About
Korea National Open University (KNOU) is the Republic of Korea's only national university dedicated to distance education, offering flexible learning opportunities primarily for working adults and those seeking higher education without traditional campus attendance. It is well-regarded for its broad range of programs across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and education, with strong faculties in areas like Business Administration and Computer Science. For international students, the experience is largely self-directed and requires strong Korean language proficiency, as most courses are taught in Korean. While it doesn't have a traditional campus-based international student experience with dedicated international schools or extensive English-taught programs, it provides a unique pathway to a Korean degree through its online platform. Its distinctive characteristic is its pioneering role as the nation's largest and oldest distance learning institution.
Background
Korea National Open University (KNOU, Korean: 한국방송통신대학교) is a national university of South Korea. KNOU is South Korea's leading institution for open education, providing accessible and flexible higher education to over 94,000 students and the largest educational institution in the country by enrollment. Established in 1972 and becoming an independent national university in 1982, KNOU removes barriers to learning by offering undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs without traditional entry restrictions. Its open education model enables students from diverse backgrounds to pursue accredited degrees through various formats, including online platforms and regional centers. With evolving technology and increased demand for remote learning, KNOU has expanded opportunities for self-directed education, making higher learning more inclusive and widely available. Korea National Open University ranked 151st among the top 1,000 major universities according to the Academic ranking of World Universities index of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2016) and 201st in the World University Rankings index published by Times Higher Education (2017).
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Wondering if Korea National Open University is the right fit for you?
SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.