Feb 26, 2014 09:41 AM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Korean Ministry of Education has approved the functioning of University of Utah Asia campus in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, about an hour away from Seoul. The U's Asia premise will now be part of a global campus that already includes the State University of New York, Belgium's Ghent University and George Mason University. 

David W. Pershing, the university president, said that the approval now allows the institution to accomplish its core mission to serve Utahns. The campus aims to offer convenient, cost-effective and the best quality academic experience for Utah students in Asia.

"What we are excited about for our students is to be able to expand in ways that create for them experiences they'd never be able to get here in Utah," said Mike Hardman, Chief Global Officer at the University of Utah, KUTV reports.

Hardman said that in order to flourish and grow in a global economy, it is important for students to interact with their counterparts from other parts of the world.

The U of U Asia campus hopes to admit 2,000 students in six years. The student body of the campus is expected to comprise of 40 percent Korean students, 40 percent students from other Asian nations and 20 percent students from the United States and Europe.

Utah's Asia campus will offer three undergraduate degrees:  Communication, social work and psychology and one graduate degree in public health. The university officials said that additional degree programs will be added beginning fall 2015.

Undergraduate students at the U Asia Campus will spend three years in Korea and one year at the university's main campus, while the graduate students will complete a year in Incheon and another at the Salt Lake City.

The enrollment requirements and tuition costs will be similar to that of the Salt Lake campus.  Utah students who attend the Asia campus will be allowed to pay in-state tuition. Students will receive University of Utah degrees upon graduation.

The University of Utah has begun accepting student applications for the first fall semester until July 1 at its new Asia Campus. Applications are available at www.utah.edu. 

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