Yonsei University Introduces Year-Round Transfer Program for U.S. Students Amid Talent Drain

In response to the talent drain caused by the U.S. government's policies on international students, Yonsei University has announced a new year-round transfer program aimed at undergraduate students from American universities. As of July 2, 2025, students in their second or third year at U.S. institutions can return to Korea and, upon passing written exams and interviews, enroll at Yonsei to complete their degrees. Other universities in South Korea are also recognizing this as an opportunity to attract top students from the U.S. and are launching their own recruitment initiatives.

According to reports, Yonsei University is considering revising its regulations to allow students from partner U.S. universities to earn credits and graduate while on exchange. The goal is to implement this change starting in the first semester of 2026.

Previously, the duration of exchange programs at Yonsei was limited to a maximum of two semesters. However, this restriction will be lifted, allowing students to continue their studies until they earn enough credits for graduation. Discussions are underway to establish agreements with U.S. universities so that students can receive diplomas bearing the name of their original institution. Currently, one Ivy League university has expressed interest in such an agreement. A Yonsei representative stated, "Increasing the number of exchange students from prestigious U.S. universities will help improve our international rankings and enhance our competitiveness. While this program primarily targets U.S. students, we are also considering including students from other countries."

For undergraduate students from foreign universities that do not have exchange agreements with Yonsei, the university plans to select candidates through a standard transfer process. These students will undergo document reviews, essays, and major-specific written exams and interviews. They will receive diplomas from Yonsei rather than their original U.S. institutions. Although the admission process will be similar to the standard transfer process, applicants will be able to apply at any time. Tuition fees are expected to be set at levels comparable to those at their previous U.S. universities.

As the Trump administration has intensified scrutiny on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on campuses and tightened international student visa processes, universities worldwide are competing to attract American talent. The European Union has allocated €500 million for researcher recruitment, while France has introduced separate hiring tracks and research budgets for American researchers. Australia has also launched a 'Global Talent Attraction Program' focused on ensuring a supportive research environment.

In line with this global trend, other South Korean universities are also implementing talent attraction strategies. Seoul National University recently announced that it will expand its 'International Joint Research Support' program, previously limited to graduate students in the BK21 project, to all graduate students starting this fall. This initiative will provide funding for travel, training, and living expenses for students engaged in international research. A representative from Seoul National University stated, "The aim is to naturally draw the interest of international talent to our institution through research support."

Korea University plans to introduce a 'Research-Focused Faculty System' starting in the 2026 academic year, which will expand incentives for non-tenured professors based on their research output, aiming to hire more outstanding foreign faculty. The university has already amended its regulations to facilitate this initiative. A representative from Korea University mentioned, "We plan to actively recruit researchers from prestigious U.S. institutions like Harvard to enhance our global research competitiveness."

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is currently in the process of hiring 200 foreign postdoctoral researchers specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). They are sending recruitment teams to major U.S. cities such as New York, Silicon Valley, and Boston to attract top researchers, offering each a research budget of approximately 9 million won. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) also plans to visit several universities in major U.S. cities this summer to conduct large-scale recruitment of international talent.