The Catholic University of Korea
가톨릭대학교
A Catholic university dating to an 1855 seminary, with its main campus in Bucheon and a medical school at the centre of a big hospital network.
- Students
- 14,101
- 11,072 undergraduates
- International
- 15%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₩8.8M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1855
About CUK
The Catholic University of Korea traces its origins to St. Joseph's Seminary, founded by Father Maistre in 1855 at Baeron in Jecheon, which the university describes as Korea's first Western-style educational institution. The seminary moved to Seoul in 1887, became Sungshin University in 1947, added a School of Medicine in 1954 and took the name Catholic University of Korea in 1959.
Today CUK has three campuses. Songsim, in Bucheon just west of Seoul, is the main campus for humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business and the arts. Songeui, in Seocho, Seoul, houses the College of Medicine and College of Nursing, which work with the Catholic Medical Center: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and seven other affiliated hospitals that the university describes as Korea's largest medical network, with about 6,400 beds. Songsin, in central Seoul, is home to the College of Theology.
International undergraduates apply to Songsim campus departments through a special admission for students whose parents are both foreign nationals, decided entirely by a video interview (plus a performance for music). Teaching is in Korean, so the university expects TOPIK level 3, or requires Korean classes for students who arrive without it. Medicine and Nursing are not among the departments open to this track.
진리, 사랑, 봉사
“Truth, Love, Service” — university motto
Why students choose CUK
Admission is by video interview only, with two rounds for March 2027 entry and no cap on numbers in any department.
First-semester tuition is fully waived for new students with TOPIK level 5 or 6, and 90% or 70% waived with TOPIK 4 or 3.
Students with a strong GPA and TOPIK 3 or 4 can earn tuition waivers of 20% to 100% in every later semester.
Three foreign-student-only departments, Korean Language and Culture, Voice, and Arts and Media Convergence, are run specifically for international students.
Admissions
March 2027 entry (special admission for international students whose parents are both foreign nationals)
Selectivity
CUK does not publish an admit rate for international applicants. The 2027 guide states there is no fixed quota for any department; applicants are ranked on the interview (and performance exam for music), and all tied applicants are admitted.
Typical entry requirements
| Nationality | Applicant and both parents must hold foreign nationality; dual Korean nationals and stateless applicants are not eligible |
|---|---|
| High school | Graduation (or expected graduation) from a regular high school in Korea or abroad; GED, home-schooling and online schooling are not accepted |
| Korean language | TOPIK (or TOPIK IBT) level 3 or above, or Korean ability recognised at the interview; TOPIK 4 is needed to graduate (level 3 for arts) |
| Finances | Admitted students submit a bank statement of at least KRW 20 million |
| English language | No English test is required: the 2027 international admission is a Korean-track admission based on TOPIK and the interview. CUK's 2027 guide does not list a separate English-taught undergraduate track. |
Deadlines
- Round 1 (March 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 17 days23 October 2026, 17:00 Korea time
Applications open 28 September 2026 at 14:00; interviews and auditions 7 November 2026; results 20 November 2026.
- Round 2 (March 2027 entry) Non-binding In ~2 months7 December 2026, 17:00 Korea time
Applications open 9 November 2026 at 14:00; interviews and auditions 19 December 2026; results 7 January 2027.
Admitted students pay tuition from 12 to 15 January 2027; certificates of admission for visas are expected around 21 January 2027, and classes start on 2 March 2027. TOPIK results counted for scholarships must arrive by 31 December 2026. Dates may change depending on applicant numbers.
How to apply
Apply online through Jinhakapply (jinhakapply.com), print and sign the application, then send the documents to CUK's Global Admissions Team in Bucheon: apostilled or consular-certified translations of your high school diploma and full transcripts, passport copy, ID copies for you and your parents, an official document proving the family relationship (issued after 1 March 2026), and a TOPIK certificate if you have one. The application fee is KRW 130,000 (KRW 150,000 for arts). Shortlisted applicants sit a video interview.
What admissions looks for
- Korean ability, ideally TOPIK level 3 or higher, as tested in the interview.
- Readiness to study your chosen major, assessed in the interview.
- For music and voice, a memorised audition programme (for example a Chopin or Liszt etude for piano, or German and Italian art songs for voice).
- Complete, properly certified academic records: CUK says it will not admit applicants whose academic level falls short.
Tips for applying to CUK
- 1 Take TOPIK before 31 December 2026: your level sets your first-semester scholarship, from a full waiver at level 5 or 6 down to 30% with no score.
- 2 Apply in Round 1 (by 23 October 2026) if you can; it leaves time to fix document problems and get your visa.
- 3 Start the apostille or consular certification of your diploma, transcripts and birth certificate early, because originals are required.
- 4 If you arrive without TOPIK 3, plan for two semesters of compulsory Korean courses in your first year.
- 5 Taking at least two semesters of CUK's own Korean language programme adds another 10% off first-semester tuition.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
Every international freshman gets an entrance scholarship on first-semester tuition based on Korean level: 100% for TOPIK 5-6, 90% for TOPIK 4, 70% for TOPIK 3 and 30% below TOPIK 3 or with no score, plus 10% more for students who completed two semesters at CUK's Korean language institute. After that, students with at least 12 credits and TOPIK 3 (first year) or 4 (later years) get 20% to 100% off tuition depending on GPA, and a KRW 300,000 award for newly reaching TOPIK 4 or above.
- 100% of first-semester tuition
- Entrance scholarship, TOPIK 5-6
- 70% of first-semester tuition
- Entrance scholarship, TOPIK 3
- Full tuition waiver (20% at GPA 2.5)
- Continuing scholarship, GPA 4.3 or above
- KRW 130,000 (KRW 150,000 for arts)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
Korean Language and Culture
A department run specifically for international students, open to freshmen and transfer students.
Voice
A foreign-student-only department; admission is 30% interview and 70% audition of Italian or German art song.
Biomedical and life sciences (Biotechnology, Biomedical Chemical Engineering, Biologics Engineering)
Part of the College of Bio-Health Convergence, linked to CUK's medical school and hospital network.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Departments in the College of AI, Electronics and Information Convergence that are open to international applicants.
Social Welfare
A Songsim campus department open to international applicants; actor Yoo Ji-tae took a master's in social welfare at CUK.
Research
- The College of Medicine and College of Nursing work with the Catholic Medical Center, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and seven other affiliated hospitals, which CUK describes as Korea's largest medical network with about 6,400 beds.
- The Catholic Medical Center has built an industry-academia-research-hospital cluster around its Omnibus Park medical convergence hub.
- St. Mary's Hospital opened in Seoul in 1936, and the School of Medicine was added in 1954.
Schools & faculties
- Division of Humanities
- Division of Social Sciences
- Division of Natural Sciences
- Division of Engineering Sciences
- College of Business
- College of AI, Electronics and Information Convergence
- College of Bio-Health Convergence
- Department of Music
- College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Theology
Student life
Most undergraduates, including international students, study at the Songsim campus in Bucheon. Its two main residences are Dormitory Stephen, on floors 4 to 15 of Kim Sou-hwan Hall with 383 rooms for about 1,160 students, and Andreas Dormitory, opened in 2022 with 238 double rooms for 476 students. Kim Sou-hwan Hall also has a convenience store, restaurants, cafes, a gym and study rooms on its ground floor. The Office of International Affairs runs student clubs such as CUBIG and short-term language and exchange programmes.
- Dormitory Stephen, built for the university's 150th anniversary, houses about 1,160 students in Kim Sou-hwan Hall.
- Andreas Dormitory (2022) adds 476 beds and a study and relaxation lounge.
- CUBIG and other Office of International Affairs clubs connect Korean and international students.
- The College of Theology at Songsin campus continues the 1855 seminary tradition.
Housing. The Songsim campus has two dormitories, Dormitory Stephen (about 1,160 places) and Andreas Dormitory (476 places), which the university says serve students from distant areas and international students.
Location
The main Songsim campus is at 43 Jibong-ro in Bucheon, a city in Gyeonggi Province on Seoul's western edge, so central Seoul is within commuting distance. The medical and nursing campus (Songeui) is in Seocho, Seoul, and the theology campus (Songsin) is in Jongno, Seoul.
Nearest airport: Gimpo International Airport (GMP); Incheon International Airport (ICN) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- SK Stephen Kim Sou-hwanKorea's first cardinal and Archbishop of Seoul, an iconic figure in the country's transition to democracy; graduated from CUK in 1951
- AY Andrew Yeom Soo-jungCardinal and Archbishop of Seoul (2012-2021); graduated in 1970
- PC Peter Chung Soon-taickArchbishop of Seoul since 2021; studied at CUK's Songsin theological campus
- SH Shin Hyun-youngFamily physician and former Korea Medical Association spokesperson who became a National Assembly member in 2020; MD from CUK
- KS Kim So-yeonPoet; studied Korean literature at CUK and earned her master's there
- YJ Yoo Ji-taeActor and director (Oldboy); master's degree in social welfare from CUK
Frequently asked questions
When is the Catholic University of Korea application deadline for international students?
For March 2027 entry, Round 1 closes on 23 October 2026 (interview 7 November, results 20 November) and Round 2 closes on 7 December 2026 (interview 19 December, results 7 January 2027).
Do I need TOPIK to apply to CUK?
TOPIK level 3 is the standard, but applicants without it can be admitted if the interview shows enough Korean. They must then take compulsory Korean courses for two semesters, and TOPIK 4 is needed to graduate.
Does CUK have an English-taught undergraduate programme?
Its March 2027 international admission guide lists only Korean-track admission, based on TOPIK and the interview, and does not list a separate English-taught bachelor's track.
How much is tuition at the Catholic University of Korea?
At 2026 rates, tuition is KRW 4,390,000 per semester for humanities and social sciences, up to KRW 6,143,000 for arts, or about KRW 8.8 to 12.3 million a year. First-semester scholarships of 30% to 100% depend on your TOPIK level.
Can international students study medicine at CUK?
Medicine and Nursing are not among the departments open through CUK's special admission for international students in the March 2027 guide.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- CUK Office of International Affairs: March 2027 international freshman and transfer admission notice
- CUK: March 2027 international freshman and transfer admission guide (PDF, Korean)
- CUK Office of International Affairs: Majors for international students
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