"Comparable to Korean Medicine Schools"... Cut-off Scores for Semiconductor Contract Departments Linked to Samsung and SK hynix Soar

Application Cut-Off at 288 Points Based on June Mock Exam
Medical Schools: 292, Dental Schools: 290, Pharmacy Schools: 286

The preference for semiconductor contract departments, which lead to employment at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, is rising significantly. According to analysis in the admissions industry, the cut-off scores required to apply for semiconductor contract departments have climbed to a level similar to that of colleges of Korean medicine, based on the June 2027 mock exam preliminary grading results.

According to MegaStudy Education’s analysis of the June 2027 mock exam preliminary results released on June 9, the minimum score required to apply for semiconductor contract departments was 288 points or higher in the combined total for Korean language, mathematics, and science subjects.

For the top natural science tracks, the anticipated minimum score for medical schools was 292 points, for dental schools 290 points, for colleges of Korean medicine 288 points, and for pharmacy schools 286 points. As a result, semiconductor contract departments are expected to have cut-off scores at a similar level to colleges of Korean medicine, and potentially higher than those for pharmacy schools.

Semiconductor contract departments are recruitment-linked programs operated jointly by universities and corporations. For example, Yonsei University’s System Semiconductor Engineering Department is linked with Samsung Electronics, and Korea University’s Semiconductor Engineering Department is linked with SK hynix. Students who meet certain requirements can receive scholarships, internships, and opportunities for employment after graduation.

While semiconductor contract departments have traditionally been among the more popular science and engineering majors, their cut-off scores had been lower than those for medicine, dentistry, Korean medicine, or pharmacy. However, the recent surge in demand for AI semiconductors and improvements in the memory semiconductor market have shifted the landscape.

As Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have garnered attention for offering high salaries and large bonuses amid a semiconductor industry boom, analysis suggests that both students and parents have become increasingly interested in contract departments that promise stable employment at major corporations.

This upward trend is also evident in early admissions. For the 2026 academic year, the minimum GPA required for admission to the semiconductor contract departments at Yonsei University and Korea University reached record highs. The average minimum GPA for Yonsei University’s System Semiconductor Engineering Department rose to 1.47, up significantly from 3.1 in 2021, the first year the department was established. Korea University’s Semiconductor Engineering Department also saw its minimum GPA rise from 3.25 in 2021 to 2.68 in 2026.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.