POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) is a private science and engineering university in Pohang, South Korea.[1] In April 2026 it had 1,499 undergraduate and 2,797 graduate students and 294 faculty members.[2] It is ranked 106th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, fifth among Korean universities.[3]
For international undergraduates, POSTECH lists a 2026 tuition of KRW 2,790,000 per semester (KRW 5,580,000 a year), but all admitted students receive a tuition waiver in the first semester and can keep it for up to eight semesters if they meet continuing criteria.[4] Graduate students on the regular research-assistant scheme receive a monthly stipend of KRW 1,850,000 (master’s) or KRW 2,200,000 (PhD), depending on the lab.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | 포항공과대학교 (POSTECH) |
| Location | 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37673, South Korea[6] |
| Type | Private research university[1] |
| Founded | December 1986; founded by the steel company POSCO[1] |
| Students (April 2026) | 1,499 undergraduate and 2,797 graduate, 4,296 in total (the total is our sum of the two published figures)[2] |
| Faculty (April 2026) | 294[2] |
| Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio | 5.1 : 1 (as of April 2026)[6] |
| Undergraduate departments | 12 departments (4 in science, 8 in engineering) and one Division of Humanities & Social Sciences[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 106th (102nd the year before); 5th in South Korea[3] |
| Tuition 2026, international undergraduates (estimate) | KRW 2,790,000 per semester, KRW 5,580,000 per year; waived for admitted students under the scholarship rules[4] |
| Living allowance, international undergraduates | KRW 500,000 per month, no GPA requirement[7] |
| Graduate stipend 2026 (regular TA/RA) | KRW 1,850,000 per month (master’s) · KRW 2,200,000 per month (PhD); varies by lab[5] |
| Admission for international undergraduates | Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens; no interview required[8] |
| Official website | postech.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About POSTECH
POSTECH opened in December 1986 in Pohang and was founded by the steel company POSCO.[1] The university’s own history page says the Ministry of Education authorised its establishment in November 1986 and that the first entrance ceremony in March 1987 welcomed 249 bachelor’s students.[9]
It is small and research-heavy. Its “at a glance” page reports an undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5.1 : 1, research funding of USD 224.8 million a year and 148 partner institutions in 38 countries.[6] In April 2026 the university counted 1,499 undergraduate and 2,797 graduate students and 294 faculty.[2]
How is POSTECH ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, POSTECH is 106th in the world, down from 102nd the year before. Among Korean universities it is fifth, behind Seoul National University (38th), Yonsei (42nd), Korea University (52nd) and KAIST (65th); Sungkyunkwan (108th) follows.[3] The Korea Herald’s list of Korean placements gives the same positions.[10]
The university’s own page cites an undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5.1 : 1 and USD 90,770 of annual education spending per student.[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at POSTECH?
POSTECH is a science and engineering university. As of 1 April 2026 the undergraduate level has 12 departments and one division:[2]
- Science: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences.
- Engineering: Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial & Management Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering (CiTE) and Semiconductor Engineering.
- Division of Humanities & Social Sciences.
The graduate level is one Graduate School with 15 departments (divisions, graduate schools) and 3 interdisciplinary programmes, plus a professional graduate school, a special graduate school and the Graduate School of Information Technology.[2] The graduate admissions page for international applicants lists 17 academic units, among them Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and the Graduate School of Innovation and Future Technology.[11]
How much does POSTECH cost in 2026?
International undergraduates
The admissions office publishes an estimated cost of attendance “as of 2026”. Tuition is KRW 2,790,000 per semester, or KRW 5,580,000 per year; the first-semester 2026 tuition is listed as KRW 2,924,000 and is waived automatically.[4]
| Item (estimate, per year) | KRW |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 5,580,000 |
| Food | 5,475,000 |
| Housing (double room in a residential college) | 1,400,000 |
| Health insurance (D-2 visa holders only) | 951,840 |
| Mobile phone | 360,000 |
| Essential expenses | 13,766,840 |
| POSTECH scholarships (tuition waiver 5,580,000 + living allowance 500,000 a month) | 11,580,000 |
| Net cost after scholarships | 2,186,840 (about 182,237 a month) |
Textbooks, personal supplies, transport, activities and bedding are not included.[4]
The scholarship rules
The scholarship page says all admitted international undergraduates receive a full scholarship on enrolment, and that tuition support can run for up to eight semesters if the continuing criteria are met.[12] The international undergraduate scholarship page lists the tuition scholarship (first semester for everyone, then up to eight regular semesters), a living allowance of KRW 500,000 a month, an arrival scholarship that reimburses one-way economy airfare and domestic transport up to KRW 2,500,000, and a one-off KRW 300,000 for reaching TOPIK level 4.[7]
Graduate students
The graduate support page does not give a general tuition figure. It lists tuition of KRW 5,000,000 per year under the GKS and K-GKS fellowships, and a 2026 regular TA/RA stipend per month of KRW 1,850,000 for master’s students (a “tuition fee” line of 884,000 plus a living allowance of 966,000) and KRW 2,200,000 for PhD students (884,000 plus 1,316,000). The page does not say whether the tuition line is a waiver or a cash payment, and amounts vary by lab.[5]
How do you apply to POSTECH?
- Undergraduate, international admissions: the applicant and both parents must be non-Korean citizens, and the applicant must have graduated (or be about to graduate) from a government-authorised high school. GED, homeschooling and online or distance credentials do not count, and POSTECH does not accept transfer applications.[8] The process has six steps: application, document review, announcement, enrolment confirmation and registration, certificate of admission and visa issuance, and the start of the semester.[13] An interview is not required for this track.[8]
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): POSTECH takes part only in the GKS Embassy Track; GKS students begin with a one-year Korean language course before the degree.[8]
- Graduate: applications for international students go through the graduate admissions site, which lists admission rounds and links an application guide as a PDF.[11]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Check the admission schedule on the official sites before you start.
Which language level do you need?
The undergraduate admission pages we could read do not state a minimum English or Korean score for admission, and the graduate admissions page sends applicants to its application guide for English requirements, which we could not read.[8][11] What the pages do say:
- Incoming freshmen take the TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) for English placement, unless they submit an official TOEFL iBT or IELTS score taken after 31 July 2024.[14]
- GKS undergraduate students start with a one-year Korean language course.[8]
- Reaching TOPIK level 4 earns a one-off KRW 300,000 Korean proficiency scholarship.[7]
The pages we read do not say in which language each course is taught, so check the programme before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is POSTECH free for international students?
For international undergraduates tuition is listed at KRW 5,580,000 a year for 2026, but admitted students receive a tuition waiver for the first semester and, if they meet the continuing criteria, for up to eight semesters.[4] Living costs are not free: the estimated essential expenses are KRW 13,766,840 a year before scholarships.[4]
What is the QS ranking of POSTECH?
POSTECH is 106th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 102nd, and fifth among Korean universities.[3]
Can international students apply to POSTECH as undergraduates?
Do graduate students at POSTECH get paid?
Regular teaching and research assistants receive a monthly stipend; the 2026 table shows KRW 1,850,000 for master’s and KRW 2,200,000 for PhD students, and the actual amount varies by lab.[5]
How many students does POSTECH have?
In April 2026 POSTECH had 1,499 undergraduate and 2,797 graduate students, 4,296 in total, and 294 faculty members.[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
- Konkuk University
- Korea University
- Kyung Hee University
- Kyungpook National University
- Pusan National University
- Seoul National University
- Sogang University
- Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
- UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
- Yonsei University
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Pohang University of Science and Technology (founding, founder and legal type)
[2] POSTECH: School status (academic facts) (page updated 7 Sep 2026; figures as of 1 Apr 2026)
[3] Korea JoongAng Daily: SNU leads Korean campuses in latest QS world rankings (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[4] POSTECH International Undergraduate Admissions: Cost of attendance (page without a date; figures labelled “as of 2026”)
[5] POSTECH Graduate Admissions: Financial support (fellowship table marked “as of 3 Feb 2026”)
[6] POSTECH: At a glance (facts and figures) (page updated 26 May 2026; figures as of April 2026)
[7] POSTECH International Undergraduate Admissions: Scholarship (page without a date)
[8] POSTECH International Undergraduate Admissions: Eligibility and schedule (page without a date; covers the 2027 spring and fall intakes)
[9] POSTECH: History (page updated 13 Oct 2026)
[10] 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)
[11] POSTECH Graduate Admissions (international) (page without a date; shows the spring 2027 round)
[12] POSTECH: Scholarship information (page updated 17 Jul 2025)
[13] POSTECH International Undergraduate Admissions: International admissions (page without a date)
[14] POSTECH International Undergraduate Admissions: Welcome guide for new students (page without a date; refers to the 2026 intake)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.