Ajou University
아주대학교
A Suwon engineering and IT university that began as a Korea-France technical college and aimed to be the MIT of Asia.
- Students
- 13,842
- 9,825 undergraduates
- International
- 14%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩7.5M
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1973
About Ajou
Ajou University grew out of a 1971 Korea-France agreement to create a technical college for exchanging technology and culture. Ajou Engineering Junior College opened in March 1973 with 280 students in four departments, became Ajou Engineering College a year later, and was later acquired by the Daewoo Institute of Daewoo founder Kim Woo-jung, whose policy of non-intervention gave the university unusual autonomy. In the late 1970s it set itself the goal of becoming the MIT of Asia.
Today Ajou has about 13,800 students (9,825 undergraduates in 2023) on a single campus in Suwon, about 30 km south of Seoul, next to Ajou University Hospital. Its strengths are engineering, ICT, computing, natural sciences, medicine, business and international studies, organised into colleges including Engineering, ICT Convergence, Computing and Informatics, Natural Sciences, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Advanced Bio-Convergence Engineering.
Ajou is one of the more international Korean universities for its size, with 534 international undergraduates and about 2,000 international students in all in 2023. International freshmen study mostly in Korean and need TOPIK level 3, although International Business and IT Business have English tracks. Scholarships are tied closely to language scores, so strong TOPIK or English results make a real difference to cost.
人間尊重, 實事求是, 世界一家
“Respect for Humans, Seeking Truth from Facts, One World One Family” — university motto
Why students choose Ajou
Ajou Global Scholarships waive 30% to 100% of first-semester tuition for TOPIK 3 to TOPIK 6 (or IELTS 5.5 to 8.0 on English tracks).
The single Suwon campus sits next to Ajou University Hospital and within reach of Samsung Electronics' headquarters and the Gwanggyo Bio-Techno Valley.
Engineering and IT form the core, with majors such as cyber security, digital media, software and computer engineering and electrical and computer engineering.
International Business and IT Business offer English tracks for students who are not yet fluent in Korean.
Admissions
Spring 2027 entry (special admission for international students, Korean and English tracks)
Selectivity
Ajou does not publish an admit rate for international applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | High school graduation (or expected graduation) in Korea or abroad; applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens |
|---|---|
| Korean language (Korean track) | TOPIK level 3+, level 3 at a Korean university language institute, King Sejong Institute intermediate 3B, or a pass on Ajou's own Korean language test |
| English language | English-track applicants (International Business and IT Business) submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS or equivalent; scholarships start at IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 75. Ajou's FAQ states that the English track in Business Administration is open to transfer students, so freshmen should confirm eligibility. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 international admission Non-binding Next deadline · In 45 days20 November 2026, 17:00 KST
Online application and documents from 28 September 2026; results 31 December 2026; tuition payment January-February 2027; final documents by 22 January 2027.
Dates are from Ajou's international admissions site for Spring 2027. A separate fall-semester round is held each year.
How to apply
Apply online through Jinhak Apply and pay the application fee, then submit documents in person at Ajou's international admissions office in Suwon or by post to its Seoul collection address by the deadline. You may apply to only one programme per admissions season, and cannot apply to both the Korean and English tracks. Final transcripts and a bank balance certificate are due after admission.
What admissions looks for
- A completed high school education recognised in the applicant's home country.
- Korean ability at TOPIK level 3 or above for Korean-taught majors.
- For English-track business programmes, English proficiency shown by an official test.
- Complete, verifiable documents submitted on time; missing documents can lead to rejection.
Tips for applying to Ajou
- 1 Retake TOPIK before the semester starts if you can: Ajou will re-assess your scholarship if you send a higher score within the announced window.
- 2 Medicine, nursing and pharmacy are generally not open to international bachelor's applicants in Korea, so choose from the listed departments.
- 3 Documents must arrive by 20 November 2026; postal delays count against you, so send early or hand them in.
- 4 Nationals of some OECD DAC aid-recipient countries with no current Ajou students can be considered for the Ajou Frontier Scholarship U, worth up to four years' free tuition.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in KRW
New international students can receive Ajou Global Scholarships (100%, 70%, 50% or 30% of first-semester tuition for TOPIK 6, 5, 4 or 3, or IELTS 8.0/7.0/6.5/5.5 on English tracks), Ajou Frontier Scholarships for outstanding applicants (full tuition for one semester up to four years) and Ajou Challenger Scholarships for high scores on Ajou's own Korean test. Ajou also hosts Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) undergraduates.
- 100% of first-semester tuition (TOPIK 6, IELTS 8.0 or TOEFL iBT 100)
- Ajou Global Scholarship 1
- KRW 5,738,000 to 7,585,000 including tuition, dormitory (KRW 747,000-1,440,000), meals (KRW 1,200,000) and books
- Ajou's estimated cost per semester
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
Software and Computer Engineering
The core of Ajou's ICT focus, with a Global IT Chinese-language track for transfer students.
Cyber Security
A dedicated security major within the ICT and software group, open to international applicants.
International Business
Offers both a Korean track and an English track, with tuition of KRW 4,270,000 per semester on the English track.
IT Business
Combines business and information technology, with an English track available.
Mechanical Engineering
Descends from the precision mechanical engineering department that Ajou opened with in 1973.
Research
- Ajou researchers have reported a strategy for large-scale production of high-purity metal nanoparticles using light and a highly efficient zinc-based system for carbon neutrality.
- Ajou was selected as an Excellent Certified University under Korea's IEQAS international education quality scheme.
- Ajou University Hospital, the medical school's teaching hospital, is on the same campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of ICT Convergence
- College of Computing and Informatics
- College of Natural Sciences
- School of Business
- College of Humanities
- College of Social Sciences
- School of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Advanced Bio-Convergence Engineering
- Dasan University College
Student life
Ajou has one campus in Suwon, so classes, the library, dormitories and the university hospital are all within walking distance. International students can live in the New International Dorm, and the international office runs counselling, academic support, career and employment support, field trips and a retention programme for international students. The Statue of Pioneer at the main entrance is the university's symbol, and the campus also has two large cafeterias and several smaller restaurants.
- The Statue of Pioneer at the main entrance, in front of the fountains, is the symbol of Ajou University.
- The New International Dorm (NID) houses international students on campus.
- Dedicated field trips and career support are organised for international students.
- Ajou has partnerships with over 322 institutions worldwide.
Housing. International students can apply for on-campus dormitories, including the New International Dorm; Ajou estimates KRW 747,000 to 1,440,000 per semester depending on room type.
Location
Suwon is the capital of Gyeonggi Province, about 30 km south of Seoul. Ajou's campus is at 206 World Cup-ro in Yeongtong-gu, near the Gwanggyo Bio-Techno Valley and Samsung Electronics' headquarters, a technology-heavy part of the city. Students get a quieter, cheaper base than central Seoul while the capital stays within reach.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN); Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
Notable alumni
- AJ Ahn Jung-hwanFootball player, South Korea national team; studied business administration at Ajou from 1994
- LG Lee Guk-jongTrauma surgeon who led the trauma team at Ajou University Hospital; Ajou medical graduate
- JS Jee Seok-jinEntertainer and television host (Running Man); Ajou business administration graduate
- DK Dharmaraj K.C.Member of Parliament in Nepal (Rastriya Swatantra Party); Ajou master's in engineering
- CH Chi Hwan LeeBiomedical engineer and academic; Ajou industrial engineering graduate (2006)
Frequently asked questions
Does Ajou University teach undergraduate programmes in English?
Most programmes are in Korean and need TOPIK 3. International Business and IT Business have English tracks, but Ajou's FAQ says the Business English track takes transfer students, so freshmen should check with the admissions office.
What is Ajou's deadline for spring 2027?
Online applications and documents are due by 20 November 2026 at 17:00 KST, with results on 31 December 2026.
How much is tuition at Ajou University?
At the rates Ajou currently publishes (labelled 2024/2025), KRW 3,748,000 to 4,916,000 per semester depending on the college, or about KRW 7.5 to 9.8 million a year.
What scholarships can international freshmen get at Ajou?
Ajou Global Scholarships cover 30% to 100% of first-semester tuition for TOPIK 3 to 6, and Frontier Scholarships can cover full tuition for up to four years for outstanding applicants.
Can I study medicine or pharmacy at Ajou as an international student?
Generally no. Ajou's FAQ explains that international students normally cannot apply for bachelor's degrees in medicine, nursing or pharmacy in Korea, which lead to national licences.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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