More S. Korean University Students Postpone Graduation

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Education, the period of time Korean students spend as undergraduates is getting longer.

In 2008, the average was 5.58 years. That rose to 5.76 in 2009. Today, most of the students who attend four-year course universities spend at least six years completing their courses. Yonsei University’s students spend an average of 75 months as undergraduates, followed by the 72-month average at Seoul National University.

Students delay graduation in multiple ways. Some intentionally do poorly in classes in order to not receive credit, while others do not turn in required English test scores or fail to take graduation examinations. According to a June 6, 2011 articlein Dongguk University’s Dongguk Post, many students take advantage of “credit-washing” policies that allow them to retake courses in which they have earned unsatisfactory grades.

Some universities are even carrying out graduation delay policies to meet students’ demands. These policies allow students to postpone graduation by taking extra courses. In addition to allowing students to stay in school longer, they bring in extra money for the schools.

Although they are in demand, there may be downsides to these policies. The Dongguk Post article mentions that credit-washing, in particular, has frustrated first-year students who must compete with students who have taken courses multiple times. While it is profitable for schools, it is expensive for families who must pay for the additional classes.

Many students, however, feel like spending more time in school is their best option. Park Sung-yeun, who works at the Department of Education, explained the students’ reasoning in a quote for the Dongguk Post:  “I should be allowed to take all the time I need to get good grades… Most students do this, so why shouldn’t I? I need to get good credits to find a good job.”

Other students prolong their undergraduate study for different reasons. Some attribute the phenomenon to unemployment, which is beginning to rise again after falling during most of last year. There are other causes as well, such as wanting to rely on parents a little bit longer.