University Review: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea

Highlight:

"All Admitted Students Qualify for KAIST Scholarship."

 

QS Ranking 2011:

                                90^th Overall

                                27^th in Engineering and Technology          

KAIST (formerly the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), is located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, SouthKorea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first research oriented science and engineering institution. 

Colleges:

 College of Natural Science

College of Life Science and Bioengineering

College of Engineering

College of Information Science and Technology

College of Cultural Science

College of Interdisciplinary Studies

College of Business

 1. Establishment

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was established in 1971 as the nation’s first graduate school specializing in science and engineering education and research. The school’s founding was a catalyst for Korea’s rapid rise from a producer of light industry goods to a world leader in high-technology industries.

Over the past four decades, KAIST has evolved into a global research university. The University’s strong faculty conducts internationally recognized research in cooperation with academic institutions and industries all over the world. KAIST offers generous grants and fellowships to international students, promoting Korea as a global educational power.

2. Current Status

KAIST is located in the Daedeok Research Complex in the city of Daejeon, 150 kilometers south of the capital city, Seoul. Daedeok complex is the nation’s R&D capital and home to some 50 public and private research institutes, universities and high-tech and venture capital companies. KAIST’s Daedeok and Seoul campuses house six colleges (Natural Science, Life Science & Bioengineering, Engineering, Information Science & Engineering, Business, and Cultural Science with 20 departments), eight research institutes and five affiliate schools. For the 2009 academic year, over 8,000 students are enrolled; 3,452 in the bachelor’s, 2,197 in the master’s, and 2,357 in the doctorate programs. International students number 389 and account for approximately 5 percent of all students, with 124 in the bachelor’s, 134 in the master’s, 22 in the joint M.S.-Ph.D., and 109 in the doctoral programs. KAIST has 842 professors and 334 staff members as of January 2009.

3. Education System

KAIST has a unique, autonomous and flexible academic system. Other Korean colleges and universities are required to abide by government-directed admissions and curriculum requirements. KAIST’s “open major system” for the undergraduate program allows a student to take classes for three terms before choosing a discipline that suits their aptitude and interest. In addition, undergraduate students are free to change their major at anytime.
 KAIST has produced many young doctors in their 20s through the Integrated Master’s and Doctoral Program and Early Completion System. KAIST requires candidate students to publish their papers in globally renowned academic journals to ensure high quality of their doctoral dissertation. KAIST students take strongly research-oriented classes in which teaching and research activities are simultaneously conducted.
 Scholarships are given to all students in the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs. Doctoral students are exempted from Korea’s compulsory military service duty. On-campus dormitories are provided for all students who wish to use them.

4. Research Institutes

Research at KAIST focuses on basic science and technological innovation that will have the greatest impact on industrial society. Eight KAIST Institutes (KIs) have been set up to concentrate the University’s research capabilities in advanced fields. Each KI is operated as an independent research center at the level of a college, receiving financial and facility support. The eight research institutes are KI for BioCentury, KI for Information Technology Convergence, KI for Design of Complex Systems, KI for Entertainment Engineering, KI for the NanoCentury, KI for Eco-Energy, KI for Urban Space and Systems, and KI for Optical Science and Technology.

KAIST is currently conducting research projects commissioned by the government and private businesses with research grants totalling 463 billion won (US$320 million). In terms of ownership of intellectual property rights, KAIST holds 2,694 domestic patents and 723 international patents.

Admissions:
http://admission.kaist.ac.kr/web/intl/2013-spring-semester

KAIST Scholarship:
KAIST scholarship amount and conditions are set prior to students' enrolment based on the merits of the applicant. KAIST Scholarship Committee will examine further exemption of tuition and fees every year. KAIST scholarship recipients are generally exempt from paying tuition and fees. A monthly allowance of 300,000 KRW and the National Health Insurance fee are supported by the recipient's advisor/department.