By Bahk Eun-ji

North Korea's top university, Kim Il Sung University, plans to admit more foreign students by expanding major studies available to them, according to the Choson Sinbo Saturday.

The pro-Pyongyang newspaper, published in Japan, said the university would allow international students to major in various economic and social science studies, including philosophy, law and history, beginning next year.

About 100 students from 33 countries, including China, Russia, Vietnam, France, Mongolia and Britain, are enrolled at the university in Pyongyang. The university has opened its doors to international students since 1954, but their majors have been limited to the Korean language.

The newspaper said foreign students are allowed to study Korean there if they take a one-year preliminary course at the Kim Hyong Jik University of Education and pass Kim Il Sung University's entrance exam.

"Foreign students who finish the four-year undergraduate studies can also earn degrees after completing a two-year master's course and a three-year Ph.D. course," the Choson Sinbo said. "The university also offers a correspondence Ph.D. course for professors at its partner schools overseas."

The school provides classes at its new building on Pyongyang's Ryomyong Street. In August, it finished building a 12-story foreign students-only dormitory near the school.

International students usually take classes in the Korean language, history and culture in the morning while having "field studies" in the afternoon by visiting museums or exhibition halls, according to the newspaper.

Marking the 70th year of its founding last year, Kim Il Sung University announced a plan to become a top-level world university.