KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is a national research university in Daejeon, South Korea, and the country's first research-oriented science and technology institution. It was founded in 1971 to train the scientists and engineers needed for Korea's industrialization and today is one of Asia's leading universities in engineering, natural sciences and computing.

KAIST is organized into colleges of Natural Sciences, Life Science and Bioengineering, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Convergence Science, and Business, plus a number of graduate schools (AI, data science, information security, semiconductors, mobility and others). All programs except the MBA programs are taught on the main campus in Daejeon. English is the official language of instruction and communication for international students, so Korean (TOPIK) is not required for admission.

Key facts

• Founded: 1971 (as Korea Advanced Institute of Science, Seoul); main campus in Daejeon since 1989
• Language of instruction for international students: English
• Undergraduate: non-declared major system — students choose their department from the second year, with no transfer admission (everyone enters as a freshman)
• Graduate: Master's, integrated Master's-Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs, three admission cycles a year (Spring, Fall Early, Fall Regular)
• Admitted international undergraduates automatically receive the KAIST Scholarship (full tuition for 8 semesters, monthly stipend, health insurance)

Application timeline (2027 intake)

Bachelor studies start at the end of February 2027 (Spring) or the end of August 2027 (Fall). Online interviews are held only if needed (December 22, 2026 for Early, March 3, 2027 for Regular).

Fees

• Undergraduate application fee: USD 80, non-refundable, paid by card or bank transfer; once paid, the application track (Early or Regular) cannot be changed. A fee-waiver request is available in a separate window before the deadline.
• Undergraduate tuition without scholarship: 6,866,000 KRW per year (3,433,000 KRW per semester); graduate tuition: 9,559,000 KRW per semester. For scholarship holders tuition is fully covered.

KAIST's main campus is in Daejeon, inside Daedeok Innopolis, Korea's largest research and science cluster. All colleges and programs except the MBA programs operate on the Daejeon campus; the College of Business has its own campus in Seoul.

• Main campus in Daejeon: established in 1987 as the Daedeok campus and home of KAIST since 1989
• Munji campus in Daejeon: the former campus of Information and Communications University, which merged with KAIST in 2009
• Seoul campus: College of Business and MBA programs
• Research infrastructure includes the National NanoFab Center and numerous research institutes
• Students can join the Undergraduate Research Participation (URP) program and international student organizations such as the KAIST International Students Association

All KAIST students can live in the on-campus dormitories, and dorm fees are low compared with other Korean universities. Rooms are for one, two or three people and are furnished with a bed, desk, chair and closet for each student.

Dormitory fees

Estimated annual cost for an undergraduate (KAIST estimate)

KAIST funds almost all of its international students: there is no separate scholarship application — applicants simply select «KAIST Scholarship» in the Statement of Financial Resources section of the admission form.

KAIST Scholarship for international undergraduates

• Granted automatically upon admission; application period is the same as the admission period (Early: until October 22, 2026; Regular: until January 14, 2027).
• After the freshman year the student must keep a GPA of at least 2.7 out of 4.3.

KAIST Scholarship for international graduate students

• About 94% of international students receive the KAIST Scholarship.
• KGPS and KPS require no separate application: eligible KAIST Scholarship applicants are considered automatically; final selection for KPS is made by the college dean.
• Deadlines follow the graduate admission cycle (Fall 2027 Early Track expected until December 16, 2026).

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

• University Track applications open in early February; Embassy Track dates are set by the Korean embassy in the applicant's country.
• GKS scholars first take a one-year Korean language course and must obtain TOPIK level 3 or higher.

KAIST was created in 1971 as Korea's first research-oriented graduate school of science and technology. Over five decades it grew into a full university with undergraduate and graduate programs and moved its main campus to Daejeon.

Key milestones

KAIST is Korea's leading science and technology university and one of the top 100 universities in the world.

World rankings

KAIST was not included in the QS World University Rankings 2026 because of a one-year exclusion and returned in the 2027 edition. Korea has no official national university ranking comparable to China's BCUR.

English is KAIST's official language of instruction and communication for international students, and international students come from dozens of countries. Besides regular degree programs, KAIST runs several international graduate programs together with government agencies and international organizations.

International graduate programs

• KINS-KAIST: International Nuclear and Radiation Safety Master's Degree Program
• RCA-KAIST: Nuclear and Quantum Engineering program with the Regional Cooperative Agreement
• GDI-ITTP and GDI-GTIP tracks of the Global Development Initiative
• GT-TEP (Global Transport and Trade Expert Program) at the Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Mobility, with tuition and living support
• Impact MBA: KOICA-KAIST Master's Degree Program in Social Economy

Exchange and support

• The KAIST College of Business welcomes exchange students from partner universities, who take courses in the KAIST MBA.
• International graduate applicants can also apply through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS).
• The KAIST International Students Association represents the international community on campus.

Тэджон — крупный научно-образовательный центр Южной Кореи, расположенный примерно посередине между Сеул и Пусан. Город известен как «корейская Силиконовая долина»: здесь много исследовательских институтов, технопарков и университетов.

Для студентов Тэджон — очень хороший вариант: высокий уровень безопасности, сильная академическая среда, меньше суеты, чем в Сеуле, и при этом отличное транспортное сообщение с другими городами.