The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, commonly known as KAIST, is a public institution that was founded in 1971. The science and technology-focused university’s main campus – where more than 90 percent of students take classes – is in Daejeon, South Korea. Daejeon is around 85 miles south of the capital city of Seoul. In most cases, tuition costs the same for international and domestic students. Many government- or school-sponsored scholarships are also available for KAIST students, including some that cover tuition and fees in full. The university operates more than 20 student dormitories as well as a few apartment complexes for married students.
KAIST has colleges of natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, liberal arts and convergence science, and business. The university’s academic calendar is semester-based, and the primary language of instruction is English, though some courses are taught in Korean. One of the university’s research facilities is the KAIST Institute, which is made up of five research institutes – KI for BioCentury, KI for Information Technology Convergence, KI for Robotics, KI for NanoCentury and KI for Health Science and Technology – as well as two centers. Around 220 faculty members and 350 students and researchers carry out interdisciplinary research at the KAIST Institute. Undergraduates at the university can earn credit for taking part in research activities through KAIST’s Undergraduate Research Participation Program, which also provides students with financial support. Approximately 200 students participate in the URP program each year.
KAIST has connotations of academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, but also the launch of large-scale projects. The university often ranks highly among other universities of a similar age.
KAIST was established in February 1971 as Korea Advanced Institute of Science, with a loan given by United States Agency for International Development. The university aimed not only to educate young researchers in science and engineering, but also to provide a solid basis for the development of future higher education institutions in Korea.
Its structure was created by an international team, which included the American electrical engineer and vice-president of Stanford University Frederick Emmons Terman. Unlike other public institutions in South Korea, KAIST has freedom to decide upon its entry requirements and course structure, which gives the university a special status.
Today, KAIST has a rich academic portfolio in disciplines such as physics, mathematics, engineering, humanities and social sciences, business and management. The courses are delivered by 6 colleges and 2 schools, with over 33 divisions. KAIST’s unique institutes include the National NanoFab Center, which conducts research into nano-devices and their potential applications.
KAIST consists of 2 major campuses situated in Daejeon and South Korea’s capital Seoul. They offer over 25 dormitories, 4 libraries and a medical centre. To ensure students are actively engaged in the campus cultural events, the university organises traditional opera and jazz recitals.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) owes its rank of joint 41st in the QS World University Rankings® 2018 to its strong academic reputation, high number of citations per faculty and employer reputation. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, KAIST is particularly strong in a number of STEM subjects, such as materials science, engineering and technology, chemistry and engineering.Based in Daejeon and Seoul, South Korea, KAIST is a research intensive university. Its researchers have developed their very own electric vehicle, the OLEV, that can recharge from cables underneath the road.
UNDERGRADUATE
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) offers undergraduate courses in a good range of STEM subjects, like:
General biology
Thermal physics
Neuroscience
POSTGRADUATE
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) offers master’s degrees and PhDs in STEM subjects, like:
Laser optics
Semiconductor photonics
Quantum mechanics
Nonlinear dynamics
Classical mechanics