Dankook University
단국대학교
A large private university on two campuses that runs a fully English-taught college and a Korean-language first year for international students.
- Students
- 34,000
- International
- 6%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩8.5M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1947
About DKU
Dankook University was approved on 1 November 1947 and opened in Seoul two days later. Its own prospectus calls it the first four-year private university founded after Korea's independence. Today it has more than 34,000 enrolled students, more than 2,000 of them international, and describes itself as the fifth largest university in Korea by enrolment. It has two campuses: Jukjeon in Yongin, on the Bundang Line about 30 to 40 minutes from central Seoul, and Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, which is home to its medical and dental schools.
For international undergraduates, the structure is unusually clear. The English Track sits in PRIMUS International College and is taught entirely in English (International Business Administration, Korean Studies, Mobile Systems Engineering and Biotechnology). The Korean Track covers most other subjects: applicants are first admitted to the School of Global Core Education for a year of intensive Korean plus foundation courses, then move into their chosen major on the Jukjeon or Cheonan campus in year two. Acting and Filmmaking is the exception and starts its major courses in year one.
The university says 80% of its international students receive scholarships, and that it has held the IEQAS quality certification for international education since 2015. It suits students who want a big, well-connected Korean university at a moderate price, and who are willing either to study in English in a narrow set of majors or to commit to Korean language learning first.
Why students choose DKU
The English Track at PRIMUS International College is 100% English-taught, needing only IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.
Merit scholarships for new English Track students range from 50% tuition waiver (IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71) to 100% waiver plus a free dormitory (IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 110).
Housing in an on-campus dormitory is guaranteed for international students.
Jukjeon Campus is next to Jukjeon Station on the Bundang Line, about 30 to 40 minutes from central Seoul.
Admissions
March 2027 intake (spring semester), international undergraduate admission
Selectivity
Dankook does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. Admission is by application documents and, for the Korean Track, a TOPIK score or the university's own Korean test.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary education | Completed (or expecting to complete) all 12 years of primary and secondary school, inside or outside Korea; both the applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens |
|---|---|
| Korean Track language proof | TOPIK 3 or higher, or eligibility to sit the Dankook Korean language proficiency test (freshman); TOPIK 3 or higher (transfer) |
| English Track language proof | IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 or higher; nationals of the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and those who completed secondary education there, are exempt |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 71 English Track minimum. Scholarship tiers rise from IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 (50% tuition waiver) to IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 110 (100% waiver plus free dormitory). |
Deadlines
- March 2027 intake, round 1 Non-binding Next deadline · In 17 days8 to 23 October 2026
Online application period; acceptance is announced in November.
- March 2027 intake, round 2 Non-binding In ~2 months2 to 18 December 2026
Online application period; acceptance is announced in January.
- September 2027 intake (fall)Round 1 in April and round 2 in June (2027 dates not yet published)
From the standard schedule in the prospectus: fall applications in April or June, acceptance in May or July, classes on the first weekday of September. Confirm exact 2027 dates on the admissions page.
March 2027 dates come from the university's international admission page. The fall (September 2027) window is the standard schedule shown in the 2026 prospectus and has not yet been announced with dates.
How to apply
Apply online through the Jinhak Apply website (jinhakapply.com) in the application window, then upload the documents required by the admission guide, including the Official Agreement for Academic Verification, the Affidavit of Financial Support and the school information confirmation form; the dormitory application form is a separate download. Read the admission guide for the intake before applying.
What admissions looks for
- Completion of the full 12-year school curriculum, with authentic academic records.
- Non-Korean citizenship for both the applicant and both parents.
- Language readiness: TOPIK 3 for the Korean Track, IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 for the English Track.
- Proof of financial support through the university's Affidavit of Financial Support.
Tips for applying to DKU
- 1 Choose your track first: English Track majors are only four (International Business Administration, Korean Studies, Mobile Systems Engineering, Biotechnology), while nearly everything else is Korean Track.
- 2 Higher language scores earn bigger scholarships, so retaking IELTS or TOPIK before applying can cut tuition sharply.
- 3 Korean Track applicants (except Acting and Filmmaking) are admitted into the School of Global Core Education first and confirm their intended major for year two.
- 4 Ask for the dormitory application form early; on-campus housing is guaranteed for international students.
- 5 Contact apply@dankook.ac.kr for admissions questions.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
The prospectus says 80% of international students receive scholarships. New English Track students receive tuition waivers of 50% to 100% by IELTS or TOEFL score (with a free dormitory at the top tier), and Korean Track students get waivers and free dormitory terms based on TOPIK level, up to a 60% waiver plus free dormitory for four years at TOPIK 6. Continuing students earn waivers by GPA.
- 80% (university figure)
- International students receiving scholarships
- 100% tuition waiver plus free dormitory (IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 110)
- English Track top scholarship
- 60% tuition waiver plus free dormitory for four years
- Korean Track top scholarship (TOPIK 6)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: spring (March) and fall (September)
International Business Administration (English Track)
Taught fully in English at PRIMUS International College for international and domestic students.
Mobile Systems Engineering (English Track)
English-taught wireless communication engineering with the highest listed English Track tuition.
Korean Studies (English Track)
Exclusively for international students and covers Korea beyond language skills.
Acting and Filmmaking
Exclusive to international students, with major courses starting in the first year.
Software Convergence programmes
Software Science, Computer Engineering and Artificial Intelligence sit on the Korean Track.
Dentistry and Medicine
The Cheonan campus has its own university hospital and the dental school (per the university's Cheonan campus description on Wikipedia).
Research
- Dankook-Cosmax Cosmeceutical Joint Research Center, focused on microbiome studies.
- Dankook-Stratasys Advanced Manufacturing Convergence Research Center for 3D printing.
- 70 on-campus research centres (2026 prospectus).
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- College of Law
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Business and Economics
- College of Engineering
- College of AI Convergence
- College of Education
- PRIMUS International College
- College of Foreign Languages
- College of Science and Technology
- College of Medicine
- College of Dentistry
The university reports more than 240,000 alumni and ranked 4th among four-year universities in Korea for student satisfaction in 2023 (NCSI, as cited in its prospectus). It does not publish an employment rate on the pages checked.
Student life
International students are guaranteed on-campus housing, in twin rooms with private bathrooms or four-person rooms, five to ten minutes' walk from class buildings. Korean Track freshmen spend the first year in the School of Global Core Education, which builds Korean language ability alongside foundation courses. Jukjeon Campus offers a museum of Korean traditional clothing (the Seokjuseon Memorial Museum), a university history museum and the Toegye Memorial Library, while the Cheonan campus has its own hospital and dental school. Dankook also runs a Global Talent Network student group of Korean and international students.
- Dormitory rooms five to ten minutes on foot from classes, with housing guaranteed for international students.
- Seokjuseon Memorial Museum of traditional Korean costume on the Jukjeon campus.
- Global Talent Network student organisation mixing Korean and international students.
- Exchange, summer and winter school programmes with a network of 450+ partner universities.
Housing. On-campus dormitory housing is guaranteed for international students; fees are quoted per 168-day stay, from KRW 1,279,800 (shared room) to KRW 2,177,280 (twin ensuite).
Location
The Jukjeon Campus is in Suji-gu, Yongin, south of Seoul, within walking distance of Jukjeon Station on the Bundang Line; the university gives a journey time of about 30 to 40 minutes to central Seoul and about 30 minutes from Gangnam. The second campus is in Cheonan, a transport hub in South Chungcheong Province. Around Jukjeon are residential areas and local shopping districts.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
Notable alumni
- PT Park Tae-hwanOlympic swimmer; graduated in physical education in 2012
- HJ Ha Ji-wonActress; Bachelor of Film and Television
- YJ Yoo Ji-taeActor; Bachelor's degree in theatre and film
- PB Park Bo-youngActress; graduated in performing arts (theatre and film)
- OT Ok Taec-yeonSinger and actor, member of 2PM; studied business administration
- WD Woo Do-hwanActor; graduated in performance and film
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in English at Dankook University?
Yes. PRIMUS International College runs 100% English-taught undergraduate programmes: International Business Administration, Korean Studies, Mobile Systems Engineering and Biotechnology. You need IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.
What are Dankook's application deadlines for 2027?
For the March 2027 intake, round 1 runs 8 to 23 October 2026 and round 2 runs 2 to 18 December 2026. Fall (September) 2027 dates are not yet published; the standard pattern is April and June.
How much is tuition at Dankook University?
Per semester, Korean Track tuition is KRW 4,230,000 to 5,803,000 and English Track tuition is KRW 6,376,000 to 6,799,000, so roughly KRW 8.5 million to 13.6 million a year before scholarships.
Do I need to speak Korean to study at Dankook?
For the Korean Track, yes: TOPIK level 3 or higher, or a pass in Dankook's own Korean test, and a first year of intensive Korean. The English Track does not need Korean.
Does Dankook offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. The university says 80% of its international students receive scholarships. New English Track students get 50% to 100% tuition waivers based on IELTS or TOEFL, and Korean Track students get waivers based on TOPIK level.
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.
- Dankook University: Foreign student admission (March 2027 intake)
- Dankook University: Undergraduate Prospectus for International Students (English)
- Dankook University Office of International Affairs: Degree Program
- Dankook University Office of International Affairs: Campuses
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
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