Chungbuk National University
충북대학교
The flagship national university of North Chungcheong province, on a single main campus in Cheongju with specialist campuses nearby.
- Students
- 11,274
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₩4M
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1951
About CBNU
Chungbuk National University opened during the Korean War, in September 1951, as Cheongju Junior Agricultural College, supported by local demand for higher education. It became a four-year agricultural college in 1953, was renamed Chungbuk Provincial College in 1956 and moved to Gaesin-dong, and was recognised as a full national university in 1977. It is one of Korea's ten flagship national universities, one per province, and the one for North Chungcheong.
CBNU is organised into colleges covering the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, engineering, electrical and computer engineering, agriculture and life sciences, education, human ecology, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and medicine, plus a School of International Studies. The main Gaesin campus is in Cheongju, with the College of Pharmacy at Osong, a convergence technology campus at Ochang and the veterinary teaching hospital in Sejong. Chungbuk National University Hospital sits next to the main campus.
International students mostly study in Korean: bachelor's applicants need TOPIK level 3 or completion of level 4 at CBNU's own Korean language programme. It suits students who want an affordable national university degree in engineering, agriculture, natural sciences or business in a mid-sized Korean city, and who are ready to study in Korean.
진리, 정의, 개척
“Truth, Justice, Pioneering” — university motto
Why students choose CBNU
As a national university, CBNU charges international undergraduates about KRW 4.0-5.3 million a year in tuition (2025 per-semester rates doubled).
You can qualify through CBNU's own Korean Language Program: completing level 4 counts instead of TOPIK 3 for most departments, and a CBNU Bridge Scholarship of KRW 1 million is paid to students who move from the programme into a degree.
New undergraduates with TOPIK level 3 or above can receive TOPIK scholarships, with higher tiers for TOPIK 4 and 5.
Four specialised campuses in and around Cheongju, including a veterinary teaching hospital in Sejong and a pharmacy campus in the Osong bio-industry cluster.
Admissions
Spring (March) 2027 and Fall (September) 2027 intakes, international special admission
Selectivity
CBNU does not publish an admission rate for international applicants. Applications are screened on documents and language ability, followed by a departmental interview (online for applicants outside Korea).
Typical entry requirements
| Nationality | Foreign nationals whose parents are both non-Korean |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | Completion of the full equivalent of Korean primary and secondary education (in Korea or abroad); high school diploma and full transcripts with apostille or consular legalisation |
| Korean language | TOPIK level 3+, or CBNU Korean Language Program level 4 (you must stay enrolled in the programme until you start) |
| TOPIK 4 departments | Korean Language and Literature, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Agricultural Economics and Child Welfare, among others (programme certificate not accepted) |
| Fine Arts and Design | A portfolio of up to 10 pieces in an A4 binder |
Deadlines
- Fall 2026 (September start) - PAST CYCLE, for reference Non-binding PassedMay 22, 2026, 18:00 (closed)
Online applications May 11-22, 2026; TOPIK results accepted until June 1 or June 26 depending on the test sitting; interviews June 10; results by July 7; tuition paid July 10-20; classes began September 1, 2026. Expect the fall 2027 round around April-May 2027.
- Spring 2027 (March start) Non-bindingGuidelines expected in mid-October 2026
CBNU's Office of International Affairs said the guideline for 2027 spring admission would be posted on its website in mid-October 2026.
CBNU admits international undergraduates twice a year. The spring 2027 guideline was due to be published in mid-October 2026, after this profile was checked. Fall 2026 dates are shown as the previous cycle; fall 2027 dates were not yet published as of September 30, 2026. The Office of International Affairs site could not be reached directly on that date (its domain did not resolve), so the mid-October statement comes from an archived OIA notice dated April 15, 2025.
How to apply
Apply online through Jinhakapply (enter.jinhakapply.com) and pay the KRW 72,000 application fee, then post or deliver original documents to the Office of International Affairs: checklist, consent form for academic verification, affidavit of financial support with a bank balance certificate, apostilled high school diploma and transcripts, proof of parents' nationality and family relationship, passport copy and TOPIK certificate. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by the department.
What admissions looks for
- A complete school education equivalent to Korea's 12 years, with verified documents.
- Korean ability of at least TOPIK 3, or TOPIK 4 for departments such as business, economics, psychology and Korean literature.
- Enough funds to study in Korea, shown by a bank balance certificate and financial support affidavit.
- A good departmental interview; for fine arts and design, a strong portfolio.
Tips for applying to CBNU
- 1 If you are already in CBNU's Korean Language Program, finishing level 4 can replace TOPIK 3, but you must stay enrolled in the winter or summer term right before you start.
- 2 Check whether your department is on the TOPIK 4 list, since those departments do not accept the language programme certificate.
- 3 Get your diploma and transcripts apostilled early and prepare two originals if you will also need them for a D-2 visa.
- 4 If your TOPIK result is not out by the deadline, submit your TOPIK admission ticket with your application and send the score later.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in KRW
CBNU offers TOPIK scholarships to new international undergraduates with TOPIK level 3 or higher (higher tiers at TOPIK 4 and 5), merit scholarships for continuing students with at least 12 credits and a B average, and a one-off KRW 1,000,000 CBNU Bridge Scholarship for students who enter a degree after its Korean Language Program. It is also a host university for Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) students.
- KRW 72,000 (fall 2026 round)
- Application fee
- KRW 1,000,000, paid once after admission
- CBNU Bridge Scholarship
- KRW 861,100 without meals to KRW 1,874,800 with 7-day meals (spring 2025, 109 days)
- Yanghyunjae international dormitory (double room, per semester)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: spring (March) and fall (September)
Semiconductor Engineering
Part of the College of Electrical & Computer Engineering, alongside CBNU's national semiconductor-specialised university project.
Software and Computer Engineering
CBNU runs a national SW-centred university project and an IC Design Education Center.
Forestry and Horticultural Science
Rooted in CBNU's 1951 origins as an agricultural college; the university runs a research centre for advanced horticultural technology.
Astronomy and Space Science
Offered in the College of Natural Sciences, with the Institute for Astrophysics and a university observatory.
Veterinary Medicine
Taught on the Sejong campus, home of the CBNU Sejong Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
School of International Studies
CBNU's international school, whose undergraduate offering includes a Convergence Software track.
Research
- Research institutes include the Synchrotron Radiation Science Convergence Institute, the Institute for Astrophysics and the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
- The Ochang campus hosts CBNU's convergence technology institute, near the Ochang science and industry complex.
- University projects in secondary batteries, future vehicles, semiconductors and software under national innovation programmes.
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Engineering
- College of Electrical & Computer Engineering
- College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Human Ecology
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Medicine
Student life
Life centres on the Gaesin campus in Cheongju, with the university hospital next door and sports grounds and dormitories on site. International students can live in Yanghyunjae, a dormitory reserved for international students with twin rooms and a choice of meal plans, and the Office of International Affairs runs Korean language courses, visa help and orientation. CBNU also has its own astronomical observatory, a museum and a sports centre.
- Yanghyunjae, an international-students-only dormitory with twin rooms and 5-day or 7-day meal plans.
- CBNU's Institute of International Language Education runs Korean courses that can lead straight into degree study.
- Chungbuk National University Hospital is next to the main campus.
- Alumni include poet and former culture minister Do Jong-hwan, TV screenwriter Jang Young-chul and footballer Choi Chul-soon.
Housing. International students apply for the Yanghyunjae dormitory when submitting their online application; in spring 2025 a twin room cost KRW 861,100 per semester without meals.
Location
Cheongju is the capital of North Chungcheong province in central South Korea. According to Korean Wikipedia, the campus sits near major expressways, Cheongju International Airport and the Gyeongbu high-speed rail line, and within about 20 km of industrial and bio-industry parks at Osong and Ochang and the Daedeok research zone in Daejeon, which supports links with industry.
Nearest airport: Cheongju International Airport (CJJ)
Notable alumni
- DJ Do Jong-hwanPoet and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; studied Korean language and literature (master's, 1982)
- YH Yoo Han-sikFirst mayor of Sejong City; bachelor's in animal science (1975)
- SW Shin Won-supForest scientist and former head of the Korea Forest Service; bachelor's in forestry (1985)
- KB Kim Byung-wooFormer Superintendent of Education for North Chungcheong; Korean language education graduate
- KU Kim Ung-yongFormer child prodigy; studied civil engineering and earned his PhD at CBNU
- JY Jang Young-chulTelevision screenwriter of the dramas Giant and History of a Salaryman; degree in Korean Language and Literature
- CC Choi Chul-soonFootballer, right back for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors; studied at CBNU
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Chungbuk National University in English?
Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Korean and require TOPIK level 3 (level 4 for some departments), or completion of level 4 at CBNU's Korean Language Program.
How much is tuition at CBNU for international students?
Based on the 2025 per-semester rates, about KRW 3.98 million a year for humanities, social sciences and business, KRW 4.89 million for natural sciences and KRW 5.28 million for engineering.
When can I apply to Chungbuk National University for 2027?
CBNU admits international undergraduates for spring and fall. The spring 2027 guideline was due in mid-October 2026; for fall 2026 online applications ran May 11-22, 2026.
Is there an interview for CBNU international admission?
Yes. Departments interview applicants, in person or online, and applicants outside Korea are interviewed by video or phone.
Does CBNU offer scholarships to international students?
Yes: TOPIK-based scholarships for new undergraduates with TOPIK 3 or higher, merit scholarships from the second semester, and a KRW 1 million Bridge Scholarship for graduates of its Korean Language Program.
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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