China currently has the strictest regulations regarding university naming. According to a Ministry of Education regulation from 2020, universities are prohibited from using names containing words like: "China", "National", "International", or broad regional terms such as: "Northeast China", "North China".

Chinese names for foreign colleges and universities are also not permitted for arbitrary use. Notably, name changes must be spaced at least 10 years apart.

These regulations apply to regular universities, colleges, independent schools, and higher vocational and technical colleges established after the rule's enactment.

South Korea and Japan adopt a more flexible approach, yet they maintain clear conventions.

In South Korea, naming conventions often indicate ownership. According to the Korea Legislation Research Institute, national university names are governed by presidential decree; public universities are named by local governments. For private universities, the institution's founding charter dictates its name.

Although no specific law prohibits it, most government-established institutions include "National" in their names for distinction, such as: Seoul National University, Pusan National University, and others.

Some public academies do not use "National" but incorporate the country's or a local area's name, for example: Korea Naval Academy, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, and similar institutions.

Regarding the term "International", government data indicates fewer than 10 universities include it in their names.

Japan also does not explicitly regulate which words to include or avoid in university names. A decree from Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology only stipulates that names must align with the institution's role as a higher education facility and accurately reflect its educational and research focus.

Leading universities in Japan, such as: Tokyo and Osaka, prioritize using geographical names where their campuses are located, for instance: University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Hokkaido University, and others.

Students of Seoul National University, South Korea, at a graduation ceremony, 8/2025. *Photo: Seoul National University Fanpage*

In the United States, the government does not strictly control naming conventions. Colleges and universities can use "national" or "international" without special approval, such as: Florida International University (a public institution) or American National University in Salem, Virginia (a private institution).

However, prominent universities rarely use these two terms. The US public university system often links its name to the state or city, for example: University of Virginia, University of California. Conversely, renowned private institutions frequently name themselves after founders, such as: Harvard, Stanford, or benefactors, such as: Johns Hopkins, to honor their vision or acknowledge financial contributions.

The United Kingdom follows a similar pattern. Instead, the government rigorously regulates the licensing of an educational institution to use the terms "university" or "college".

Major universities are commonly named using the structure "University of" + regional name. For example: University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, University of Liverpool, and others. Institutions with "national" or "international" in their names are rare.

Khanh Linh