KAIST is a public university in Daejeon, South Korea, with a strong focus on research and science and engineering. It suits students who want a large research environment and an international student body, and who are considering study in a technical university setting.
KAIST is set up as a research university with a science and engineering focus, and it also has internationally accredited business education. That means it can suit applicants looking for technical study, research-oriented degree paths, or business education within the same university; confirm the current programme catalogue on the official website before applying.
International applicants should apply through the university’s official admissions process and check the website for entry requirements, document lists, deadlines, and language requirements where relevant. Because requirements can vary by programme, the main thing to confirm is the current application route and any department-specific conditions with admissions.
Tuition is published at KRW 8,035,000 to KRW 10,870,000. Living costs in Daejeon are not published here and will depend on housing, food, transport, and personal spending; confirm the full budget with the university and plan for these separate costs.
The university has about 1,000 international students, which suggests an established international community. The language of instruction is not stated here, so confirm that, along with visa steps, housing options, health insurance, and any document translation or language-test requirements, on the official site before you apply.
South Korea has 245 universities, so KAIST sits in a large higher-education system. Its public status, research orientation, and science-and-engineering focus make it stand out more as a specialist technical university than as a general-purpose option.
Written from this university's catalogue entry and its cited encyclopedia summary. Figures are only shown where the institution or a cited source publishes them — always confirm fees and entry requirements with the university itself before applying.
KAIST is a public university in South Korea.
KAIST is in Daejeon, South Korea.
Tuition is KRW 8,035,000 to KRW 10,870,000.
KAIST has about 1,000 international students.
KAIST is a national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first public, research-oriented science and engineering institution. KAIST has been internationally accredited in business education, and hosts the Secretariat of the Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools (AAPBS). KAIST has 10,504 full-time students and 1,342 faculty researchers and had a total budget of US$765 million in 2013, of which US$459 million was from research contracts.
Ranking figures are indicative and provided for general guidance — always verify current positions with the official QS rankings and the university.
Indicative annual tuition
KRW 8,035,000 – KRW 10,870,000/yr
Premium tuitionIndicative living cost
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Fees vary by programme and are indicative. Confirm exact fees with the university before applying.
Recognised high-school qualification for undergraduate entry; a relevant bachelor’s degree for postgraduate entry.
English: IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 90 (varies by programme).
Seoul, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea · Public University
South Korea · Public University
South Korea · Public University
South Korea · Public University
Last updated 29 Aug 2026. Information is provided for guidance — verify with official sources before applying.
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