Designing a Level-Based Academic Support Program for International Undergraduates: Focusing on a Case Study at University A

This study aims to design a level-based academic support program for international undergraduate students enrolled at a Korean university. To this end, the program design theoretically incorporates key components of academic competence—the essential abilities international students need to adapt successfully to an academic environment. Subsequently, the study analyzed the current status of international students and the existing academic support system at A university in Korea where the program would be implemented. The findings showed a significant correlation between Korean proficiency and GPA, with many students struggling in their academic performance due to limited language ability. Based on these insights, a Korean language screening process was introduced into the support system to effectively match program content to student needs. Students were classified into four bands—sufficient, needs some support, borderline, and at-risk—according to their screening results, and appropriate academic support was designed for each band. Furthermore, the program was structured in a stepwise format, allowing students to continue receiving support even after progressing to a higher band. This level-based program is expected to facilitate the early academic adjustment of international undergraduates and strengthen their academic learning competence.