Ranked 1st for three consecutive years among Korea’s comprehensive private universities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018

Engineering & Technology ranking jumped 18 places compared to last year: Mechanical Engineering 47th in the World
Social Science & Management ranking rose by 7 spots: 32nd in the world
Impact factor on the rise in most subjects
Reaffirmed “World KU” status with excellent academic achievement

According to the 2018 University Rankings by Subject announced by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global university evaluation agency in the U.K., KU has been ranked 1st for three consecutive years among Korea’s comprehensive private universities, reaffirming its status as a global university.

QS releases world university rankings in 48 subjects (majors) within five academic disciplines—Arts & Humanities, Social Science & Management, Engineering & Technology, Life Science & Medicine, and Natural Science. QS University Rankings by Subject lists up to 500 rankings for each of 48 subjects. KU was ranked in the top 100 in 22 subjects (top 1-50 in seven subjects; top 51-100 in 15 subjects), placing itself in the top spot among Korea’s comprehensive private universities.

The most notable achievement is the steep rise in the Engineering & Technology ranking. This ranking has jumped 18 places from 66th to 48th compared to last year, securing the top score among comprehensive private universities in Korea. The Social Science & Management ranking has also risen by 7 places to 32nd compared to last year, and KU was able to defend its number one spot among Korea’s comprehensive private universities.

By subject, KU joined the world’s leading universities in the top 50 list for Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering. This subject’s ranking has jumped 12 places compared to the last year, from 59th to 47th.

[ 1st among Korean comprehensive private universities in the following specific subjects ]

[Engineering & Technology]
The steep rise in the Engineering & Technology ranking is the most notable achievement. The engineering & technology ranking has jumped 18 places from 66th to 48th compared to last year, and secured the top score among comprehensive private universities in Korea. KU outstripped University of Michigan (56th), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (56th), and Cornell University (60th) in the engineering & technology ranking. In particular, Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering at KU entered the world’s top 50. Its ranking has jumped 12 spots from the top 51-100 range to 47th compared to last year. KU’s Electrical & Electronics engineering was also included in the top 51-100. In addition, KU’s Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and Civil & Structural Engineering were ranked 1st among Korean comprehensive private universities in the employer reputation area.

[Social Science & Management]
The Social Science & Management ranking has risen by seven places to 32nd compared to last year and kept the top spot among comprehensive private universities in Korea. In terms of the H-index, an indicator of the quantity and quality of research, KU tied for 1st place in Korea with Seoul National University. This shows that KU’s success in Social Science & Management is far ahead of some of the world’s most famous universities, including University of Michigan (38th), Tsinghua University (39th), Cornell University (55th), and Duke University (56th).
Specifically, the Accounting & Finance ranking has risen by one spot to 46th compared to last year. KU’s Politics & International Studies, Economics & Econometrics, and Sociology all took the top spot among Korea’s comprehensive private universities in all evaluation areas (researcher reputation, employer reputation, impact factor, and H-index). KU’s Accounting & Finance, Law, and Education were all ranked 1st in Korea in the impact factor and H-index areas, overtaking Seoul National University.

[Natural Science]
In natural sciences, KU achieved a 1st place in Korea in Chemistry, alongside Seoul National University in Korea in terms of H-index, an indicator of the quantity and quality of research. KU’s Environmental Science and Geography subjects took the top spot in the research reputation and employer reputation areas among Korea’s comprehensive private universities. Mathematics at KU was also ranked 1st in Korea in terms of impact factor, surpassing Seoul National University.

[Arts & Humanities]
In the field of arts and humanities, Art & Design at KU entered the QS rankings for the first time this year, with even further growth expected in the future. Linguistics, English Literature, and History at KU took the top spot among Korea’s comprehensive private universities in the researcher reputation area, and Architecture at KU was ranked 1st in the employer reputation area.

[Life Science & Medicine]
In Life Science & Medicine, KU’s ranking in Medicine has risen by two places, continuing its upturn in four years. The subject of Agriculture at KU was ranked 1st among Korean comprehensive private universities in the employer and researcher reputation area. Psychology took first place among Korean universities in terms of H-index, outdoing Seoul National University.

[ First place among Korean universities in terms of the following indicators ]

-Accounting & Finance
Impact Factor
H-Index
-Communication & Media Studies
H-Index
-Mathematics
H-Index
-Law
Impact Factor
H-Index
-Education
Impact Factor
H-Index
-Psychology
H-Index

Through the passion and efforts of its faculty, staff, and students, KU was able to achieve great results, such as being ranked in the top 50 in the most number of subjects among Korean comprehensive private universities in the world university rankings and achieving a rising impact factor. The humanities have traditionally been KU’s strong suit, but this year the university has seen significant growth in the area of technology and engineering. This success was not an overnight miracle, but the fruit of KU’s continued effort to develop its academic capacity over the past 113 years. KU will continue to march towards the future.