Inha University
인하대학교
Incheon's engineering-led private university, founded in 1954 to honour 50 years of Korean emigration to Hawaii.
- Students
- 21,376
- 17,830 undergraduates
- International
- 8%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩8.5M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1954
About Inha
Inha University opened in 1954 as the Inha Institute of Technology, after Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee, proposed an institute to mark 50 years of Korean emigration to Hawaii. The name joins Incheon (In) and Hawaii (Ha). It began with six engineering departments, including mining, shipbuilding and metallurgy, and engineering still dominates: in 2025 the College of Engineering alone had 5,726 of Inha's 17,830 undergraduates.
Today Inha has about 21,400 students across colleges of engineering, natural science, business, social sciences, humanities, education, medicine, nursing, arts and sports, AI convergence, bio convergence and international studies, plus a law school and a graduate school of logistics. Its Asia Pacific School of Logistics and naval architecture, aerospace and semiconductor engineering programmes reflect its location beside Korea's main seaport and airport.
Most international undergraduates study in Korean and need TOPIK level 3, but the College of International Studies offers two fully English-taught tracks, International Business and Trade and Integrated System Engineering, with an IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 minimum. Admission is by documents only, with no cap on international numbers, and large tuition scholarships go to applicants with strong English scores or, for Chinese applicants, high Gaokao results.
眞
“Truth” — university motto
Why students choose Inha
Two undergraduate tracks, International Business and Trade and Integrated System Engineering, are taught 100% in English.
Scholarships can cover four years of full tuition plus KRW 300,000 a month for applicants with IELTS 8 or TOEFL iBT 106 or higher.
International freshmen are guaranteed a dormitory place in their first semester if they apply on time.
Engineering runs from aerospace and naval architecture to semiconductor systems and secondary battery engineering, building on the six engineering departments Inha opened with in 1954.
Admissions
Spring 2027 entry (international special admission)
Selectivity
Inha does not publish an admit rate for international applicants. Its handbook states there is no limit on the number of international students admitted, and selection is by document evaluation only.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | High school graduation (or expected graduation); applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens |
|---|---|
| Korean track | TOPIK or TOPIK iBT level 3+, level 4 at a Korean university language programme, or King Sejong Institute intermediate 4A; Division of Global Liberal Studies accepts TOPIK 2 with a first year of intensive Korean |
| English track (IBT, ISE) | IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 (or score 4 on the new TOEFL scale from 21 January 2026); waived for students from English-speaking countries |
| Gaokao (Chinese applicants) | High Gaokao scores get priority consideration and can earn scholarships, up to four years' full tuition at the key-university line plus 70 |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 71 Applies to the English-taught IBT and ISE tracks. TOEFL MyBest scores and IELTS One Skill Retake accepted; TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator not accepted. Korean-track programmes require TOPIK 3 instead. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 online application Non-binding Next deadline · In 29 days5 November 2026, 17:00 KST
Opens 30 September 2026; original documents must arrive by 12 November 2026; results 22 December 2026; tuition payment 23 December 2026 to 12 January 2027.
Dates are from Inha's Spring 2027 international undergraduate handbook and application notice. Fall 2027 entry has its own round, usually mid-April to mid-May. Nursing, Physical Education and five-year Architecture recruit only for spring.
How to apply
Apply online through Uway (linked from Inha's International Center site) or Study in Korea, pay the KRW 150,000 application fee, then send original documents (application form, high school diploma and transcripts with apostille or consular confirmation, language certificate, cover letter, study plan, recommendation letter, bank certificate and passport copy) to the Global Talent Recruitment Team in Incheon. Selection is 100% document evaluation.
What admissions looks for
- Academic achievement shown in school records and home-country exam results.
- Extracurricular activity.
- Willingness to develop, shown in the cover letter and study plan.
- Language readiness for the chosen track: TOPIK 3 for Korean-taught majors or IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 71 for English tracks.
Tips for applying to Inha
- 1 Submit your strongest English score even for the Korean track: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 and above triggers tuition scholarships, and the top tiers cover all four years.
- 2 Chinese applicants should include Gaokao results, which get priority consideration and have their own scholarship scale.
- 3 Mail original documents early: they must arrive in Incheon by the document deadline, a week after online applications close.
- 4 Apply for the dormitory as soon as it opens, because the first-semester guarantee only applies within the designated period.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
Entrance scholarships for international freshmen are based on TOPIK (30% to full tuition for one semester at levels 4-6), English scores (from half a semester's tuition at IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 to four years' full tuition plus KRW 300,000 a month and dormitory at IELTS 9 / TOEFL 115) and, for Chinese students, Gaokao results. Inha also hosts Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) students.
- 4 years' full tuition, KRW 300,000 a month and dormitory (IELTS 9 or TOEFL iBT 115+)
- Top English-score scholarship
- KRW 1,340,000 per semester with one meal a day on weekdays (spring 2026)
- Dormitory 2, 4-person room
- KRW 150,000
- Application fee (from 2027 entry)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
International Business and Trade (IBT)
An English-taught track (100% English lectures) in the College of International Studies, covering global business and logistics.
Integrated System Engineering (ISE)
Inha's English-taught engineering degree, open to international freshmen and transfers.
Asia Pacific School of Logistics
A dedicated logistics school in Incheon, the city of Korea's main international airport and a major seaport; an English-taught GLOBA course is available for pre-approved transfer students.
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
Shipbuilding was one of the six founding departments of the Inha Institute of Technology in 1954.
Aerospace Engineering
Part of Inha's large College of Engineering, which had 5,726 undergraduates in 2025.
Semiconductor Systems Engineering
One of Inha's newer engineering majors, alongside secondary battery engineering and AI engineering.
Research
- Inha added graduate study in shipbuilding, metallurgy, mechanical, mining, electrical and chemical engineering in 1958-59, and nuclear power engineering in 1959.
- Inha is a member of the Global U8 Consortium and runs Inha University in Tashkent.
- Recent Inha research ranges from upcycling tuna by-products to degrading marine plastics.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Business Administration
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Humanities
- College of Education
- College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Arts and Sports
- College of AI Convergence
- College of Bio Convergence
- College of International Studies
Student life
Inha's single main campus is in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, next to Inha Technical College, with the JungSeok Memorial Library at its centre. Three dormitories hold 2,236 students, and international freshmen start in four-person rooms in Dormitory 2 with one meal a day on weekdays. The International Center runs an international student lounge, counselling services and an online community board, and Inha's Korean Language Education Center offers courses for students who need to reach the TOPIK level for their major.
- Dormitories 1, 2 and 3 house 2,236 students in total.
- A Korean Air Douglas DC-3 airliner is displayed on campus, reflecting links to the Hanjin Group.
- The International Center has a dedicated international student lounge.
- Super Junior's Choi Si-won is an Inha graduate, and EXO's Suho and Chanyeol have taken graduate courses here.
Housing. International freshmen are guaranteed a dormitory place in their first semester if they apply on time; a four-person room in Dormitory 2 cost KRW 1,340,000 per semester in spring 2026.
Location
Incheon is a port city on Korea's west coast, home to Incheon International Airport and a major seaport, and part of the Seoul Capital Area. Inha's campus is at 100 Inha-ro in Michuhol-gu, a built-up part of the city, and Seoul is within commuting distance. It gives students a base next to the capital without living in Seoul itself.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Notable alumni
- PC Park ChanyeolSinger and rapper, member of EXO; graduate studies in interior design at Inha
- SK Suho (Kim Jun-myeon)Singer and actor, leader of EXO; master's student in culture management at Inha's graduate school (from 2016)
- CS Choi Si-wonSinger and actor, member of Super Junior; Inha graduate (2012)
- C ChangminSinger, member of TVXQ; master's studies at Inha
- CH Chun Ho-jinFilm and television actor; studied chemistry at Inha before leaving to act
- KG Kim GuraComedian and television host; Inha English language and literature graduate
- PC Park Chan-daeMayor of Incheon (since 2026); studied business administration at Inha
Frequently asked questions
Does Inha University have English-taught bachelor's programmes?
Yes. International Business and Trade (IBT) and Integrated System Engineering (ISE) in the College of International Studies are taught 100% in English and require IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.
What is the Inha University deadline for spring 2027?
Online applications run from 30 September to 5 November 2026 (17:00 KST), original documents must arrive by 12 November, and results come out on 22 December 2026.
How much is tuition at Inha for international students?
In 2026, tuition is KRW 4,253,000 to 5,462,000 per semester depending on the field, or about KRW 8.5 to 10.9 million a year.
What TOPIK level do I need for Inha?
TOPIK level 3 for Korean-taught majors as a freshman (level 4 for most transfers). The Division of Global Liberal Studies accepts TOPIK 2 with a year of intensive Korean.
Can I get a full scholarship at Inha?
Yes. Freshmen with IELTS 8 or TOEFL iBT 106 and above can receive four years' full tuition plus KRW 300,000 a month, and TOPIK 6 holders get a full first-semester tuition waiver.
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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