Yonsei University’s Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing have achieved outstanding results in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a renowned global university ranking agency.
Yonsei University’s medical, dental, and nursing schools achieved top rankings in Korea and significant global recognition in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. (Credit: Severance Hospital)
According to the latest rankings, Yonsei University’s medical school secured the second position in Korea and ranked 55th globally, while the dental school maintained its top position in Korea and placed 31st worldwide. The nursing school also ranked first in the country and 37th globally.
Notably, the medical and nursing schools attained their highest rankings to date, with the dental and nursing schools holding the top spot in Korea for three and four consecutive years, respectively.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject assess over 5,200 universities worldwide across 55 disciplines using key indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, H-index (a measure of research impact), and international research collaboration (International Research Network, IRN).
Yonsei University’s College of Medicine has been expanding its research infrastructure through the Avison Biomedical Research Center while actively recruiting outstanding young faculty members annually.
Also, it receives support from national programs such as the BK21 initiative and the Research-Oriented Hospital Project, fostering both basic and clinical research. The university has also established physician-scientist training programs and research-focused faculty positions, enabling medical professionals to delve into fundamental medical sciences.
Interdisciplinary research collaborations with the College of Life Science and Biotechnology, the College of Engineering, and external institutions have resulted in innovative research projects.
The medical school has also been selected for a national initiative, receiving 1.5 billion won ($1 million) in funding from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) for a global physician-scientist training project. This initiative focuses on establishing global networks, enhancing collaboration with leading overseas researchers, and expanding career development opportunities for potential physician-scientists.
These research investments have yielded significant achievements. In 2024, a cardiology research team published a study in The Lancet demonstrating how optical coherence tomography can improve outcomes for complex coronary artery disease and a gastroenterology research team published findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on the predictive capabilities of liver fibrosis scans for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease prognosis.
Yonsei University’s College of Dentistry has developed a long-term research plan to explore interdisciplinary and cutting-edge dental research fields. A notable milestone was its selection for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s MRC (Medical Research Center) initiative in 2024. The research center will receive 9.45 billion won in funding over the next seven years until 2031.
Also, Yonsei’s International Dental Academy has established itself as the premier international dental education center in Korea, training dentists from around the world in advanced dental technologies.
The number of international courses offered has doubled compared to domestic courses, with a growing number of students from leading medical nations, including the U.S. and Germany.
The dental school has also strengthened global collaborations through research exchanges, faculty-student partnerships, and sharing of academic achievements. In 2024 alone, it signed MOUs with dental schools in Japan, Australia, India, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and the U.S., fostering strategic relationships and facilitating substantial academic and research exchanges.
Yonsei University’s College of Nursing continues to enhance its global research impact through international collaboration and interdisciplinary studies. The school has formed research clusters under GAINS (Global & Population Health, Aging Initiatives, Innovative Technology in Nursing, and Symptom Science) to promote collaborative research. These efforts have enabled the school to secure the largest research funding in the field of nursing in Korea.
In a pioneering achievement, the nursing school became the first institution in its field to be designated as a research center focused on aging and health by the Ministry of Education. This initiative aims to advance research in health sciences related to aging societies.
The school also promotes multi-disciplinary research across fields such as medicine, engineering, and psychology to address social issues and drive nursing innovation.
The school is committed to fostering future nursing scientists through the BK21 Future Nursing Talent Education and Research Group. Since 2022, it has offered integrated master’s and doctoral programs, as well as an applied health sciences major, to train well-rounded researchers, educators, and policymakers.
Yonsei’s nursing school has made notable contributions to global health equity by supporting nursing education in developing countries. It played a key role in establishing Bangladesh’s first graduate nursing school, helping train local nursing educators and researchers, further enhancing its international reputation.
“The outstanding research and educational capabilities of Yonsei University’s Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing have been recognized by a leading global university ranking institution,” Yonsei University Health System CEO and President Keum Ki-chang said. “We will continue enhancing each school’s strengths to showcase the excellence of Korean healthcare worldwide.”