Sahmyook University to Expand Early Admissions and Sharply Increase Essay-Based Selection

Sahmyook University will accept applications for its 2027 early admissions from the 7th through the 11th on Jinhak Apply. It plans to select 1,029 students, 204 more than last year, bringing early admissions to nearly 80% of total intake.

The biggest change is the expansion of the essay-based excellence track. Excluding theology and arts and physical education fields, the university will recruit 277 students, up 123 from last year’s 154. Pharmacy will join the track for the first time, with five places.

The essay track evaluates applicants entirely through the written examination and does not consider school-record grades. For most departments, applicants must meet a minimum requirement of one subject at grade three or better among Korean, English, mathematics and one social studies or science subject. Pharmacy applicants must achieve a combined grade of five or better in three subjects among Korean, English, mathematics with calculus or geometry, and one science subject.

The exam uses a short-answer essay format based on the regular high-school curriculum and EBS-linked materials. General departments will set 13 Korean and mathematics questions over 80 minutes, down from 15 questions last year. Pharmacy applicants will answer eight mathematics questions in the same time.

The Seum Talent comprehensive track will select 231 students. The university will first choose four times the final number through document evaluation, then combine document scores at 60% and interviews at 40%. Interviews will last no more than eight minutes and will use school records without a presentation. Names, schools and family information will be anonymised.

The school-principal recommendation track will select 131 students using school-record grades alone, except in physical education and art and design, where practical tests carry greater weight. Sahmyook will apply a five-grade transcript scale one year ahead of its nationwide introduction. Pharmacy will retain the existing nine-grade scale because the university says it needs finer distinctions among top applicants. The university will accept cross-applications across all tracks.