Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
대구경북과학기술원
A small, English-taught Korean science institute where international undergraduates pay no tuition.
- Tuition
- ₩7.9M
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 2004
- QS World Ranking
- #385
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Suburban
About DGIST
DGIST was set up by the Korean government in 2004 as a research institute in Daegu and became a university after its founding law was amended in 2008. It opened its graduate school in 2011 and its undergraduate school in 2014, and awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 2018. Alongside KAIST, GIST and UNIST it is one of Korea's four government science and technology institutes.
Undergraduates enter a single School of Undergraduate Studies under the College of Transdisciplinary Studies, with no departments at entry. Everyone takes a common foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computing and design thinking, then earns a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering in Convergence. Research runs through graduate departments such as Physics and Chemistry, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Robotics and Mechatronics, Energy Science, Brain Sciences and New Biology, plus centres like the DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center and the Korea Brain Research Institute.
For international students DGIST is unusually accessible: all lectures in basic science and major courses are in English, Korean is not required, there is no fixed quota by nationality, and every international undergraduate has full tuition waived and receives monthly stipends. The catch is the location, a technopolis on the southern edge of Daegu, and a demanding science-heavy core. It suits self-motivated students who want small classes and early research without paying tuition.
Why students choose DGIST
Tuition (7,934,000 KRW a year) is fully waived for all international undergraduates for eight semesters, with no separate scholarship application.
International students receive about 658,500 KRW a month in financial aid and DGISTep scholarship, plus a one-off 500,000 KRW settlement subsidy.
All basic science and major courses are taught in English; only some general electives are in Korean.
DGIST ranked 4th in the world for Citations per Faculty in the QS World University Rankings 2026, according to the institute.
Admissions
International undergraduates, fall 2027 entry (freshman only)
Selectivity
DGIST does not publish an admission rate for international applicants and sets no predetermined quota or nationality quotas. Applicants are assessed on documents and an interview; those who miss the interview are disqualified.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | Graduated, or graduating by the registration deadline; GED, home schooling and online-course qualifications are not accepted |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Foreign citizen with neither parent a Korean citizen, or, for applicants of Korean origin, all elementary to high school education completed outside Korea; dual Korean citizens are not eligible |
| IB or GCE A-level (optional) | Predicted scores from a counselor or teacher accepted; final results must be submitted after admission |
| English language | An English proficiency test score is optional and DGIST sets no minimum; if you submit one it must be from within 2 years of the online application deadline. |
Deadlines
- International undergraduate online application and document submission (fall 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 monthsJanuary 28, 2027, 18:00 KST (window opens December 2, 2026, 10:00 KST)
Apply via studyinkorea.go.kr; documents online only. Evaluation and interviews until April 2027; acceptance and enrollment announced by May 11, 2027; classes start late August or early September 2027.
Dates are from DGIST's 2027 Undergraduate Admissions Guide (PDF): online application and document submission from 10:00 December 2, 2026 to 18:00 January 28, 2027 (KST). There is no spring intake, no transfer route and no deferral.
How to apply
Register on Study in Korea (studyinkorea.go.kr), choose DGIST and complete the online application, paying the 50,000 KRW fee. Upload one merged PDF (max 10 MB) with the checklist, high school diploma or expected-graduation certificate, transcript, passport copies for you and your parents, and proof of parent-child relationship; optional English test, awards, school profile, recommendation letter and standardized test scores. Recommendation letters are sent online directly by the recommender. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
What admissions looks for
- A strong high school record in science and mathematics, backed by the school profile explaining your grading system.
- Readiness to study in English in a demanding core of math, physics, chemistry and biology.
- Evidence of achievement such as honors, awards and standardized test results (optional but considered).
- A convincing interview; applicants who do not take part are disqualified.
Tips for applying to DGIST
- 1 Submit a school profile: DGIST asks for it and suggests adding your school's GPA system and college acceptance statistics (up to 5 pages).
- 2 Send any English test with your application; late documents, including a newly taken TOEFL, are not accepted after the deadline.
- 3 Merge all documents into one PDF of no more than 10 MB, and use the 'temporarily save' button because you cannot edit after submission.
- 4 If you are of Korean origin, prepare entry-exit records, elementary and middle school documents and proof of loss of Korean nationality.
- 5 Budget for housing: dormitory fees are not covered by the scholarship.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
Every international undergraduate has full tuition waived for eight semesters and is granted scholarships without a separate application: Financial Aid of 328,500 KRW a month (semesters only), the DGISTep International Student Scholarship of 330,000 KRW a month (including vacations), and a one-off 500,000 KRW settlement subsidy. From the second semester, the DGISTep-S Academic Excellence Scholarship adds 1,500,000 KRW a semester for a high GPA; aid stops if you earn fewer than 10 credits or are on academic probation.
- Up to 17,473,840 KRW (about 12,000 USD)
- Total benefit, 1st year
- Up to 18,473,840 KRW per year (about 12,600 USD)
- Total benefit, 2nd to 4th year
- 1,500,000 KRW per semester (GPA above 3.7/4.3 as a freshman, 4.0/4.3 later, and 15+ credits)
- DGISTep-S Academic Excellence Scholarship
- 50,000 KRW
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; academic year starts in late August or early September
Bachelor of Science in Convergence
A science degree built on a shared core of math, physics, chemistry and biology before specialising.
Bachelor of Engineering in Convergence
An engineering degree with required basic engineering in computing, automatic control, statistics and design thinking.
Undergraduate Group Research Program (UGRP)
Convergence research credits are part of the undergraduate curriculum, so research starts before graduate school.
Robotics and Mechatronics
Backed by the DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center, a joint centre with ETH Zurich.
Brain Sciences
DGIST has a graduate Department of Brain Sciences and an affiliated national institute, the Korea Brain Research Institute.
Research
- Joint centres include the DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center and the DGIST-LBNL Research Center for Emerging Materials.
- The Korea Brain Research Institute, the Convergence Research Institute and the Sensorium Institute are affiliated with DGIST.
- DGIST ranked 1st in Korea and 4th globally for Citations per Faculty in the QS World University Rankings 2026, per its history page.
Schools & faculties
- College of Transdisciplinary Studies (School of Undergraduate Studies)
- Graduate School
- Department of Physics and Chemistry
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering
- Department of Brain Sciences
- Department of New Biology
- Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Graduate School of Engineering Practice
- Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management
Student life
DGIST is a compact campus where undergraduates, graduate students and researchers share the same buildings at the foot of the hills in Daegu Technopolis. Students live in the Biseul Village dormitories, which offer double, single and standard rooms; dorm fees are not covered by scholarships. The campus has a sports complex, cafeterias and a shuttle bus service. Classes are taught in English, and international undergraduates have their own admissions and student-support pages covering scholarships, health insurance and housing.
- Biseul Village dormitories with double, single and standard rooms.
- A campus sports complex, cafeterias and a shuttle bus service.
- All basic science and major courses taught in English.
- A one-off 500,000 KRW settlement subsidy for every international undergraduate.
Housing. International students live in the Biseul Village dormitories and pay dorm fees themselves; they are not covered by the scholarship.
Location
DGIST sits in Daegu Technopolis, in Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong County, on the southern edge of the city of Daegu in south-east Korea. The campus lies at the foot of green hills, away from the city centre, so daily life centres on campus, with DGIST running shuttle buses for students and staff. It is a quieter setting than Seoul or central Daegu.
Nearest airport: Daegu International Airport (TAE)
Frequently asked questions
Is DGIST free for international students?
Tuition is. DGIST waives full tuition (7,934,000 KRW a year) for all international undergraduates for eight semesters and pays monthly stipends, but you pay for your own dormitory.
Do I need to speak Korean to study at DGIST?
No. All basic science and major courses are taught in English; only some general electives in humanities and liberal arts may be in Korean.
What TOEFL or IELTS score does DGIST require?
None. English test scores are optional and DGIST sets no minimum, but any score you submit must be from within two years of the application deadline.
When is the DGIST application deadline for international students?
For fall 2027 entry, online applications via Study in Korea run from December 2, 2026 to January 28, 2027 (18:00 KST); interviews run until April and results are announced by May 11, 2027.
Can I transfer to DGIST or start in spring?
No. DGIST has no transfer program for international students and admits freshmen for the fall semester only, with no deferrals.
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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