Ewha Womans University
이화여자대학교
Korea's leading women's university (undergraduate admission is women-only), grown from an 1886 mission school.
- Students
- 23,124
- 16,857 undergraduates
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩9.3M
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1886
About Ewha
Ewha traces its roots to Ewha Haktang, which the American Methodist missionary Mary F. Scranton opened on 31 May 1886 as Korea's first modern school for women. Emperor Gojong gave it the name Ewha (pear blossom) in 1887, college courses began in 1910, and in 1946 it received permission to become a university, the first the Ministry of Education approved. It moved to its present campus in Sinchon, Seoul in 1935.
As of April 2026, Ewha has 15 colleges, 81 departments and 16 graduate schools, with 16,857 undergraduates, 6,267 graduate students and 2,468 international degree students. Undergraduate degrees are for women only; the international admissions page says Ewha accepts applications from female applicants only. Its motto, Jin Sun Mi (Truth, Goodness, Beauty), was adopted in 1930.
Most undergraduate teaching is in Korean. Since 2025, most international freshmen spend their first year in the Global Scholars Program of HOKMA College, studying Korean and general education, and need TOPIK level 3 to move into their major. The Division of International Studies (International Studies and Global Korean Studies) is the exception: all major courses are taught in English and admission uses TOEFL or IELTS. Ewha suits ambitious women who want a large Seoul university with a strong alumnae network.
진·선·미 (Jin, Sun, Mi)
“Truth, Goodness, Beauty” — university motto
Why students choose Ewha
The Division of International Studies teaches all major courses in English, and freshmen need no TOPIK to apply, only TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0.
Freshmen in other majors can apply without any language score and learn Korean during a first year in the Global Scholars Program.
Scholarships include EGPP for women from developing countries (full tuition, housing and a stipend) and ISS F4, which covers full tuition for up to eight semesters.
Ewha's alumnae include Korea's first female prime minister, first female lawyer and the creator of Buldak ramen.
Admissions
Spring (March) 2027 entry, admissions for international applicants
Selectivity
Ewha does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. Undergraduate admission is for women only, and the applicant and both parents must be non-Korean nationals.
Typical entry requirements
| Gender (women only) | Undergraduate admission is for women only: Ewha's international admissions guide states that it accepts applications from female applicants only |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | Graduated or graduating by February 2027; GED, home schooling, cyber schooling and other equivalency certificates are not accepted |
| Nationality | Applicant and both parents must hold non-Korean nationality; dual nationals with Korean nationality are not eligible |
| Financial proof | Bank balance certificate of at least KRW 20 million in the applicant's or a parent's name, submitted after admission |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Required for the Division of International Studies (International Studies, Global Korean Studies): TOEFL iBT 80 (with 4.0 or higher for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0 or New TEPS 326, or a high school education taught entirely in English. Optional for other majors. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 (March entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 2 days8 October 2026, 17:00 KST
Online application 2 September to 8 October 2026; voice auditions 24 October; preliminary decisions 13 November; original documents 16–27 November; final admission and scholarship decisions 18 December 2026.
- Fall 2027 (September entry) Non-bindingEarly April 2027 (to be announced)
In the 2026 cycle, fall applications ran from 4 March to 3 April 2026; the 2027 dates have not been published yet.
Spring 2027 dates are from Ewha's official timeline and the Spring 2027 admissions guide. The fall round follows the 2026 pattern until new dates are announced.
How to apply
Apply 100% online through the International Student Affairs Team website (isa.ewha.ac.kr): fill in the form, upload a personal statement, graduation certificate and transcripts, language scores, passports and family documents as PDFs, and pay the KRW 150,000 fee. Scholarship applicants also upload Form 4. Art, design and sports applicants post portfolio materials; voice applicants audition in person. Admitted students post original documents afterwards.
What admissions looks for
- Academic capability, judged from your high school record.
- Language proficiency: English for International Studies, and evidence of Korean study for other majors.
- Preparedness for and motivation in your chosen major, shown in the personal statement.
- For scholarships, your potential as a global female leader and to contribute to international exchange.
Tips for applying to Ewha
- 1 Choose your major carefully: undergraduates must pick a specific major, and outside International Studies most major courses are taught in Korean.
- 2 If you already hold TOPIK 4, 5 or 6, upload the score during the application period: only scores submitted then count for the first-semester TOPIK scholarships.
- 3 Upload Form 4 with your application if you want to be considered for EGPP or ISS scholarships; they are decided alongside admission.
- 4 Some applicants are contacted for a phone or video interview, so keep your contact details current.
- 5 Prepare original documents with apostille or consular authentication in advance, since you have only about two weeks after the preliminary decision to send them.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in KRW
Incoming international students can apply for EGPP (women from developing countries: full tuition, dormitory fee and a stipend for up to eight semesters) and ISS scholarships: ISS F4 gives full tuition for up to eight semesters to outstanding freshmen, and TOPIK scholarships cover part, half or all of first-semester tuition for TOPIK 4, 5 or 6. Continuing students can win merit, volunteer and TOPIK scholarships each semester.
- Full tuition including admission fee, up to 8 semesters
- ISS F4 scholarship
- Full tuition including admission fee
- ISS TOPIK 6 (first semester)
- KRW 150,000 (USD 150)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
International Studies (Division of International Studies, Scranton College)
All major courses taught in English; admission on TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0, with no TOPIK needed to graduate.
Global Korean Studies
The second English-taught major in the Division of International Studies.
Nursing and Global Health Nursing
Freshmen start the major directly rather than spending a year in the Global Scholars Program.
Architecture and Architectural and Urban Systems Engineering
Programmes accredited by the Korea Architectural Accrediting Board and ABEEK.
Business Administration
The College of Business Administration has earned AACSB accreditation four consecutive times.
Research
- Ewha's research institutes include the Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) and a Quantum Information and Computer Research Center.
- The Asian Center for Women's Studies and the Korean Women's Institute carry on Ewha's research on women and gender.
- The Ewha Womans University Medical Center runs Mokdong Hospital and Seoul Hospital, linked to the College of Medicine on the Magok campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Music
- College of Art & Design
- College of Education
- College of Business Administration
- College of Science & Industry Convergence
- College of Nursing
- Scranton College
- College of Artificial Intelligence
Student life
Ewha's main campus in Sinchon, Seoul mixes 1930s white granite halls such as Pfeiffer Hall with the Ewha Campus Complex (ECC), finished in 2008 and designed to connect learning, daily life and culture in one place. International students admitted in spring 2027 get priority for on-campus housing in E-House, I-House or Hanwoori House. Rooms range from quads to singles, and a spring semester costs about KRW 0.9–3.3 million. Ewha's own guide puts off-campus rent at about KRW 709,000 a month plus a deposit of about KRW 10 million.
- 2,468 international degree students (April 2026), plus 885 exchange, visiting and language students.
- The Ewha Campus Complex (2008) brings learning, life and culture together at the heart of campus.
- Ewha Language Center runs Korean courses, and completing three semesters including level 5 can earn a scholarship.
- The International Student Affairs Team supports degree-seeking international students with visas, insurance and scholarships.
Housing. Admitted international students can apply for priority housing for up to one year; spring 2027 rates run from KRW 890,760 (Hanwoori House quad) to KRW 3,349,540 (I-House single) for 123 nights, without meals.
Location
Ewha is in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, a busy student district in western Seoul served by Ewha Womans University subway station. The College of Medicine is on the Magok campus in Gangseo-gu, near Ewha's Seoul Hospital. Seoul is expensive: Ewha estimates off-campus rent at about KRW 709,000 a month, plus about KRW 101,000 for utilities.
Nearest airport: Gimpo International Airport (GMP); Incheon International Airport (ICN) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- HM Han Myeong-sookFirst female Prime Minister of South Korea (2006–2007); French literature graduate
- LT Lee Tai-youngKorea's first female lawyer and founder of its first legal aid centre; home economics graduate
- KJ Kim Jung-sooVice-chair of Samyang Foods, credited as the creator of Buldak ramen
- CK Claudia KimActress (Avengers: Age of Ultron); studied in the Division of International Studies
- IK Insoo Kim BergPsychotherapist and pioneer of solution-focused brief therapy; studied pharmacy
- KJ Kyung J. Kwon-ChungMycologist and distinguished investigator at the US National Institutes of Health; biology graduate
- CH Chung Hyun KyungTheologian and professor at Union Theological Seminary, New York; BA from Ewha
Frequently asked questions
Can men apply to Ewha Womans University?
Not for undergraduate degrees. Ewha is a women's university, and its international admissions page states that it accepts applications from female applicants only.
Does Ewha teach in English?
The Division of International Studies (International Studies and Global Korean Studies) teaches all major courses in English. In other majors more courses are taught in Korean, and international freshmen study Korean in the first-year Global Scholars Program.
Do I need TOPIK to apply to Ewha?
Freshmen do not need a language score to apply, except that International Studies applicants need TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 or New TEPS 326. Students must reach TOPIK 3 to enter their major after the first year and TOPIK 4 to graduate (except International Studies).
When is the Ewha deadline for spring 2027 international admission?
Online applications run from 2 September to 8 October 2026 at 17:00 KST. Final admission and scholarship decisions are announced on 18 December 2026.
How much does Ewha cost for international students?
From the second year, tuition is about KRW 4.64–6.43 million per semester depending on the college (about KRW 9.3–12.9 million a year). The first semester at HOKMA College is about KRW 6.31 million including the admission fee.
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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