1. What is KAIST ?
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - http://
www.kaist.edu) is a public university belonging to the Korean
Ministry of Science and Technology. KAIST offers different level of
courses: undergraduate courses for Bachelor degree with 4-year-long
initial study, and postgraduate courses for Master and Ph.D degrees,
in all fields of engineering science. The degrees are accredited by
the Korean Government, as well as by the most of international
institutions and organizations.
Though relatively young, established in 1971, KAIST gained rapidly
worldwide reputation, and is often regarded as one of the leading
institutions of higher education for science and technology. KAIST is
renowned not only by its high standard education but also by its high
quality research outcomes.
KAIST counts about 7400 students - 2900 in undergraduate, and 4500 in
graduate courses -, and the undergraduates have variety of choice to
map out their future: further study for in-depth research works or
thrusting themselves into professional life. The research works at
KAIST are the top-of-the-range, and requires large number of
qualified graduate students. This is why roughly 85% of undergraduate
students are recruited for Master degree.
KAIST is located in Daedeok Science Town, the home to more than 60
government-supported and private research institutes, 4 universities,
and hundreds of venture businesses. The Science Town is situated in
the northern part of Daejeon, which is approximately 150km south of
Seoul. Daejeon has a population of over 1.3 million citizens. Taking
advantage of its geographical location, KAIST provides abundant
opportunities for research and learning through collaboration and
exchanges with institutions and organizations in the immediate
vicinity. Also, KAIST has Graduate School of Management which is
located in Seoul. It provides education program relating management
practice and technology policy.
Students graduated from KAIST are well-appreciated, nationally as
well as internationally, by a wide range of professional communities,
and are highly successful in their professional lives, thanks to the
excellence of education, innovative and creative, in an international
environment. In fact, students are encouraged to have international
experiences in foreign countries by doing industrial internship, dual
degree, or by simply doing an academic exchange.
2. Why international students?
KAIST has an ambitious plan to build a Global Campus where students
can pursuit their studies in order to meet the challenge of the
globalization of the industrial world. Korean and non-Korean students
will gain insight into the respective cultures of their friends,
future partners for the global economy.
In addition, Korea was helped, in the past, by the international
community to emerge from poverty. Korea has set up a myth of economic
development, and now is among the most industrialized countries. For
Korea, it is time to repay the international community through the
education of young future leaders.
3. Academic Programs
Outstanding features of KAIST :
The undergraduate is nominally 4-year curriculum for Bachelor degree.
The academic programs for undergraduate have specific features, such
as
- enrolment without declaration of major
- unlimited change of major
- dual or minor major system
- bachelor-master integrated system
- credit transfer system with partner universities
- early graduation program (less than 4 years)
The teaching at KAIST is designed to maximize the knowledge building
through the interweave between theory and experiments. Students are
encouraged either to undertake research activities (Undergraduate
Research Program Grants ca. 15~20 thousands US$) or to take part in
the research projects. Creativity is built up through the systemized
teaching, such as interaction, experimental works, and tutorships
A wide range of choice of natural and engineering sciences is offered.
- Physics
- Biological sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Mechanical, Aerospace & System engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Design
- Industrial Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Computer Science
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Material Science & Engineering
- Nuclear & Quantum Engineering
- Bio & Brain Engineering
- Business Economics Program (not degree awarding program)
And, for graduate studies, in addition to those enumerated here
above, KAIST also has :
- Medical Science & Engineering
- Automobile Technology
- Culture Technology
- Management Engineering
- Techno-MBA
- Finance (MBA)
- Information and Media Management (MBA)
KAIST puts strong emphasis on the humanity education and leadership
training as a part of basic quality of future leaders. Sports and
welfare service are also important activities in KAIST.
KAIST also encourages students to have international experiences :
academic exchange, industrial internship, Summer sessions, dual
degree programs. Students - Koreans as well as foreign nationals –
can enjoy various kind of study abroad program with the
administrative and financial help of the KAIST International Relation
Team.
4. Campus Life:
KAIST has its own residence halls and restaurants on campus where
students can enjoy low cost and high quality services. Students have
access to numerous facilities and services in a rich cultural and
sports events :
- various clubs and associations covering a wide range of
activities
- sports facilities such as swimming pool, gymnasia, health
centers, billiard saloon, tennis courts…
- personal Internet access and wireless LAN
- restaurants, cafeterias, bar running round-the-clock a day
- libraries and documentation centers enabling to access to a
whole world of documents and databases
- a full-time social workers is available to help with the
various kinds of difficulty that a student may encounter
- godparents system to take care younger students by the elders
5. Academic Calendar :
- Spring Semester : February 11 to May 15
- Summer Session : June 09 to August 15
- Fall Term : September 01 to December 19
- Winter Session : December 29 to January 30
6. Credit Requirement for Graduation
- The undergraduate students have to obtain a minimum of 130
credits for graduation (Bachelor's degree). One credit corresponds 16
hours of classroom lecture.
- Early graduation through the accelerated program of study in
less than 4 years is open to able students.
7. Tuition & Fees and Scholarship
Below table shows approximate costs, estimated on the basis of actual
prices and exchange rate, for one year study in KAIST
No Item Annual, Total (US$) Comment
1 Tuition 15,000
2 Parent Trust Fund (PTF) 2,000
3 Medical Insurance (MI) 600
4 Boarding & Lodging (B&D) 5,000 rough estimation
5 Miscellaneous (Misc) 1,000
Total 23,600
Most of the above-mentioned costs can be covered by the scholarship
whose amount and conditions are set prior to the enrolment. However,
from the second year, the amount of scholarship may change according
to the student's academic performance of the previous year. For
example, full exemption of tuition, PTF, and MI for students with GPA
over 3.0, sliding proportional exemption for those with GPA between
3.0 to 2.0, but no exemption at all for bad performers. (GPA: Grade
Point Average; 4.3 max.)
APPLICATION
8. Eligibility Requirement :
Candidates will be considered without respect to race, color,
religion, national origin, disability, or gender.
Admission to the KAIST International Undergraduate is merit- and
capability- based and open to anyone who :
- has terminated or will terminate country's secondary
education, enabling him (her) to be enrolled in a higher education
institution of science and technology.
- is able to begin the KAIST's 2008 Spring academic program in
Korea
- is able to receive and maintain a Korean D-2 visa
- is proficient in spoken and written English at the time of
application
- paid the application fees of 100 USD
9. Documents Required
Categories Note Format Download
Admission Form Filled out accurately in the given format
download
Diploma (Certificate of Graduation Candidate)
If your school does not provide such certificate in set form,
you may send the separate sheet of paper with the approval of the
principal of the school, in which the pertinent information to prove
your graduation is written
If already enrolled at a university, Certificate of Enrollment
will be helpful. -
High School Transcript It must include grades of all courses of all
grades taken at high schools you have attended.
If you are a university student, please, include your university
transcript, as well. -
SAT1 Score or
equivalent If unavailable, a score from another test equivalent
to this should be submitted. -
Official English
Proficiency Test Only the scores of regular session of TOEFL,
TOEIC, TEPS, IELTS tests are accepted
※ Only the scores given within two years from the application date
will be accepted
※ Candiates with nationality from English speaking country are
exempted submitting an official English proficiency test record.
※ Students who spent more than two years in an English speaking
school may submit a certificate describing all lectures were given in
English, instead of submitting English test record. -
Personal Statement Complete accurately in the given format
download
Two Letters of Recommendation Submit two letters written by the
teachers of the high school you've attended
※ One of the two letters should be a letter from mathematics or
science teacher download
Statement of Financial Resources Complete accurately in the
given format download
Awards Attach awards from outside organizations and any other data
to prove your academic excellence -
Nota : Documents related to the application can be found at http://
admission.kaist.ac.kr/english
10. Deadline of Application Submission for Academic Year 2008/2009
Deadline Selection Notification Admission
for Fall Term 2008 April 30,2008 Early May,2008 Early June,
2008 September 1, 2008
Hard copy version of application form should arrive not later than
6:00 PM, of the day of closing date (deadline) indicated here above.
Selection result will be announced by e-mail. Written notification
will be addressed only to successful students by individual postal
mail.
11. Application Fee
One hundred (100) US dollars to be paid either by bank transfer,
international money order, …
(neither personal check nor cash accepted)
Payment to be made to :
Account : WOORI Bank 270-003359-41-185
Beneficiary : KAIST
Swift Code : HVBKKRSExxx
12. Where to send ?
KAIST Admissionã„´ Team
Daejeon 305-701
Republic of Korea
Phone: (+82-42) 869-2142~3
13. Selection Process and Criteria
Selection is done by a panel of KAIST's academic experts on the basis
of merit, capability, and academic excellence.
Selection panel will use the following criteria to evaluate
applications :
- Academic excellence in scientific and technical subjects
- Leadership potential
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
- Flexibility and suitability in living and in studying in Korea
- Personal self-evolution plan
