Kangwon National University
강원대학교
Gangwon's national university, now on four campuses after joining with Gangneung-Wonju National University in 2026.
- Students
- 27,004
- International
- 9%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₩3.6M
- 2026 academic year (new students)
- Founded
- 1947
About KNU
Kangwon National University was established on June 14, 1947, and is the national university for Gangwon Province in north-eastern South Korea. Its main Chuncheon campus is about an hour from the Seoul metropolitan area by bus or ITX train. KNU has absorbed Gangneung-Wonju National University: KBS reported the merger was planned for completion by March 2026, and KNU's website now lists four campuses (Chuncheon, Gangneung, Samcheok and Wonju) and calls itself Korea's first single national university for a province. Admissions for the Gangneung and Wonju campuses are still run on separate campus pages; this profile's admission details cover the Chuncheon and Samcheok campuses.
According to KNU's 'Key indicators' page (2026 university information disclosure), the university has 27,004 enrolled students, 1,416 full-time faculty and 2,328 international students, and its residence halls can hold 9,589 students (2025 disclosure), which the page ranks first among Korea's flagship national universities. Teaching covers agriculture, animal and forest sciences, engineering, business, education, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and biomedical sciences, plus a university hospital and a law school.
For international applicants, the picture is practical. Most courses are taught in Korean, so most departments ask for TOPIK Level 3 or higher (some require Level 4 or 5), while the Department of Global Convergence offers a bilingual English track in Chuncheon. Tuition is moderate by international standards, and Korean-language ability directly earns tuition scholarships, from 60% off to a full waiver. It suits students who are ready to study in Korean, or to start on the English track, in a mid-sized provincial city.
Inquirere Veritatem Ex Praxe (實事求是, Sil-Sa-Gu-Si)
“Seek the truth from reality” — university motto
Why students choose KNU
Tuition for new international undergraduates starts at about KRW 3.6 million a year (two semesters), with TOPIK Level 4 earning 60% off and Level 5 a full waiver.
The Department of Global Convergence has an English track where at least 50% of credits are taken in a foreign language, in majors such as Global Business and Global Media & Communication.
KNU's key-indicators page ranks its dormitory capacity (9,589 students, 2025 disclosure) first among Korea's flagship national universities, and its guide says all new Chuncheon and Samcheok students who want a dorm place are accommodated.
Chuncheon is one hour from Seoul, and the university runs orientation, tutoring, free TOPIK preparation and Korean-culture programs for international students.
Admissions
International applicants to the Chuncheon and Samcheok campuses for spring 2027 (March 2027) and fall 2027 (September 2027); dates below follow the 2026 cycle. Gangneung and Wonju campuses publish separate international admission guides.
Selectivity
KNU does not publish an overall acceptance rate for international applicants in the documents used. Admission is decided department by department: three faculty evaluators score a document review or interview, and arts and physical education departments add a practical test (50%). Applicants who do not meet the eligibility and language rules, or whose documents are incomplete, are excluded.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school | Graduate (or expected graduate) of a regular high school with 12 years of schooling in total; applicant and both parents must hold foreign nationality; GED-type equivalency exams are not accepted |
|---|---|
| Korean language (TOPIK) | Level 3 or higher for most departments; some departments require Level 4 or Level 5 and accept no English scores (for example Computer Science and Engineering needs Level 5) |
| Transfer | Sophomore entry needs 33 or more credits (1 year), junior entry 65 or more credits (2 years) from a four-year university, or graduation from a junior college |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 71 Accepted in place of TOPIK only by departments that allow English scores: TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, New TEPS 327 or TOEIC 700. Applicants who completed secondary school in English in a native English-speaking country, or government-sponsored students, are also exempt. The Global Convergence English Track accepts these English scores. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 intake (March 2027 start) Non-bindingOctober 2026 (exact dates not yet published)
KNU's general admission schedule: application in October, interviews November to December, results mid-December, tuition payment in December.
- Fall 2027 intake (September 2027 start) Non-bindingExpected around May to June 2027 (2026 cycle: applications May 11 to June 12, 2026)
2026 cycle: departmental screening June 29 to July 2, results July 16, registration July 20 to 24, semester began September 1. Expect a similar pattern in 2027.
KNU had not published the spring 2027 or fall 2027 international undergraduate guidelines on the pages used; the dates above are the general schedule and the fall 2026 guide, both labelled as the previous cycle. Check the Chuncheon admission page for the 2027 guidelines.
How to apply
Apply online through KNU's English site or the Office of International Affairs site, pay the non-refundable KRW 50,000 application fee, and upload scans of all documents (PDF, up to 8 MB each), then send the originals by post or in person. Documents not in Korean or English need notarized translations. Each department screens by document review or interview, followed by an internal audit. Admitted students must show a bank balance certificate of KRW 16,000,000 or more to receive the Standard Admission Certificate for a visa. Duplicate applications across campuses are not considered.
What admissions looks for
- Eligibility: foreign nationality for both applicant and parents, and a complete 12-year school record.
- Korean ability at the level the department requires (TOPIK 3, 4 or 5), or English scores where the department allows them.
- A complete, verifiable document set with a personal statement and study plan, since incomplete files are rejected in the first screening stage.
- For interview departments, a clear reason for choosing the major; arts and physical education applicants also sit a practical test.
Tips for applying to KNU
- 1 Check your department's language row in the guide first: many accept TOPIK 3 or English scores, others accept only TOPIK 4 or 5.
- 2 Consider the Department of Global Convergence English Track if you do not yet read Korean; Korean is taught intensively in the first year.
- 3 Submit the originals, not just scans: KNU excludes applications with unverifiable or missing documents, and email is not accepted for originals.
- 4 Plan your funds early: you need a bank balance certificate of KRW 16,000,000 or more, issued within one month, in the applicant's own name if you live in Korea.
Costs & financial aid
2026 academic year (new students) · figures in KRW
New international students receive tuition scholarships based on Korean ability: TOPIK Level 4 earns 60% of tuition and TOPIK Level 5 or higher a full waiver (the guide lists IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 86, and IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 94, for the English track, but also says Global Convergence English Track applicants are not eligible for TOPIK-based scholarships, so confirm with KNU). Graduates of KNU's Korean language program earn about 35%, and Samcheok and Dogye students get an extra 20% in their first semester. Current students can earn 20% to 100% for top-30% grades.
- KRW 3,606,000 on average
- Scholarship per student (2026 disclosure)
- KRW 50,000, non-refundable
- Application fee
- Bank balance certificate of KRW 16,000,000 or more (about USD 13,000 per KNU)
- Proof of funds for visa
- Top 1% full tuition; top 5% 70%; top 10% 35%; top 30% 20% (12+ credits, GPA 2.5+, TOPIK 4)
- Current-student merit scholarships
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters, starting in March and September
Department of Global Convergence (English Track)
A bilingual program in Chuncheon with at least 50% of credits in a foreign language, in majors such as Global Business, Global Media & Communication, Global Performing Arts & Content and Global Industrial Technology.
Computer Science and Engineering
Taught in Korean, with a TOPIK Level 5 entry requirement for international applicants.
Architecture (5-year program) and Civil Engineering
Open to applicants with TOPIK Level 3 or English scores, among the engineering options on the Chuncheon campus.
Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Systems Science
Both accept all listed language qualifications, alongside KNU's precision medicine and digital healthcare research focus.
Forest Management and Forest Resources (College of Forest and Environmental Sciences)
Forest Management accepts all listed language qualifications; Forest Resources requires TOPIK Level 4.
Food Science and Biotechnology
Requires TOPIK Level 5 for international applicants and sits in a university with a long agriculture and life-sciences base.
Research
- KNU says it was the first national university selected as a Campus Innovation Park (a designated urban high-tech industrial complex).
- A 2022 local government-university cooperation project targets precision medicine, digital healthcare and smart hydrogen energy.
- KNU participates in the national BK21 (Brain Korea 21) phase 4 program, and runs Kangwon National University Hospital and a law school.
Schools & faculties
- College of Business Administration
- College of Engineering
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Animal Life Sciences
- College of Art and Culture
- College of Education
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Forest and Environmental Sciences
- College of Nursing
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Biomedical Sciences
Student life
International students at Chuncheon are supported with an orientation in March and September, tutoring, a writing center, free TOPIK preparation classes and counselling, and they can join culture programs through the year: a Chuncheon city tour, Global Sports Day, a DMZ peace tour, a Hanbok experience, kimchi-making and an International Students' Night. Dormitory places are assigned randomly, and new students have priority, so continuing students cannot stay beyond their second semester. With permission from the immigration office, students may work part-time up to set hours depending on Korean level and grade.
- Orientation for new international students every March and September.
- Free TOPIK preparation classes and full reimbursement of the TOPIK exam fee for Level 4 and above.
- Culture programs including a DMZ Peace Tour, a Hanbok experience and kimchi-making.
- Part-time work with an immigration permit, up to 30 hours a week for qualifying students.
Housing. Chuncheon has the largest dormitory capacity in Gangwon (4,388 students); an International Dormitory double room costs KRW 740,000 per four-month semester, other double rooms KRW 590,000 to 840,000.
Location
Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon Province, a city of about 290,000 people (about 6,400 of them foreigners, roughly 1.9%) on lakes and mountains, one hour from the Seoul metropolitan area by expressway bus or by the ITX Gyeongchun Line train. KNU describes it as a city of tourism, education, culture and festivals, home to LEGOLAND, the Samaksan Ropeway and the Chuncheon Mime Festival. The Samcheok campus is a smaller coastal industrial and tourism city, two to three hours from Seoul. The Gangneung and Wonju campuses, which joined through the 2026 merger, are in other cities of the province.
Notable alumni
- CM Choi Moon-soonFormer governor of Gangwon Province; earned a BA in English Education at KNU
- JO Jang Ok-sunFormer Executive Vice President of Korea Land and Housing Corporation; bachelor's degree in business studies
- KH Kim HeesunSouth Korean writer and pharmacist; studied pharmacy at KNU
- AR Anushka RajapakshaSri Lankan chemist and senior lecturer; PhD from KNU in 2015
- JA Jemal Abafita AbabulguEthiopian academic and former president of Jimma University; PhD in economics from KNU
- AM Alberto MondiItalian television personality and businessman in South Korea; attended KNU and worked there as a teaching assistant (2008 to 2010)
- SU Samuel UrkatoEthiopian politician and anti-corruption commissioner; attended a PhD exchange student program at KNU (non-degree study)
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Kangwon National University in English?
Yes, through the Department of Global Convergence English Track in Chuncheon, which needs TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5 or similar. Most other departments teach in Korean and require TOPIK Level 3 or higher.
How much is tuition at Kangwon National University for international students?
New undergraduates in 2026 paid per-semester tuition starting at KRW 1,797,000 (humanities and social sciences) up to KRW 2,539,000 for some Global Convergence majors, so the yearly minimum is about KRW 3.6 million, before scholarships.
What are the application dates for spring and fall 2027?
KNU has not published exact 2027 dates on the pages used. Its general schedule has spring (March) applications in October and fall (September) applications around May to June; in 2026 the fall window was May 11 to June 12.
Does KNU offer scholarships to international students?
Yes: 60% off tuition for TOPIK Level 4, a full waiver for Level 5 or higher, and about 35% for graduates of KNU's Korean language program, plus merit scholarships for current students.
How much money do I need to show for the visa?
Admitted students must submit a bank balance certificate of KRW 16,000,000 or more (about USD 13,000 per KNU), issued within one month of submission.
Which campuses does Kangwon National University have now?
KNU's website lists four campuses: Chuncheon, Gangneung, Samcheok and Wonju, following its merger with Gangneung-Wonju National University. The international undergraduate guide used here covers Chuncheon and Samcheok only.
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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