Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is a private university in Seoul, founded in 1954 as a college for foreign languages.[1] Its admissions guide counts 28 colleges and 128 majors and 3,846 international students in 2025.[2] A Korean aggregator blog lists it 620th in the QS World University Rankings 2027; we could not confirm this in a second source.[3]
The 2026 tuition table lists KRW 4,298,000 to KRW 5,394,000 per regular semester (KRW 4,496,000 to KRW 5,592,000 in the initial semester) for international undergraduates, depending on the college, plus a KRW 21,000 student fee.[2] Most majors are taught in Korean (TOPIK level 3 is the usual proof), and International Studies in Seoul is taught entirely in English.[2]
Key facts
| Official name | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, HUFS (한국외국어대학교, Hankuk oegugeo daehakgyo)[1] |
| Location | Seoul campus, 107 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02450; Global Campus in Yongin; Songdo Campus opening in March 2027[2] |
| Type | Private research university[1] |
| Founded | April 1954 as a college for foreign-language study[1] |
| Colleges and majors | 28 colleges, 128 majors; courses in 45 languages[2] |
| International students (2025) | 3,846 listed; the undergraduate programme is shown with 17,101 students and 2,173 international students[2] |
| Faculty | 440 Korean and 172 international faculty[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 620th (aggregator blog; not confirmed in a second source)[3] |
| Rank among Korean universities in QS 2027 | 21st of 43 (same blog)[3] |
| Undergraduate tuition per semester | Regular semester KRW 4,298,000–5,394,000; initial semester KRW 4,496,000–5,592,000; plus KRW 21,000 student fee (2026 Fall semester amounts)[2] |
| Graduate tuition per semester | KRW 5,246,000–6,982,000 in IMBA, MET and TESOL, plus an admission fee of KRW 1,015,000–1,070,000 (second semester of 2026)[4] |
| Language of teaching | Korean for most majors; English track (International Studies, Seoul campus)[2] |
| Application fee, undergraduate | KRW 158,000[2] |
| Official website | international.hufs.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
HUFS (한국외국어대학교) is a private research university. Wikipedia dates its founding to April 1954, when it was set up as a college for studying foreign languages.[1] It has a Seoul campus in Dongdaemun-gu, and a Global Campus in Yongin that teaches additional languages as well as engineering and natural sciences.[1] In March 2027 a new Songdo Campus opens, with a Division of Open Majors for International Students and a Division of Global Biosciences & Business.[2]
The university describes itself as the leading institution in Korea for foreign-language education, with courses in 45 languages and partnerships with 616 universities and 73 institutions in 102 countries.[2] It reports 3,846 international students in 2025, a faculty of 440 Korean and 172 international teachers, and notes that three out of four enrolled students pursue a double major or a minor.[2]
How is HUFS ranked?
A Korean aggregator blog that compiled the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published on 18 June 2026) lists HUFS 620th in the world and 21st among the 43 Korean universities in the table.[3] The Korean press reports we read on the QS release name other universities but not HUFS, so this position rests on a single secondary source and is not a QS page.[5]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at HUFS?
The undergraduate guide lists majors in languages and area studies (English, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Vietnamese and many more), as well as International Studies, business, economics, law, media, education, mathematics, natural sciences and engineering across the Seoul and Global campuses.[2] Colleges include Humanities, Business and Economics, Natural Sciences, Engineering, AI Convergence, Culture & Technology and the Ingenium College of Convergence Studies.[2]
Some majors are open to freshmen only, and the College of Education takes international students only up to 10% of its quota and not as transfers.[2] From March 2027 the ELLT (English Linguistics and Language Technology) department moves from an English track to the Korean track.[2]
Graduate programmes for international students include the Graduate School of Business (IMBA), Global Media Communication (MET) and TESOL; the guide we read covers only these three.[4]
How much does HUFS cost?
Undergraduate, per semester (KRW)
- Humanities; Business and Economics
- Initial semester
- 4,496,000
- Regular semester
- 4,298,000
- Natural Sciences; Climate Change
- Initial semester
- 5,129,000
- Regular semester
- 4,931,000
- Engineering; AI Convergence; Biomedical Engineering; Global Biosciences & Business
- Initial semester
- 5,592,000
- Regular semester
- 5,394,000
- Ingenium College of Convergence Studies
- Initial semester
- 5,339,000
- Regular semester
- 5,141,000
- Culture & Technology
- Initial semester
- 5,360,000
- Regular semester
- 5,162,000
A student fee of KRW 21,000 is added. The Spring 2027 guide states that the amounts are for the 2026 Fall semester and subject to change; students pay any increase at registration.[2] The earlier 2026 Fall guide printed the same figures as 2026 Spring amounts.[6] The guide does not explain the difference between initial and regular semester.
Graduate (IMBA, MET, TESOL), per semester (KRW)
| Programme | Admission fee (once) | Tuition | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, IMBA | 1,015,000 | 6,982,000 | 7,997,000 |
| Global Media Communication, MET | 1,070,000 | 5,908,000 | 6,978,000 |
| TESOL | 1,070,000 | 5,246,000 | 6,316,000 |
These amounts are based on the second semester of 2026. Other graduate programmes are not covered by the guide we read, so we do not give a figure for them.[4]
Scholarships
Undergraduate scholarships are decided at admission: full tuition for one semester for the top 5% of admission scores, half tuition for the top 10% and KRW 1,000,000 for the top 20%. Language scholarships give full tuition for one semester for TOPIK level 6, TOEFL iBT 6.0 or IELTS 8.0–9.0, and half tuition for TOPIK level 5, TOEFL iBT 5.5 or IELTS 7.0–7.5. Students of the new Songdo division receive 50% of tuition plus KRW 1.2 million per semester for up to four semesters.[2] In the graduate programmes a language scholarship reduces first-semester tuition by 20%.[4]
How do you apply to HUFS?
- Undergraduate: apply online through the application service named in the guide (Uway Apply), pay the KRW 158,000 application fee and send the original documents by registered mail or in person to the Office of International Admissions & Management in Seoul.[2] You may apply to two majors, even on different campuses. Your parents and you must all be non-Korean citizens, and GED or home-schooling credentials are not accepted.[2] Evaluation counts the paper review 30, language proficiency 30 and interview 40 points.[2]
- Graduate (IMBA, MET, TESOL): submit the application form, personal statement and study plan, transcripts and a Korean or English proficiency score; without a score, language is assessed in the interview.[4]
We give no deadlines because they change every intake. Current guides are linked from the international admission page.[7]
Which language level do you need?
The guide says international undergraduates can apply without proof of language ability; applicants who send no language document must take an interview.[2] On the Korean track you can prove Korean with TOPIK level 3, completion of level 3 at the HUFS Center for Korean Language and Culture or another certified university’s Korean centre, or a King Sejong Institute certificate (intermediate 1).[2] English-taught International Studies (Seoul campus) accepts TOEFL iBT 3.5 on the new scale (59 on the old one) or IELTS 5.5.[2]
Newly admitted students who need to improve their Korean take an Intensive Korean Language Program of up to one year (300 instructional hours); students with TOPIK level 4 or higher, International Studies students and transfers are exempt. International Studies majors must reach TOPIK level 3 to graduate.[2] For the graduate programmes you can submit TOPIK, or TOEFL iBT or IELTS.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at HUFS for international students?
Undergraduates pay KRW 4,298,000 to 5,394,000 in a regular semester (KRW 4,496,000 to 5,592,000 in the initial semester), depending on college, plus a KRW 21,000 student fee, at 2026 rates.[2]
Can I study at HUFS in English?
The English track is International Studies on the Seoul campus, taught in English. Most other majors use Korean.[2]
Do I need TOPIK to apply to HUFS?
No proof of language is required at undergraduate level, but without it you are interviewed. TOPIK level 3 is the usual Korean proof.[2]
How is HUFS ranked?
One Korean aggregator blog lists it 620th in the QS World University Rankings 2027; we could not confirm this in a second source.[3]
What is the Songdo Campus?
A new HUFS campus opening in March 2027 for international students, with a Division of Open Majors and a Division of Global Biosciences & Business.[2]
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
- Chung-Ang University
- Dongguk University
- Ewha Womans University
- 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] Wikipedia: Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (founding, campuses and type; student figures undated)
[2] HUFS: General International Undergraduate Admissions Guide, Spring 2027 (PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition amounts stated for the 2026 Fall semester)
[3] 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)
[4] HUFS: Graduate School for International Students, 2027 Spring Admissions Guide (IMBA, MET, TESOL) (PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition based on the second semester of 2026)
[5] The Korea Times: Korean universities rise in QS rankings as internationalization, graduates’ reputation improve (article published 18 Jun 2026; does not name HUFS (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[6] HUFS: General International Undergraduate Admissions Guide, Fall 2026 (PDF) (Fall 2026 intake; tuition amounts stated for the 2026 Spring semester)
[7] HUFS International Admission: home page (page without a date; links to the current guides)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.