GoKawiilSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 13: Students wait for the start of the annual college entrance examinations at an exam hall on November 13, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam. More than 550,000 high school seniors and graduates sit for the examinations at 1,300 test centers across the country. Success in the exam, one of the most rigorous standardized tests in the world, allows students to study at Korea’s top universities. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji - Pool/Getty Images)
AI disruption has led several prominent entrepreneurs to question the value of traditional college graduate programs. But top South Korean tech companies continue to ascribe value to degrees.
In fact, they are helping craft university courses that fast-track entry into the AI sector, with some offering guaranteed jobs to graduates.
Jung Chae-rin is a second-year student at Sogang University's Department of System Semiconductor Engineering, a four-year degree established in partnership with memory-chip maker SK Hynix.
Her course comes with a guarantee of employment in SK Hynix upon graduation.
At Sungkyunkwan University, or SKKU, third-year student Kim Tae-rin is at the Department of Intelligent Software, a five-year integrated bachelor's and master's program in AI software, created in partnership with Samsung Electronics.
Her route also increases the chances of employment, but she must first clear a separate Samsung hiring process.
The corporate programs belong to a category within South Korea's university system known as "contract departments." Companies help universities develop courses, provide financial support and create pathways through which qualifying students can join them.
SK Hynix has partnerships with several South Korean universities including Korea University and Hanyang University.
Rival Samsung Electronics collaborates with institutes such as Yonsei University, the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, as well as the Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology.
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