PNU · Busan
PNU says it was established as Korea's first national university on 15 May 1946. Its main campus sits on the eastern skirt of Geumjeong Mountain in Busan. Most exchange students study at this Jangjeon main campus.
Hansol Jeong, public domain, resizedThings Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
PNU says it was established on 15 May 1946 as Korea's first national university. It opened as Pusan National College with humanities and maritime affairs departments, and became a comprehensive university in 1953 with six colleges.
The provincial government aimed for a ₩10 million foundation fund. Residents and businesses gave nearly ₩10,330,000, and the extra paid for library books.
In early 1954 PNU secured a site of about 1.65 million m² on the eastern skirt of Geumjeong Mountain. A ceremony for the Hyowon Building in December 1954 started what the school calls the age of the Hyowon Campus.
The first president, In-Ku Yun, set the school philosophy as Truth, Freedom and Service. PNU still lists them as its core values.
PNU describes itself as a leader in the Bu-Ma Democratic Movement of 1979 and the June democratic movement of 1987.
PNU says it celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2026. It now has four campuses: Busan, Yangsan, Miryang and Ami.
From PNU's official English pages (founding story and about PNU), checked on 26 October 2026.
Help for international students at PNU.
PNU pairs every exchange student with a PNU student, who helps with course registration and campus life.
The Office of International Affairs' own account, with notices and events for international students.
@pnu_internationalInstagram accounts checked on 21 October 2026.
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at PNU.
Going with friends? Make a group in A-CHA for your own crew and send them the invite link.
Open to every international student in Korea, not only at PNU.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
PNU's main campus is in Jangjeon, Busan, and most departments are here. A few majors are taught at the Yangsan or Miryang campuses, and your dorm goes with your major's campus.
부산광역시 금정구 부산대학로63번길 2
2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
The Dongnae hot springs and Sajik Baseball Stadium within 5 km of campus, and every place to eat nearby.
A hot spring, not a jjimjilbang. Open 05:30 to 22:00 every day, a 5-minute walk from Oncheonjang Stn. Check the tattoo rules before you go.
Dongnae Halmae Pajeon near the Dongnae district office is the best-known place. Portions are large, so go with at least one other person.
Lotte Giants home games run from late March to October, and the 2026 home season ends on Oct 10. Online booking is for members only, so buy at the stadium ticket windows or kiosks, which open 2 hours before the game on weekdays and 3 hours before at weekends and on holidays. Games start at 18:30 on weekdays and at 14:00 or 17:00 at weekends. The whole stadium sings 부산 갈매기 (Busan Seagull) together, and the newspaper pom-poms and orange plastic-bag hats came back in 2025 as team merch. The Giants last won the Korean Series in 1992, and the fans are famous for staying loyal anyway. A 10-minute walk from Sajik Station.
For Spring 2027. The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official PNU page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on PNU's official site before you apply or book anything. PNU exchange programme ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university nominates you on PNU's site, then PNU emails you the application guide. For spring, nominations close on 20 October and your application on 30 October. Results come by email in mid-December.
There's no minimum GPA and no language test. You need enough English or Korean to follow your courses. The bank statement must show ₩5,000,000 for one semester or ₩12,400,000 for two, plus ₩300,000 if you start in spring. If your nationality isn't an OECD country, post the original bank statement and an apostilled enrolment certificate.
Take your certificate of admission to the Korean consulate at home and apply for a D-2-6 exchange student visa.
You need National Health Insurance, which starts once you register and is paid monthly, and private insurance too. That can be PNU's group insurance or your own. If you bring your own, email the certificate to insurance@pusan.ac.kr in February or August.
PNU emails a pre-arrival guide in late December. Orientation is in the first week of March and classes start on 2 March.
Every exchange student staying more than 90 days has to. You apply at the Busan Immigration Office.
You need the card to open a phone contract in your own name, open a bank account and sign up for most Korean apps.
Booking the immigration visit. Papers, fee and HiKorea screens step by step. Read the guide
PNU has dorms on campus for international students, and you apply for them through the International Office.
PNU's 2026/2027 exchange fact sheet and International Office housing page. Checked on 21 October 2026.
PNU doesn't help with off-campus housing, so you find and sign for it yourself.
Korean universities point exchange students to these. They're private companies with no tie to any school. Don't send a deposit before you've seen the contract.
Finding a room. Browse rooms near campus in the app. If nothing fits, tell us what you need and we'll ask local agents for you, free.
The Department of Global Studies teaches everything in English, in law, international relations, history, economics and more.
Some other departments may not offer English courses.
About ₩2,100,000 to ₩2,400,000
A semester, three meals a day included
Take your certificate of admission to the Korean consulate at home and apply for a D-2-6 exchange student visa.
PNU Buddy
PNU pairs every exchange student with a PNU student, who helps with course registration and campus life.
Yes.
PNU has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
PNU emails a pre-arrival guide in late December.
Orientation is in the first week of March and classes start on 2 March.
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Every exchange student staying more than 90 days has to.
You apply at the Busan Immigration Office.
You need National Health Insurance, which starts once you register and is paid monthly, and private insurance too.
That can be PNU's group insurance or your own.
If you bring your own, email the certificate to insurance@pusan.ac.kr in February or August.
12 to 19 credits for undergraduates, or up to 21 in Engineering and Education.
Graduate students take 3 to 10.
If you plan to take fewer than 12, email foreign@pusan.ac.kr first.
Your home university nominates you on PNU's site, then PNU emails you the application guide.
For spring, nominations close on 20 October and your application on 30 October.
Results come by email in mid-December.
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