Sogang University is a private Jesuit university in Seoul, founded in 1960.[1][2] In 2023 it had 8,100 undergraduate and 3,692 graduate students, among them 910 international undergraduates in degree programmes.[3] It is ranked 494th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 558th.[4]
For academic year 2026 the admissions guide for international students lists tuition per semester from KRW 5,245,000 (humanities, social sciences, economics, business, media) to KRW 6,794,000 (engineering, computing and the interdisciplinary divisions).[5] Most programmes are taught in Korean; the usual entry level is TOPIK 3. An English track needs IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Sogang University (서강대학교) |
| Location | 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107[6] |
| Type | Private Jesuit university[2] |
| Founded | 1960: charter granted in February, first classes in April, with six departments[1] |
| Students (2023) | 8,100 undergraduate and 3,692 graduate; 910 international undergraduates in degree programmes and 1,031 in training programmes[3] |
| Faculty (2023) | 413 full-time and 817 part-time members[3] |
| Campus | 242,091 m² (about 60 acres), 27 buildings[3] |
| Structure | 27 undergraduate departments in 8 schools, 1 graduate school, 6 professional graduate schools and 5 special graduate schools (figures page, 2023)[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 494th (558th the year before)[4] |
| Tuition 2026, per semester | KRW 5,245,000 to KRW 6,794,000, depending on college (international freshmen)[5] |
| Entry language level | Korean Track: TOPIK 3 or equivalent; English Track: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or New TEPS 330[5] |
| Nationality rule for this route | The applicant and both parents must hold foreign nationality[5] |
| Admissions office | Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), applysogang@sogang.ac.kr[6] |
| Official website | sogang.ac.kr |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Sogang University
Sogang University was founded by the Society of Jesus. The Catholic hierarchy of Korea received assurances from Pope Pius XII in 1948 that a higher-education institution would be founded; the Ministry of Education granted the charter of Sogang College in February 1960, and the college opened in April 1960 with six departments: English language and literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, physics and economics.[1] Its mission is to educate the whole person on the basis of Catholic belief and the Jesuit philosophy of education.[7]
The campus lies at 35 Baekbeom-ro in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and covers about 242,000 m².[3] The figures page counts 27 undergraduate departments in 8 schools; the 2027 admissions guide for international students lists nine colleges and schools, including Sogang Business School and Loyola International College.[3][5]
How is Sogang University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Sogang University is 494th in the world, up from 558th in the previous edition. The same report puts Ewha Womans University at 488th and Dongguk University at 520th.[4]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Sogang University?
The 2027 admissions guide lists these colleges and schools as recruitment units for international undergraduates:[5]
- Humanities and social sciences: College of Humanities (Korean language and literature, history, philosophy, religious studies, English, European languages and cultures, Chinese culture), College of Social Sciences (sociology, political science, psychology), College of Economics and Sogang Business School.
- Loyola International College: Global Korean Studies, Global Interdisciplinary Studies and, for the English track, the Geppert School of International Studies.
- College of Media, Arts, and Science: communication, media and entertainment, art and technology.
- Sciences: College of Natural Sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences), College of Engineering (electronic, chemical and biomolecular, mechanical, semiconductor engineering) and College of Computing (computer science and engineering, artificial intelligence).
Applicants apply to a recruitment unit; freshmen may choose their major within it in the second year, and changing the unit after enrolment is not permitted.[5] Korean Track courses are taught in Korean, with some courses in English. In the English Track, some major and general education courses may still have to be taken in Korean.[5]
How much does Sogang University cost in 2026?
| College or school | Tuition, semester 1 (academic year 2026) |
|---|---|
| Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics, Sogang Business School, Media, Arts, and Science, Loyola International College (Global Korean Studies) | KRW 5,245,000 |
| Loyola International College (Geppert School of International Studies, Global Interdisciplinary Studies) | KRW 6,403,000 |
| Natural Sciences | KRW 6,100,000 |
| Engineering, Computing, and the humanities-, science- and AI-based interdisciplinary divisions | KRW 6,794,000 |
These amounts are from the admissions guide for the Spring 2027 intake, which labels them “Tuition (for Academic Year 2026, Unit: KRW)” under semester 1.[5] The guide shows one figure per college and does not break out other fees, so ask the admissions office what else is due at enrolment. The university collects tuition around the end of February (spring semester) and the end of August (fall semester), and offers up to four instalments per semester.[8]
Scholarships for new international students
The guide lists entrance awards: Sogang Excellence Scholarship I (full tuition for 8 semesters, for the highest entrance scores, up to the top 1%), II (full tuition for 2 semesters, top 3%) and III (full tuition for the first semester, within the top 5% of admitted students). Admission Scholarships cover 50%, 25% or 10% of first-semester tuition. Language Excellence Scholarships cover 100%, 50% or 25% of first-semester tuition for high TOPIK levels (6, 5, 4) or English scores such as IELTS 8.0, 7.5 or 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 110, 100 or 88.[5]
Enrolled international students can apply each semester for Global Scholarship I (academic excellence) or II (financial need, among other criteria). Each pays full tuition, two-thirds, one-third or one-sixth, and requires 12 credits in the previous semester and a GPA of 2.5 or higher (I) or 2.0 or higher (II).[9]
How do you apply to Sogang University?
The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) runs undergraduate admissions for international applicants, from application and evaluation to results and enrolment.[6] The route described here is for foreign nationals; a different process applies to Korean citizens.
- Who may apply: the applicant and both parents must be foreign nationals. A Korean citizen with dual nationality is not treated as a foreign national.[5]
- Freshmen: high school graduates or expected graduates in Korea or abroad. Transfer: second year with at least two semesters at a four-year university (or a junior-college graduate); third year with at least four semesters.[5]
- Not accepted as school credentials: GED, qualification examinations, home schooling, and online or cyber classes.[5]
- Tracks: Korean Track and English Track. The English Track for freshmen covers Division of English (American Culture), Economics, Business Administration, Global Korean Studies and the Geppert School of International Studies.[5]
Read the current admissions guide on the international admissions site before you apply; the guide is available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Questions go to applysogang@sogang.ac.kr.[6]
Which language level do you need?
Korean Track: one of the following: TOPIK (including iBT TOPIK) level 3, completion of level 3 at Sogang’s Korean Language Education Center or at a university-affiliated Korean institute, King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1, an English test certificate (TOEFL, IELTS or TEPS), or all years of high school or university education completed in Korean. Students admitted to the Korean Track on English test scores must take Sogang’s mandatory Korean language courses.[5] For Loyola International College’s Division of Global Interdisciplinary Studies, proof of language is optional. The humanities-, science- and AI-based interdisciplinary divisions require TOPIK level 6 or an equivalent.[5]
English Track: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 (4.0 on the new scale for tests taken after 21 January 2026) or New TEPS 330; or all years of high school or university education in English; or citizenship of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa. English Track students are exempt from the mandatory Korean language curriculum.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Sogang University for international students?
Do I need to speak Korean to study at Sogang University?
Usually yes for the Korean Track (TOPIK 3 or equivalent). The English Track needs IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or New TEPS 330, and some courses may still be in Korean.[5]
Is Sogang University a Catholic university?
Can my parents be Korean citizens if I apply as an international student?
Not on this route. The applicant and both parents must hold foreign nationality; a parent who has remarried a Korean citizen can also make the applicant ineligible.[5]
How is Sogang University ranked?
It is 494th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 558th.[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
- 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
- Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
- UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
- Yonsei University
Sources
[1] Sogang University: History (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: Sogang University (type (private, Jesuit); secondary source)
[3] Sogang University: Facts & Figures (figures as of 2023; page without a date)
[4] Korea JoongAng Daily: SNU leads Korean campuses in latest QS world rankings (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[5] Sogang International Admissions: Admissions Guide for International Students (2027 Spring) (PDF on the page; file dated 9 Sep 2026 by the server; tuition labelled academic year 2026)
[6] Sogang International Admissions: Overview (Office of International Student Affairs) (page without a date)
[7] Sogang University: Mission (page without a date)
[8] Sogang University: Tuition (payment instructions) (page without a date; no tuition amounts)
[9] Sogang OISA: Institutional Scholarship (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.