Chung-Ang University is a private university with a campus in Seoul and a second, da Vinci campus in Anseong.[1][2] It is ranked 432nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 479th a year earlier.[3]
For international undergraduates the 2026 tuition table lists KRW 5,320,000 to 7,259,000 for newly admitted students, depending on the college.[4] Most programmes are taught in Korean: the usual standard is TOPIK level 4, but applicants below it can be admitted provisionally.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Chung-Ang University (중앙대학교, Jungang daehakgyo)[2] |
| Location | Seoul campus, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul; da Vinci campus, 4726 Seodong-daero, Daedeok-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do[1] |
| Type | Private research university[2] |
| Founded | 1916 as Chung-Ang Kindergarten; Chung-Ang University since 1948; accredited as a comprehensive university in February 1953[5] |
| Colleges | 16 colleges listed on the English site[1] |
| Students | Not confirmed: Wikipedia gives conflicting figures (21,847 in the infobox, more than 33,600 undergraduates in the text)[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 432nd (479th in the previous edition)[3] |
| Rank among Korean universities in QS 2027 | 13th of 43 (aggregator blog)[6] |
| Undergraduate tuition, 2026 academic year | KRW 5,320,000–7,259,000 for new students, by college (period not labelled in the guide)[4] |
| Graduate tuition per semester, 2026 academic year | KRW 7,063,000–11,252,000 plus a one-time admission fee of KRW 980,000[7] |
| Korean standard, undergraduate | TOPIK level 4 (level 3 for design and some arts majors); provisional admission below it[4] |
| Application fee, undergraduate | KRW 150,000 first choice, KRW 60,000 second choice (arts and sports colleges KRW 200,000, first choice only)[4] |
| Official website | neweng.cau.ac.kr · International admissions: oias.cau.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Chung-Ang University
Chung-Ang University (중앙대학교) is a private research university.[2] Its history page dates the founding to 1916, when Chung-Ang Kindergarten opened as an annex to the Chung-Ang Methodist Church in Insa-dong, Seoul; in 2022 the university officially re-established 17 October 1916 as its founding anniversary.[5] It became Chung-Ang University in 1948, described on the page as the first co-educational institution in Korea, and was accredited as a comprehensive university in February 1953.[5] In 2008 the Doosan Group became its educational foundation.[5]
The first campus is in Heukseok-dong, Seoul. The da Vinci campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, was developed as the second campus between 1981 and 1984.[5] The English site lists 16 colleges, among them Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering, Business & Economics, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Art, Sport Sciences, Software and Virtual Convergence.[1]
How is Chung-Ang University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Chung-Ang University is 432nd in the world, up from 479th in the previous edition.[3] 43 Korean universities appear in the table. A Korean aggregator blog that compiled it lists Chung-Ang 13th among them; this is a secondary source, not a QS page.[6]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Chung-Ang University?
International undergraduates are admitted to departments on both campuses.[4]
- Seoul campus: humanities (for example Korean language and literature, English, European and Asian cultural studies, philosophy, history), social sciences (political science, psychology, social welfare, media, sociology), natural sciences, engineering and ICT engineering, and architecture.
- da Vinci campus: biotechnology and food, the College of Art (dance, design, music, traditional arts, global arts), sport science, and the College of Art & Technology.
- Also listed: software, business and economics (business, economics, applied statistics, advertising and PR, international logistics) and virtual convergence (Game Convergence).
Some departments are reserved for international students, for example Korean Education and Korean Culture and Global Advertising & PR. Game Convergence is taught 100% in English.[4] Six engineering programmes are accredited under ABEEK, the Korean engineering accreditation system.[4]
Graduate admission covers master’s, doctoral and integrated programmes in the general graduate school.[7]
How much does Chung-Ang University cost?
Undergraduate, 2026 academic year (KRW)
- Humanities, Social Sciences, Business & Economics
- Newly admitted
- 5,320,000
- Enrolled
- 5,124,000
- Natural Sciences, Biotechnology
- Newly admitted
- 6,166,000
- Enrolled
- 5,970,000
- Engineering, ICT Engineering, Software, Art & Technology, Virtual Convergence
- Newly admitted
- 6,993,000
- Enrolled
- 6,797,000
- Art: Design, Global Arts, Performing Arts (dance)
- Newly admitted
- 7,039,000
- Enrolled
- 6,843,000
- Art: Traditional Arts, Music
- Newly admitted
- 7,259,000
- Enrolled
- 7,063,000
- Sport Sciences
- Newly admitted
- 6,335,000
- Enrolled
- 6,139,000
The guide labels this table “2026 academic year” and says the 2027 tuition is not yet set. It does not state the billing period; the graduate table in the companion guide is labelled per semester, so we read the undergraduate figures as per semester too. Confirm this with the Office of International Admissions Services before you budget.[4]
Graduate, per semester, 2026 academic year (KRW)
| Field | Tuition per semester | With admission fee (980,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities, Social Sciences | 7,063,000 | 8,043,000 |
| Science, Physical Education, Nursing | 8,465,000 | 9,445,000 |
| Engineering | 9,616,000 | 10,596,000 |
| Arts | 9,485,000 | 10,465,000 |
| Arts (Creative Writing) | 8,276,000 | 9,256,000 |
| Pharmacy | 9,593,000 | 10,573,000 |
| Medicine | 11,252,000 | 12,232,000 |
The admission fee is a one-time charge. The graduate guide notes that tuition can rise and that the 2027 amounts are not yet set.[7]
Scholarships
Newly admitted international undergraduates can receive tuition reductions for language results: TOPIK level 6, 100%; TOPIK level 5, 50%; level 5 or higher at Chung-Ang’s Language Institute, 50%; level 4 there, 30%; level 5 or higher at another university’s language institute, 30%. Enrolled students can receive 20% to 100% for a grade point average of 3.2 to 4.3 and above, and a family scholarship of 35% exists.[4]
How do you apply to Chung-Ang University?
- Undergraduate: the “pure foreigner” route is for applicants whose parents and who themselves are all foreign nationals; GED, home-schooling and online qualifications do not count. Applicants send documents to the Office of International Affairs in Seoul and can apply to up to two departments (arts and sports colleges: first choice only).[4] There are four application rounds a year, two for the March intake and two for the September intake. Evaluation is a document review (100%) for most colleges and 50% document review plus 50% practical test or portfolio for the art and sports colleges.[4] The application fee is KRW 150,000 for a first choice and KRW 60,000 for a second choice; the arts and sports colleges charge KRW 200,000.[4]
- Graduate: apply online through the International Office page or the Uway Apply service; the fee is KRW 100,000 (KRW 130,000 for departments with a practical test).[7]
We give no deadlines because they change with every round. Current guides are posted on the Office of International Admissions Services page.[8]
Which language level do you need?
Undergraduate: the Korean standard for entering Chung-Ang is TOPIK level 4, or completion of level 4 or higher at Chung-Ang’s Language Institute, or level 5 or higher at another certified university’s Korean course, or Sejong Institute intermediate 2. Design and some Global Arts majors (practical music; game contents and animation) ask for TOPIK level 3. Fusion Engineering asks for TOPIK level 5.[4]
Applicants who do not reach the standard can still apply. If they pass the document review, they receive a provisional (“preliminary”) admission and are finally admitted when they reapply to the same department within two years with the required Korean level; the reapplication fee is KRW 30,000.[4] Game Convergence needs an English score instead: TOEFL iBT 60 (3.5 on the new scale) or IELTS 5.5, or an English-medium high school diploma from an English-speaking country.[4]
Graduate: the basic requirement is TOPIK level 3 (level 2 for sport science and dance). English scores of TOEFL iBT 71 (3.5 on the new scale), IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2 or TEPS 600 are accepted only for some departments, among them the natural science, engineering and medical fields. Before the thesis semester students outside those fields must reach TOPIK level 4.[7]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Chung-Ang University for international students?
Do I need to speak Korean to study at Chung-Ang University?
Which campus will I study on?
That depends on the department: Seoul (Heukseok) or the da Vinci campus in Anseong. You can apply to two departments even if they are on different campuses.[4]
How is Chung-Ang University ranked?
It is 432nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 479th.[3]
When was Chung-Ang University founded?
The university dates its founding to 1916 and re-established 17 October 1916 as its anniversary in 2022.[5]
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
- Ajou University
- Chonnam National 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] Chung-Ang University: About CAU (campuses and colleges) (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: Chung-Ang University (type and student figures; the page’s own figures conflict and are undated)
[3] 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))
[4] Chung-Ang University: Spring 2027 (second round) undergraduate admission guide for international students (Korean-language PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition table is for the 2026 academic year, 2027 not yet set)
[5] Chung-Ang University: History (page without a date)
[6] 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)
[7] Chung-Ang University: Spring 2027 graduate school admission guide for international students (Korean-language PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition per semester for the 2026 academic year)
[8] Chung-Ang University Office of International Admissions Services: admission guidelines (page without a date; hosts the current guides)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.