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KAIST International Student Scholarship
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

KAIST International Student Scholarship

KAIST waives tuition for admitted international students at every level and pairs grad students with a lab stipend.

Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDIntegrated MS plus PhDFully fundedEnglish-taught optionLast verified: 2026-05-19

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Can I apply?

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  • nationality
    Open to international students admitted to KAIST.
  • language
    English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TEPS (NEW) 326, or TOEIC Listening and Reading 720. Exemptions apply for nationals of English-speaking countries and English-medium high schools.
  • educationBachelor's
    High school diploma
  • educationMaster's
    Bachelor's degree
  • educationPhD
    Master's degree
  • field
    You plan to study one of: engineering, sciences, business.

This checklist is built from the official summary. Verify exact wording on the source site before applying.

What you get

Tuition
Varies
Full tuition for the standard program length
Monthly stipend
KRW 350,000 / mo
Per year: KRW 4,200,000 (approx USD 3,066)
Round-trip airfare
Not included
Korean language training
Not included
Settlement allowance
Not included
Health insurance
Included

Graduate students are also paid through their research labs, typically pushing total monthly support well above the base stipend.

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Overview

At a glance

NationalityOpen to international students admitted to KAIST.
LanguageEnglish proficiency: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TEPS (NEW) 326, or TOEIC Listening and Reading 720. Exemptions apply for nationals of English-speaking countries and English-medium high schools.
HostsKAIST
Fieldsengineering, sciences, business
Who can apply

Eligibility by track

  • Bachelor's track
    High school diploma
    Duration: 4 years
    Full tuition for up to 8 semesters.
  • Master's track
    Bachelor's degree
    Duration: 2 years
  • PhD track
    Master's degree
    Duration: 4 years
  • Integrated MS plus PhD track
    Bachelor's degree
    Duration: 5 years
    Combined MS plus PhD pathway.
Key dates

Deadlines and tracks

  • Undergraduate, Spring or Fall start
    Early track, closes late October
  • Undergraduate, Fall start
    Regular track, closes early January

Frequently asked questions

Is KAIST International Student Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. KAIST International Student Scholarship covers full tuition for the standard program length, plus a monthly stipend of KRW 350,000, and health insurance. Graduate students are also paid through their research labs, typically pushing total monthly support well above the base stipend.

Who is eligible to apply for KAIST International Student Scholarship?

Open to international students admitted to KAIST. English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TEPS (NEW) 326, or TOEIC Listening and Reading 720. Exemptions apply for nationals of English-speaking countries and English-medium high schools. For the bachelors track: High school diploma For the masters track: Bachelor's degree For the phd track: Master's degree For the integrated track: Bachelor's degree

When does KAIST International Student Scholarship accept applications?

Undergraduate, Spring or Fall start: Early track, closes late October. Undergraduate, Fall start: Regular track, closes early January.

Can I apply to KAIST International Student Scholarship without speaking Korean?

Yes. KAIST International Student Scholarship offers English-taught program options. English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TEPS (NEW) 326, or TOEIC Listening and Reading 720. Exemptions apply for nationals of English-speaking countries and English-medium high schools.

Auto-built from the scholarship's verified data. Verify on the official site before applying.

Why this scholarship matters

All KAIST courses are taught in English, so applicants do not need Korean. The school's automatic full tuition waiver for international admits is unusual and removes a major variable from cost planning.

Official source
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Last verified: 2026-05-19
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