Kyung Hee University is a private research university with campuses in Seoul and Yongin (Global Campus) and a third, small campus at Gwangneung.[1][2] As of 2025 it had 25,573 undergraduate and 8,769 graduate students and 1,395 full-time faculty.[3] It is ranked 309th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 331st.[4]
The undergraduate guide for international students lists Fall 2026 tuition between KRW 4,977,400 and KRW 6,718,400, depending on college.[3] Korean Track applicants need TOPIK level 3 or an equivalent; English Track applicants (four departments) need TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0 or an English-speaking background.[3]
Key facts
| Official name | 경희대학교 (Kyung Hee University, KHU) |
| Campuses | Seoul Campus: 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447 · Global Campus: 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104 · Gwangneung Campus (Namyangju)[2] |
| Type | Private research university[1] |
| Founded | 1949, as Sin Heung Junior College; the university’s guide also says 1949, while Wikipedia’s infobox shows 1911, the year of the Sinheung Military Academy after which the college was named[3][1] |
| Students (2025) | 25,573 undergraduate and 8,769 graduate, 34,342 in total (the total is our sum of the two published figures)[3] |
| Faculty (2025) | 1,395 full-time[3] |
| Colleges and departments | 23 colleges and 88 departments (majors)[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 309th (331st the year before)[4] |
| Tuition, Fall 2026, Seoul Campus | KRW 4,977,400 to KRW 6,718,400 by college and department[3] |
| Tuition, Fall 2026, Global Campus | KRW 4,977,400 to KRW 6,718,400 by college and department[3] |
| Application fee | KRW 180,000 (KRW 250,000 for music, dance and fine-arts units)[3] |
| Evaluation | Application review 100%; 50% review plus 50% practical test for music, fine arts, dance and art and design[3] |
| Dormitory, Fall 2026, double room, 4 months | KRW 1,290,000 (Seoul, Sewha-won) · KRW 1,340,000 (Global Campus, Woojungwon)[3] |
| Eligibility | Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens[3] |
| Official website | khu.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Kyung Hee University
Kyung Hee University began in 1949 as Sin Heung Junior College, a two-year college.[1] Its own admission guide describes the founding aim as “Creating a Civilized World” and notes that UNESCO recognised its peace education in 1993.[3]
The university has three campuses: the Seoul Campus in Dongdaemun-gu, the Global Campus in Yongin and the Gwangneung Campus in Namyangju.[2] As of 2025 it counts 25,573 undergraduate and 8,769 graduate students and 1,395 full-time faculty in 23 colleges and 88 departments, with 625 partner universities in 83 countries as of December 2025.[3]
How is Kyung Hee University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Kyung Hee University is 309th in the world, up from 331st.[4] The Korea Herald’s list of Korean placements gives the same position.[5]
The university’s 2027 Spring admission guide still quotes the previous editions: 331st in the QS World University Rankings, 39th in the QS Asia University Rankings and 252nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings “as of 2026”.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Kyung Hee University?
The undergraduate guide lists these colleges in its tuition table:[3]
- Seoul Campus: Humanities, Politics and Economics, Management, Hotel and Tourism Management, Science, Human Ecology, and the Department of Global Eminence.
- Global Campus: International Studies, Foreign Language and Literature, Physical Education, Engineering, Software Convergence, Electronics and Information, Applied Science, Life Science, Art and Design, and Liberal Studies.
New for Spring 2027 are the Department of Big Data Analytics (Seoul, freshmen) and the Department of Semiconductor Engineering (Global, freshmen and transfer).[3] The guide also lists units in music, fine arts and dance, and notes that departments it does not list are not accepting applications.[3]
English Track: a separate admission unit in which English proficiency is required to apply and most graduation courses are taught in English. The four English Track departments are Management (Seoul), Global Hospitality and Tourism Management (Seoul), International Studies and Asian Studies (both Global Campus).[3]
How much does Kyung Hee University cost?
The guide’s tuition table is labelled “based on 2026 Fall Semester”. It does not use the words “per semester”; the amounts match one semester of tuition, but check with the admissions office.[3]
- Humanities; Politics and Economics; Management (except Big Data Analytics); Hospitality Management and School of Tourism and Entertainment
- Campus
- Seoul
- Tuition, KRW
- 4,977,400
- Big Data Analytics; Culinary Arts and Food Design Management; Science (except Future Information Display); Human Ecology
- Campus
- Seoul
- Tuition, KRW
- 5,785,400
- Global Hospitality and Tourism Management [English Track]; Future Information Display; Global Eminence (freshmen)
- Campus
- Seoul
- Tuition, KRW
- 6,718,400
- Global Eminence, Global Business (transfer)
- Campus
- Seoul
- Tuition, KRW
- 6,375,400
- International Studies [English Track]; Foreign Language and Literature
- Campus
- Global
- Tuition, KRW
- 4,977,400
- Asian Studies [English Track]
- Campus
- Global
- Tuition, KRW
- 6,282,400
- Physical Education
- Campus
- Global
- Tuition, KRW
- 6,476,400
- Engineering; Software Convergence; Electronics and Information; Applied Science; Life Science; Art and Design; Liberal Studies
- Campus
- Global
- Tuition, KRW
- 6,718,400
The application fee is KRW 180,000, or KRW 250,000 for music, dance and fine-arts units.[3] A double dormitory room, four months paid at once, costs KRW 1,290,000 on the Seoul Campus (Sewha-won) and KRW 1,340,000 on the Global Campus (Woojungwon), based on Fall 2026.[3]
Admission scholarships
- Global Eminence Scholarship: full tuition for students in the top 5% of a university entrance examination in their home country or elsewhere; from the second semester it needs a GPA of 3.5.[3]
- Pioneer Scholarship: full first-semester tuition, and for up to one year with 12 credits and a GPA of 2.5, for students from countries with low higher-education enrolment.[3]
- Language-based awards: full first-semester tuition for TOPIK level 6 (Korean Track) or for the top English results in the English Track; half tuition for TOPIK level 5; 30% for completing a Kyung Hee language-institute programme with a dean’s recommendation.[3]
- College awards: half tuition for up to four years (GPA 3.0) for top-half admits to Engineering, Electronics and Information, or Software Convergence; full first-semester tuition for the best admits in several units.[3]
How do you apply to Kyung Hee University?
Applicants and both parents must be non-Korean citizens; the guide requires that all have held non-Korean citizenship before the applicant began high school. Freshmen must have completed or be expected to complete secondary education. GED, homeschooling, online and adult-education certificates are not accepted.[3] Applicants apply to one campus only.[3]
The assessment from Spring 2027 is application review (100%), except music, fine arts, dance and art and design, which add a practical test (50%). All required documents must be sent by post; in-person submission is no longer accepted.[3] The Division of Global Admissions on the Seoul Campus handles undergraduate applications at admission@khu.ac.kr, and the Global Campus office at ciss_gc@khu.ac.kr.[6]
Graduate and Global Korea Scholarship applicants use separate guidelines on the same admissions site.[6] We give no deadlines here because they change every intake; use the schedule in the current guide.
Which language level do you need?
Korean Track: applicants must meet one of these: TOPIK level 3 or higher (valid at application), completion of Intermediate 2 at a Kyung Hee-affiliated language institute within the last two years, level 3 of the KHU Korean Language Test, Korea Immigration and Integration Program level 3 (or a pre-test score of 61), King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1 (not online or practical programmes), or graduation from a Korean high school. The Department of Big Data Analytics needs TOPIK level 6.[3] Students admitted through the Korean Track need TOPIK level 4 before graduating, except English Track students.[3]
English Track: applicants must have citizenship of an English-speaking country or a country where English is an official language, or an official score of TOEFL iBT 80 (4.0 on the new scale for tests from 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0 or New TEPS 327, or have completed secondary education in a country where English is a native or official language.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Kyung Hee University for international students?
The 2027 Spring guide lists tuition “based on 2026 Fall Semester” between KRW 4,977,400 and KRW 6,718,400, depending on the college. For example the Humanities, Politics and Economics colleges are KRW 4,977,400 and Engineering is KRW 6,718,400.[3]
What is the QS ranking of Kyung Hee University?
Kyung Hee is 309th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 331st.[4]
Can I study in English at Kyung Hee University?
Yes, through the English Track. Four departments offer it: Management and Global Hospitality and Tourism Management on the Seoul Campus, and International Studies and Asian Studies on the Global Campus. English proficiency is required to apply.[3]
Which campus should I choose, Seoul or Global?
The guide lets you apply to one campus only. Humanities, politics and economics, management, hotel and tourism and science colleges are on the Seoul Campus; engineering, software, electronics, applied science, life science and international studies are on the Global Campus.[3]
Is there an application fee?
Yes: KRW 180,000, or KRW 250,000 for the music, dance and fine-arts units. It is not refundable after the application deadline.[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
- Ajou University
- 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
- 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: Kyung Hee University (history and legal type)
[2] Kyung Hee University: At a glance (English site) (page without a date; campus addresses)
[3] Kyung Hee University: Spring 2027 Guidelines for Undergraduate International Admission (English, PDF) (page without a date; the PDF is stored under an August 2026 path; tuition is based on the Fall 2026 semester)
[4] Korea JoongAng Daily: SNU leads Korean campuses in latest QS world rankings (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[5] The Korea Herald: Korean universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[6] Kyung Hee University Global Admissions: Admission guideline page and contacts (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.