Pohang University of Science and Technology
포항공과대학교
A small, research-first science and engineering university that waives tuition and pays international students.
- Students
- 4,296
- 1,499 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 5.1:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₩5.6M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1986
About POSTECH
POSTECH was founded in Pohang on December 3, 1986 by the steel company POSCO, as Korea's first research-focused university. It is deliberately small: in April 2026 it had 1,499 undergraduates, 2,797 graduate students and 294 faculty, with an undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5.1 to 1. Each year it admits about 370 first-year students, and it describes itself as Korea's first bilingual campus, committed to teaching all foundational and major courses in English.
Everyone starts in the Mueunjae School of Undergraduate Studies, an undeclared-major track. For three semesters you explore 11 majors, from Mathematics and Physics to Computer Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, before declaring one at the end of the third semester. The Pohang Accelerator Laboratory and 149 research units give undergraduates unusually close access to large-scale research.
International admissions are new: POSTECH opened its first International Admissions track for fall 2026 and from the 2027 cycle admits twice a year, for spring and fall. Selection is by documents only, with no interview and no fixed quota. Admitted international students get a full tuition waiver while they keep a 3.0/4.3 GPA, plus a monthly living allowance. It suits students with strong maths and science who want a small, intense research environment rather than a big-city campus.
성실, 창의, 진취
“Integrity, Creativity, and Aspiration” — university motto
Why students choose POSTECH
All admitted students receive a full tuition waiver for up to eight semesters, renewed each semester with a GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.3.
International Admissions students receive a living allowance of KRW 500,000 a month, including vacations, and up to KRW 2,500,000 towards their flight to Korea.
You don't pick a major on the application: all first-years explore 11 majors for three semesters in the Mueunjae School before declaring.
POSTECH commits to teaching all foundational and major courses in English, and TOPIK scores are optional.
Admissions
2027 entry (Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 intakes)
Selectivity
POSTECH does not disclose applicant numbers or acceptance rates. International admissions have no fixed quota; the university says it admits about 370 first-year students a year overall, selected from the top 1% of Korean high school graduates.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | Graduated or expected to graduate by February 2027 (spring intake) from a government-recognised high school; GED, homeschooling and online diplomas are not accepted |
|---|---|
| Nationality (International Admissions track) | Applicant and both parents must hold only non-Korean citizenship, since before the applicant entered high school |
| IB / A-levels / SAT / AP / ACT | No minimum scores published; results are optional but recommended, and IB and A-level predicted grades are accepted |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 83 No minimum score, but POSTECH recommends IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 83 (4.0+ on the new scale), TEPS 327 or TOEIC 800, from tests taken within two years of the deadline. TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores are not accepted. Exempt if you attended an English-medium high school (with an MOI letter) or are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK or the US. |
Deadlines
- International Admissions, Spring 2027 Non-binding PassedSeptember 2, 2026, 17:00 KST
Closed. Recommendation letters were due September 3; preliminary decisions November 18 and final decisions December 17, 2026; semester begins February 22, 2027.
- International Admissions, Fall 2027 Non-bindingMarch-April 2027 (exact dates to be announced)
POSTECH expects to open applications in March-April 2027 and to post the guidelines on its admissions site in late January 2027.
Spring 2027 has closed. The Fall 2027 intake is the next chance; check adm-iu.postech.ac.kr for dates. You cannot apply to both International Admissions and GKS in the same cycle. POSTECH takes part in the GKS Embassy Track only, with dates set by NIIED.
How to apply
Apply online through the Study in Korea portal: application form, personal statement (four prompts of up to 500, 200, 200 and 300 words), one recommendation letter emailed directly by a teacher on POSTECH's form, English test score, academic history form and checklist, plus a KRW 60,000 (or USD 60) fee. Admitted applicants then post apostilled or consular-authenticated diplomas and transcripts. There is no interview for the International Admissions track.
What admissions looks for
- Academic achievement in STEM subjects, judged on the level of maths and science coursework, your results in it and the profile of your school.
- English proficiency sufficient for an English-medium curriculum.
- Potential in STEM, shown through qualities and skills in the field and your academic enthusiasm and attitude.
- Interpersonal skills, character and community engagement.
Tips for applying to POSTECH
- 1 Treat the personal statement as the main event, since there is no interview. The 200-word prompt about your most meaningful STEM activity is where research projects and Olympiads belong.
- 2 Choose a maths or science teacher, homeroom teacher or academic adviser as recommender, and make sure they send the letter themselves by the deadline (a day after the application closes).
- 3 Start apostille or consular authentication of your diploma and transcripts early: preliminary admits must get them to Pohang by post within about three weeks.
- 4 Send optional SAT, AP, IB or Olympiad results if you have them; they are the main way to show academic level beyond your transcript.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
Every admitted undergraduate gets a full tuition waiver for the first semester, renewable for up to eight semesters with a GPA of at least 3.0/4.3. International Admissions students also get KRW 500,000 a month as a living allowance, an arrival scholarship covering one-way airfare (up to KRW 2,500,000), and KRW 300,000 for reaching TOPIK level 4. After three semesters every student receives a Pathfinder Voucher for self-directed activities, worth KRW 11,000,000 in the Spring 2027 guideline (KRW 10,000,000 on the scholarship page). POSTECH estimates the net cost after scholarships at about KRW 182,000 a month.
- 100%, up to 8 semesters (GPA 3.0/4.3)
- Tuition waiver
- KRW 500,000 per month, including vacations
- Living allowance (International Admissions)
- KRW 2,186,840 per year (about KRW 182,237 a month)
- Estimated net cost after scholarships
- KRW 11,000,000 after three semesters per the Spring 2027 guideline (the scholarship page lists KRW 10,000,000, paid at KRW 2,500,000 a year)
- Pathfinder Voucher
- KRW 60,000 or USD 60
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (spring semester begins in late February)
Materials Science and Engineering
Ranked 26th in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026, POSTECH's highest subject ranking.
Physics
QS subject rank 52nd in Physics and Astronomy (2026), with the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory on campus.
Mechanical Engineering
QS subject rank 57th (2026), with research in nano/microscale engineering, biomedical engineering and future energy and mobility.
Chemical Engineering
QS subject rank 57th (2026), covering energy and environment, biotechnology and computation.
Computer Science and Engineering
Research areas from machine learning and data science to computer security and visual computing.
Biomedical Engineering
Replaces Convergence IT Engineering for students admitted through the 2027 cycle.
Research
- The Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, whose radiation accelerator was completed in 1994; POSTECH later opened a fourth-generation accelerator.
- 149 research units, with total annual research funding of USD 224.8 million and around 300 start-ups including faculty-led ones (as of April 2026).
- Partnerships including the POSTECH-Apple Developer Academy (opened 2022) and a semiconductor talent agreement with Samsung Electronics.
- Research funding of about USD 800,000 per faculty member, according to POSTECH.
Schools & faculties
- Mueunjae School of Undergraduate Studies
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Life Sciences
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial and Management Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering (formerly Convergence IT Engineering)
Student life
POSTECH is a residential campus. All first-years live in the Residential College (RC), in rooms with their own shower and toilet, and older students can apply for the general dormitories, spread across 22 buildings. Building 16, the DICE dorm, focuses on international cultural exchange. The biggest event of the year is the POSTECH-KAIST Science War in September, where the two science universities compete in football, basketball, baseball, hacking, AI programming, science trivia and League of Legends. The spring Sunrise Festival is run by the student union.
- POSTECH-KAIST Students Grand Festival (Science War) every September, hosted by each school in turn.
- Mandatory first-year Residential College.
- Sunrise Festival each spring semester.
- Pathfinder programs including overseas discovery, undergraduate research internships and mentoring.
Housing. Freshmen must live in the Residential College, costing about KRW 175,000 a month for a double room (KRW 1,400,000 a year in the 2026 estimate), which the living allowance largely covers.
Location
Pohang is an industrial city on Korea's east coast, 270 km southeast of Seoul in North Gyeongsang Province. It was a fishing village until POSCO built its steelworks there in 1968. Nearby are Homigot, famous as the first place in Korea to see the sunrise, the Space Walk sculpture, the Forail urban forest trail, Jukdo Market and the Pohang International Fireworks Festival. KTX trains run from Pohang Station.
Nearest airport: Pohang Gyeongju Airport (KPO)
Notable alumni
- KC Kim Cho-yeopScience fiction writer; BS in chemistry and master's in biochemistry
- RT Roh Tae-moonHead of Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) division and its mobile business; master's and PhD in electrical engineering
- LS Lee Suk-yeonJustice of the Supreme Court of Korea; BS in industrial engineering
- MM Mun Mi-ockPhysicist and science policy leader; bachelor's to doctorate in physics
- WC Wonyong ChoiEnvironmental chemist known for photocatalysis research; MS in chemistry (1990)
Frequently asked questions
Is POSTECH free for international students?
Effectively, yes for tuition: all admitted students get a full tuition waiver for up to eight semesters if they keep a 3.0/4.3 GPA. International Admissions students also receive KRW 500,000 a month and an arrival scholarship for their flight.
Are POSTECH classes taught in English?
POSTECH calls itself Korea's first bilingual campus and commits to teaching all foundational and major courses in English. TOPIK is optional for admission.
What English score does POSTECH require?
There is no minimum, but POSTECH recommends IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 83, TEPS 327 or TOEIC 800. You are exempt if you attended an English-medium high school or are a citizen of a listed English-speaking country.
When is the POSTECH international application deadline?
Spring 2027 applications closed on September 2, 2026. The Fall 2027 intake is expected to open in March-April 2027, with guidelines posted in late January 2027.
Does POSTECH interview international applicants?
No. The International Admissions track is decided on documents only: transcripts, the personal statement, one recommendation letter, the English test and any optional test scores.
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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