Hallym University
한림대학교
A private university of about 8,000 students in Chuncheon that discounts tuition for international students by TOPIK level.
- Students
- 8,444
- 7,827 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₩7.2M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1982
- QS World Ranking
- 1001-1200
- 2027 edition
About Hallym
Hallym University is a four-year private university at the foot of Bong Ui Mountain in central Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon-do, about an hour east of Seoul. It was founded in 1982 by the Il-Song Education Foundation and opened with 228 students in four departments: English, Social Work, Biology and Medicine. It is affiliated with the Hallym University Medical Center, which has six general hospitals, including Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital next to the campus.
As of 1 April 2026 it had 7,827 undergraduates, 373 general graduate students, 244 professional graduate students and 690 full-time faculty. The university's April 2026 organisation table lists eight colleges and four schools, including Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Global Integrated Studies, Media, Information Science, Semiconductor and Display Technology and Future Convergence. Its own description stresses a close-knit, student-centred feel.
For international undergraduates, admission runs through the Global Engagement Center, with two intakes a year (March and September). Most students enter on the Korean-language track with a TOPIK score, and the tuition they pay is reduced by TOPIK level. A 100% English track exists in Global Business, and Korean Studies takes transfer students in English. It suits students who want a smaller Korean university, or a route into Korean studies, at a moderate price.
Why students choose Hallym
Tuition is discounted by TOPIK level: Korean Track students get 50% off at TOPIK 3 and up to 80% off at TOPIK 6.
Global Business is a 100% English-taught major, open with IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 59.
The university reports a 100% dorm assignment rate for international students who apply, with rooms from KRW 684,000 per semester.
Students in the first semester are matched with a senior mentor, and the university runs job-search and visa-change support for international students.
Admissions
March 2027 intake (spring) and September 2027 intake (fall), international undergraduate admission
Selectivity
Hallym publishes no acceptance rate for international applicants. Departments evaluate documents, may hold phone or video interviews, and do not disclose their evaluation criteria.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary education | High school graduate (or expected to graduate), with both the applicant and both parents being foreign citizens; GED, homeschooling and online or adult education are not accepted |
|---|---|
| Korean Track language proof (new students) | TOPIK level 2 or higher, HU-TOPIK pass, Intermediate 2 at the Hallym Korean Language Education Center or the Sejong Institute, or Social Integration Program level 2 |
| Korean Track (transfer students) | TOPIK level 3 or higher |
| English Track (Global Business; Korean Studies is transfer only) | IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 59 (the guide adds that tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 need a score of 3.5 or higher), TOEFL Essentials 7.5 or NEW TEPS 202 |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 59 English Track only. Applicants from English-speaking countries or who completed secondary school there can submit a school graduation certificate instead of a test score. |
Deadlines
- Spring (March) 2027 intake, first round Non-bindingMid to late November 2026 (window of about 7 to 9 days)
Exact 2027 dates were not yet posted; the university states the pattern of mid to late November.
- Spring (March) 2027 intake, second round Non-bindingEarly January 2027 (window of about 7 to 9 days)
Only for applicants who already hold a D-4 or D-2 student visa.
- Fall (September) 2027 intake, first round Non-bindingLate May to early June 2027 (about 7 to 9 days)
For reference, the fall 2026 online application ran 18 May to 19 June 2026, with documents due 26 June 2026.
- Fall (September) 2027 intake, second round Non-bindingEarly July 2027 (about 7 to 9 days)
Only for applicants who already hold a D-4 or D-2 student visa.
The university gives approximate windows for each round rather than fixed dates. Exact 2027 dates are not yet published; the fall 2026 guide (online application 18 May to 19 June 2026, results 20 July 2026, semester start 1 September 2026) shows how the cycle runs.
How to apply
Apply online through the Uway system (uwayapply.com, choose Hallym University in the international students section), pay the application fee (KRW 65,000 in the fall 2026 cycle), then post the printed application and supporting documents to the Global Engagement Center; incomplete or late documents are excluded. Documents include proof of funds: a bank balance certificate of KRW 16,000,000 or more.
What admissions looks for
- Foreign nationality for both the applicant and both parents, with official documents where parents' status needs proof.
- A high school diploma, with apostille or consular authentication of final credentials before the visa stage.
- Korean ability (TOPIK) for the Korean Track, or an English test score for Global Business.
- Proof of funds of KRW 16,000,000 or more.
Tips for applying to Hallym
- 1 Aim for the highest TOPIK level you can before applying: the first-semester reduction rises from 50% at level 3 to 60% at level 4 and 80% at level 6, and TOPIK 3 also removes the mandatory extra Korean classes.
- 2 If you have no TOPIK 3, budget for the 300-hour intensive Korean course (KRW 1,000,000 a semester) during your first year.
- 3 Choose a first and second priority field of study when applying; you may only enroll in the field where you are accepted first.
- 4 Do not use the second round unless you already hold a D-4 or D-2 visa; it is closed to everyone else.
- 5 Scholarships and textbook subsidies are not stackable with other scholarships.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
New Korean Track students pay reduced tuition by TOPIK level: 80% reduction at level 6, 70% at level 5, 60% at level 4 and 50% at level 3 (40% at level 2 or HU-TOPIK), and English Track students receive a 50% reduction. Some levels come with a textbook subsidy of KRW 200,000. Enrolled students can earn differential reductions by GPA, and scholarships cannot be combined.
- 80% / 70% / 60% / 50%
- Korean Track tuition reduction (TOPIK 6 / 5 / 4 / 3)
- 50%
- English Track tuition reduction
- KRW 65,000
- Application fee (fall 2026)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters, starting in March and September
Global Business (100% English)
The main English-taught option for new international students, under Global Studies.
Culture Industry Management
A major open only to international students.
Korean-Chinese Translation and Interpretation
A major only for international students, listed with Global Studies.
Semiconductor and Display Technology
Offers Semiconductor Engineering and Display Engineering.
Data Science
Tracks in Data Technology, Bio Statistics in Clinical Medicine and Financial Data Informatics.
Speech Pathology and Audiology
A dedicated department with its own tuition band in the fee table.
Research
- Medical Bio-Convergence Research Institute and Data Science and AI Research Institute.
- Affiliated with Hallym University Medical Center's six general hospitals, including Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital next to the campus.
- The Ilsong Memorial Library holds over 700,000 books and 50,000 non-book materials.
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Global Integrated Studies
- Media School
- School of Semiconductor and Display Technology
- College of Information Science
- School of Future Convergence
- Liberal Arts School
Hallym's international student services include career support with resume and statement writing, job fairs and company tours, and Korean-language and visa-change lectures. The English pages publish no graduate employment rate.
Student life
Hallym is a compact, close-knit campus in Chuncheon. New international students are matched with a senior mentor in their first semester, and each semester the university organises field trips around Chuncheon and Gangwon-do. Korean-language courses run at several levels. The guide lists a 100% dormitory assignment rate for international students who apply, with rooms for two or three people, and mentions campus facilities including an indoor tennis court, sports ground, ssireum gymnasium, the Ilsong Art Hall and a business incubation center.
- First-semester mentoring with a senior student, one to one or in a group.
- Semester field trips to Chuncheon and other parts of Gangwon-do.
- Multi-level Korean-language courses for international students.
- Ilsong Art Hall, Ilsong Memorial Library and Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital next to the campus.
Housing. Dormitory rooms for 2 or 3 people cost KRW 684,000 to KRW 1,296,000 per four-month semester; international students applying get priority selection.
Location
Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon-do, one hour east of Seoul, with 'world class transportation links' in the university's words. The campus sits at the foot of Bong Ui Mountain in the centre of the city, and the university gives a driving time of about 120 minutes to the east coast.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in English at Hallym University?
Yes, in Global Business, which is 100% English-taught. Korean Studies is taught in English for transfer students only. English proof is IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 59, TOEFL Essentials 7.5 or NEW TEPS 202.
What are Hallym's application windows for 2027?
Spring (March) intake: first round in mid to late November, second round in early January (D-4 or D-2 visa holders only). Fall (September): late May to early June, then early July. Exact 2027 dates were not yet posted.
How much is tuition at Hallym University?
List tuition (before TOPIK-based reductions) is KRW 3,673,800 to 4,773,800 for the first semester (Spring 2026 table in the fall 2026 guide) and KRW 3,490,000 to 4,590,000 per semester from the second semester, so a first year costs about KRW 7.2 million to 9.4 million at list price. No 2027 table is published yet. Korean Track reductions are 40% to 80% by TOPIK level.
Do I need Korean to apply to Hallym?
For the Korean Track you need TOPIK level 2 or higher (or an equivalent), and students without TOPIK 3 must take at least 300 hours of intensive Korean in the first year. The English Track does not require Korean.
How much money do I need to show for the visa documents?
Hallym's fall 2026 guide asks for a bank balance certificate showing a deposit of KRW 16,000,000 or more.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Hallym in the QS World University Rankings 2027.