KAIST the Future of Korea
KAIST opened in 1971 with a special legislative mandate from the Korean government. The government mandated two founding missions to KAIST: to educate scientists and engineers who would work for the nation’s industrialization; and to conduct innovative research that would drive the nation’s economic growth.
In the early 1960s, the government’s foremost goal was to eradicate the countrywide poverty that followed the Korean War. To accomplish this, it spearheaded an intensive effort to strengthen the base of the nation’s technological industries.
The government aligned its economic development plans with the comprehensive technology development plan to drive industrialization in 1962. Before launching their third economic plan, which promoted the heavy and chemical industry in 1972, the government recognized the importance of fostering scientists and engineers who would work for these new industries from the late 1960s.
Brain drain was a serious problem. Many students went abroad for advanced studies, but few returned to what was one of the poorest countries in the world.
Why Study at KAIST?
KAIST has made distinguished impacts on academia and industries for the last half-century. KAIST was founded in 1971 and has been a unique cradle for fostering outstanding scientists and engineers. They have contributed to advanced science and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship and facilitated the Korean economic miracle with a strong foundation in science and technology. Looking ahead to the next half-centrury, KAIST combines excellence in science and research and innovtive history to create value for the world.
A Global Value-Creative Leading University
Our history of innovation and audacious challenge has been marked by intrernational league tables. They are the marks of our collective advancement. Not to mention, our graduate students are at the heart of the excellence.
- Reuters Asia’s Most Innovative Universities 2016 – 2018: 1st
- QS University Rankings by Location 2020: 1st
- QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings: 2013-2021: 3rd
- QS World University Rankings 2023: 42nd
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Materials Science and Engineering: 20th
- Mechanical Engineering: 22nd
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: 23th
- Electrical Engineering: 23th
- Chemistry: 26th
- Civil and Environmental Engineering: 47th
- Biological Sciences: 51st
- THE World University Rankings – Industry Income: 1st
Eligibility
International candidates must meet all of the following requirements:
- Candidates who have graduated or will graduate from his or her high school by February 28th, 2025.
- Candidates who have graduated or will graduate from his or her high school by August 31st, 2025.
- Applicants who hold Korean Citizenship(dual citizenship) are not eligible to apply as foreign students
- International applicants MUST ADDITIONALLY satisfy one of the following two requirements:
- Neither of the applicant’s parents is a Korean citizen, or
- For applicants of Korean Origin, he/she must have received his/her entire elementary, junior high, and high school education outside of Korea at a comparable and equivalent level of that provided in Korea.
- Note that international schools located in Korea are NOT acknowledged as foreign schools.
- Applicants who completed or will have completed high schools in Korea (국내에 거주하는 국내 고교 출신 외국인 학생) are also welcomed to apply to KAIST Undergraduate program.
Subsidies
- Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 8 semesters
- Living expenses: 350,000 KRW per month
- Medical Health insurance
Requirement
- We offer KAIST Scholarships to admitted students
- Students must maintain GPA over 2.7 out of 4.3 at KAIST after their freshman year
Application Period
- Same as Admission Application
- There is no separate process for applying scholarship
- Just check “KAIST scholarship” on the Statement of Financial Resources section on online application for admission
※ Submit your completed application and documents by 5:00 p.m.(KST) on the application deadline.
※ Interview is NOT required for all applicants. Applicants will be contacted through individual email if an interview is necessary.
※ After you pay the application fee, you are not allowed to change your application track from one to another (i.e: from Early to Regular).
Selection Procedure
- All applications will be thoroughly and equally reviewed during the admission process. Upon being selected for admission, you will automatically be entitled to the KAIST Scholarship.
For more information:
https://admission.kaist.ac.kr/intl-undergraduate/support/scholarships/kaist
