Pukyong National University

Kazakh Student Enrollment Surges 22-Fold ― PKNU Invitation Scholarship Proves Effective

- Pukyong National University Sees Tangible Results from Its Scholarship Program for Students from Developing Countries

Pukyong National University (President Bae Sang-hoon) is drawing attention for its success in attracting international students through its ‘Global Pukyong Scholarship’ program, now in its 13th year.

As of April 2025, the number of Kazakhstani students at Pukyong National University has increased from just 1 in 2013 to 22. The number of students from Myanmar has grown from 13 to 187, a 14-fold increase, while those from Uzbekistan rose from 7 to 58, marking an eightfold increase.

The overall number of international students enrolled in undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, integrated master’s？doctoral, exchange, training, and dual-degree programs has nearly doubled―from 946 in 2013 to 1,648 in 2025. However, the growth among students from these three countries is particularly notable.

Pukyong National University attributes this achievement to the effectiveness of its “Global Pukyong Scholarship” program, which was launched in 2013 under the leadership of the Office of International Affairs.

The program was established to provide outstanding students from underdeveloped and developing countries with access to high-quality higher education in Korea, while also expanding the university’s international student enrollment. Since its inception, a total of 59 students from Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and Uzbekistan have been recommended as Global Pukyong Scholars, with 1 to 9 students selected annually. One newly selected student from Kazakhstan will also enroll in the second semester of this year. The scholarship covers tuition fees and health insurance for four years of undergraduate study.

The Global Pukyong Scholars are playing a key role in attracting more international students by actively recommending Pukyong National University to others based on their own study abroad experiences, effectively serving as ‘Pukyong ambassadors.’ As these students are highly qualified and officially recommended by their home countries, they are also expected to enhance the university’s reputation by making meaningful contributions in their respective countries after graduation.

Seo Jae-cheol, Director of the Office of International Affairs at Pukyong National University, stated, “Since our efforts to attract international students are now clearly reflected in the data, we will further expand scholarship benefits and diversify our pool of candidates to include students from Busan’s sister and friendship cities. We are committed to strengthening the program’s impact and drawing more outstanding international students to PKNU.” <Pukyong Today>