Applications are now open for KAIST’s International Graduate Admissions for Spring 2026, offering opportunities for ambitious students to pursue advanced degrees at a leading science and technology university in South Korea. This program spans fields such as Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Business, with Master’s, Master’s-Ph.D. Integrated, and Ph.D. programs available. The application window is from August 19 to September 2, 2025, with a letter of recommendation deadline of September 9, 2025.
KAIST provides fully funded scholarships, including full tuition coverage, monthly stipends, and health insurance for eligible students, alongside options for self-funding or external sponsorship. International students (non-Korean citizens) with a bachelor’s or master’s degree by February 2026 are eligible, with specific requirements for Korean ethnicity applicants. An $80 application fee applies, but waivers are available for those from Least Developed Countries. Check more MS and PhD positions
Key Details
- Application Period: August 19, 2025 (10 A.M.) – September 2, 2025 (5 P.M.) KST
- Fields of Study: Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Business
- Programs Offered: Master’s, Master’s-Ph.D. Integrated, Ph.D., and Finance MBA
- Eligibility: Non-Korean citizens; bachelor’s degree for Master’s/Master’s-Ph.D., master’s degree for Ph.D. by February 2026
- Funding: Fully funded KAIST Scholarships (tuition, stipend, health insurance); partial funding via on-campus jobs or external sponsorship
- Application Fee: $80 USD, waivable for applicants from Least Developed Countries
Interested in More BS, MS and PhD Positions? Follow links below
Eligibility Requirements
Academic Qualifications
- Master’s or Master’s-Ph.D. Integrated Programs: Hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a four-year Korean bachelor’s degree) by February 2026.
- Doctoral Programs: Hold or expect to hold a master’s degree by February 2026.
Citizenship
- Applicants must not hold Korean citizenship. Korean citizens with dual citizenship are ineligible.
- Applicants of Korean Ethnicity: Must meet one of the following:
- Neither parent is a Korean citizen (submit a Certificate of Renunciation of Korean Citizenship if applicable, completed before the application period starts).
- Completed entire education (elementary to high school) outside Korea (international schools in Korea are not considered foreign schools).
Also check: Biozentrum PhD Fellowships
English Proficiency
Applicants must submit one of the following English proficiency test (EPT) scores, taken on or after September 2, 2023:
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum 83 (Home Edition accepted, MyBest Scores not accepted).
- IELTS (Academic): Minimum 6.5 overall band (IELTS Online accepted, One Skill Retake not accepted).
- TOEIC: Minimum 720 (Listening & Reading).
- TEPS: Minimum 326.
- Exemptions:
- Citizenship or a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, or the USA.
- A degree from an English-medium institution in countries like India, Singapore, or South Africa (submit a Certificate of English Medium of Instruction).
- Expected graduation from a KAIST degree program in February 2026.
- Note: Programs like GDI-ITTP and KINS-KAIST do not require EPT scores.
Check this: The Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships at University of West London
Programs Offered
KAIST offers a variety of graduate programs across multiple colleges for Spring 2026. Below is a summary of available programs:
College of Natural Science
- Physics
- Mathematical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Graduate School of Quantum Science and Technology
College of Life Science and Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering
- Brain & Cognitive Sciences
- Graduate School of Engineering Biology
- Graduate School of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
College of Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- School of Computing
- Civil and Environmental Engineering: (includes Environmental and Energy Technology Program)
- Bio and Brain Engineering: (includes Brain and Cognitive Engineering)
- Industrial Design
- Industrial & Systems Engineering: (includes Graduate School of Data Science)
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Materials Science & Engineering
- Nuclear and Quantum Engineering
- Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Mobility
- Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI
- Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainability
College of Liberal Arts and Convergence Science
- School of Digital Humanities and Computational Social Sciences
- Graduate School of Culture Technology
- Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy
Also check: Charles Darwin University RTP Scholarships For MS and PhD
College of Business (Daejeon Campus)
- Business and Technology Management
- Graduate School of Global Digital Innovation:
College of Business (Seoul Campus)
- Management Engineering
- Finance MBA: Professional Master’s (MBA).
Finding an Academic Advisor
- Master’s Applicants: Generally, no prior communication with faculty is required, but some programs may mandate it. Check the program’s website for details.
- Doctoral and Master’s-Ph.D. Applicants: Must identify a faculty advisor from the chosen department and indicate their name in the application. Prior communication is highly recommended.
- Use the KAIST STARLIBRARY or KAIST Research Portal to explore faculty and research interests.
Application Process
The application is completed online via KAIST’s application system. Use a Windows computer for the best experience.
Step 1: Program and Personal Information
- Create an account, select your degree program and major, and upload a portrait photo.
- Provide personal details, a valid email address (used as login ID), and ID documents (applicant’s passport, parents’ ID, and family registration certificate).
- Indicate financial resources (e.g., KAIST Scholarship, self-funding, or sponsoring organization).
Step 2: Academic and Professional Background
- Enter academic history, English proficiency test scores, work experience, and recommender details.
- Upload certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts as a single PDF.
- Provide two recommenders’ professional/institutional email addresses for verification.
Study in South Korea: CBNU G-Cruit Scholarship
Step 3: Statement of Purpose
- Answer questions about your academic background, motivation, study plan, and post-graduation goals (up to 500 bytes each).
- Write a detailed statement of purpose (up to 5,000 bytes).
Step 4: Document Submission
- Upload a CV in PDF format (no specific format required).
- Optionally, submit proof of honors, awards, or publications.
- Include any additional documents required by your chosen major.
Step 5: Application Fee
- Pay a non-refundable $80 USD fee via credit card (recommended), bank transfer, or other methods.
- Eligible applicants from Least Developed Countries (per UN 2024 list) can request a fee waiver by submitting a form and a recommendation letter from their department head by August 4, 2025 (6 P.M. KST). Details at KAIST Application Fee Waiver.
Study in Japan: OIST Fully Funded PhD Program 2025/2026
Required Documents
Prepare and upload the following as PDFs in the application system:
- Applicant’s Identity Document: Photocopy of valid passport ID pages.
- Parents’ Identity Documents: To verify citizenship and financial status. If one parent has sole custody, submit their citizenship certificate.
- Family Registration Certificate: Or equivalent (e.g., birth certificate). For Korean ethnicity, include a Certificate of Renunciation of Korean Citizenship if applicable.
- Academic Documents: Certified copies of bachelor’s/master’s degree certificates and transcripts (combine into one PDF).
- English Proficiency Test Score: Submit one valid EPT score or proof of exemption.
- Scholarship/Sponsorship Letter: If applicable, include evidence of funding.
- Curriculum Vitae: No specific format required.
- Optional Documents: Proof of employment, awards, or additional materials required by the program.
Check this: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Doctoral Scholarship Opportunities)
Notes:
- Scan original or certified copies clearly. Illegible documents may affect evaluation.
- Translate non-English/Korean documents via a public notary.
- Admitted students must submit apostilled or consular-legalized degree certificates and transcripts.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
KAIST offers robust financial support for international students:
KAIST Scholarship
- Benefits:
- Full tuition coverage: 4 semesters (Master’s), 10 semesters (Master’s-Ph.D.), 8 semesters (Ph.D.).
- Monthly stipend (varies by department, advisor, and research involvement).
- National Health Insurance premium coverage.
- Eligibility: Based on academic performance and potential, assessed via application materials.
KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS)
- For: Master’s or Master’s-Ph.D. students.
- Benefits: Full tuition and 1,600,000 KRW monthly stipend for 4 semesters.
- Details: Automatically considered for KAIST Scholarship applicants; department head recommends competitive candidates.
KAIST Prestige Scholarship
- For: Master’s-Ph.D. or Ph.D. students.
- Benefits: Full tuition and 300,000 KRW monthly stipend for 8 semesters.
- Details: Automatically considered for KAIST Scholarship applicants with outstanding achievements.
Also check: CERN Post Career Break Fellowship 2025
KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship
- For: Ph.D. or Master’s-Ph.D. students in the College of Engineering.
- Benefits: Full tuition and 2,500,000 KRW monthly fellowship for 4 years.
- Details: Nominated by the department; recipients cannot receive other financial aid and must commit full-time to their lab.
Global Educational Program for Samsung Semiconductor (Global EPSS)
- For: Master’s or Ph.D. students in Electrical Engineering from Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam.
- Benefits:
- Full tuition.
- Monthly stipend ($1,000–$1,500 USD).
- One-time Ph.D. scholarship (3,000,000 KRW).
- Samsung internship and guaranteed employment.
- Details: Specify Global EPSS in the application’s financial resources section.
Also check: KAUST Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
On-Campus Employment
- International students can work as Research Assistants (RA), Teaching Assistants (TA), or in other part-time roles to earn income during enrollment.
