Korea University
고려대학교
Seoul's crimson private university, founded in 1905 on the belief that education saves the nation.
- Tuition
- ₩5.8M
- From · 2026 (2027 rates not yet published)
- Founded
- 1905
- QS World Ranking
- #52
- 2027 edition
- THE World Ranking
- #156
- 2026 edition
About KU
Korea University was founded in 1905 as Bosung College, on its founder's conviction that education saves the nation, a phrase still symbolised by the shield in its emblem. Its main Anam campus in Seongbuk-gu, northeast Seoul, is known for Gothic granite buildings and a car-free core, made possible by building Central Plaza, with parking, reading rooms and amenities, underneath a grass park. A second campus operates in Sejong City.
The university is organised into colleges covering business, liberal arts, life sciences, political science and economics, science, engineering, medicine, education, nursing, informatics, art and design, international studies, media, and health science, plus newer schools for psychology, smart security and interdisciplinary open-major study. KU has a strong record of producing leaders in business, politics and sport, and joined the Universitas 21 network in 2004.
International freshmen apply through a dedicated foreigner admission track with two intakes a year, assessed entirely on documents. Most departments teach mainly in Korean, so the place suits students willing to reach solid TOPIK levels; English-first applicants usually look at International Studies (English track) or the Global Open Major. Students who want a big-city campus with intense school spirit, especially around the annual Korea-Yonsei games, tend to thrive here.
Libertas, Justitia, Veritas
“Liberty, Justice, Truth” — university motto
Why students choose KU
Two intakes a year for international freshmen (spring and fall), each decided purely on a document review with no entrance exam.
The College of International Studies offers an English-track International Studies major and a Global Open Major reserved for international students.
University College lets undecided international students spend year one on general studies and intensive Korean before choosing among 46 departments.
Merit scholarships are awarded automatically from the admission review, up to full tuition for eight semesters through the Anam Global Scholarship.
Admissions
International Undergraduate Admission (foreigner track), Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 intakes
Selectivity
Korea University does not publish an admit rate for its international track. There is no quota per major; admission is decided by the International Admissions Committee on a 100% comprehensive document review.
Typical entry requirements
| Citizenship | Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens (dual Korean citizenship is ineligible) |
|---|---|
| Schooling | Completion of regular 12-year primary and secondary education in Korea or abroad; GED, homeschooling or online schooling are not accepted as equivalent |
| Korean-track language proof | TOPIK (regular or TOPIK iBT) score, KU or IEQAS university Korean Language Center level certificate, or King Sejong Institute / SKA intermediate completion; TOPIK 5+ means no mandatory Korean training, level 4 means one semester, level 3 or lower means two semesters |
| Global Open Major (major assignment) | TOPIK 5, or IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100 or higher, to be placed in the chosen major after year one |
| English language | TOEFL iBT (incl. Home Edition) or IELTS Academic scores within two years are accepted as language proof and are mandatory for the International Studies (English track) major; the guide sets no general minimum. Global Open Major students need IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 to be assigned an English-taught major. TOEFL MyBest and IELTS Indicator are not accepted. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 intake (closed) Non-binding PassedAugust 31, 2026
Closed. Online application ran August 3 to August 31, 2026 (17:00 KST); original documents were due by September 7, 2026; results are released November 27, 2026. Nursing admits international freshmen in the spring intake only.
- Fall 2027 intake Non-bindingMarch 2027 (exact dates TBA)
KU lists online application and document submission for March 2027, results in June 2027 and registration in July 2027, with exact dates to be announced. For reference, the Fall 2026 round ran March 2 to 27, 2026, with documents due March 31 and results on June 12, 2026.
The Spring 2027 round has closed. The next opportunity is the Fall 2027 intake, with applications in March 2027; exact dates will be posted on the OIA admission guide page.
How to apply
Online application via the OIA site (Uwayapply portal): application form, statement of purpose (three 800-character questions), passport copies of applicant and parents, family relationship documents, language proof, apostilled transcripts and graduation certificate, optional documents; originals posted to the International Education Team. Fee KRW 150,000 (KRW 200,000 for Art & Design, which also needs a portfolio).
What admissions looks for
- Academic ability, judged from full secondary school records across every semester.
- Aptitude for the chosen field of study, argued in the statement of purpose.
- Academic language proficiency in Korean or English sufficient to follow courses.
- Extracurricular activities, volunteer work, awards and attendance records.
- For Korean high school graduates, any school-violence records are weighed qualitatively.
Tips for applying to KU
- 1 The KU online Korean level test was discontinued from Spring 2027, so book a TOPIK, TOEFL iBT or IELTS test early enough for an official score before the deadline.
- 2 The three statement-of-purpose questions include one on overcoming difficulties related to diversity outside academics; prepare a concrete example.
- 3 You can apply to Admission I (a named major) and Admission II (Global Open Major) in the same round, but you pay two fees and submit two statements.
- 4 Start apostille or consular authentication of transcripts early; Chinese applicants also need CHSI verification reports.
- 5 If you want Nursing, apply in the spring intake; the College of Medicine is not among the majors open to international freshmen in the Spring 2027 guide.
Costs & financial aid
2026 (2027 rates not yet published) · figures in KRW
Admission scholarships for international freshmen are awarded automatically from the admission evaluation with no separate application. The Anam Global Scholarship covers full tuition for eight semesters for the top admit in each track; KU STEM Overseas and Global Leader A give full tuition for four semesters, and Global Leader B covers 50% for four semesters.
- Full tuition, 8 semesters (renewal: 12+ credits and GPA 3.5 each semester)
- Anam Global Scholarship
- Full tuition, 4 semesters
- KU Global Friends (students from Africa, South America, developing countries)
- KRW 1,000,000 per semester, 8 semesters
- Bright Futures B (government-sponsored scholars)
- Bank balance of KRW 20,000,000 or more
- Proof of funds for D-2 visa
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (spring and fall)
International Studies (English track)
Taught through the College of International Studies and the one KU major that requires English proof for admission.
Global Open Major
An international-students-only track: a year of general education and Korean, then assignment to a major in humanities, social sciences, sciences, art and design or engineering.
Global Entertainment
A College of Media and Communication department that recruits international students only.
University College
One-year foundation of general studies, intensive Korean and an Incubating Program before choosing from 46 departments.
Business Administration (KU Business School)
KU's business school is its flagship for industry leaders, with Hyundai Motor Group chair Chung Eui-sun among its graduates.
Research
- Joined Universitas 21 in 2004 and hosted the network's 2009 Symposium and Annual General Meeting.
- Runs the KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
- The Korean TechnoComplex, established in the 1990s on the Anam campus, was set up for collaborative research between business, research institutes and the university.
- Three affiliated university hospitals (Anam, Guro and Ansan) support the College of Medicine.
Schools & faculties
- Korea University Business School
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology
- College of Political Science and Economics
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- College of Medicine
- College of Education
- College of Informatics
- College of International Studies
- College of Media and Communication
- College of Health Science
Student life
Life at KU revolves around a strong collective identity: crimson colours, the Tiger mascot and the annual Korea-Yonsei (Ko-Yon) games against Yonsei, contested across multiple sports. The Anam campus is compact and walkable, with the underground Central Plaza under a grass park as its social hub, and it borders the Anam-dong student neighbourhood of cafes and cheap restaurants. International students get support from the Global Services Center and can join a short Korean pre-program before their first semester.
- Korea-Yonsei Friendship Games, the rivalry that defines the autumn calendar
- KU Tigers athletic teams and the Hwanho tiger mascot
- The Granite Tower, the English-language campus newspaper, and Korea University Weekly
- Korean Language Pre-program for admitted international undergraduates before term
- Global Services Center one-stop support for international students
Housing. On-campus residences include CJ International House and Anam Global House, built to house international students and faculty.
Location
The Anam campus sits in Seongbuk-gu in northeast Seoul, within the city's subway network and a short ride from the historic centre. The surrounding Anam-dong area is a dense student district with inexpensive food and housing, and Seoul itself offers a global city's jobs, culture and nightlife. KU's second campus is in Sejong Special Autonomous City, the administrative capital south of Seoul.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN); Gimpo International Airport (GMP) for domestic flights
Notable alumni
- LM Lee Myung-bak10th President of South Korea and former Mayor of Seoul
- CE Chung Eui-sunChairman of Hyundai Motor Group (BBA 1993)
- CT Chey Tae-wonChairman of SK Group
- YK Yuna Kim2010 Olympic figure skating champion
- HM Hong Myung-boFootballer, 2002 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball winner
- CB Cha Bum-kunFootballer, named Asia's Player of the Century by the IFFHS
- KH Kim HoonNovelist
- OT Ok Taec-yeonActor and member of the K-pop group 2PM
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Korea University without speaking Korean?
Only partly. From Spring 2027 every applicant must submit official Korean or English proof; English scores work for the International Studies (English track) major and Global Open Major, but most departments teach mainly in Korean and students below TOPIK 5 face mandatory Korean training.
When is the Korea University international application deadline?
For Spring 2027 the online application closed on August 31, 2026. The Fall 2027 round takes place in March 2027 (exact dates TBA); the Fall 2026 round ran March 2 to 27, 2026.
How much is Korea University tuition for international students?
About KRW 5.8 million per semester for humanities and social sciences, 6.7 million for natural sciences, 7.7 million for engineering, the Global Open Major and University College, and 7.8 million for art (approximate 2026 figures, subject to change).
Does Korea University require an entrance exam or interview?
No. International admission is a 100% comprehensive document review with no entrance exam; Art & Design applicants also submit a portfolio.
Are there scholarships for international freshmen?
Yes. Scholarships are assigned automatically from your admission result, ranging from full tuition for eight semesters (Anam Global) to 50% for four semesters (Global Leader B).
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.
- Korea University OIA, Spring 2027 International Undergraduate Application Guide (PDF)
- Korea University OIA, Fall 2026 Freshman Application Guide (PDF)
- Korea University OIA, Admission Guide (schedule)
- Korea University OIA, Tuition 2026
- Korea University Graduate School fact sheet
- Korea University, Current Status (campus areas)
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