#65 in the world · QS 2027

KAIST

한국과학기술원

Korea's first research-oriented science and technology university, where international undergraduates study in English on full scholarship.

Daejeon, Yuseong District, South Korea Public research university (science and technology) Founded 1971 Official website

See my chances at KAIST Admissions office

Photo: AhmadElq · CC BY-SA 4.0

Students: 12,348; 4,009 undergraduates
International: 8%; of students
Tuition: ₩6.9M; 2026-27 (KAIST cost-of-attendance estimate)
Founded: 1971

About KAIST

KAIST opened in 1971 as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science under a special legislative mandate: educate the scientists and engineers who would industrialise Korea and do the research that would drive its growth. Its academic blueprint was drafted with help from Stanford's Frederick Terman. After merging with the Korea Institute of Technology in 1989 it moved to Daejeon's Daedeok research district, where it sits among dozens of national research institutes.

Today KAIST is organised into colleges of natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, AI and business, plus a School of Transdisciplinary Studies, with 12,348 students of whom 4,009 are undergraduates. Undergraduates enter without a declared major and choose one in their second year with no extra admission step. For international students, the official language of instruction is English and most courses are taught entirely in English.

The deal for international undergraduates is unusual: everyone admitted through the international track receives the KAIST Scholarship, covering tuition for eight semesters plus a monthly stipend and health insurance. The place suits students who genuinely love maths and science, want early lab research through the Undergraduate Research Participation programme, and are happy in a quiet, campus-centred city rather than Seoul.

Why students choose KAIST

Every international undergraduate admit receives the KAIST Scholarship: full tuition for 8 semesters, KRW 350,000 a month and health insurance.

No major is declared at entry; students pick among STEM, AI, design and business majors in year two without a second admission process.

Most courses for international students are taught entirely in English, and Korean is not required to apply.

Undergraduates can join faculty labs early through the Undergraduate Research Participation (URP) programme.

Admissions

2027 international undergraduate admissions (Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 entry)

Selectivity

KAIST does not publish a current admit rate for its international track and states that evaluation details and scores are not disclosed. Admission is holistic with heavy weight on the level and quality of maths and science coursework.

Testing Required: at least one official standardized or national exam score (e.g. SAT, ACT, AP, IB, GCE A-Level or a national school-leaving or university entrance exam); strong maths and science results, especially physics, chemistry or biology, are strongly encouraged.

Grades Transcripts must cover the final two or three years of high school including courses in progress; class rank is welcome where available.

Typical entry requirements

Citizenship	Foreign citizen with no Korean citizenship (dual citizens ineligible); neither parent Korean, or, for applicants of Korean origin, all schooling completed outside Korea
Graduation date	High school completed by February 28, 2027 (Spring entry, Early track only) or August 31, 2027 (Fall entry)
IB / GCE A-Level	Predicted scores accepted, verified by a counsellor or teacher; may lead to conditional admission pending final results
Standardized tests	At least one of SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Level or a national exam; KAIST SAT/AP code 4433, ACT 7778, IB 000559
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 83 Recommended scores: TOEFL iBT 83 (or 4.5 on the scale used from January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720, TEPS 326. Duolingo, ITP and at-home tests are not accepted. Exempt: nationals of listed English-speaking countries and graduates of English-medium high schools (with a school letter).

Deadlines

Early track (Spring or Fall 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 16 days

October 22, 2026

Open now: application window September 22 to October 22, 2026 (6:00 PM KST); recommendation letters by October 29; interviews, if required, on December 22; results January 7, 2027. Early admits may choose Spring or Fall 2027 entry.
Regular track (Fall 2027 entry) Non-binding In ~3 months

January 14, 2027

Application window November 10, 2026 to January 14, 2027 (6:00 PM KST); recommendation letters by January 21; interviews if required on March 3; results March 25, 2027.

Dates from KAIST's Spring and Fall 2027 international admissions guide; all are subject to change. Once the fee is paid the track cannot be switched.

How to apply

Online via univapply.kaist.ac.kr/interapply: application form with five essay prompts, transcripts, passport copy, standardized test and English test reports; up to two recommendation letters (optional from the 2027 cycle but highly recommended), up to five honours and awards, school profile and school report. Only scans are uploaded at the application stage. Fee USD 80, with a fee-waiver programme for students in the top 5% of their grade from UN Least Developed Countries.

What admissions looks for

Academic achievement, especially the level and quality of maths and science coursework, read in the context of the school attended.
Enjoyment of exploring knowledge grounded in science and technology.
A strong sense of ethics and consideration for humanity and the environment.
Passion for challenges in new fields, plus potential, interpersonal skills, integrity and leadership.
A cooperative spirit and wish to contribute to society.

Tips for applying to KAIST

1 Essay Q1 asks for a STEM question that sets you apart and why you asked it; KAIST says it is judging curiosity and attitude, and advises a personal story rather than R&E project write-ups.
2 Pay the fee early: recommenders only receive their upload link after payment, and letters are due a week after the application deadline.
3 Send SAT, AP or ACT scores electronically from the testing agency 1 to 2 weeks before the deadline; KAIST uses your best score per section across sittings.
4 If you submit a national exam result, add a one-page summary explaining the exam, competition rate and your result.
5 Apply Early if you want Spring 2027 entry; the Regular track only feeds the Fall semester.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 (KAIST cost-of-attendance estimate) · figures in KRW

International undergraduates, per year (KRW 3,433,000 per semester), fully covered by the KAIST Scholarship for international-track admits Tuition ₩6,866,000

+ on-campus housing (krw 664,000) and food (krw 2,737,500) per semester, times two ₩6,803,000 ≈ ₩13,669,000 per year

Tuition On-campus housing (KRW 664,000) and food (KRW 2,737,500) per semester, times two

Official cost of attendance ₩14,885,680

Financial aid

All students admitted through the international undergraduate track automatically receive the KAIST Scholarship: tuition exemption for 8 semesters, a monthly allowance of KRW 350,000 and medical insurance. Renewal after year one requires a GPA above 2.7 on KAIST's 4.3 scale. KAIST estimates a student's net annual cost at about KRW 3,359,000 after the scholarship.

All (automatic on admission)
International admits receiving the KAIST Scholarship: KRW 350,000
Monthly living allowance: KRW 3,359,000
Estimated annual out-of-pocket cost with scholarship: About USD 3,200 (after crediting the approx. KRW 11,786,000 annual scholarship)
Proof of funds for visa

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters (spring from late February, fall from late August)

School of Computing (Computer Science)

One of the undergraduate majors inside KAIST's College of Engineering, whose Engineering and Technology subject ranking KAIST cites as 24th worldwide (QS by Subject 2025).

School of Electrical Engineering

A core KAIST engineering school open to all undergraduates after the undeclared first year.

College of AI (AI Computing, AI Systems)

A newly listed college offering AI majors to undergraduates from the 2027 intake guide.

Industrial Design

A design major housed within the College of Engineering, open to undergraduates when they choose a major in their second year.

Undergraduate Research Participation (URP)

Structured programme that puts undergraduates into hands-on faculty research.

Research

KAIST's Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) launched Korea's first satellite, KITSAT-1, and built the campus 13-metre antenna in 1997 to communicate with satellites.
Sits in Daedeok Science Town in Daejeon, the research district KAIST moved to in 1989, alongside government and corporate research institutes.
KAIST researchers developed the Online Electric Vehicle, which draws power wirelessly from cables embedded beneath the road surface.

Schools & faculties

College of Natural Sciences
College of Life Science and Bioengineering
College of Engineering
College of AI
College of Business
School of Transdisciplinary Studies

Student life

KAIST is a residential, campus-centred university: 21 on-campus residences house more than 7,600 students, so most undergraduates live and work within a short walk of labs and lecture halls. The campus has its own quirks and landmarks, from the duck pond whose ducks and geese have lived on the grounds since 2000 (cars stop for them), to the Carillon of Great Scholars gifted by alumni, a graft of Newton's apple tree and the water tower students nicknamed Mazinger Tower. Around 929 international students add to a community where English is the working language for international students.

21 on-campus residences accommodating more than 7,600 students
Duck pond with resident geese, a campus symbol since 2000
Sports Complex with a 3,000-seat indoor stadium used for commencement
Academic Cultural Complex (main library, reopened 2018) with maker space and sky lounge
Student clubs and organisations, plus the Cultural Event Series

Housing. On-campus housing is standard; KAIST budgets KRW 664,000 per semester for housing in its cost-of-attendance estimate.

Location

KAIST's main campus is in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, a mid-sized city in central South Korea at the heart of the Daedeok research district. Life is calmer and cheaper than in Seoul, and Daejeon's rail connections make Seoul reachable for weekend trips.

Nearest airport: Cheongju International Airport (CJJ); Incheon International Airport (ICN) for most international flights

Notable alumni

YS
Yi So-yeon

First Korean to fly in space
KJ
Kim Jung-ju

Founder of the game company Nexon
LH
Lee Hae-jin

Founder of Naver (NHN Corporation)
CB
Chang Byung-gyu

Co-founder of Neowiz and founder of Krafton
RR
Ryong Ryoo

Chemist
TK
Tony Kim

Founder of the prototyping tool ProtoPie
YS
Yoon So-hee

Actress

Frequently asked questions

Is KAIST free for international students?

Effectively yes for tuition: every student admitted through the international undergraduate track gets the KAIST Scholarship, covering tuition for 8 semesters plus KRW 350,000 a month and health insurance, as long as the GPA stays above 2.7 after year one.

Do I need to speak Korean to study at KAIST?

No. English is the official language of instruction for international students and most courses are taught entirely in English; you need an English test (e.g. TOEFL iBT 83 or IELTS 6.5 recommended) unless exempt.

When is the KAIST international application deadline?

The Early track is open now and closes October 22, 2026; the Regular track opens November 10, 2026 and closes January 14, 2027, both at 6:00 PM KST.

Does KAIST require the SAT?

You must submit at least one official test score, but it can be SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Level or a national school-leaving or entrance exam; strong maths and science results are strongly encouraged.

Does KAIST interview applicants?

Only if deemed necessary. Selected applicants are contacted by email and attend an online interview, scheduled for December 22, 2026 (Early) or March 3, 2027 (Regular).

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.