Inha University is a private university in Incheon that opened in 1954 as the Inha Institute of Technology.[1][2] In 2025 it had 21,376 students, 17,830 of them undergraduates.[3] It is ranked 555th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up 88 places from 643rd.[4]
The university’s 2026 tuition page for international undergraduates lists KRW 4,253,000 to KRW 5,462,000 per semester, depending on the field.[5] Most programmes are taught in Korean (usual entry level TOPIK 3); two programmes in the College of International Studies are taught entirely in English.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | Inha University (인하대학교) |
| Location | 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212[5] |
| Type | Private university[2] |
| Founded | Foundation of the Inha Institute approved 5 February 1954; the Inha Institute of Technology opened on 24 April 1954 with six engineering departments[1] |
| Students (2025) | 21,376 in total: 17,830 undergraduate and 3,546 in the graduate schools[3] |
| Faculty (2025) | 834 full-time faculty; 1,863 including part-time faculty and others[3] |
| Campus (2025) | 500,452 m² of land in total, of which 361,936 m² is campus land[3] |
| Structure | 14 undergraduate colleges and schools listed on the English sitemap[7] |
| Graduate programmes | 85 master’s and 77 doctoral programmes[8] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 555th (643rd the year before)[4] |
| Undergraduate tuition 2026, per semester | KRW 4,253,000 to KRW 5,462,000, by field (reference figures)[5] |
| Graduate tuition 2026, per semester | KRW 5,921,000 to KRW 9,697,000, by field, plus a one-off admission fee of KRW 1,041,000[9] |
| Application fee (undergraduate) | KRW 150,000[6] |
| Official website | eng.inha.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Inha University
In December 1952, President Syngman Rhee proposed an institute of higher education in honour of a group of Koreans who had emigrated to Hawaii 50 years earlier. The foundation of the Inha Institute was approved on 5 February 1954, and the Inha Institute of Technology opened on 24 April 1954 with six departments: metal, mechanical, mining, electrical, shipbuilding and chemical engineering.[1] Inha’s own history page also records the first graduate school programmes in 1958.[1] According to Wikipedia the name combines “In” from Incheon and “Ha” from Hawaii, and the institute became a university in December 1971.[2]
The campus is in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. The official statistical report counts 500,452 m² of land in 2025.[3] The university also runs a campus in Tashkent (Inha University in Tashkent).[7]
How is Inha University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, announced by Inha on 24 June 2026, Inha University is 555th in the world, up 88 places from 643rd. QS evaluated 8,808 universities and published ranks for 1,504 of them.[4]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Inha University?
The English sitemap lists these undergraduate colleges and schools: Frontier College of Creative Studies, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Social Sciences, Humanities, Medicine, Nursing, Future Convergence, Arts & Sports, International Studies, AI Convergence and Bio-Innovation.[7] The enrolment table of the statistical report uses some other names, such as College of Software and Convergence, so college names vary between pages.[3]
International freshmen in the Fall 2027 handbook can apply to Korean Track programmes in Engineering, Bio Convergence, AI Convergence, Natural Science, Business Administration, Social Science, Humanities, Nursing, Education and Arts and Sports. The English Track has two programmes in the College of International Studies, taught 100% in English: International Business & Trade (IBT) and Integrated System Engineering (ISE).[6] There is also a Division of Global Liberal Studies, where students choose a major in the second year.[6]
At graduate level the university offers 85 master’s and 77 doctoral programmes and is a designated university for the Korean Government Scholarship Program.[8]
How much does Inha University cost in 2026?
| Undergraduate field | Tuition per semester (2026) |
|---|---|
| Engineering | KRW 5,462,000 (USD 3,715) |
| Natural Science | KRW 5,076,000 (USD 3,453) |
| “Consumal/Child/Nursing” (label as printed, apparently Consumer Science, Child Studies and Nursing) | KRW 4,665,000 (USD 3,173) |
| Liberal Arts & Social Sciences | KRW 4,253,000 (USD 2,893) |
The university converts at KRW 1,470 to the US dollar on that page and states that tuition can change with the year and the exchange rate and that the figures are for reference only.[5] The page does not say which amount applies to the English Track programmes (IBT, ISE).
| Graduate field (master’s, PhD, integrated) | Tuition per semester (2026) | First semester incl. admission fee |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Arts | KRW 7,667,000 | KRW 8,708,000 |
| Natural Sciences & Physical Education | KRW 7,115,000 | KRW 8,156,000 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | KRW 5,921,000 | KRW 6,962,000 |
| Medicine | KRW 9,697,000 | KRW 10,738,000 |
Graduate tuition is paid twice a year and the admission fee of KRW 1,041,000 applies to the first semester only.[9]
Housing and scholarships
International freshmen who apply within the designated period are guaranteed a dormitory place for the first semester. The handbook lists KRW 1,340,000 per semester for a four-person room with shared bathroom, labelled “as of Fall 2026” but also “based on Fall semester of 2025”, so confirm the current fee.[6]
The handbook’s Global 1 Scholarship for freshmen gives, in the first semester, 30% of tuition at TOPIK 4, half at TOPIK 5 and full tuition at TOPIK 6. For English Track freshmen the awards depend on TOEFL or IELTS scores, from half a semester’s tuition at TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.5 up to four years of full tuition plus KRW 300,000 a month, and a dormitory place at the top level. The committee decides on the scholarship only after all documents are in.[6]
How do you apply to Inha University?
The Global Talent Recruitment Team handles international undergraduate and graduate admissions.[5] The Fall 2027 undergraduate handbook describes the route:[6]
- Who may apply: international students whose parents are both non-Korean. Freshmen are high school graduates; second-year transfer needs at least two semesters and 32 credits at a four-year university, third-year transfer at least four semesters and 65 credits.
- Selection: document evaluation only (100%). There is no limit on the number of international students admitted, and applicants with high home-country exam scores, for example the Chinese Gaokao, get priority consideration.
- Apply online through the International Center website or the Study in Korea site (studyinkorea.go.kr), pay the application fee of KRW 150,000, print the application form and send the documents by post or deliver them to the Global Talent Recruitment Team.
Read the current handbook on the admission guidelines page. The page lists the handbooks for the 2027 spring and fall terms, both posted on 27 May 2026.[6] We give no deadlines here because they change every year. International students need private insurance for the first six months, until national health insurance starts.[6]
Which language level do you need?
Korean Track, freshmen: TOPIK (or iBT TOPIK) level 3 or higher, level 4 or higher from a Korean language programme at a university in Korea, or King Sejong Institute intermediate 4A; or recognition by the admissions department that your Korean is equivalent. Transfer applicants need level 4. The Division of Global Liberal Studies accepts TOPIK level 2 or completion of level 3 at a university language institute, but then requires intensive Korean in the first year with a separate Korean language fee of about KRW 1.5 million a year.[6]
English Track (IBT, ISE): IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 (a score of 4 on the new scale for tests taken after 21 January 2026), or recognition by the admissions department. TOEFL “MyBest Scores” are accepted; online tests such as TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Indicator are not. Applicants from countries where English is the first or official language need no certificate.[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Inha University for international students?
Do I need to speak Korean to study at Inha University?
For most programmes yes: TOPIK 3 for freshmen. The English Track programmes IBT and ISE are taught 100% in English and need IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.[6]
Does Inha University have a dormitory for international students?
Yes. International freshmen who apply within the designated period are guaranteed a place in the first semester.[6]
Why is it called Inha?
How is Inha University ranked?
It is 555th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up 88 places from 643rd.[4]
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
- Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)
- Hanyang 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] Inha University: History (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: Inha University (type, name origin, university status 1971; secondary source)
[3] Inha University: Statistical Annual Report (figures for 2023 to 2025; page without a date)
[4] Seoul Shinmun (Korean): Inha University is 555th of 8,808 universities, up 88 places (article of 24 Jun 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[5] Inha University International Admissions: Undergraduate Tuition and Fees (tuition per semester for 2026; page without a date)
[6] Inha University: Fall 2027 Undergraduate International Student Admission Application Handbook (PDF) (posted 27 May 2026 on the admission guidelines page)
[7] Inha University: English sitemap (page without a date)
[8] Inha University: Graduate admission (page without a date)
[9] Inha University International Admissions: Graduate Tuition and Fees (2026 academic year; page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.