University of Ulsan
울산대학교
Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung's university in Korea's industrial capital, with its medical school at Seoul's Asan Medical Center.
- Students
- 12,240
- 10,606 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₩6.2M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1970
- QS World Ranking
- 851-900
- 2027 edition
About UOU
The University of Ulsan opened on March 16, 1970 as the Ulsan Institute of Technology, a college set up to train engineers for the new Ulsan industrial complex. It was founded by Chung Ju-yung, the founder of Hyundai, and began as a joint project of the Korean government, the British government and industry; it was the first university in Korea to adopt the British 'sandwich' internship model. It became a comprehensive university in 1985 and is still backed by Hyundai companies, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor.
Engineering remains the core: mechanical, shipbuilding and ocean, chemical, electrical and IT engineering are its best-known programmes, taught next to one of the world's largest industrial complexes. The College of Medicine, founded in 1988 alongside Seoul's Asan Medical Center, gives the university a strong biomedical side. As of April 1, 2025 it had 10,606 undergraduates, 1,634 graduate students and 1,096 full-time faculty.
Since 2025 undergraduate study has been reorganised into large schools grouped in colleges such as Future Engineering Convergence, Smart City Convergence, and Business and Public Policy, plus the Asan Honors College. It is one of the government's Glocal Universities. For international students, all undergraduate degrees are taught in Korean, so it suits applicants who already have TOPIK 3 (or are willing to earn it) and want an engineering-heavy, industry-linked education at a moderate private-university price.
Why students choose UOU
Direct links to Hyundai: the university was founded by Chung Ju-yung and receives funding, research money and career opportunities from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Motor and KCC.
It was the first university in Korea to adopt the British sandwich internship model, and it is the only four-year university in metropolitan Ulsan.
New international undergraduates get 50% off first-semester tuition with TOPIK 3, 70% with TOPIK 4 and a full waiver with TOPIK 5 or above.
In 2026 it won 83 government basic research projects worth KRW 31.44 billion, up 72.6% on the previous year, in areas such as batteries, mobility, clean energy and medical AI.
Admissions
Spring 2027 (March) and Fall 2027 (September) intakes for international undergraduates
Selectivity
The university does not publish an admission rate for international applicants. Selection is by document review focused on the applicant's aptitude for the major and language ability, plus an interview (online via Zoom for applicants overseas). Korean students are admitted through the national admissions system.
Typical entry requirements
| Nationality | Applicant and both parents must hold non-Korean nationality; dual nationals with Korean citizenship are not eligible |
|---|---|
| High school | Completed (or expected) high school equivalent to Korea's 12-year education; GED-type exams, home-schooling, online and language-course study are not accepted |
| Korean | TOPIK level 3 for most schools; TOPIK 2 for Design, Sport Science and Arts; or a pass in UOU-TOPIK, or level 4 after two consecutive sessions at the university's Korean Language Education Center; GKS scholars meeting the GKS standard also qualify |
| Graduation | All international students must reach TOPIK 4 to graduate |
| English language | English scores are not an admission route for undergraduates: the university states it offers no undergraduate programmes fully taught in English, and the language requirement is Korean (TOPIK 3, or TOPIK 2 for arts, design and sport). |
Deadlines
- Spring 2027 (March intake) Non-bindingNot yet published; likely early November 2026 (previous cycle: online application October 20 to November 3, 2025)
Previous cycle: interviews November 13-27, 2025; results December 12, 2025; original documents and registration by December 29, 2025; classes from March 3, 2026.
- Fall 2027 (September intake) Non-bindingNot yet published; likely early May 2027 (previous cycle: online application April 20 to May 6, 2026)
Previous cycle: interviews May 18-25, 2026; results June 11, 2026; registration by June 26, 2026; classes from September 1, 2026.
The University of Ulsan had not yet published its 2027 international undergraduate guidelines when this was checked (the Spring 2026 guideline was posted on October 20, 2025). The dates above are from the previous cycle (Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 guidelines); the university's timeline page gives November for spring applications and April-May for fall. Check the Office of International Affairs announcements board for the 2027 dates.
How to apply
Pay the application fee (USD 70 from abroad or KRW 70,000 in Korea, by bank transfer only), then apply online with scanned documents: consent form, high school diploma and transcripts, language certificate, fee receipt, passports for you and both parents, and a photo. Then send notarised originals by post or in person, with the diploma apostilled or consular-verified (Chinese applicants use CHSI/CHESICC reports), plus proof of family relationship. Admitted students submit a bank statement for KRW 16,000,000 where required and apply for a D-2 visa.
What admissions looks for
- Aptitude for the chosen major, which the document review focuses on.
- Korean language ability: TOPIK 3 (TOPIK 2 for arts, design and sport) or an equivalent university-recognised result.
- A complete, verified education record: apostilled or consular-confirmed diplomas and notarised transcripts.
- Performance at the interview, held face to face or online depending on where you live.
Tips for applying to UOU
- 1 Sit the official TOPIK before applying if you can: a UOU-TOPIK pass lets you apply but does not count for the 50-100% first-semester tuition scholarships.
- 2 Start document verification early; originals (not scans) must reach the Office of International Affairs by post or in person, and email submissions are not accepted.
- 3 Only TOPIK sessions whose results come out before the deadline count; in the Fall 2026 round the last accepted paper test was the 106th TOPIK on May 17, 2026.
- 4 Set up Zoom in advance if you are applying from overseas, as interviews for applicants abroad are held online.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
New international undergraduates receive an entrance scholarship for their first semester based on the TOPIK result submitted: 50% off tuition for TOPIK 3, 70% for TOPIK 4 and full tuition for TOPIK 5 or above. Enrolled students who newly reach TOPIK 4 or higher receive KRW 500,000 off the next semester's tuition. Later-semester scholarships require TOPIK 4 and a GPA of at least 3.0.
- USD 70 (from abroad) or KRW 70,000 (in Korea)
- Application fee
- KRW 100,000 (USD 70), plus student insurance of KRW 60,000 for the first two months (Fall 2026 guideline)
- International student registration fee (one-off, at admission)
- Full tuition for the first semester
- Entrance scholarship, TOPIK 5 or above
- About KRW 1,200,000 per semester, plus about KRW 900,000-1,200,000 for a meal plan (Fall 2026 guideline)
- On-campus dormitory (optional)
- Bank statement for KRW 16,000,000 (where required)
- Proof of funds for admitted students
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: spring from early March, fall from early September
School of Mobility Engineering
Builds on Ulsan's car and shipbuilding industries and the university's Hyundai ties; open to international freshmen.
School of Materials Science and Semiconductor Engineering
A five-year track in the international tuition table, linked to the university's semiconductor and battery research.
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
Shipbuilding is one of the university's flagship engineering fields, next to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard; the department has trained Peruvian Navy officers.
School of Energy and Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is among the university's most prominent majors, serving Ulsan's petrochemical complex.
Medicine
The College of Medicine is paired with Asan Medical Center in Seoul, which the university says leads Korean hospitals in research and practice.
School of Architecture and Built Environment
Includes a five-year architecture track; a university research team was a finalist in the 2026 Architizer A+Awards.
Research
- 83 government basic research projects worth KRW 31.44 billion in 2026, focused on secondary batteries, future mobility, clean energy, manufacturing and medical AI, and biotechnology.
- Asan Medical Center and the College of Medicine, founded in 1988, anchor biomedical research; the university was named a leading biomedical start-up university by the Ministry of Education in 2017 with AMC and UNIST.
- Research institutes include the Cetacean Research Institute, the Bangudae Petroglyphs Institute and the Advanced Marine System Research Center.
- Graded B in the Ministry of Education's 2026 Glocal University mid-term evaluation and fully accredited for 2026-2030.
Schools & faculties
- Asan Honors College
- College of Future Engineering Convergence
- College of Smart City Convergence
- College of Business and Public Policy
- College of Humanities and Arts
- College of Medicine
- College of Future Life Convergence for Citizens
Student life
The main campus is in Mugeo-dong in Nam-gu, south-west Ulsan. International students live in the International Residence Hall, which has 117 double rooms with air conditioning, a fridge and internet; cooking is not allowed, and meal plans serve Korean-style food three times a day. As of 2021 there were about 64 student societies covering sport, the arts, volunteering and religion. The university runs entrepreneurship programmes inspired by Chung Ju-yung's 'challenging and pioneering' motto, and global volunteering trips with Asan Medical Center have taken more than 100 students to countries including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
- About 64 student societies (2021).
- International Residence Hall with 117 double rooms.
- Global medical volunteering with Asan Medical Center since 2010.
- International student mentoring and Korean conversation courses run by the Office of International Affairs.
Housing. All international students who apply through the Office of International Affairs are housed in double rooms in the International Residence Hall, at about KRW 1,200,000 a semester (Fall 2026 guideline), with an optional meal plan.
Location
Ulsan, on Korea's south-east coast, calls itself the country's industrial capital: it is home to Hyundai's car factory, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard and a large petrochemical complex. That shapes campus life, with internships and industry projects close by. The university is in Nam-gu, and Busan and Gyeongju are within easy reach.
Nearest airport: Ulsan Airport (USN) for domestic flights; Gimhae International Airport (PUS) in Busan
Notable alumni
- KJ Kim Jong-sooFilm and television actor (Secret Sunshine, War on Crime); studied in the Department of Chemistry
- LC Lee Chae-kyungActress (Love in the Moonlight, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God); University of Ulsan graduate
- SY Seol Young-wooSouth Korea national team full-back; played for the university team 2017-2019 before joining Ulsan HD
- LG Lee Gi-hyukSouth Korea international footballer (Gangwon FC); attended the university for two years
- CK Chung Kyung-hoFormer South Korea international footballer; played for the University of Ulsan team
- KN Kim Nam-hoonTennis player; attended the university and won men's doubles gold at the 1993 Summer Universiade
- LJ Lee Ju-youngPaediatrician and National Assembly member (22nd Assembly); Master of Medicine from the university's graduate school
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Ulsan offer undergraduate programmes in English?
No. The university states that it has no undergraduate programmes fully taught in English; international applicants need TOPIK 3 (TOPIK 2 for arts, design and sport) or an equivalent Korean qualification.
How much is tuition at the University of Ulsan for international students?
In the Fall 2026 guideline tuition was KRW 3,090,000 to 4,945,000 per semester depending on the school, about KRW 6.2-9.9 million a year. Engineering schools were KRW 4,327,000 a semester.
When is the application deadline for Spring 2027?
The 2027 dates were not yet published. In the previous cycle, spring applications ran from October 20 to November 3, 2025 and fall applications from April 20 to May 6, 2026.
Are there scholarships for international students at the University of Ulsan?
Yes. New undergraduates get 50% off first-semester tuition with TOPIK 3, 70% with TOPIK 4 and full tuition with TOPIK 5 or above; a UOU-TOPIK pass does not qualify for these scholarships.
Is the University of Ulsan connected to Hyundai?
Yes. It was founded by Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung and is supported by Hyundai companies, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Motor and KCC.
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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