Kyung Hee University
경희대학교
A private Seoul university with two main campuses, Korean- and English-track entry, and roots in Korean medicine.
- Students
- 34,342
- 25,573 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₩10M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1949
- QS World Ranking
- #309
- 2027 edition
About KHU
Kyung Hee University was founded in 1949 with the stated aim of "Creating a Civilized World"; it began as Sin Heung Junior College, named after the 1911–1920 Sinhŭng Military Academy of the independence movement, which is why some sources give 1911. It runs three campuses: the Seoul Campus in Dongdaemun, the Global Campus in Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, and the small Gwangneung Campus, home to the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies. As of 2025 it had 25,573 undergraduates, 8,769 graduate students and 1,395 full-time faculty across 23 colleges and 88 departments and majors.
The two main campuses split the subjects. Seoul hosts humanities, politics and economics, management, hotel and tourism management, science, human ecology, music, fine arts and dance, plus Korean medicine and the university medical center. The Global Campus hosts engineering, electronics and information, software convergence, applied science, life sciences, international studies, foreign languages, art and design, and physical education. International applicants choose one campus and apply either to a Korean-taught track (TOPIK Level 3 or higher) or to one of four English-track departments.
Kyung Hee is known in Korea for its College of Korean Medicine, its long-established physical education and taekwondo programs, and a performing arts and media tradition that has produced many actors and musicians. It suits students who want a large, comprehensive Korean university, are ready to study in Korean or pick a specific English-track major, and like the idea of a green hillside campus in Seoul.
학원의 민주화, 사상의 민주화, 생활의 민주화
“Democratization of school, democratization of thought, democratization of living” — university motto
Why students choose KHU
Four English-track departments (International Studies, Asian Studies, Business Administration, and Global Hospitality and Tourism Management) accept TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0, so you do not need Korean to start.
Merit scholarships are announced with your admission result: the Global Eminence Scholarship covers full tuition for students in the top 5% of their national entrance exam, renewable for up to four years with a 3.5 GPA.
The Global Campus College of Engineering, Electronics and Information and Software Convergence offer half tuition for four years to international entrants who score in the top 50% of their college's evaluation and keep a 3.0 GPA.
Kyung Hee's School of Space Research built KMAG, the magnetometer flying on Danuri, Korea's first lunar orbiter.
Admissions
Spring 2027 international undergraduate admission (classes begin 2 March 2027); fall 2027 guidelines not yet published
Selectivity
Kyung Hee does not publish an admission rate for international undergraduates. Most colleges admit purely on document review (transcripts, language scores, study plan); music, fine arts, dance and postmodern music add a practical test weighted 50%.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school completion | Completed or expected completion of accredited secondary education before admission; GEDs, homeschooling and online schooling are not accepted. Applicants and both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship from before the start of high school. |
|---|---|
| Korean track (Korean-taught majors) | TOPIK Level 3 or higher, or an equivalent route such as passing level 3 of the KHU Korean Language Test (next sitting 17 October 2026) |
| English track | Citizenship of, or high school completion in, a country where English is an official language; or TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 or NEW TEPS 327 |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 For English-track departments only: TOEFL iBT 80 (4.0 for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0 or NEW TEPS 327. Korean-track majors require TOPIK Level 3 or equivalent instead. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027, 1st intake (closed) Non-binding Passed28 August 2026, 5:00 PM KST
Online application 17–28 August 2026; documents postmarked by 27 August. Results announced 23 October 2026.
- Spring 2027, 2nd intake Non-binding Next deadline · In 31 days6 November 2026, 5:00 PM KST
Online application 26 October to 6 November 2026; documents must be postmarked by 5 November. Practical test for music, dance and fine arts on 12 December 2026. Results announced 24 December 2026; classes begin 2 March 2027.
Kyung Hee admits international undergraduates twice a year. The dates above are from the Spring 2027 guidelines. Guidelines for Fall 2027 (September) entry had not been published as of 29 September 2026; check iadmission.khu.ac.kr.
How to apply
Apply online through the link on www.khu.ac.kr, choosing one campus and one admission unit, and pay the KRW 180,000 application fee (KRW 250,000 for music, dance and fine arts). Then post the required documents to the Division of Global Admissions on the Seoul Campus: transcripts, graduation or expected-graduation certificate, proof of language proficiency, a self-introduction and study plan, a passport copy and family-relationship documents. Admitted students later submit apostilled or consular-authenticated final certificates and a bank certificate for the D-2 visa.
What admissions looks for
- Academic competency: grades and progress in secondary school, plus any national exam or qualification scores.
- Academic readiness and language proficiency good enough to study the intended major in Korean or English.
- A study plan that shows you understand your intended major and have academic and career goals linked to it.
- Career competency: activities, volunteering, internships and certificates showing preparation and commitment to your chosen field.
Tips for applying to KHU
- 1 Take the 2nd intake window seriously: the online form closes at 5:00 PM Korea time on 6 November 2026, and posted documents must be postmarked by 5 November.
- 2 If you have no TOPIK score yet, you can sit the KHU Korean Language Test (17 October 2026); passing level 3 meets the Korean-track requirement.
- 3 Global Eminence Scholarship applicants must send the scholarship form and supporting documents together with the admission documents.
- 4 You may apply to only one campus, and you cannot change your major or cancel after paying the fee, so decide between Seoul and Global Campus programs first.
- 5 A high TOPIK or English score earns money: TOPIK 6, TOEFL iBT 105 (5.5 on the new scale) or IELTS 7.5 qualifies for a full first-semester tuition waiver (Admission Scholarship B).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
Admission scholarships are decided at the time of admission: the Global Eminence Scholarship (full tuition, up to four years), SDGs Global Scholarship, and Admission Scholarships A to I linked to top scores, TOPIK or English results and particular colleges. Students from countries on the OECD DAC list can also be eligible for the Samsung Dream Scholarship, and Kyung Hee accepts Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) students.
- Full tuition each semester for top-5% national exam performers, renewable up to 4 years with GPA 3.5+
- Global Eminence Scholarship
- Full first-semester tuition for TOPIK 6, TOEFL iBT 105 or IELTS 7.5
- Admission Scholarship B
- Half tuition for up to 4 years for the top 50% of entrants who keep a 3.0 GPA
- Admission Scholarship G (engineering, electronics, software)
- Full tuition plus KRW 3,900,000 study supplement for students from DAC-list countries
- Samsung Dream Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (spring from March, fall from September)
Global Hospitality and Tourism Management (English track)
An English-taught major in the College of Hotel and Tourism Management on the Seoul Campus, open to international applicants with TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0.
International Studies and Asian Studies (English track)
English-taught departments in the Global Campus College of International Studies; top-50% entrants get a full first-semester tuition scholarship.
Astronomy and Space Science
Kyung Hee's School of Space Research on the Global Campus developed KMAG, the magnetometer on the Danuri lunar orbiter.
Korean Medicine
Kyung Hee's College of Korean Medicine is linked to the Kyung Hee Medical Center, which includes a Korean medicine hospital and an East-West medical center.
Theater and Film
Global Campus department whose graduates include the actor Gong Yoo.
Taekwondo and Physical Education
The College of Physical Education runs dedicated Taekwondo, Sports Medicine, Golf Industry and Coaching departments.
Research
- Researchers at Kyung Hee's School of Space Research led the development of KMAG, the magnetometer on Danuri (Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter), Korea's first lunar mission.
- The College of Korean Medicine works within Kyung Hee Medical Center, where Korean and Western medicine are practised and researched side by side.
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- College of Politics and Economics
- College of Management
- College of Hotel and Tourism Management
- College of Science
- College of Human Ecology
- College of Music, College of Fine Arts and School of Dance
- College of Engineering
- College of Electronics and Information
- College of Software Convergence
- College of International Studies
- College of Physical Education
Student life
Kyung Hee's Seoul Campus is known for its hillside setting, with the Gothic-style Grand Peace Hall and neoclassical main building framed by cherry blossoms each spring. International students get orientation, Korean-language courses for academic work, a Global Buddy program pairing them with Korean students, and career support through to graduation. The KHU-PASS program certifies activities with digital badges and pays KRW 500,000 on completion, and TOPIK improvement scholarships reward progress in Korean. Students admitted from 2026 onward must complete a multiple major, a minor or a micro-degree to graduate (medicine, nursing and pharmacy excepted).
- Global Buddy Program pairing international and Korean students
- KHU-PASS certification: digital badges plus a KRW 500,000 scholarship for completing seven or more programs
- Four-week international training trips to partner universities such as University College Cork and Deakin University
- 625 partner universities in 83 countries (December 2025)
- Laughing Lion mascot and the landmark Grand Peace Hall on the Seoul Campus
Housing. On-campus dormitories include Sewha-won (Seoul Campus, KRW 1,290,000 per semester for a double) and Woojungwon (Global Campus, KRW 1,340,000 per semester, with a shared kitchen).
Location
The Seoul Campus sits in Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, in northeastern Seoul, with the city's subway network nearby. The Global Campus is in Giheung-gu, Yongin, a fast-growing city south of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, and is where many engineering, international studies and arts students live. Admitted students are told to arrive at least a week before classes start in early March.
Nearest airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN); Gimpo International Airport (GMP) for domestic flights
Notable alumni
- MJ Moon Jae-in12th President of South Korea (2017–2022); studied law at Kyung Hee on a full scholarship
- KJ Kim Jung-sookClassical singer and First Lady of South Korea (2017–2022); BA in vocal music
- GY Gong YooActor (Train to Busan, Squid Game); BA from the Department of Theater and Film
- KT Kim Tae-riActress (The Handmaiden, Mr. Sunshine); studied journalism and communication, 2008–2012
- KJ Kwak Jae-yongFilm director and screenwriter (My Sassy Girl); studied physics
- JH Jeong Ho-seungPoet; graduated in Korean literature
- SC Steven ChoiKorean American politician, California State Senator; BA from Kyung Hee (1966)
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Kyung Hee University in English?
Yes, in four English-track departments: International Studies, Asian Studies, Business Administration, and Global Hospitality and Tourism Management. You need TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 or NEW TEPS 327, unless you are a citizen of, or finished high school in, an English-speaking country.
What TOPIK level does Kyung Hee require?
Korean-track freshmen need TOPIK Level 3 or higher, or an equivalent such as level 3 on the KHU Korean Language Test. Big Data Analytics requires TOPIK Level 6.
When is the Kyung Hee application deadline for international students?
For Spring 2027 entry, the second intake runs from 26 October to 6 November 2026 (5:00 PM Korea time), with results on 24 December 2026. The first intake closed on 28 August 2026, and Fall 2027 dates had not been published as of 29 September 2026.
How much is tuition at Kyung Hee for international students?
Tuition is KRW 4,977,400 to 6,718,400 per semester depending on the college (fall 2026 rates), about KRW 10 to 13.4 million a year. The application fee is KRW 180,000, or KRW 250,000 for music, dance and fine arts.
Does Kyung Hee offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Scholarships are announced with admission results and range from a full-tuition Global Eminence Scholarship for top-5% exam performers to first-semester waivers for high TOPIK or English scores and half tuition for four years for strong engineering and software entrants.
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.
- Kyung Hee University: Spring 2027 International Undergraduate Admission Guidelines (PDF, linked from khu.ac.kr)
- Kyung Hee University: International undergraduate admission (Global Admissions)
- Kyung Hee University: Admissions (English site)
- Kyung Hee University: Organization
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
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