KAIST (the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) was founded in 1971 and is South Korea’s leading science and engineering university. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 65th in the world and fourth in Korea, after being left out of the previous year’s table. Its main campus is in Daejeon, a science and research city about an hour south of Seoul by train.
English is the official language of teaching for international students at KAIST, and every admitted international undergraduate gets a full scholarship. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on KAIST’s own guidance and official Korean government information.
1. Understand how KAIST’s degrees work
You don’t apply to a department. All KAIST undergraduates start with an undeclared major and choose one freely at the end of their first year, with no quotas for any department. KAIST has no transfer route for international students, so you must apply as a first-year student, and you can’t hold a place on a degree at another university when you enrol.
2. Apply in the Regular round, 10 November 2026 to 14 January 2027
KAIST has two rounds. The Early round, for spring or autumn 2027 entry, closed on 22 October 2026, with results on 7 January 2027. The Regular round, for autumn 2027 entry only, is open from 10 November 2026 to 14 January 2027 (6 p.m. Korea time), with recommendation letters due by 21 January, online interviews, if needed, on 3 March and results on 25 March 2027. The academic year starts at the end of August 2027, and you must finish high school by 31 August 2027. KAIST: application timeline for 2027 admissions.
3. Check that you’re eligible
You must hold foreign citizenship and not also be a Korean citizen. In addition, neither of your parents can be a Korean citizen, or, if you’re of Korean origin, you must have done all your primary and secondary education outside Korea; international schools in Korea don’t count as foreign schools. Students who graduate from high schools in Korea can also apply.
4. Show strong maths and science
You must submit at least one official test score, such as the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A Levels or your national school-leaving or university entrance exam. KAIST strongly encourages scores that show strength in mathematics and in science, especially physics, chemistry or biology. It looks closely at the level of maths and science you’ve studied and how well you did. SAT, AP and ACT scores must be sent by the testing agency (KAIST’s SAT and AP code is 4433 and its ACT code is 7778).
5. Meet the English recommendation
KAIST recommends TOEFL iBT 83 (4.5 on the new scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720 or TEPS 326. For the Regular round, your test must have been taken on or after 4 February 2025. Duolingo, TOEFL ITP and at-home or online versions of tests aren’t accepted. Nationals of English-speaking countries can ask to be exempted. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Write thoughtful answers to the essay questions
KAIST’s personal statement has five questions, with limits in characters, not words. You write a question you have in a STEM field (up to 300 characters) and explain what inspired it (up to 1,600), then describe up to three activities that meant a lot to you, a time you thought or acted differently from others, and a time you showed consideration, cooperation or handled conflict (up to 1,500 characters each). A final optional question (up to 1,000 characters) lets you explain your background or difficulties. KAIST says it’s looking at your curiosity and attitude, not judging the question itself. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas.
7. Add recommendation letters and pay the fee
From 2027, recommendation letters are optional, but KAIST highly recommends them, and you can submit up to two, ideally from a maths or science teacher or an academic adviser. They must be in English and submitted online by your recommender, who receives an email once you pay. The application fee is US$80, it’s non-refundable, and you can’t switch between rounds after paying. Applicants from the UN’s least developed countries can apply for a fee waiver.
8. Make the most of the KAIST Scholarship
Every admitted international undergraduate who ticks the KAIST Scholarship box in the application receives full tuition for eight semesters (₩3,433,000 a semester), ₩350,000 a month for living costs and health insurance. To keep it after your first year, you need a grade point average of at least 2.7 out of 4.3. KAIST estimates shared dormitory rooms at about ₩166,000 a month and meals at around ₩5,000 each in the campus cafeterias. KAIST: KAIST Scholarship.
9. Get your Certificate of Admission and D-2 visa
Once you’ve accepted your offer and paid your first tuition fee, KAIST issues a Certificate of Admission, which you use to apply for a D-2 student visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country. You’ll need to show that you can pay for your studies and living costs; Korea University, for example, asks admitted students for a bank balance of at least ₩20,000,000 for the visa. Make sure your school documents carry an apostille or have been confirmed by a Korean consulate, because Korean universities require this. Within 90 days of arriving, you must register with the immigration office to get your residence card, and you’ll be enrolled in National Health Insurance, which KAIST and POSTECH estimated at about ₩76,000 to ₩80,000 a month in 2026. HiKorea (Korea Immigration Service).
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
You can’t work on a D-2 visa until the immigration office gives you permission, and you need a job offer first, because the employer starts the application. You also need at least a C average in your last semester. On weekdays, first- and second-year undergraduates with TOPIK level 3 can work up to 25 hours a week, but only 10 hours without it; from your third year you need TOPIK level 4 for the higher limit. Master’s and PhD students with TOPIK level 4 can work up to 30 hours (15 without). If you meet the language level, there’s no hourly limit at weekends or in the vacations. After graduating, you can switch to a work visa such as E-7 if you have a job offer, or apply before your D-2 visa expires for a D-10 job-seeker visa. Korea extended how long the D-10 can last in 2025, so check the current rules, and remember that Korean language skills make a big difference to your job prospects. Korea JoongAng Daily: part-time work rules for international students.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at KAIST?
KAIST runs a separate international graduate admission, with its own rounds, and most programmes are research-based and taught in English. Contact potential supervisors in your field before you apply, and check whether your department expects GRE scores. The Korean government’s Global Korea Scholarship for graduate students is another source of funding. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
KAIST is very selective, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University and POSTECH. Our guide to studying in South Korea explains how the Korean system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from KAIST’s official Admissions Guide for 2027 admission, application timeline, eligibility, cost of attendance and scholarship pages, Korean government information and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on KAIST’s international undergraduate admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with KAIST.