Academic programs (undergraduate colleges and schools)

• College of Natural Sciences
  • Physics
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Chemistry
• College of Life Science & Bioengineering
  • Biological Sciences
  • Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• College of Engineering
  • School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Aerospace Engineering
  • School of Electrical Engineering
  • School of Computing (Computer Science)
  • Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Bio & Brain Engineering
  • Industrial Design
  • Industrial & Systems Engineering
  • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
  • Materials Science & Engineering
  • Nuclear & Quantum Engineering
• College of Business
  • Business and Technology Management
• School of Transdisciplinary Studies

Major system & transfers

• Students enter KAIST without a fixed major and choose their department at the end of the first year.
• Students can select any major if they meet general academic requirements; no extra internal admission process or quotas.
• KAIST does not offer a transfer program for international students. All admitted international applicants are enrolled as freshmen, regardless of previous university study.

EARLY track – for Spring 2026 or Fall 2026 entry

• Application opens: 19 September 2025
• Application deadline: 23 October 2025 (5:00 PM KST)
• Document & recommendation deadline: 30 October 2025 (5:00 PM KST)
• Interview (if required): Around 23 December 2025 (date may change; only selected applicants are contacted)
• Admission announcement: 7 January 2026
• Firm offer (final confirmation after checks): Within ~2 weeks after verification
• Possible enrollment: Spring 2026 or Fall 2026 (depending on eligibility and choice)

REGULAR track – for Fall 2026 entry

• Application opens: 6 November 2025
• Application deadline: 6 January 2026 (5:00 PM KST)
• Document & recommendation deadline: 13 January 2026 (5:00 PM KST)
• Interview (if required): 4 March 2026 (date may change; only selected applicants are contacted)
• Admission announcement: 26 March 2026
• Firm offer (final confirmation after checks): Within ~2 weeks after verification
• Enrollment: Fall 2026

Important timing notes (from the Guidelines)

1. Admission announcement dates may change slightly.
2. All online forms and document uploads must be finished before 5:00 PM KST on the stated deadlines.
3. Recommendation emails are sent after the application fee is paid, so it is safer to pay the fee early.
4. Once the application fee is paid, you cannot switch between EARLY and REGULAR tracks.
5. Because the process is time-consuming, KAIST strongly recommends completing the online application at least one week before the deadline.
6. Interviews are not mandatory. Only applicants selected by the admissions committee will be invited individually by email.

International applicants must meet all of the following conditions.

1. High-school graduation timing
   • Spring 2026 entry (EARLY only): Applicants who have graduated, or will graduate, from high school by 28 February 2026.
   • Fall 2026 entry (EARLY or REGULAR): Applicants who have graduated, or will graduate, from high school by 31 August 2026.
2. Foreign citizenship
   • Applicants must hold non-Korean citizenship.
   • Applicants who hold Korean citizenship, including dual nationality, are not eligible to apply as international students.
   • International applicants of Korean origin must also meet one of the following:
     • Neither parent is a Korean citizen; or
     • The applicant completed all elementary, junior high, and high school education outside Korea, at a comparable level to the Korean system.
   • International schools inside Korea do not count as “foreign schools” for this rule.
3. Applicants who completed high school in Korea
   • International students who finished or will finish high school in Korea can apply through the international undergraduate track only if:
     • The applicant and both parents are not Korean citizens, and
     • They meet all other general eligibility requirements above.
4. Degree-seeking status
   • At the time of enrollment at KAIST, admitted students must not be enrolled in another degree program at any university. If they are, KAIST can revoke admission.
5. Route of application for Korean-origin students
   • International students of Korean origin who do not meet the specific international-admission conditions must apply via Korean Admissions, not the international track.
6. Major choice & quotas
   • Students start with an undeclared major and choose a department at the end of the first year; there is no quota per department for choosing a major.

• Online application form (mandatory) (Sample)
  • Filled in at the KAIST International Undergraduate Application portal.
• One recommendation letter (mandatory) (Sample)
  • Written in English by one teacher (academic advisor, homeroom teacher, or math/science teacher strongly preferred).
  • Submitted online directly by the recommender using a link sent by KAIST after the application fee is paid.
  • Hard-copy letters are not accepted.
• High-school (and, if applicable, university) transcripts (mandatory)
  • Official transcripts from all high schools (and any universities) attended.
  • Should show year-by-year records for the last three years, including courses in progress.
  • If available, transcripts may include class or grade rank.
• Passport or national ID copy (mandatory)
  • Copy of the passport (or national ID) including name, photo, date of issue and expiry, and nationality.
• Standardized official test score report (mandatory)
  • At least one of: SAT, AP, IB, GCE A-Level, ACT, high-school leaving exam, or university entrance exam results.
  • KAIST especially values strong performance in math and science (physics, chemistry, biology).
  • Scores from multiple sittings can be combined using the best scores in each category.
  • For IB or GCE A-Level, predicted scores (issued and signed by a school counsellor/teacher) are accepted for conditional admission; official final results must be submitted later.
  • Official SAT/AP/ACT scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to KAIST using institutional codes (e.g., SAT/AP: 4433; ACT: 7778). It may take 1–2 weeks for KAIST to receive them. 2026 Admission Guidelines
• English proficiency test (EPT) score report (mandatory unless exempt)
  • Accepted tests: TOEFL, IELTS, TEPS, TOEIC (Listening & Reading).
  • Strongly recommended minimum scores:
    • TOEFL iBT 83+
    • TEPS (new) 326+
    • IELTS 6.5+
    • TOEIC L&R 720+
  • Test must be taken within 2 years before the online application deadline.
  • Score report is uploaded as a PDF.
  EPT exemption (may be requested):
  • Nationals of English-speaking countries listed in the Guidelines (e.g., USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), or
  • Applicants who completed high school where all instruction and textbooks are in English.
  • In both cases, a letter of understanding from the high school (and supporting documents) must be uploaded and KAIST will confirm the exemption. 2026 Admission Guidelines
• Honors and awards (optional, up to 5 items)
  • Certificates or proof of significant achievements during high school (e.g., national/international Olympiad medals).
• High-school profile (recommended)
  • Official school profile, brochure, or statistics (GPA system, university placement data, etc.), max 5 pages, to help KAIST understand the academic context.

• All nationalities can apply, as long as they qualify as international applicants under KAIST rules.
• Applicants who hold Korean citizenship, including dual nationals, cannot apply

• Full tuition fee: tuition is waived for up to 8 semesters (standard duration of the bachelor’s program).
• Monthly living allowance: 350,000 KRW per month to help cover living costs.
• Medical / national health insurance: basic health coverage during the study period.

1. Read the Guidelines

• Carefully review the 2026 Admission Guidelines and the online Application Guide to understand all requirements and steps.

2. Create an online application account

• Go to the KAIST International Undergraduate Application portal and create an account.

3. Complete the online application form

• Fill in all sections, including personal information, academic history, and personal statement/essay questions included in the form.
• Double-check that the recommender’s email address is correct, since the recommendation process relies on it. 2026 Admission Guidelines

4. Pay the application fee

• Amount: 80 USD.
• Pay via foreign/domestic credit card or bank transfer following the instructions.
• Bank or transfer charges must be paid by the applicant.
• Once paid, the application fee is non-refundable, and you cannot change your application track (EARLY vs REGULAR).After successful payment:
  • KAIST sends an email to your recommender with instructions.
  • You gain access to the Document Submission page to upload required files.

5. Upload required documents

• Upload all mandatory documents as clear A4-sized PDF files on the “Doc. Submission” page before the document deadline.
• Make sure the recommendation letter has been submitted online by your recommender. KAIST does not send individual reminders.

6. Monitor your application status

• Check the online system to confirm that each document shows as successfully uploaded.
• There is no final submit button – the system automatically locks and submits your application once the deadline passes.

7. Interview (if applicable)

• Interviews are optional. If the committee decides one is needed, you will receive an email with date, time, and format details.

8. Check results

• Final admission results are announced on the application website on the published dates for each track.

9. Scholarship selection

• There is no separate scholarship process. During admission review, KAIST automatically considers international applicants for the KAIST International Student Scholarship.
• On the online application, select “KAIST Scholarship” in the “Statement of Financial Resources” section to indicate that you wish to be considered.

• Application fee: $80 (payable via credit card or bank transfer)
• KAIST does not allow deferrals; admitted students must enroll as scheduled
• Documents not in English or Korean must be submitted with notarized translations
• Apostille requirements apply after admission for enrollment
• KAIST has an Application Fee Waiver Program for nationals of UN-designated Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with strong academic performance
• Interview is not mandatory, but applicants may be contacted individually
• Conditional admission is possible for applicants with predicted scores (IB or A-level)