Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Scholarships for International Students 2026

UNIST scholarships are generally designed for full-time degree students (Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD) who enroll in UNIST’s on-campus programs, not for standalone online-only study.

UNIST is known for teaching its academic courses in English. UNIST’s official academics page highlights that “all courses at UNIST are conducted in 100% English,” and scholarship recipients echo the same experience. Alambek said, “Classes at UNIST are 100% English.” (He also noted that daily life outside campus can still require adjusting to Korean.)

UNIST does not typically publish an age cap for its core scholarships; instead, eligibility is tied to academic level and admissions requirements (e.g., you must have completed the required prior education for the program you’re applying to). For undergraduate international admissions, UNIST focuses on completion of elementary/middle/high school (or equivalent) and specific citizenship/education criteria; for graduate admissions, eligibility is based on holding (or soon receiving) the required degree (bachelor’s for master’s; master’s for PhD).

There might be an age limit for external and government scholarships. For example, Global Korea Scholarships does have an age limit, so check the scholarship guidelines for external and government scholarships.

In general, UNIST scholarships support students across UNIST’s main academic areas, especially STEM and tech-focused fields, because UNIST is a science and technology institute. At the undergraduate level, applicants typically choose a field (Engineering or Business) when applying, and then declare a major later. UNIST also includes areas like Design, AI, and foundational sciences (Physics/Chemistry/Math), and students take liberal-arts coursework through the School of Liberal Arts.

Engineering / STEM: Very strong coverage—mechanical, materials, energy/chemical, nuclear, electrical, computer science, biomedical, industrial engineering, biological sciences, physics, chemistry, math, AI, and more.

Business: UNIST includes a School of Business Administration, and scholarships (tuition/living support) apply to enrolled students as well.

Humanities: UNIST is not a traditional humanities university, but it does have a School of Liberal Arts and general education; scholarships generally apply to your enrollment as a UNIST degree student rather than being restricted only to “STEM-only” majors.

From a recipient perspective: Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling is at UNIST for Chemistry and describes the environment as “deeply rewarding,” reflecting UNIST’s strong science focus.

UNIST scholarships are commonly used to support international students, and they are not usually limited to just a few passport nationalities. Instead, eligibility tends to follow UNIST’s admissions category rules. For example, UNIST’s undergraduate international guideline includes criteria such as: (1) foreign-citizenship applicants where neither parent is a Korean citizen, or (2) applicants (foreign or Korean citizenship) who completed their entire elementary/middle/high school education outside Korea (at an equivalent level). Once you’re admitted as an international student, scholarship consideration is typically tied to admission/merit and maintaining requirements (like GPA/credits), rather than being restricted to a narrow nationality list.

For many of the external and government scholarships, there are nationality restrictions.

Undergraduate: UNIST’s undergraduate international admissions guideline lists English test reports (TOEFL, IELTS, TEPS, TOEIC) as part of the required document checklist, with an exemption noted for native English speakers from specific countries. TOPIK (Korean proficiency) is a supplementary document option, not a core requirement.

Graduate: UNIST graduate admissions list accepted English tests (e.g., TOEFL/IELTS/TOEIC and others) and also states some tests (like TOEFL ITP and Duolingo English Test) are not accepted. The guideline also outlines multiple exemption pathways (for example, certain citizenship/education backgrounds or an official “English as medium of instruction” certificate).

Scholarships: Scholarships at UNIST are usually tied to admission/enrollment and performance (credits/GPA) rather than “having IELTS = scholarship.” That said, strong English proof can help your admission strength, and admission is often the main hurdle for scholarship eligibility.

From recipient perspective, Alambek said, “For language requirements, I took the IELTS and scored 7.5,” and he also emphasized admission competitiveness. In contrast, Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling shared, “I did not take any international standardised language test, such as TOEFL or IELTS,” describing that she used other proof and demonstrated English during interviews.

UNIST typically does not advertise a single universal “minimum GPA” that guarantees admission for international applicants; decisions are made through a competitive review (document screening and sometimes interview). In practice, strong academics matter a lot because international quotas can be limited.

From a scholarship recipient perspective, Alambek frames it bluntly: “It’s highly competitive since the international quota is small and you gotta have both strong academic performance and a non-academic background.” His own background included a 5.0/5.0 GPA and “Top 0.1% nationwide” standing.

Helpful note: While admission may not list a “minimum grade,” some scholarships you keep after enrollment do have GPA/credit maintenance rules (for example, tuition/living support tied to completing credits and meeting a GPA threshold each term).

A strong academic record is important, but recipients’ stories suggest UNIST scholarship success often looks like a mix of (1) excellent grades/test results, (2) strong motivation/personal narrative, and (3) evidence you can thrive in a research- and problem-solving-heavy environment.

Alambek entered with a 5.0/5.0 GPA (Top 0.1% nationwide) and highlighted competitive programming awards; he also stressed that the biggest challenge is acceptance, not a separate scholarship application. He shared, “I spent months preparing my application, especially my motivation letter.”

Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling applied with a 3.82/4.00 CGPA plus research experience (including publications/awards) and emphasizes clarity and confidence: “Be confident in your story and don’t be shy to sell yourself.”

Document requirements vary by level, but UNIST publishes clear checklists for international applicants.

Undergraduate (international applicants):

• Application form + online Personal Statement and Study Plan
• High school transcript (recent 3 years)
• High school diploma or certificate of expected graduation (with official seal)
• English test report (examples listed by UNIST include TOEFL/IELTS/TEPS/TOEIC; exemptions may apply)
• Copy of applicant passport or national ID (nationality)
• Copies of both parents’ passports (or official nationality documents)
• Official proof of parent-child relationship
• (If applicable for certain categories) additional certificates like entry/exit, prior enrollment, etc.
• (Optional/supplementary) awards, standardized tests (IB/A-Level/SAT/ACT), TOPIK, school profile, etc.

Graduate (example checklist items):

• Online application form + checklist
• Transcripts and diplomas (bachelor’s; master’s if applying to PhD) or expected graduation/enrollment proof
• Study Plan and Personal Statement (UNIST form)
• English test report (requirements/exemptions vary by program; accepted tests are listed in the guideline)
• Letter of disclosure agreement (UNIST form) and, for certain categories, additional documents (e.g., employment/recommendations)

UNIST offers undergraduate and graduate programs mainly across Engineering, Natural Sciences, Business, and interdisciplinary areas. Undergraduate departments commonly include Mechanical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; Energy and Chemical Engineering; Nuclear Engineering; Civil/Urban/Earth/Environmental Engineering; Design; Biomedical Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Biological Sciences; Electrical Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering; Physics; Mathematical Sciences; Chemistry; and Business Administration. UNIST also supports broad general education and liberal-arts study via its School of Liberal Arts.

Graduate offerings expand into advanced/specialized tracks (including areas like AI, semiconductor-focused programs, energy/battery tracks, and health-related innovation programs). For example, UNIST’s graduate guideline lists many engineering/science departments plus specialized programs (and notes that “Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship” only accepts applicants who already have a Medical Doctor degree).

If you want some concrete examples, Alambek studied Computer Science and Engineering; Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling is pursuing an MSc in Chemistry at UNIST.

Yes. UNIST’s published application fees for international admissions commonly show KRW 50,000 for undergraduate applicants (document screening; non-refundable and cannot be waived) and KRW 50,000 for graduate applicants (the graduate guideline notes this includes an online application commission). Make sure to check the latest guide for updated information.