The 2021 release of Quacquarelli Symonds’ (QS) World University Rankings consolidates Korea University (KU)’s status as a global university, and reaffirms the institution’s number one spot as Korea’s best private institution. This rank is supported by QS’s decisions on 27 of the offered majors listed within the Top 100 list of their respective fields, along with a balanced support system for both Natural Sciences courses and Liberal Arts majors. Even KAIST and POSTEC’s rankings in their Natural Sciences programs are outnumbered, with KU offering 13 programs that rank in the Top 100 category for their divisions.

Four fields of study are ranked within the Top 50 worldwide. Social Policy & Administration, Modern Language, Business Management and Materials Security are the degree programs with such esteem, ranked 38th and 48th for the remaining three. Additions to the Top 100 list include Anatomy & Physiology, Archaeology, Social Sciences & Management, Engineering & Technology, and Natural Sciences. KU has ranked as top 69 worldwide – among the highest rankings given to universities in Korea for the past six years, making this the seventh year of retaining this prestigious rank.