KAIST — Korea's top science and technology university — funds every admitted international undergraduate with full tuition for four years, a monthly living stipend, and health insurance, with no separate scholarship form to fill. The Regular admission track for Fall 2027 entry runs 10 November 2026 to 14 January 2027, and all courses are taught in English with no Korean-language requirement.
Why it is notable: The scholarship is the admission: there is no merit competition after acceptance, which flips the usual strategy (the battle is getting admitted, not winning funding). Combined with the undeclared-major system — a full year of STEM exploration before choosing a major — and an all-English campus, it is the most accessible elite STEM undergraduate route in Asia. The Early track (Sept–Oct 2026) is already closed; the Regular track is the live window.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Full tuition waiver for 8 semesters (4 years)
monthly living stipend
National Health Insurance coverage. No separate scholarship application — awarded automatically on admission (select "KAIST Scholarship" on the Statement of Financial Resources section of the admission application). Verified on the official KAIST international scholarship page…
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Higher secondaryfor Bachelors
This scholarship is offered for Undergraduate programs.
Who can apply
International students of all nationalities. Must hold foreign citizenship; applicants holding Korean citizenship (including dual citizenship) cannot apply as international students. Neither parent should be a Korean citizen — OR applicants of Korean origin must have completed their entire elementary, junior high, and high school education outside Korea. Must have graduated or expect to graduate from high school (for Fall 2027 entry, expected cut-off 31 August 2027 — per secondary sources, confirm in the 2027 guidelines).
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
English proficiency evidence: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720, or TEPS 326 reported as typical thresholds (per secondary sources — confirm). Not mandatory if high school was completed in an English-native country or at an English-medium institution. No TOPIK (Korean) required.
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
None published (unverified — confirm before publishing).
Tools that may help
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Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
International students of all nationalities. Must hold foreign citizenship; applicants holding Korean citizenship (including dual citizenship) cannot apply as…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
English proficiency evidence: TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720, or TEPS 326 reported as typical thresholds (per secondary sources — confirm). Not mandatory if high school was completed in an English-native country or at an English-medium institution. No TOPIK (Korean) required.
02
Qualification
International students of all nationalities
03
Documents
Completed online application form; one recommendation letter (submitted electronically by the recommender via the portal's secure link); high school transcript; high school graduation certificate or e
Document checklist
01Completed online application form
02one recommendation letter (submitted electronically by the recommender via the portal's secure link)
03high school transcript
04high school graduation certificate or expected-graduation certificate
05passport or national ID
06proof of applicant's nationality
07proof of parents' nationality where required
08English proficiency test report if submitted
09standardized test scores if available.
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: Admitted students enter on a D-2 student visa: apply at the Korean embassy/consulate with the Certificate of Admission, KAIST's business registration details, passport, and financial documentation (the full-tuition scholarship letter…
Application Procedure
8 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
On the official KAIST international undergraduate admissions site
review the 2027 admission guidelines and select the Regular track (Fall track only).
→
02
Create an account on the KAIST online
application portal (linked from the official admissions site).
→
03
Complete the undergraduate admission application —
scholarship consideration is automatic; select the appropriate financial-resource option in the form (per secondary sources — confirm wording).
↓
06
Ensure your recommender submits the recommendation letter
through the portal's secure link by 21 January 2027, 6:00 PM KST.
←
05
Pay the application fee (USD 80
non-refundable).
←
04
Upload all documents (see below) by 14 January 2027
6:00 PM KST.
↓
07
Interviews (online) are conducted only if deemed necessary —
selected applicants are contacted individually by email (Regular track: 3 March 2027).
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08
Admission announced 25 March 2027
10:00 AM KST; reply with acceptance before August; academic year begins end of August 2027.
Application milestones
14 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Korea Advanced Institute of Science and… platform.
14 Jan 2027 — , 18:00 KST (application period & document submission, Regular Admissions, Fall track only). Recommendation…
Who can apply?
International students of all nationalities. Must hold foreign citizenship; applicants holding Korean citizenship (including dual citizenship) cannot apply as international students. Neither parent should be a Korean citizen — OR applicants of Korean origin must have completed their entire elementary, junior high, and high school education outside Korea. Must have graduated or expect to graduate from high school (for Fall 2027 entry, expected cut-off 31 August 2027 — per secondary sources, confirm in the 2027 guidelines).
What does the scholarship cover?
Full tuition waiver for 8 semesters (4 years); monthly living stipend; National Health Insurance coverage. No separate scholarship application — awarded automatically on admission (select "KAIST Scholarship" on the Statement of Financial Resources section of the admission application). Verified on the official KAIST international scholarship page…
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
South Korea · Korea Advanced Institute of Science and…