Ajou University is a private university in Suwon, about 30 km south of Seoul, with roughly 14,000 students.[1] It is ranked 570th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 563rd a year earlier.[2]
For 2026 the tuition table for international undergraduates ranges from KRW 4,134,000 (humanities, social sciences) to KRW 5,366,000 (engineering and IT).[3] The Korean track asks for TOPIK level 3; the English track in International Business asks for TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5 or NEW TEPS 326.[3]
Key facts
| Official name | Ajou University (아주대학교, Aju daehakgyo)[4] |
| Location | 206 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16499[3] |
| Type | Private research university[4] |
| Founded | 1973[1] |
| Students | About 14,000: 9,700 undergraduate, 3,700 graduate and 500 in other courses (undated page)[1] |
| Partners | Partnerships with more than 322 institutions worldwide (undated page)[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 570th (563rd in the previous edition)[2] |
| Rank among Korean universities in QS 2027 | 20th of 43 (aggregator blog)[5] |
| Undergraduate tuition, 2026 academic year | KRW 4,134,000–5,366,000 by college (period not labelled in the guide)[3] |
| Graduate tuition per semester | KRW 5,599,000–8,683,000 plus a KRW 900,000 entrance fee (undated page)[6] |
| Korean requirement, undergraduate | TOPIK level 3 or equivalent (Korean track)[3] |
| English track, undergraduate | International Business (freshmen) and Business Administration (transfer): TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5 or NEW TEPS 326[3] |
| Application fee, undergraduate | KRW 150,000[3] |
| Official website | ajou.ac.kr/iadmissions_en |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Ajou University
Ajou University (아주대학교) is a private research university, founded in 1973, in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, about 30 km south of Seoul.[1][4] Its profile page counts about 14,000 students, of whom 9,700 are undergraduates, 3,700 are graduate students and 500 are in other courses, and names Ajou Vision 4.0, a ten-year development plan announced in 2018.[1]
The international admissions site links colleges of Engineering, Advanced ICT Convergence, Software Convergence, Natural Sciences, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, and a Graduate School of International Studies.[7] Its guide for international students points to the 2026 designation as an “Outstanding Certified University” under the Korean IEQAS quality scheme for international education.[3]
How is Ajou University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Ajou University is 570th in the world, down from 563rd in the previous edition.[2] A Korean aggregator blog that compiled the table lists Ajou 20th among the 43 Korean universities; this is a secondary source, not a QS page.[5] The university’s own guide shows Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 in the band 401–500.[3]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Ajou University?
The Spring 2027 intake table for international undergraduates lists:[3]
- Engineering and technology: mechanical, industrial, chemical, materials, eco-energy, civil systems and transportation systems engineering, architecture, electrical and computer engineering, mobility engineering, AI computer engineering, cyber security and digital media.
- Natural Sciences: mathematics and the School of Frontier Sciences.
- Business: Business Administration (transfer only) and International Business, which has a Korean track, an English track and IT majors.
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Korean, English and French language and literature, history, culture and contents, public administration, psychology, and economic, political and social studies.
Medicine, nursing and pharmacy do not appear in this intake table.[3] The English track runs in separate admission units, and applying to both tracks at once is not permitted.[3] Graduate programmes, including the Graduate School of International Studies, have their own admission pages.[7]
How much does Ajou University cost?
Undergraduate, 2026 academic year (KRW)
| College | Tuition |
|---|---|
| Engineering, ICT Convergence, Computing and Informatics | 5,366,000 |
| Natural Sciences | 4,768,000 |
| Business Administration | 4,210,000 |
| International Business, Korean track | 4,452,000 |
| International Business, English track | 4,684,000 |
| Humanities, Social Sciences | 4,134,000 |
The Spring 2027 guide bases these amounts on the 2026 academic year and says they may change in 2027. It does not label the billing period; the university’s fee page lists tuition per semester, so we read them as per semester.[3][8]
Other costs: the 2026 dormitory fee for the International Dormitory (2-person room) is KRW 1,644,000 per semester, and KRW 762,000 to 1,258,000 in Hwahong and Namje Hall.[3]
Graduate, per semester (KRW)
| Field | Tuition | With entrance fee (900,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 7,451,000 | 8,351,000 |
| Natural Science | 6,439,000 | 7,339,000 |
| Financial Engineering | 7,022,000 | 7,922,000 |
| Business, Humanities, Social Science | 5,599,000 | 6,499,000 |
| Medical Science | 8,683,000 | 9,583,000 |
| Pharmacy | 8,067,000 | 8,967,000 |
The graduate fee page carries no date and labels its tuition section both “2026” and “2022”, so confirm the current amounts with the graduate school.[6]
Scholarships
New undergraduates can receive Ajou Global Scholarships for one semester: 100% for TOPIK level 6, 70% for level 5, 50% for level 4 and 30% for level 3 on the Korean track; on the English track the same tiers are set at TOEFL iBT 100, 90, 80 and 71 or IELTS 8.0, 7.0, 6.5 and 5.5. The Ajou Frontier Scholarships give full waivers for 1 to 4 years to students chosen by the admissions committee.[3] New graduate students can receive 40% (master’s) or 80% (doctoral) of tuition through the Ajou Global Scholarship.[6]
How do you apply to Ajou University?
- Undergraduate: apply online at the international admissions site, send the required documents by post or in person to the International Admission Team in Suwon, and pay the KRW 150,000 application fee (waived for dual-degree applicants).[3] Selection is a document screening worth 100%; International Business English-track freshmen are also interviewed.[3] After acceptance you pay the tuition, then apply for the D-2 visa with the Certificate of Admission.[3]
- Graduate: follow the Graduate School’s own admission guide and online application; the application fee is not listed on the international page.[9]
We give no deadlines because they change every intake. Current dates are on the international admissions home page.[7]
Which language level do you need?
Undergraduate, Korean track: you need one of: TOPIK (paper or internet-based) level 3; completion of level 3 or higher at a language institute affiliated with a Korean university; Sejong Institute intermediate 3B; or a pass in Ajou’s own Korean Language Proficiency Test.[3][10]
English track: International Business (freshmen) and Business Administration (transfer) require TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5 or NEW TEPS 326. The TOEFL scoring scale changed on 21 January 2026, and the guide says both scales are accepted until January 2028.[3] For graduation, the Korean track requires TOPIK level 4 and the English track an official English score such as IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.[3]
Graduate: either TOPIK level 4, or TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, TEPS 600 or NEW TEPS 234 (as listed on the undated page); some departments set higher Korean levels.[9]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Ajou University for international students?
The 2026 undergraduate table lists KRW 4,134,000 (humanities, social sciences) to KRW 5,366,000 (engineering, IT); the guide does not label the period, the fee page says per semester.[3][8] Graduate tuition is KRW 5,599,000 to 8,683,000 per semester plus a KRW 900,000 entrance fee, according to an undated page.[6]
Can I study at Ajou University in English?
Only in a few units: International Business (freshmen) and Business Administration (transfer) have English tracks. The other programmes are taught in Korean.[3]
Do I need TOPIK to apply?
On the Korean track you need TOPIK level 3 or an equivalent Korean course or Ajou’s own test. TOPIK level 4 is required to graduate.[3]
How is Ajou University ranked?
It is 570th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 563rd.[2]
Is there a scholarship for new international students?
Yes. Ajou Global Scholarships cover 30% to 100% of one semester’s tuition depending on TOPIK, TOEFL or IELTS results, and Frontier Scholarships give full waivers to selected students.[3]
More about studying in South Korea
- South Korea: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in South Korea
- Chonnam National University
- Chung-Ang University
- Dongguk University
- Ewha Womans University
- Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)
- Hanyang University
- Inha University
- KAIST
- Konkuk University
- Korea University
- Kyung Hee University
- Kyungpook National University
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
- Pusan National University
- Seoul National University
- Sogang University
- Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
- UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
- Yonsei University
Sources
[1] Ajou University International Admissions: Ajou at a Glance (page without a date)
[2] Korea JoongAng Daily: SNU leads Korean campuses in latest QS world rankings as Yonsei, KU hit historic highs (article published 18 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[3] Ajou University: 2027 Spring Admission Guide for International Students, Freshman, Transfer and Dual Degree Program (PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition and dormitory fees for the 2026 academic year)
[4] Wikipedia: Ajou University (type and official name)
[5] Infogoodman: 2027 QS World University Rankings, Korean universities, TOP 43 (Korean-language blog) (blog post dated 22 Jun 2026, compiled from the QS table; secondary source, not an official QS page)
[6] Ajou University Graduate School: Tuition, entrance fee and scholarships (English) (page without a date; tuition section labelled both 2026 and 2022)
[7] Ajou University International Admissions: home page (page without a date; shows the current intakes)
[8] Ajou University International Admissions: Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) (page without a date; footer says 2022; amounts in USD at 1 USD = 1,000 KRW)
[9] Ajou University Graduate School: Eligibility and language requirements (English) (page without a date)
[10] Ajou University International Admissions: Eligibility and admission schedule (page without a date; schedule labelled Spring 2027)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.