Chung-Ang University
중앙대학교
A private Seoul university that grew from a 1916 kindergarten into a training ground for Korean film, theatre and law.
- Students
- 29,420
- 23,600 undergraduates
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩10.4M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1916
About CAU
Chung-Ang University (CAU) traces its history to Chung-Ang Kindergarten, founded in 1916 in Insa-dong, Seoul, as a Korean-run school at a time when most schools were run by foreign missionaries. It became a kindergarten teacher training school in 1922, and in 1933 Louise Yim took charge, bought land at Heukseok-dong and built the campus that is still its main site. It gained university status in 1953. Today it is a private university with around 30,000 students, 15 undergraduate colleges, and two campuses: the main Seoul campus in Dongjak-gu and the Da Vinci campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.
CAU is best known in Korea for arts, media and performance: its theatre and film graduates include directors Hong Sang-soo and Yoon Jong-bin and actors Hyun Bin, Ha Jung-woo and Park Shin-hye, and the university calls itself the cradle of the K-Wave. It is also strong in law, pharmacy, nursing and engineering, and its law graduates include South Korea's president, Lee Jae-myung.
International students apply directly to CAU twice a year for March entry and twice for September entry. Nearly all programmes are taught in Korean and need TOPIK 4 (TOPIK 3 for some arts majors); the only fully English-taught major is Game Convergence. Applicants without enough Korean can win a preliminary admission and finish their Korean first. CAU suits students who want a big Seoul university with strong arts and media.
의에 죽고 참에 살자
“Die for justice, live in truth” — university motto
Why students choose CAU
CAU's theatre and film programmes have trained many of Korea's best-known directors and actors, and its artists have won awards at festivals including Cannes and Moscow.
The Department of Game Convergence in the College of Virtual Convergence teaches entirely in English, with AI and VR/AR-based game development and company internships.
New students with TOPIK 6 get a full tuition waiver for their first semester, and later semesters carry merit scholarships of 20% to 100% based on GPA; CAU reports 47.6% of international students receive a scholarship.
The Seoul campus sits beside Heukseok station on subway Line 9, which CAU's guide puts within roughly 15 to 35 minutes of Gangnam, Seoul Station and Gwanghwamun.
Admissions
International undergraduates, March 2027 and September 2027 entry
Selectivity
CAU does not publish an admission rate for international students and does not disclose scores. Most departments decide on documents alone (100% document evaluation); Medicine uses documents 50% plus interview 50%, and arts and sports use documents 50% plus a practical test or portfolio 50%.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | Graduation (or expected graduation) from an accredited high school in Korea or abroad; online-education, equivalency-exam and self-study credentials are not accepted. The applicant and both parents must hold foreign nationality. |
|---|---|
| Korean language (most departments) | TOPIK 4 or higher (TOPIK 3 for Design, Global School of Arts, Applied Music and Game Contents & Animation), or completion of level 4 at CAU's Korean language programme, level 5 at another IEQAS-certified university, or King Sejong Institute Intermediate 2 |
| Preliminary admission | Applicants who pass document review without meeting the Korean requirement can be admitted provisionally, then gain final admission by reaching TOPIK 4 (or CAU level 4) and reapplying to the same unit within two years |
| Medicine | TOPIK 6, personal statement and study plan, and an interview |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 60 Only for the English-taught Department of Game Convergence. For TOEFL tests taken from January 21, 2026, the requirement is 3.5 on the new scale. Applicants who completed high school in English in a country where English is a native or official language are exempt. |
Deadlines
- March 2027 entry, first round Non-binding PassedSeptember 18, 2026 (18:00 KST)
Closed. Applications ran August 31 to September 18, 2026; Medicine interview October 3, arts and sports practical tests October 10, results October 30, 2026.
- March 2027 entry, second round Non-binding Next deadline · In 52 daysNovember 27, 2026
Applications November 16-27, 2026; practical tests December 5; results December 18, 2026. Departments needing an in-person practical test do not recruit in this round.
- September 2027 entry, first round Non-bindingMarch 2027 (dates not yet published)
CAU recruits for September entry in March (first round) and June (second round).
- September 2027 entry, second round Non-bindingJune 2027 (dates not yet published)
Departments needing an in-person practical test recruit only in the first round.
Dates for March 2027 entry come from CAU's 2027 spring admissions guide. September 2027 rounds are held in March and June 2027; exact dates will be announced on the international admissions site.
How to apply
Apply online through CAU's international admissions site, pay the application fee (KRW 150,000 for most colleges, KRW 200,000 for Arts and Sport Sciences; a second choice costs KRW 60,000), then send documents by post or in person to the Office of International Affairs: application form, high school (expected) graduation certificate and transcripts, family relationship and nationality documents, passport copy, TOPIK or English scores, and a portfolio or personal statement where required. You may apply to two departments, with the second choice considered only if the first is unsuccessful.
What admissions looks for
- An academic record from an accredited high school, judged through CAU's document evaluation.
- Korean proficiency at the level your department requires, or the academic ability to be admitted provisionally while you reach TOPIK 4.
- For arts and sports, a strong practical test or portfolio, which counts for half the evaluation.
- Evidence of activities linked to your intended major, such as academic achievements and volunteering, which you may submit as supporting documents.
Tips for applying to CAU
- 1 Take TOPIK before applying: TOPIK 5 means a 50% first-semester tuition waiver and TOPIK 6 a full waiver, but scholarship documents for March 2027 must be in by December 24, 2026.
- 2 If your Korean is not yet at TOPIK 4, apply anyway: CAU's preliminary admission lets you secure a place and finalise it within two years.
- 3 Use your second choice wisely: it can be any humanities, science or engineering unit, but not Arts or Sport Sciences.
- 4 Arts applicants needing an in-person audition must apply in the first round (September for March entry, March for September entry).
- 5 You do not need a bank balance certificate to apply; it is only required from admitted students applying for the certificate of admission for a D-2 visa (KRW 20,000,000 or USD 14,000).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
New international students get a first-semester tuition reduction based on Korean level: 100% for TOPIK 6, 50% for TOPIK 5 or CAU language course level 5, and 30% for CAU level 4 or level 5 at another certified university. From the second semester, merit scholarships cut tuition by 100% (GPA 4.3+), 50% (4.0+), 30% (3.7+) or 20% (3.2+). A family scholarship gives 35% off when two or more family members study at CAU. Medicine students are excluded from the admission scholarships.
- 47.6% (CAU 2027 admissions guide)
- International students receiving a scholarship
- TOPIK 6: 100% of tuition; TOPIK 5: 50%
- First-semester scholarship
- KRW 1,366,400 (two-person room) or KRW 952,000 (four-person room), 2026 rates
- Seoul campus dormitory (BlueMir Hall), 16-week semester
- KRW 150,000 (KRW 200,000 for Arts and Sport Sciences)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (spring semester from March, fall semester from September)
Theatre and Film (School of Performing Arts and Media)
Alumni include directors Hong Sang-soo and Yoon Jong-bin and actors Hyun Bin, Ha Jung-woo and Park Shin-hye.
Game Convergence
CAU's English-track major: all classes are in English, covering AI and VR/AR game development, with game-company internships.
Nursing (Red Cross College of Nursing)
Placed 51-100 in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026, as cited by CAU.
School of Integrative Engineering
New for 2027 international entry, with tracks in nano materials and biomedical engineering; needs TOPIK 5.
Korean Language Education and Korean Culture
An international-students-only major that can lead to a Korean language teacher certificate.
Global Advertising and PR
An international-students-only major in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, with courses in global branding and digital media strategy.
Research
- Six engineering programmes are ABEEK-accredited, including chemical, mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering and software.
- The new Building 205 (Future AX Engineering Hall) is CAU's hub for AI-era engineering.
- CAU runs four university hospitals, including the Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital opened in March 2022.
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Biotechnology
- College of Engineering
- College of ICT Engineering
- College of Software
- College of Business & Economics
- College of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Arts
Student life
The Seoul campus in Heukseok-dong is home to Young-Shin Hall, CAU's first stone building from 1938, and the Blue Dragon Monument, inspired by founder Louise Yim's dream of a blue dragon. Students in Seoul can live in BlueMir Hall (2,364 beds) with its own cafeteria serving Korean, Western and Chinese food, while the Da Vinci campus in Anseong has its own dorms. International students get a Global Community Center, counselling for students with limited Korean, buddy and mentoring schemes, and major-specific academic support. With 680 partner institutions, many students also spend a semester or two abroad.
- The Blue Dragon Monument, CAU's symbol, funded by alumni.
- BlueMir Hall dormitory with 2,364 beds on the Seoul campus.
- Exchange options at more than 680 partner institutions in 74 countries.
- Global Community Center and student supporters who help new international students.
Housing. Dormitory places are allocated in order of admission score after an application in January; Seoul BlueMir Hall costs KRW 1,366,400 (two-person room) per 16-week semester and Da Vinci campus rooms from KRW 899,000 (2026 rates).
Location
The Seoul campus is in Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, south of the Han River, beside Heukseok station on subway Line 9. CAU's guide puts Gangnam, Seoul Station and Gwanghwamun within about 15 to 35 minutes. The Da Vinci campus is in Anseong, a quieter town in Gyeonggi Province south of Seoul, home to several arts, sports and biotechnology programmes.
Nearest airport: Gimpo International Airport (GMP); Incheon International Airport (ICN) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- LJ Lee Jae-myung14th President of South Korea (from 2025); law degree (1986)
- HS Hong Sang-sooAward-winning film director; entered CAU's theatre department
- YJ Yoon Jong-binDirector of The Spy Gone North and Narco-Saints; his CAU graduation film was The Unforgiven
- HB Hyun BinActor (Crash Landing on You); theatre studies and a master's degree at CAU
- HJ Ha Jung-wooActor and director; studied theatre
- PS Park Shin-hyeActress; degree in theatre (2016)
- CM Chong Moon LeeFounder of Diamond Multimedia and benefactor of San Francisco's Asian Art Museum; LLB (1953)
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Chung-Ang University in English?
Only one undergraduate major, Game Convergence, is taught fully in English (TOEFL iBT 60 or IELTS 5.5). Other departments teach in Korean and need TOPIK 4 or higher (TOPIK 3 for some arts majors).
What if I don't have TOPIK 4 yet?
You can still apply. If you pass document review, CAU gives you a preliminary admission, and you are fully admitted once you reach TOPIK 4 (or CAU level 4) and reapply to the same department within two years.
How much is Chung-Ang University tuition for international students?
At 2026 rates, a first year costs about KRW 10.4 million in humanities, social sciences and business, KRW 13.8 million in engineering and KRW 16.7 million in medicine, paid per semester. TOPIK 5 or 6 holders get 50% or 100% off their first semester.
When are the Chung-Ang University application deadlines?
For March 2027 entry, the second round runs November 16-27, 2026. For September 2027 entry, rounds are held in March and June 2027.
Does Chung-Ang University require an interview?
Only for Medicine (50% documents, 50% interview). Arts and sports use a practical test or portfolio; all other departments decide on documents alone.
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
- CAU Office of International Affairs: 2027 spring (March) first-round international undergraduate admission notice, with 2027 Admissions Guide for International Students (PDF, English and Korean)
- CAU Office of International Affairs: Scholarships for international undergraduates
- Chung-Ang University: Introduction
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