Korea Aims to Shorten Integrated University Degree Programs

Public Consultation Opens for Higher Education Decree Amendments

The Korean Ministry of Education has announced proposed amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act, signaling a move to significantly shorten the study periods for students pursuing integrated or linked university degree programs. The legislative notice, which opened for public comment on April 6, 2026, aims to streamline academic pathways and align with recent revisions to the overarching Higher Education Act.

For international readers, Korea’s higher education system often includes ‘integrated’ programs, where a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (or even a Doctoral degree) are designed as a single, continuous curriculum. ‘Linked’ or ‘combined’ programs, while similar, usually offer specific advantages for students transitioning directly between distinct degree levels. The proposed amendments seek to make both these pathways more efficient by reducing the overall time required for completion.

Specifically, the proposed decree introduces the following reductions in study periods:

• Bachelor’s-Master’s Linked Programs: Students will be able to reduce their total study period by up to two years, aligning these with existing Bachelor’s-Master’s Integrated Programs.
• Master’s-Doctoral Linked Programs: Students may reduce their study period by up to one year and six months, mirroring the existing Master’s-Doctoral Integrated Programs.
• Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctoral Integrated and Linked Programs: Both types of comprehensive programs—those integrating all three degrees and those linking them—will allow for a reduction in study time by up to two years and six months.

In addition to these program changes, the amendments will also update the legal basis for conferring honorary doctorates. This adjustment reflects a recent change in the relevant article of the main Higher Education Act (from Article 35, Paragraph 5 to Paragraph 6), ensuring that the detailed regulations within the Enforcement Decree remain consistent with the primary law.

The Ministry of Education is inviting institutions, organizations, and individuals to submit their opinions on the proposed changes. This public consultation period, known as ‘Ipbeop Yego’ in Korea, is a standard administrative procedure for new or amended legislation, ensuring transparency and public input. The deadline for feedback is Monday, May 18, 2026.

Comments can be submitted online via the National Participation in Legislation Center (http://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr), or by mail or email. Please include your opinion on the proposal (stating reasons if opposing), your name (or organization name and representative), address, and phone number. For further details, interested parties can refer to the Ministry of Education website (http://www.moe.go.kr) or contact the University Academic Affairs Division at 044-203-6850.

Source: 법제처 — Original Article (Korean)