Deferring graduation, also known as a “voluntary fifth year,” allows students who have completed their program to continue to maintain their student status for easier access to internship opportunities and recruitment information.
Jin Sun-mi, a Democratic Party lawmaker, warned of an alarming trend that the number of students postponing graduation is skyrocketing, especially at universities outside the Seoul area.
At the same time, the race to enter universities in the capital has also begun to show signs of reversing, signaling a change in students' strategy amid the ongoing job crisis.
Students at Korea University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun district, Seoul (Photo: Yonhap).
According to government data, as of September, more than 9,000 students at nine major provincial universities and six top private universities in Seoul had applied to postpone their graduation. The number is nearly 50% higher than the 6,138 students in 2022 and is expected to rise further as many schools have not yet processed applications for next year.
The trend is particularly severe in the provinces. At Pusan National University, the number of students deferring graduation this year reached 589, a 36% increase and the highest level in four years.
Other major universities in Busan also recorded more than 1,800 students delaying graduation, with the rate reaching up to 13% of the students who would have graduated.
Experts warn that the delay reflects the severity of the youth employment crisis and could widen economic disparities between regions.
“Companies want candidates with a wide range of skills, and it’s easier to prepare for that as a student than as an unemployed graduate,” explained Choi Seung-hee, 24, who is postponing her graduation.
“The late entry of young people into society will harm local economies and drag down the country’s long-term growth potential,” said Kim Jae-hoon, a sociology professor at Kangwon National University.
Along with the postponement of graduation, university admissions data also shows a trend of students gradually shifting away from the long-standing tradition of concentrating their studies in Seoul.
The rate of candidates applying to universities in the capital for the 2026 admissions has plummeted to the lowest level since a major overhaul of the university academic aptitude test in 2022.
In contrast, applications to universities outside Seoul increased in most regions.
Experts point out that students are prioritizing lower living costs, higher chances of admission and special admissions options for local students.
"Many students are avoiding the fierce competition in Seoul and strategically choosing regional universities," said Woo Yeon-cheol, head of the Jinhaksa Admissions Strategy Research Institute.
Kieu Yen
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/so-that-nghiep-sinh-vien-dung-tieu-xao-de-o-lai-truong-1-nam-20251128155331845.htm
Comment (0)