Top 10 Best Universities to Study Medicine in South Korea
South Korea is a nation famous worldwide for its K-Pop culture and amazing series. But that’s not the only recognition it has. South Korea is also dominated by an excellent education system that makes it a top hub for students.
One of the prominent streams of study in the nation is that of Medicine. What makes the discipline popular in the country is the presence of top-notch colleges. That being said the blog below highlights some of the famous institutes to study medicine popular among both international and locals.
List of Top 10 Best Universities to Study Medicine in South Korea
The following are List of Top 10 Best Universities to Study Medicine in South Korea, viz;
1. Yonsei University College of Medicine
2. Korea University of Medicine
3. Catholic University of Korea
4. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
5. The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine
6. University of Ulsan
7. Pusan National University School of Medicine
8. Inje University
9. Seoul National University College of Medicine
10. Hanyang University College of Medicine
Let’s take a look at them one after another
1. Yonsei University College of Medicine
The college’s humble beginnings can be traced all the way back to 1886, making it Korea’s oldest medical school. The college’s antecedent – the Che Jung Won Medical School – was founded thanks to the perseverance of Dr. Horace Allen and Dr. J.W. Heron. Despite the war, it remained strong because it was the only medical school run by Koreans for Koreans during the Japanese rule. The institution was renamed Yonsei University College of Medicine after a merger in 1957.
Yonsei University, as a prestigious private institution, has a strict admissions policy that enables only 100 students to be accepted each year. The elite few are educated through an intuitive problem-based learning system under the supervision of more than 550 full-time academic members. They are then rotated through the prestigious Severance Hospital, which has a capacity of 2,300 inpatients.
2. Korea University of Medicine
A private university bases in Seoul, the institute was set up in 1905 and rechristened with name 41 years later. One of the prominent reasons for setting up the center of the study is to educate aspiring doctors in the field of western medicine. Driven by the philosophy of molding physicians the college also has internships for the candidates which make them strong in their field.
3. Catholic University of Korea
Next on the list of the best medical schools in Korea is the college of medicine, the Catholic University of Korea. The university’s humble beginnings date back to 1855, when St. Joseph’s Seminary was founded. The university’s School of Medicine, on the other hand, was founded almost a century after it was founded. The College of Medicine adheres to an OMNIBUS curriculum, in which premedical education is tailored to each student. In addition, the curriculum offers two 6-week competency development classes that include consultations, diagnosis, simple medical procedures, and other treatment options.
4. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
Sungkyunkwan University is one of South Korea’s oldest and most famous universities, having been founded in 1398 during the Joseon era. Although the School of Medicine is relatively new, having been established in 1997, it is regarded as one of Korea’s premier medical institutions.
Despite this, the SKKU School of Medicine has produced a number of outstanding physicians in Korea. This is due to the school’s ground-breaking problem-based learning system. In fact, SKKU was the first in the country to offer a pre-clinical education curriculum like this. Three hospitals are associated with SKKU, the most well-known of which is the Samsung Medical Center. Medical students can also complete their clinical rotations at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and the Samsung Changwon Hospital, in addition to this hospital.
5. The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine
The Catholic University of Korea is also one of the best for students aiming to carve a niche in the field of medicine. Tracing its humble beginnings to 1855, the college follows an omnibus curriculum with premedical education for each student. Apart from clinical rotations, the university has humanity programs for students which provide insight into sympathy courses.
6. University of Ulsan
The University of Ulsan was founded in 1969 as the Ulsan Institute of Technology and is located in the southeastern area of Korea. A few decades later, in 1985, it became a full-fledged university. The renowned College of Medicine was founded three years later. The college has 450 instructors who monitor the students’ rotations in the Gangneung Asan Hospital and the Ulsan University Hospital, among others.
Also read: Top 10 Most Educated States in Nigeria (2022)
7. Pusan National University School of Medicine
Pusan National University, which is located in Busan, is Korea’s second-best public university. It was formed in 1946 as a two-year college and is currently known as Busan National University. While PNU is well-known for its engineering programs, it is also well-known for its medical school (not to be confused with the School of Traditional Korean Medicine, which is another department in the university). This medical school in Korea takes pleasure in grooming worldwide leaders in the area of medicine, in addition to producing great doctors. The Medical Research Center for Ischemic Tissue Regeneration, as well as the Research Institute for Medical Science, and Cancer Research Center, all focus on worldwide and specialized research.
8. Inje University
Located in Gimhae, Inje University was established in 1932 as the “Paik Clinic”. The Inje Medical College was established in 1979, and it later became a university a decade later. The College of Medicine was founded with the goal of producing “warm-hearted doctors crucial to the twenty-first century.”
The Evaluation of Medical Education Accreditation body declared it the best school in 2009. Problem-based learning and standardized patients are used in the curriculum to assist students become more successful physician-scientists. It also provides competency-based education, which can assist students in improving their problem-solving skills.
9. Seoul National University College of Medicine
The Seoul National University is often regarded as one of the best medical schools in Korea. Established in 1889, the institute has produced several bright doctors with the help of its Lee-Jung-wook curriculum. The college also pays attention to improve the skills of the candidates during the medical proper which makes it unique in the approach of imparting education.
10. Hanyang University College of Medicine
Touted as one of the top medical schools, Hanyang University was founded in 1939. The institute offers students to undergo clinical rotation in the esteemed research center and also provides opportunities including access to a global curriculum unlike any other. With all these benefits at the core, Hanyang University is a perfect choice to study the discipline for both locals and international candidates.
What is the duration of studying medicine in South Korea?
In South Korea, a Bachelor’s degree in medicine takes six years to complete. Students who have just graduated from high school must enroll in undergraduate courses for the first two years, with the third and fourth years devoted to pre-clinical fundamental science.
On the other hand, the remaining two years are dedicated to clinical rotations. Aside from high school graduates, any bachelor’s degree holder can apply to any of the top 10 best medical universities in Korea listed above. They only enter medical university during their third year of education.
Hence this is referred to as a transfer option.
Requirements for international students
If you are an international student thinking of applying for any of the 10 best medical universities in Korea, there are some basic requirements you must meet. To be considered for most Korean medical schools, international students must take the SAT/ACT as well as the Korean Language Proficiency Exam. Applicants may also need to take a TOEFL or IELTS exam, especially if they were educated in a Non-English curriculum school. Prospective international students must also apply for a study visa at the Korean embassy in their respective countries.
Charge of Medical Universities in South Korea
Let’s look at the average cost of the top 10 best medical universities in South Korea. In Korea, there are numerous expenses associated with attending medical school. Tuition, which can cost up to $15,000 per year, is one of the most significant expenses. There are also living costs such as rent, food, and other expenses to consider. Notwithstanding the fact that this can be a significant amount of money, there are options for overseas students to study for free.