Match
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
📍 Daejeon · South Korea · Asia
QS Overall #53 · QS Accounting/Finance #70
30%
Acceptance
100%
Aid coverage
$8k
Annual cost (USD)
10%
International
🎓 Academic Program
Business and Technology Management track. STEM-business focus. Some accounting/finance courses.
🎯 Admissions
Acceptance rate
30% overall
Int'l acceptance
~25%
ED/EA acceptance
No ED/EA
International %
10% of student body
Campus size
100 acres · Cold winters, hot humid summers
📊 Exam Requirements
SAT
Not strictly required
ACT
—
IELTS
6.5+
TOEFL
83+
Other / notes
Strong STEM background required. Math focus.
📅 Deadlines
Early Decision/Action
—
Regular Decision
November (rolling)
Financial Aid
Automatic
Scholarship deadline
Apply with admission
💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships
Aid coverage
100% of demonstrated need met
Need-blind?
✗ Need-aware — нөлөөлж болзошгүй
No-loan policy?
✓ Тийм — бүгд grant, зээл байхгүй
Tuition
$0k/жил
Total cost (COA)
$8k/жил
Avg aid package
$8k/жил
Living costs covered?
✓ Тийм — room+board багтсан
📑 Scholarship requirements
- FREE TUITION for all students who maintain GPA above 2.0/4.3 (auto-award)
- KAIST Scholarship for living costs: KRW 350,000/month (~USD 250)
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — Korean government, full coverage
- Apply for admission — scholarship automatic
🔄 Scholarship maintenance
Maintain GPA 2.0+/4.3. Easy to maintain.
⚠️ Conditions & restrictions
- Tuition free for all (renewable)
- GKS adds living stipend + flights
- Strong STEM background expected
📝 Application requirements
- Online application
- Academic transcripts
- Personal statement
- 2 recommendation letters
- TOEFL or IELTS
- Some scholarships require additional documents
✍️ Supplemental essay prompts (2025-2026)
- Statement of Purpose (~1,000 words): Why KAIST? STEM background? Career goals.
- GKS Application: detailed essays about Korea, your country, career plans
⭐ "Why Us?" — Essay hooks & school personality
"MIT of Korea." Tuition FREE for all students! Strong STEM and entrepreneurship culture. Daejeon Science City. Korean Government strong support. Many programs in English. POSTECH similar option in Pohang.
🏆 Unique advantages
TUITION-FREE for all students. Living stipend available. Strong STEM brand. English-language programs growing. Asian tech industry access.
💼 Career outlook
Samsung, Hyundai, LG, SK recruit heavily. Korean tech industry. Starting salary KRW 45,000,000-55,000,000 (USD 33,000-40,000).
⏰ Work while studying
Student visa allows part-time work. KAIST research positions available.
🎯 Backup plans
- POSTECH as Korea STEM alternative
- Seoul National University
- Yonsei or Korea University
- Apply for GKS for full coverage
🔗 Official sources
- admission.kaist.ac.kr/intl-undergraduate
- studyinkorea.go.kr/in/main.do