Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
울산과학기술원
A young, fully English-taught Korean science and technology institute where international freshmen study tuition-free.
- Students
- 4,839
- 2,451 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₩5.6M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2007
- QS World Ranking
- #299
- 2027 edition
About UNIST
UNIST was created by a 2007 act of the Korean National Assembly at the request of the city of Ulsan, one of South Korea's main industrial centres, and admitted its first undergraduates in 2009. In 2015 it became one of Korea's nationally funded science and technology institutes, alongside KAIST, GIST and DGIST, and its Korean name changed accordingly.
UNIST says it was the first Korean university to teach 100% of its courses in English. Undergraduates enter either the Engineering or the Business field and choose a major later, from 15 departments in three colleges (Engineering, Information and Biotechnology, and Natural Sciences) plus the School of Business Administration. It is small: about 2,450 undergraduates and 2,390 graduate students, with 478 faculty. Teaching emphasises discussion-based flipped classes and interdisciplinary study, and research concentrates on next-generation energy and advanced materials; the university counts itself among the world's top three universities for secondary battery research.
For international students the deal is unusual: all freshmen get full tuition in their first term, full or half tuition waivers continue for students who meet credit and GPA thresholds, and every admitted international undergraduate receives a monthly living scholarship and two meals a day during semesters. It suits science- and engineering-focused students who want an English-medium degree at a research-intensive institute in a quiet, residential setting.
First in Change
University motto
Why students choose UNIST
All courses are taught in English, so international students do not need Korean to take a degree.
Tuition is fully waived in the first term and stays waived for students with at least 12 credits and a GPA of 2.7 or above.
International undergraduates receive a monthly living scholarship of 130,000 to 630,000 KRW plus a meal plan, and UNIST refunds national health insurance.
UNIST hosts three Institute for Basic Science (IBS) research centres and reports being among the world's top three universities for secondary battery research.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry
Selectivity
UNIST does not publish an acceptance rate. The Fall 2027 international quota is about 50 students (its FAQ says about 40 are admitted a year), with additional places possible on a non-scholarship track. Applicants are ranked on document screening (50%) and interview (50%).
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma (or expected graduation) and transcripts | Transcripts for the most recent 3 years (2 in two-year systems). GED, homeschooling and online or distance-learning credentials are not recognised. |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Foreign citizens with no Korean parent, or applicants of any nationality who completed all of elementary, middle and high school outside Korea. |
| Supplementary (optional) | Up to 5 award certificates, national exam certificates, IB, GCE A-Level, SAT or ACT reports, TOPIK, and a school profile. |
| English language | An official TOEFL, IELTS, TEPS or TOEIC report taken within two years of the deadline is required, but UNIST does not publish a minimum score. Applicants from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland are exempt. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2027 international undergraduate admission Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 monthsJanuary 22, 2027, 16:00 KST
Online application and document submission open December 2, 2026. Evaluation March 8 to April 9, 2027, with interviews between March 29 and April 9. Results expected May 7, 2027; registration and deposit May 7-18, 2027.
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Embassy Track, 2027 Non-bindingSet by the Korean embassy in your country
UNIST publishes separate 2027 GKS undergraduate guidelines for applicants nominated through Korean embassies.
Dates are from UNIST's Fall 2027 Undergraduate Admission Guidelines for International Applicants and may change without notice. Interview dates cannot be rescheduled for personal reasons.
How to apply
Apply online through Study in Korea (studyinkorea.go.kr), selecting UNIST and choosing the Engineering or Business field. Complete the Personal Statement and Study Plan (four questions, about 700 words each recommended) in the system, then upload two PDFs: required documents (application form, transcripts, diploma, English test report, passport, parents' nationality documents and proof of relationship) and supplementary documents. Pay the 50,000 KRW application fee before the deadline. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online.
What admissions looks for
- Academic ability shown across all submitted documents, assessed by at least two evaluators.
- A clear study plan and evidence of potential for growth.
- Personal qualities, explored in an interview based on your own documents.
- Achievements such as awards and standardised test results, submitted as supplementary evidence.
Tips for applying to UNIST
- 1 Treat the Personal Statement and Study Plan seriously: it has four questions and UNIST recommends about 700 words for each.
- 2 Upload exactly two PDFs in the checklist order, one for required and one for supplementary documents, both in English or with notarised translations.
- 3 Add SAT, ACT, IB or A-Level results and up to five awards as supplementary documents, since no minimum scores are set and evaluators judge the whole file.
- 4 Keep 29 March to 9 April 2027 free: interviews are online and dates cannot be changed.
- 5 Your scholarship tier (Gold, Silver or Dream) is decided from your evaluation, so the application itself determines your stipend.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KRW
There is no scholarship application: all freshmen receive full tuition in their first term, then a full waiver with 12 credits and a GPA of 2.7 or above in the previous term, or half with a GPA of 2.0 or above. Every international undergraduate also receives a living scholarship set at admission (Global Uni-Star Gold 630,000 KRW, Silver 330,000 KRW or Global Dream 130,000 KRW a month) with a meal plan, and UNIST refunds the national health insurance premium.
- 630,000 KRW a month plus meals
- Global Uni-Star Scholarship (Gold)
- 330,000 KRW a month plus meals
- Global Uni-Star Scholarship (Silver)
- 130,000 KRW a month plus meals
- Global Dream Scholarship
- 75,000 KRW a month, refunded by UNIST
- National Health Insurance
- 50,000 KRW (non-refundable)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall entry for international undergraduates)
Energy and Chemical Engineering
Central to UNIST's focus on next-generation energy and advanced materials, where it reports being among the world's top three universities for secondary battery research.
Materials Science and Engineering
A College of Engineering department on a campus that hosts the IBS Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials.
Nuclear Engineering
A dedicated department within the College of Engineering, open to international undergraduates.
Computer Science and Engineering
Part of the College of Information and Biotechnology; UNIST also runs an AI graduate school and launched an AI Innovation Park in 2021.
Design (Department of Design)
Its Korean name translates as human-centred design engineering: design taught inside a science and technology institute.
Business Administration
The separate Business field for international applicants, taught in English; UNIST's business school holds AACSB accreditation.
Research
- UNIST hosts three Institute for Basic Science research centres on campus.
- It reports being among the world's top three universities in the secondary battery field and 4th in Korea in the Nature Index.
- Its Industry-Academia Battery R&D Center opened in 2017, and newer graduate schools cover AI, semiconductor materials, carbon neutrality and quantum science.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of Information and Biotechnology
- College of Natural Sciences
- School of Business Administration
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering
UNIST reports that 52.2% of graduates go on to further study and a 67.3% employment rate (university status page, year not stated). It has 11,153 graduates in total.
Student life
UNIST is a compact residential campus in Ulju county, surrounded by hills, with a large pond called Gamakmot at its centre. Most students live on campus: dormitories can hold 68.7% of enrolled students and run at 87.3% occupancy. International undergraduates get two meals a day at the dormitory cafeteria during semesters, with halal, Korean and vegetarian options. Facilities include a sports centre, the UNIFLEX library, a healthcare centre and UNIST Clinic, and the UNIPLEX cultural complex opened in 2022.
- 100% English-taught courses across the university.
- Dormitory meal plan with halal, Korean and vegetarian options for international undergraduates.
- On-campus Healthcare Center and UNIST Clinic, with health insurance refunded for international undergraduates.
- Discussion-based flipped classes and interdisciplinary majors.
Housing. UNIST's dormitories can house 68.7% of enrolled students; international undergraduates live on campus with a semester meal plan.
Location
Ulsan is an industrial city of over a million people in south-east Korea, home to some of the country's biggest manufacturing sites. UNIST's campus is in Eonyang, next to the old part of the city and surrounded by small mountains, so campus life is largely self-contained and quieter than in Seoul.
Nearest airport: Ulsan Airport (USN)
Frequently asked questions
Is UNIST taught in English?
Yes. UNIST says it operates 100% of its courses in English, and it was the first Korean university to do so.
Is UNIST free for international students?
Largely. Tuition is fully waived in your first term, then waived in full with 12 credits and a GPA of 2.7 or above (half with 2.0 or above). International undergraduates also receive a monthly stipend of 130,000 to 630,000 KRW with meals.
What is the UNIST application deadline for Fall 2027?
January 22, 2027 at 16:00 KST, applying through Study in Korea (studyinkorea.go.kr). Applications open December 2, 2026 and results are expected on May 7, 2027.
What TOEFL or IELTS score does UNIST require?
UNIST requires an official TOEFL, IELTS, TEPS or TOEIC report but does not publish a minimum score. Applicants from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland are exempt.
Does UNIST interview international applicants?
Yes, usually. Applicants who pass document screening are interviewed online between March 29 and April 9, 2027, and the final decision weighs documents and interview 50:50.
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.
- UNIST: Fall 2027 Undergraduate Admission Guidelines for International Applicants (PDF)
- UNIST International Undergraduate Admissions: Fall Undergraduate Admissions
- UNIST International Undergraduate Admissions: Scholarships
- UNIST International Undergraduate Admissions: FAQ
- UNIST International Undergraduate Admissions: UNIST at a glance
- UNIST International Undergraduate Admissions: GKS (Embassy Track)
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