Gachon University
가천대학교
A two-campus Korean private university near Seoul with English-track degrees, an AI and semiconductor focus, and TOPIK-linked fee cuts.
- Students
- 34,318
- International
- 17%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩8.7M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2012
About Gachon
Gachon University describes itself as a comprehensive university launched in 2012 through the merger of four institutions: Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Kyungwon University, Gachon Gil College and Kyungwon College. The university says this was the first merger of four-year private universities in Korea. The present university dates from 2012, but its predecessors are older: for example, Wikipedia records Kyungwon University as established in 1982 from Kyungwon Academy (founded 1978). Its Global Campus is in Seongnam, in the Seoul metropolitan area, and its Medical Campus is in Incheon.
Gachon reports about 34,300 students, 2,818 faculty and 5,952 international students in 2026, so roughly one student in six is from abroad. It says it was the first Korean university to offer an undergraduate major in artificial intelligence (2020) and launched a stand-alone College of Semiconductors in 2024 with a quota of 400 students a year. Medicine, Korean medicine, pharmacy and nursing sit alongside engineering, business, law and the arts.
For international applicants there are two routes. The Korean track asks for TOPIK Level 3 or an equivalent (Level 4 for some majors), and the English track, offered in Business Administration and Computer Engineering, asks for IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 59. Tuition falls by 30 to 90 percent on entry depending on language results, which makes the language test the biggest lever on what you pay.
박애, 봉사, 애국
“Philanthropy, Service, Patriotism” — university motto
Why students choose Gachon
The English track in Business Administration and Computer Engineering lets students start degree study with IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 59, alongside 15 credits of Korean language and culture in the first semester.
The Foreigner Scholarship cuts first-semester tuition by 30 to 90 percent for new students, from 30 percent with no test up to 90 percent with TOPIK Level 6.
Gachon says it launched the world's first stand-alone College of Semiconductor Studies in 2024, with 400 places a year, and offered Korea's first undergraduate AI major in 2020.
Medicine, Korean medicine, pharmacy and nursing colleges share the group with engineering and business, and the Medical Campus has departments such as Radiology and Physical Therapy open to international applicants with TOPIK Level 4.
Admissions
Spring 2027 intake for international applicants (semester starts 2 March 2027); fall 2027 dates not yet published
Selectivity
Gachon does not publish acceptance rates for international applicants and says evaluation details are not disclosed. International freshmen and transfers are screened on documents, with a portfolio for Arts & Design and Music and an interview for Medical Science.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school graduation (any country) | Official (expected) high school graduation certificate and transcript, notarized and translated into Korean or English, with an apostille or Korean consular check; applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens |
|---|---|
| Korean track language | TOPIK Level 3 or higher, or Gachon Korean test pass, Korean Language Center Level 3, King Sejong Institute Middle Level 1 or Social Integration Program Level 3; Level 4 for Business Administration, Media Communication, Tourism Management, Psychology, Computer Engineering and Medical Campus departments |
| English track language | IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 59 or CEFR B2 for Business Administration and Computer Engineering |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 59 Applies to the English track only (CEFR B2 also accepted; TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest score accepted). Nationals of the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are exempt. Korean-track applicants need TOPIK instead. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027, 1st intake Non-binding Next deadline · In 17 daysOnline application 12 to 23 October 2026 (16:00 KST); documents by 28 October 2026 (12:00 KST)
Results 20 November 2026; tuition payment 21 to 29 November 2026.
- Spring 2027, 2nd intake Non-binding In 59 daysOnline application 23 November to 4 December 2026 (16:00 KST); documents by 9 December 2026 (12:00 KST)
Results 24 December 2026; tuition payment 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
- Spring 2027, 3rd intake Non-binding In ~3 monthsOnline application 28 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 (16:00 KST); documents by 6 January 2027 (12:00 KST)
Results 22 January 2027; tuition payment 23 to 31 January 2027.
These are the spring 2027 (first semester, starting March 2027) rounds, published on 30 September 2026. Gachon had not published the fall 2027 international round when this was checked; the previous fall round (2026 second semester) was announced on 1 April 2026, so check the Office of International Affairs notices around April 2027. Schedules are subject to change.
How to apply
Apply online through Jinhakapply (jinhakapply.com), then print, sign and send the application form, statement of purpose and letter of consent with passport copies of you and both parents, a birth or family relationship certificate, school certificate and transcript, and language results. Pay the KRW 150,000 application fee. Successful applicants also submit a bank certificate showing KRW 20,000,000 (about USD 14,000) or more. Art and Music applicants upload a 2-minute portfolio video.
What admissions looks for
- A complete, correctly authenticated document set: notarized and apostilled or consular-checked school records, and parent passport copies.
- Language readiness: TOPIK or an accepted equivalent for the Korean track, IELTS/TOEFL/CEFR for the English track, and TOPIK Level 4 for the majors that require it.
- Financial capacity shown by a bank certificate of at least KRW 20,000,000 issued within 30 days of submission.
- For Arts & Design and Music, a self-made portfolio video of about 2 minutes shown from start to finish.
Tips for applying to Gachon
- 1 Aim for TOPIK Level 4 before you apply: it opens Business Administration, Tourism Management, Media Communication, Psychology, Computer Engineering and the Medical Campus departments and lifts the entry scholarship to 60 percent.
- 2 Check whether the English track fits you: Business Administration and Computer Engineering only, with 15 Korean language credits in the first semester.
- 3 Start document authentication early. Certificates must be within 6 months of application and need an apostille or Korean consular check plus notarized translation if not in English or Korean.
- 4 Applicants to the College of International Studies pick a major from year two; changing to other colleges normally needs TOPIK Level 4.
- 5 Use the three spring intakes: the first (October) gives you results in November, while the third closes on 4 January 2027.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
New international students receive a Foreigner Scholarship in their first semester: on the Korean track 90 percent off tuition with TOPIK Level 6, 80 percent with Level 5, 60 percent with Level 4, 40 percent with Level 3 and 30 percent with none. English-track awards run from 30 percent (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 59 or CEFR B2) to 70 percent (IELTS 8.0, TOEFL iBT 112 or CEFR C2). Continuing students can earn reductions up to 100 percent by GPA and language level.
- 30% (no TOPIK) to 90% (TOPIK 6) off first-semester tuition
- Entry scholarship (Korean track)
- 30% (IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 59) to 70% (IELTS 8.0 / TOEFL iBT 112)
- Entry scholarship (English track)
- KRW 150,000
- Application fee
- KRW 20,000,000 or more (about USD 14,000)
- Bank balance required for admitted applicants
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
Business Administration (English track)
Taught in English from semester two after 15 credits of Korean language and culture; entry needs IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 59.
Computer Engineering (English track)
The second English-track degree; Gachon says it started Korea's first undergraduate AI major in 2020 and Korea's first software college in 2002.
College of Semiconductors
Gachon says it launched the world's first independent College of Semiconductor Studies in 2024 with 400 places a year.
International Studies (International liberal studies / Koreanology)
A first year of intensive Korean, then a major choice in year two; a route in for students who arrive without Level 3 Korean.
Arts & Design and Music
Selected by portfolio video (or interview for Medical Science) rather than documents alone; Music covers voice, piano, composition and orchestral instruments.
Research
- Gachon reports KRW 107.6 billion in research funding in 2025 and 68 research centers in 2026.
- 68 Gachon researchers were named to the 2025 Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists list, up from 6 on the career list in 2022 to 22 in 2025.
- The Medical Campus houses the Gachon Neuroscience Research Institute and the Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, linked to Gil Medical Center.
Schools & faculties
- College of Business
- College of Social Sciences
- College of AI Humanities
- College of Law
- College of Engineering
- College of Bionanotechnology
- College of Semiconductors
- College of IT Convergence
- College of Korean Medicine
- College of Art & Physical Education
- International College
- College of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Medical Science (Medical Campus)
Gachon does not publish a graduate employment figure on the pages used. International students who do not reach TOPIK Level 4 before graduating must take an extra program, at their own cost, to graduate.
Student life
The Global Campus in Seongnam has three student dormitories and its own dining halls, and the Medical Campus in Incheon has separate residences. Freshmen take part in Ntree Camp, a two-day creative and interdisciplinary program, and in the P-Semester, a flexible project-based term. All students learn software skills, which Gachon made mandatory in 2016. International students who arrive without TOPIK Level 4 take Korean language courses in their first year, 17 credits a semester, and dormitory applications for admitted international students open online after admission decisions.
- Ntree Camp is a two-day creative and interdisciplinary program for first-year students.
- The P-Semester is a project-based flexible term.
- Software education has been mandatory for all students since 2016.
- Gachon has 286 partner universities worldwide and 256 international faculty (2026).
Housing. The Global Campus has three student residence halls, with residence periods set by the semester calendar; international admits apply online after admission.
Location
The Global Campus sits in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, a city in Gyeonggi Province south-east of Seoul and part of the capital region. The Medical Campus is in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, on the west side of the region, so applicants to medical departments study in a different city. Gachon lists its Global Campus address as 1342 Seongnamdaero.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Notable alumni
- LJ Lee Jae MyungPresident of South Korea since June 2025; his Master of Public Administration (2005) was awarded by Kyungwon University, one of the four predecessor institutions that merged into Gachon University in 2012 (Wikipedia lists the degree under Gachon University)
- PS Park Sang-wooMinister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport 2023 to 2025; doctorate in engineering (urban planning) from Gachon
- BJ Byun Jung-sooModel and actress; studied textile art at Kyungwon University (a predecessor institution of Gachon)
- HJ Han Jung-sooActor (The Slave Hunters); studied economics at Kyungwon University (a predecessor institution of Gachon)
- KD Kim Dong-heeActor; currently studying acting arts at Gachon (per Wikipedia)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Korean to study at Gachon?
Not for the English track in Business Administration and Computer Engineering, which needs IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 59 plus 15 Korean language credits in the first semester. The Korean track needs TOPIK Level 3 or an equivalent, or Level 4 for some majors.
What is the Gachon application deadline for spring 2027?
Online applications run 12 to 23 October 2026, 23 November to 4 December 2026 and 28 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 for the three intakes. Fall 2027 dates had not been published when this was checked.
How much is tuition for international students at Gachon?
The published 2026 fall semester fees are KRW 4,373,800 to 5,939,800 depending on field, which is about KRW 8.7 million to 11.9 million a year before scholarships.
Can international students get a scholarship at Gachon?
Yes. New students get 30 to 90 percent off first-semester tuition depending on TOPIK level (Korean track) or English test score, and continuing students can earn further reductions by GPA.
Do I need to prove I have money to study at Gachon?
Successful applicants submit a bank certificate showing KRW 20,000,000 (about USD 14,000) or more, issued within 30 days of submission.
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.
- Gachon University: 2027 Spring Semester Undergraduate Admission Guideline for International Students (PDF, English)
- Gachon Office of International Affairs: 2027 spring admissions notice (30 September 2026)
- Gachon Office of International Affairs: admissions notices
- Gachon University: Global Standing
- Gachon University: Research & Scale
- Gachon University: History
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Gachon in the QS World University Rankings 2027.