“I wasn’t ready to leave school when I felt like I had no place in society. That fear left me with no choice but to postpone graduation.”

Park Jin-hee (Department of Sociology, 4th year), who entered Hanyang University in 2020, chose not to graduate this past February. Although she had completed all credits and 토토사이트 슈퍼맨 requirements, she decided to maintain her student status, feeling unprepared to enter the job market.

For today’s students, deferring graduation—formally called the Bachelor’s Degree Completion Deferral system—is no longer an unusual choice. According to Hanyang University’s Office of Academic Affairs, 907 of 2,403 eligible graduates (38%) chose to defer their graduation in February 2024. In August 2023, that number rose to a striking 70%. A decade ago, this wasn’t even an option. Today, it’s something nearly every student considers—or feels compelled to consider.

The most common reason for deferring graduation is job hunting. The pressure to transition directly from university to the workforce continues to mount. As Park put it, “After graduation, I would be labeled a jobseeker, which is essentially an unemployed person. Staying enrolled as a student helped reduce some of that anxiety.” She added, “If you remain unemployed for a long time after graduation, it can hurt your image in the job market. That makes it hard to take the leap into graduation.”

With companies scaling back new graduate hires and prioritizing internships or experienced candidates amid a prolonged economic downturn, graduation deferral has become a practical necessity. According to a 2023 survey by job portal JobKorea, the top reason students deferred graduation was “to secure more time for job preparation.” As it becomes harder for young people to land jobs, more are turning to this system.

Notwithstanding the fulfillment of all requirements specified in Clause 1, a student may apply for a deferral of bachelor’s degree conferral within the designated period. Detailed regulations regarding this process shall be stipulated separately.

<Enacted Apr. 2, 2014; Revised Jul. 2, 2019>

Hanyang University’s deferral system was first introduced in 2014 as the “graduation hold” policy and restructured in 2019 under its current name. It was designed to accommodate students who need more time for personal development or job preparation. Students who have completed at least eight semesters and satisfied all graduation requirements can apply starting from the semester of their expected graduation. Applications are accepted every semester, up to a maximum of four times.

Students can choose whether to register for classes while in deferral. Tuition is charged based on the number of credits registered. Those who opt not to take classes are not charged tuition. Students interested in participating in the university’s field training program (HY-WEP) must choose to register for courses.

An official from the Office of Academic Affairs noted, “Some universities don’t offer this system at all, or require students to enroll in courses. Hanyang’s policy is designed to be flexible based on students’ needs.”

Deferral also grants students access to campus facilities and the HY-in portal, as well as certificates such as Certificate of Expected 토토사이트 슈퍼맨 or Certificate of Completion. Those enrolled in courses can also receive a Certificate of Enrollment. This allows students to continue receiving benefits reserved for university students.

The program is best suited for 토토사이트 슈퍼맨 who need time to explore career options, prepare for employment, or gain experience through competitions and internships while maintaining student status. It also serves those pursuing graduate school or international study who need administrative flexibility.

“Since everyone’s plans are different, it’s hard to say who this system is ‘perfect’ for,” said an academic affairs official. “But for any student who needs to remain enrolled, it can be a very useful tool.”

In some ways, the system offers psychological protection against the immense pressure to secure employment. Four years is often too short a time to fully define and pursue a career path. In Korea, the belief that 토토사이트 슈퍼맨 must be followed immediately by employment still prevails. Deferral acts as a much-needed buffer in this landscape.

That said, deferral can lose its value if it leads to complacency or wasted time. For the system to serve its intended purpose, 토토사이트 슈퍼맨 must objectively assess their goals and use their time strategically.

Graduation deferral can be a chance to pause and regroup in the face of an uncertain future. But it requires an active, intentional approach—clarifying goals and making the most of the time granted.

At the crossroads of 토토사이트 슈퍼맨, some students move forward, others take a moment to breathe. What matters is choosing wisely, moving at your own pace, and taking ownership of your journey.