31, the competition rate for the Department of Semiconductor Engineering at Hanyang University was recorded at 11.80 to 1. This is the highest figure among the main 11 universities in Seoul (Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Sogang University, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Sungkyunkwan University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Hanyang University).
The Department of Semiconductor Engineering at Hanyang University is a contract program partnered with SK Hynix, guaranteeing employment at the company after graduation and offering various benefits such as scholarships during enrollment. Interest from test-takers has grown even further recently, as SK Hynix is expected to pay an average performance bonus of around 100 million won per employee.
In fact, this year's regular admissions also saw high competition rates for other SK Hynix contract departments, including the Department of Semiconductor Engineering at Sogang University (9.00 to 1) and Korea University (7.47 to 1).
In contrast, the Department of System Semiconductor Engineering at Yonsei University (5.84 to 1) and the Department of Semiconductor System Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (5.33 to 1), both partnered with Samsung Electronics, posted competition rates similar to the average among the main 11 universities in Seoul (5.37 to 1).
Interest in the artificial intelligence (AI) field was also reflected in the competition rates. While Chung-Ang University's overall regular admission competition rate fell from 7.62 to 1 last year to 6.93 to 1 this year, the newly established Department of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering recorded a high rate of 9.40 to 1.
As the employment environment becomes increasingly difficult and uncertain, preference for contract departments that offer relatively clear and stable career paths after graduation is rising even further.
Woo Yeoncheol, Director of the Admissions Strategy Research Institute at JinHaksa, explained, "The results reflect test-takers' preferences for universities based on post-graduation employment prospects and expected salaries."
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