Konkuk University: Admission, Tuition and Scholarships for International Students

Konkuk University (건국대학교) is a private university in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, next to the Konkuk University interchange on subway lines 2 and 7. It admits international students twice a year, each intake in two rounds, and scores applicants out of 1,000: 750 points for documents and 250 for language. TOPIK 3 is enough for the Korean-taught track, while Computer Software, taught entirely in English, needs IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71. In 2026 a semester cost from $3,520 (KRW 4,768,000) in the humanities to $4,930 (KRW 6,675,000) in engineering and design.

Who Konkuk suits

Konkuk works well for applicants who want to live and study inside Seoul and can reach Korean Level 3. Veterinary science, engineering, design and education all sit on one campus, and the published formula makes it easy to see how much your language score matters.

Programmes open to international students

Regular colleges (Korean-taught). International freshmen can enter humanities, sciences, engineering, social sciences, business, real estate, biotechnology and life sciences, art and design, and education. Majors marked with a star in the handbook — media and communication, digital culture, international commerce, business administration, all art and design majors, and education — can only be a first choice. Veterinary Medicine, Physical Education, Music Education and the KU School of Liberal Studies need the dean's written approval before you apply. Art and design applicants post five A4 pencil drawings; Media Acting applicants upload a Korean-language acting video. A second preferred major is optional and costs $15 (KRW 20,000).

International College (international students only).

Language requirements

The Korean track accepts any one of: TOPIK 3; Level 3 on Konkuk's own Korean test; Level 3 completed at Konkuk's Language Institute or another IEQAS-certified institute; King Sejong Institute 3B. Computer Software accepts TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2 or NEW TEPS 327, and does not accept Korean scores. International Commerce & Business accepts either. Only scores valid on the first day of the application period count, and since autumn 2026 there is no extra window to send an improved certificate later.

Konkuk's own Korean test is taken online through e-Campus, costs $52 (KRW 70,000), is pitched at TOPIK difficulty and stays valid for one year. The last 2026 sessions had registration on 29 September – 2 October (test on 23 October) and 27–30 October (test on 20 November). For the national exam, see our TOPIK guide.

Timeline

As of 30 September 2026 the spring 2027 handbook had not yet been posted on the Center for International Students site (ciss.konkuk.ac.kr). Previous cycles give the pattern:

Documents are accepted for about a week after the online window closes. Applying again in round 2 withdraws the round 1 application, and the whole document set must be resubmitted.

Documents

Print the application form after applying online, and prepare your passport; copies of your parents' passports or notarised national IDs; a birth certificate or family relationship certificate with an apostille and a notarised Korean or English translation; the apostilled school diploma; transcripts for all years with the grading scale; and your language certificate. Optional extras include national exam results, awards, internships and volunteering. Konkuk does not accept recommendation letters or personal statements. Government-issued certificates must be no older than 12 months at the start of the application period; academic documents, translations and apostilles no older than 24 months. Documents go by post only, and you can track their arrival online.

How to apply

1. Check that the major admits freshmen and whether it can be a second choice.
2. Take TOPIK, Konkuk's test or an English exam before the application window opens.
3. Register at www.ek-apply.com/ku as an individual member and complete the form with your name exactly as in your passport.
4. Pay the fee; after payment you cannot change the major or application type.
5. Post the documents to the International Student Center (Law School Bldg., 105).
6. After the results, pay tuition in won and apply for housing through the link in the admitted students' notice.
7. Send the original bank certificate and complete the admitted-student survey to receive the Standard Admission Letter.

Costs

The first bill also includes a $140 (KRW 187,000) registration fee, and scholarships are deducted before you pay. The handbook lists WeChat Pay, PayPal, Flywire and a virtual bank account; not all of these work for payers in Russia, so plan the route early with our guide on paying for studies abroad from Russia.

On-campus housing for international students is in double rooms assigned by nationality and gender, with priority by admission score when demand is high. The autumn 2026 semester (September–December) cost $150 (KRW 200,000) deposit plus $1,410 (KRW 1,914,000) rent; six months (September–February) came to $2,250 (KRW 3,047,000). Meals are optional; the smallest plan was 79 meals for $290 (KRW 395,000). More on renting off campus in student housing in Korea.

Scholarships

First-semester scholarships fall into four categories that can be combined up to the tuition amount; within a category only your best document counts.

From the second semester, students with a GPA of 3.0 and at least 12 credits compete within their division (STEM, non-STEM, International College): the top 5% pay nothing, the next bands get 60%, 30% and 10% off. Students who entered without TOPIK or with TOPIK 3 and reach Level 4–6 during the first semester can apply for an extra $220 (KRW 300,000).

Konkuk Language Institute

The Language Institute (kli.konkuk.ac.kr) teaches Korean on a D-4 visa for $1,330 (KRW 1,800,000) per term (rate as of September 2026) plus a $110 (KRW 150,000) application fee. The D-4 visa requires at least six months of study and can be extended in three- or six-month steps up to two years. Completing Level 3 already qualifies you to apply for a degree, and two semesters there add the category D award. Compare institutes in Korean language programmes in Korea.

Bank balance and the D-2 visa

Admitted students submit an original bank balance certificate for at least $14,780 (KRW 20,000,000). Applicants abroad may use a foreign bank account in their own or a parent's name; only Chinese banks require frozen funds. The Standard Admission Letter is issued on fixed dates. The D-2 visa is issued by a Korean embassy or consulate, which makes the decision; see our student visa guide.

Konkuk for applicants from Russia and the CIS

• Results of national school-leaving exams (the Russian EGE or the Kazakh UNT) can be added as optional evidence.
• You and both parents must hold only foreign citizenship; a lost Korean nationality counts only if it was lost before the application period.

Common mistakes

• Listing media or business as a second choice.
• Applying to Veterinary Medicine without the dean's approval.
• Sending a personal statement instead of evidence of achievements.
• Planning to send a new TOPIK score after the document deadline.
• Delivering documents in person, or using a family certificate older than 12 months.

FAQ

What TOPIK level do I need for Konkuk?

The Korean track requires at least TOPIK 3 or an equivalent: Konkuk's own test, Level 3 at an IEQAS-certified language institute, or King Sejong Institute 3B. A higher level adds points in the evaluation and brings a first-semester discount of up to 100%.

Can I study at Konkuk in English?

Yes, in two International College programmes. Computer Software is fully English-taught and accepts only English certificates from IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71. International Commerce & Business runs in both languages, and your track depends on the certificate you submit.

How much does Konkuk cost?

In 2026 a semester cost $3,520 (KRW 4,768,000) in the humanities and $4,930 (KRW 6,675,000) in engineering and Computer Software, with veterinary medicine at $5,410 (KRW 7,320,000). The first semester adds a $140 (KRW 187,000) registration fee, and an autumn 2026 double room cost $1,560 (KRW 2,114,000) including deposit.

When should I apply for spring 2027?

Watch ciss.konkuk.ac.kr for the new handbook. In the last spring cycle, round 1 ran on 4–11 September and round 2 on 6–20 November, so prepare documents well before September and check the site from late summer.

What scholarships do freshmen get?

A first-semester language discount of 30–100%, $740 (KRW 1,000,000) for top STEM and International College admits, and $370 (KRW 500,000) for two semesters at Konkuk's Language Institute. Categories stack until the total reaches the tuition amount.

Can StudyU help with a Konkuk application?

Choosing the major and round, checking document validity, preparing the portfolio, the application and the bank documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Konkuk decides on admission and scholarships, the housing office allocates rooms, and the Korean consulate decides on the visa.

Sources

• Konkuk CISS: Undergraduate Admission
• Konkuk: Fall 2026 Undergraduate Admissions Guidelines for International Students (PDF)
• Konkuk: Spring 2026 Admission Guidelines (PDF)
• Konkuk Language Institute: fees and refunds and admission steps
• Korea JoongAng Daily: Korean universities in QS 2027 (Konkuk 683rd)

Won amounts were converted at the ECB reference rate for 29.09.2026 (EUR 1 bought USD 1.1355 and KRW 1,536.74, about KRW 1,353 per dollar), rounded to the dollar below $100 and to $10 above. See other options on Study in South Korea and in universities in Seoul. To decide which round and programme to target, send an application.

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