Ajou University: Admission, Tuition and Scholarships for International Students

Ajou University (아주대학교) is a private research university based in Suwon, the capital of Gyeonggi Province south of Seoul. International applicants are admitted on documents: TOPIK 3 for the Korean track, or IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 71 plus an interview for the English-taught International Business programme. Spring 2027 applications are open from 28 September to 20 November 2026; the application fee is $110 (KRW 150,000), and the early-bird waiver for complete files by 15 October applies only to current students of Ajou's Korean language centre. In 2026 a semester cost from $3,050 (KRW 4,134,000) in the humanities to $3,960 (KRW 5,366,000) in engineering and IT.

Who Ajou suits

Ajou is a strong engineering and IT university outside Seoul. Its semester fees are lower than at Konkuk, Dongguk, Hongik or Sejong in Seoul, and a place in a quadruple dormitory room costs $560–630 (KRW 762,000–853,000) a semester at 2026 rates. Ajou held IEQAS certification for its international education eight years running and was named an "outstanding certified university" in 2026.

Programmes

Korean track: engineering (mechanical, industrial, chemical, materials, civil and transportation systems, architecture and architectural engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mobility engineering); computing and informatics, including cyber security and digital media; mathematics and the School of Frontier Sciences; business administration and international business (Korean track); Korean and English language and literature, history, culture and contents; public administration, psychology, and economic, political and social studies. Admission units may be added, merged or renamed.

English track: International Business for freshmen and Business Administration for transfers, both taught entirely in English. The Korean and English tracks are separate competitions; applying to both cancels every application you made. International Business freshmen are shortlisted on documents and then interviewed; missing the interview means disqualification.

Language requirements

TOEFL Home Edition is accepted, but TOEFL MyBest Score and IELTS Indicator are not. If you apply expecting a TOPIK result, the score must reach Ajou by 23 December 2026, 16:00 Korean time, or the admission is cancelled. Citizens of English-speaking countries, and graduates of schools there, need not submit a certificate. See our TOPIK guide.

Spring 2027 timeline

Documents can be handed in at the International Admission Team, Yulgok Hall #153 in Suwon, or posted to the admissions centre address in Seoul given in the guide. Late arrivals are not considered, even if the post was at fault.

Documents

Printouts of the application, agreement and consent forms (after paying the fee); an activities list on Ajou's form with evidence such as olympiads, certificates or school projects; the diploma (or expected-graduation certificate) and all-year transcripts with notarised translation and apostille; a family relationship document issued within the past year (a birth certificate is fine if it shows both parents' nationality); copies of your and your parents' passports or IDs; language proof; Korean language course records if you studied in Korea; and a personal statement and study plan for International Business (either track). Use A4 paper in the listed order; nothing is returned.

Costs

Rates may change for 2027. A useful living-cost benchmark is the GKS-UIC stipend Ajou quotes: $890 (KRW 1,200,000) a month. For a full budget see the cost of studying in Korea and student housing in Korea.

Scholarships

For Ajou Global 4 the admission guide gives TOEFL iBT 71, while the scholarship page on the website says 75; if you take the TOEFL, aim for 75. Frontier scholarships (full tuition for one semester up to four years) are awarded internally to top admits. Frontier U targets citizens of OECD DAC aid-recipient countries that currently have no students at Ajou, excluding upper-middle-income countries. A higher TOPIK submitted between 23 December 2026 and 19 February 2027 is paid out as cash after matriculation.

Enrolled students need 12 credits and a GPA of 2.0 (plus IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80 on the English track) to qualify. Academic Excellence covers full tuition for the top 5% and half for the next 10%, with a 30% tier as well. Reaching TOPIK 4 within two semesters brings a one-off $220 (KRW 300,000). Students in the top half of the ranking who do not receive Academic Excellence get the one-off CHEER UP living allowance of $740 (KRW 1,000,000); in the first year it requires TOPIK 3 or IELTS 6.5. Scholarship rules may change with Ajou's system.

GKS-UIC. Ajou recruits Korean Government Scholarship students for AI and Computer Engineering: one year of Korean plus four years of study. Applicants must be under 25 (born after 1 March 2002) with a high-school GPA at 80% of the maximum or the top 20% of their class. Originals must be posted by 30 October 2026; the online form opens on 1 October. The award covers airfare and $890 (KRW 1,200,000) a month. Ajou shortlists and NIIED confirms the final list in early 2027. General rules are in our GKS guide.

Ajou's Korean language programme

The Center for International Education (cie.ajou.ac.kr) charges $1,110 (KRW 1,500,000) per 10-week term (rate as of September 2026) or $2,220 (KRW 3,000,000) for two, plus a $74 (KRW 100,000) application fee; textbooks are extra. Graduates of the programme need only $7,390 (KRW 10,000,000) in their bank certificate when entering an Ajou degree. See Korean language programmes in Korea.

Bank certificate and D-2 visa

Admitted students submit an original certificate in their own name showing at least $14,780 (KRW 20,000,000); minors may use a parent's account with a family relationship document. It must be issued within 30 days before the visa application, or be valid up to its stated expiry for at most six months. Uzbek citizens must use KDB Bank Uzbekistan. The Certificate of Admission follows payment and final documents. If a visa cannot be obtained within the entry period, admission may be cancelled; the Korean consulate decides on the visa. See our student visa guide.

Notes for applicants from Russia and the CIS

• Ajou University in Tashkent is a separate institution; this page covers the Suwon campus.
• Uzbek applicants should check Frontier U eligibility, which depends on whether Ajou already has students from their country.
• Plan payment from Russia early: how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Common mistakes

• Applying to both the Korean and English tracks.
• Sending TOEFL MyBest or IELTS Indicator scores.
• Counting on the fee-free early bird without being a current Ajou language-centre student: everyone else pays $110 (KRW 150,000).
• Using a family document older than one year.
• Failing to send an expected TOPIK score by 23 December.
• Getting the bank certificate too early for the visa window.

FAQ

Can I study at Ajou in English?

Yes: International Business for freshmen and Business Administration for transfers. You need IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or NEW TEPS 326, and freshmen also sit an interview. All other majors are taught in Korean and require at least TOPIK 3.

How much does a year at Ajou cost?

In 2026 a semester cost $3,050 (KRW 4,134,000) in the humanities up to $3,960 (KRW 5,366,000) in engineering and IT, so a year's tuition runs about $6,110–7,930 (KRW 8,268,000–10,732,000). A place in a quadruple dormitory room starts at $560 (KRW 762,000) a semester at 2026 rates.

Can I apply to Ajou without paying the application fee?

Only if you are currently studying at Ajou's Korean language centre and complete the online form and every document in the early-bird window, 28 September to 15 October 2026; the admissions team then issues an exemption code. Everyone else pays the $110 (KRW 150,000) fee by card or transfer by 20 November 2026, 17:00 KST.

What scholarships do freshmen get?

A first-semester discount by language level: 30% for TOPIK 3 or IELTS 5.5, 50% for TOPIK 4 or IELTS 6.5, 70% for TOPIK 5 or IELTS 7.0, and 100% for TOPIK 6 or IELTS 8.0. Full Frontier scholarships are assigned by the admissions committee.

Is Ajou University in Tashkent the same university?

No. Ajou University in Tashkent (AUT) is an independent institution with its own programmes, fees and admission. The Korean Ajou University degree is earned by students who study in Suwon and are admitted under the rules on this page.

Can StudyU help me apply to Ajou?

Choosing the track and major, preparing the application for the 20 November deadline, checking apostilles and bank documents, and preparing a GKS-UIC application are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Ajou (and, for GKS, NIIED) decides on admission and scholarships, and the Korean consulate decides on the visa.

Sources

• Ajou International Admissions: Eligibility & Admission Schedule
• Ajou: 2027 Spring Admission Guide for International Students (English, PDF, linked from Ajou's admission page)
• Ajou International Admissions: Scholarship
• Ajou: GKS-UIC Scholarship (Undergraduate)
• Ajou Center for International Education: Tuition & Fees
• Ajou News: THE World University Rankings 2026
• Korea JoongAng Daily: QS 2027 results for Korea, Ajou 570th

Conversions follow the ECB reference rate published for 29.09.2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1355 = KRW 1,536.74, about KRW 1,353 to the dollar), rounded to $1 below $100 and to $10 above. More options are on Study in South Korea and in universities in Korea for international students. To make the 20 November deadline or the GKS-UIC deadline of 30 October, send an application.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.