Konkuk University is a private research university in Seoul with about 29,600 students, around 2,500 of them international (Wikipedia, figures without a date).[1] It is ranked 683rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 654th a year earlier.[2]
International undergraduates pay KRW 4,768,000 to 7,153,000 in tuition for the first semester, depending on the field, plus a KRW 187,000 registration fee; the table is based on the 2026 academic year.[3] Most programmes are taught in Korean. The Spring 2027 guide asks for TOPIK level 4, and two majors offer an English track.[3]
Key facts
| Official name | Konkuk University (건국대학교, Geonguk daehakgyo)[1] |
| Location | Seoul campus, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029; second campus (GLOCAL) in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province[1][3] |
| Type | Private research university[1] |
| Founded | 1931 as the Chosun School of Politics; renamed Konkuk University in 1959[1][3] |
| Students | About 29,600, of which about 2,500 international (undated)[1] |
| Colleges | Seoul: 13 undergraduate colleges and 13 graduate schools; Chungju: 7 and 4 (undated)[1] |
| International College | Founded September 2023 for international students; majors in International Commerce & Business, Culture & Media, Computer Software and AI Design[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 683rd (654th in the previous edition)[2] |
| Rank among Korean universities in QS 2027 | 24th of 43 (aggregator blog)[4] |
| Undergraduate tuition, first semester | KRW 4,768,000–7,153,000 plus KRW 187,000 registration fee (2026 academic year basis)[3] |
| Graduate tuition, per semester | KRW 5,982,000–10,170,000 plus a one-time admission fee of KRW 1,015,000 (first semester of the 2026 academic year)[5] |
| Korean requirement, undergraduate | TOPIK level 4 or equivalent (Spring 2027 guide); English track in two majors[3] |
| Application fee, undergraduate | KRW 150,000 for one choice, KRW 170,000 for two (most majors)[3] |
| Official website | konkuk.ac.kr · International admissions: ciss.konkuk.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Konkuk University
Konkuk University (건국대학교) is a private research university in Seoul.[1] Its own admissions guide gives 1931 as the founding year.[3] According to Wikipedia it began as the Chosun School of Politics, a junior college for future political leaders, and took the name Konkuk University in 1959, when it became a comprehensive university.[1]
The Seoul campus is at 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu. The International Student Center, which handles international admissions, is in the Law School building on this campus.[3] A second campus, Konkuk GLOCAL, is in Chungju. Wikipedia counts 13 undergraduate colleges and 13 graduate schools in Seoul and 7 and 4 in Chungju, without giving a date.[1]
In September 2023 Konkuk founded the International College, a division for international students. Its majors are International Commerce & Business and Culture & Media; Computer Software and AI Design opened to first-year applicants in 2026.[3]
How is Konkuk University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Konkuk University is 683rd in the world. It was 654th in the previous edition.[2] 43 Korean universities appear in the QS 2027 table.[6] A Korean aggregator blog that compiled the table lists Konkuk 24th among them; this is a secondary source, not a QS page.[4]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Konkuk University?
The undergraduate fee table for international students groups the Seoul-campus programmes into six levels:[3]
- Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: College of Liberal Arts, College of Social Sciences, College of Business, Real Estate, and the International College (Culture & Media; International Commerce & Business).
- Education: Japanese Education and English Education; Mathematics Education and Educational Technology; Music Education.
- Science, Agriculture and Fashion: College of Science, College of Convergent Life Sciences (Bioscience and Biotechnology) and Apparel Design.
- Engineering and Arts: College of Architecture, College of Engineering, other programmes of the College of Convergent Life Sciences, College of Art & Design, and the International College’s Computer Software and AI Design.
Most programmes are taught in Korean. Computer Software in the International College runs its whole curriculum in English, and International Commerce & Business offers an English track next to its Korean track.[3] Applicants to art and music programmes also submit a portfolio.[3]
Graduate admission covers master’s, doctoral and integrated programmes. Interdepartmental programmes include World Heritage, Humanities for Unification, National Security and Disaster Management, Carbon-Neutral and Renewable Energy, and Smart Mobility; Media Entertainment is a department exclusively for international students.[5] Applications for the graduate intake are handled by the International Student Center.[7]
How much does Konkuk University cost?
Undergraduate, first semester (KRW)
| Field | Tuition | Registration fee | First-semester total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts, Social Sciences | 4,768,000 | 187,000 | 4,955,000 |
| Japanese Education, English Education | 5,111,000 | 187,000 | 5,298,000 |
| Science, Agriculture, Fashion | 5,720,000 | 187,000 | 5,907,000 |
| Mathematics Education, Educational Technology | 6,131,000 | 187,000 | 6,318,000 |
| Engineering, Arts | 6,675,000 | 187,000 | 6,862,000 |
| Music Education | 7,153,000 | 187,000 | 7,340,000 |
The table in the Spring 2027 guide is based on the 2026 academic year and is subject to change. The registration fee is part of the first-semester bill.[3] The guide does not list a separate medicine or veterinary row for this intake.[3]
Graduate, per semester (KRW)
| Division | Admission fee (once) | Tuition | Total, first semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities, Social Sciences | 1,015,000 | 5,982,000 | 6,997,000 |
| Education, Interdisciplinary Convergence | 1,015,000 | 7,176,000 | 8,191,000 |
| Science, Agriculture, Physical Education | 1,015,000 | 7,176,000 | 8,191,000 |
| Engineering, Arts | 1,015,000 | 8,373,000 | 9,388,000 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 1,015,000 | 9,139,000 | 10,154,000 |
| Medicine | 1,015,000 | 10,170,000 | 11,185,000 |
These graduate amounts are based on the first semester of the 2026 academic year.[5]
Scholarships
First-semester scholarships for new undergraduates are deducted from the tuition bill. On the Korean track they depend on the TOPIK level, from 30% (level 3) and 50% (level 4) to 70% (level 5) and 100% (level 6); on the English track they depend on TOEFL iBT, IELTS, CEFR or NEW TEPS scores, from 30% up to 100%. The guide also lists KRW 1,000,000 awards for top-scoring STEM and International College applicants.[3] The scholarship table starts at TOPIK level 3, while the qualification table asks for level 4; the guide does not reconcile the two. Graduate students who are newly admitted can receive a 30% or 50% tuition reduction depending on language level.[5]
How do you apply to Konkuk University?
- Undergraduate: apply online through the application site named in the guide (www.ek-apply.com/ku) and send the documents by post to the International Student Center; in-person submission is not accepted. Applicants may choose one or two majors.[3] Applicants, their father and their mother must all hold a single foreign nationality.[3] Evaluation is a document screening worth 750 points and a language proficiency score worth 250 points; art and music programmes add a portfolio stage.[3] The application fee is KRW 150,000 for one choice and KRW 170,000 for two (KRW 180,000 and KRW 200,000 for College of Art & Design and Music Education).[3]
- Graduate: apply online through the link on the graduate admission page; selection is by document screening, with a portfolio for arts and physical education majors. The application fee is KRW 150,000 plus a KRW 5,500 processing fee.[5] Questions go to the International Student Center (iadmissions@konkuk.ac.kr).[7]
We give no deadlines because they change with every intake. The current guide and online application are linked from the International Student Center’s admission page.[8]
Which language level do you need?
Undergraduate (Spring 2027 guide): for most majors you need one of: TOPIK level 4 or higher; completion of level 4 or higher in the regular Korean programme of Konkuk’s Language Institute or of another institute certified under the IEQAS; or level 4B at a King Sejong Institute.[3] The earlier Fall 2026 guide used level 3; check which intake you apply for.
Computer Software requires English instead: TOEFL iBT 71 (for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, a score of 4 or higher on the new scale), IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2 or NEW TEPS 327. International Commerce & Business accepts either the Korean criteria or these English criteria. Applying to both tracks at once is not permitted.[3]
Graduate: you need one of: TOPIK level 3 or higher; level 3 or higher in Konkuk’s regular Korean programme; or an English score of TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2 or NEW TEPS 326. Applicants who rely only on English scores must first check with the department. Students admitted without a Korean or English score through a professor’s recommendation must reach TOPIK level 4 or an official English score before they graduate. Departments can set their own notes.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Konkuk University for international students?
Can I study at Konkuk University in English?
Do I need TOPIK to apply?
How is Konkuk University ranked?
It is 683rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 654th.[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
- Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)
- Hanyang University
- Inha University
- KAIST
- 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: Konkuk University (history, campuses and student numbers; page figures are undated)
[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] Konkuk University: Spring 2027 Undergraduate Admissions Guidelines for International Students (PDF) (guide for the Spring 2027 intake, issued autumn 2026; tuition table based on the 2026 academic year)
[4] 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)
[5] Konkuk University: Spring 2027 Graduate School Admission Guidelines for international students (PDF) (Spring 2027 intake; tuition based on the first semester of the 2026 academic year)
[6] The Korea Times: Korean universities rise in QS rankings as internationalization, graduates’ reputation improve (article published 18 Jun 2026; used for the number of ranked Korean universities)
[7] Konkuk University International Student Center: Graduate Admission, Admission Guidelines (page without a date; Spring 2027 graduate intake)
[8] Konkuk University International Student Center: Undergraduate Admission, Admission Guidelines (page without a date; lists the Spring 2027 guidelines)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.