How Busan's three major national universities compare on tuition, housing and international enrollment

For the 2026 academic year, undergraduate tuition for international students in humanities and social sciences at Pusan National University, Pukyong National University and Korea Maritime & Ocean University ranges from 1,703,000 won to 2,069,000 won per semester. Engineering tuition ranges from 2,173,500 won to 2,932,000 won. All three are national universities, but they differ in the breadth of their majors, their international-student populations, dormitory costs and the availability of rooms.

The three universities had a combined 3,300 international students at the end of June 2026. Graduate students form a large group at Pusan National University, while Pukyong National University has sizable degree and language-training populations. Korea Maritime & Ocean University is smaller overall but has a clear focus on maritime and ocean-related fields.

Comparing the same fields reveals the tuition gap

K-Study Times compared the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering categories in the three universities' published 2026 tuition schedules for general international admissions. The figures are tuition for one semester and do not include an admission fee.

Pukyong National University is the least expensive in all three fields, while Pusan National University is the most expensive. The engineering difference between the two is 758,500 won for one semester. If a student pays the same amount for two semesters, the annual difference is 1,517,000 won.

At Pusan National University, tuition is 2,867,000 won per semester for arts programs and 3,197,000 won for music. Pukyong National University's international track in the Division of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies charges 1,872,000 won. Korea Maritime & Ocean University's general international admission tuition is 2,147,000 won for natural sciences and arts or physical education, and 2,248,000 won for engineering.

Graduate students at Pusan National; large degree and language groups at Pukyong National

Aggregating the Ministry of Justice's international-student data by university gives 1,547 students at Pusan National University, 1,400 at Pukyong National University and 353 at Korea Maritime & Ocean University. The Pukyong total combines the raw-data school-name labels “부경대학교” and “국립부경대학교.”

Pusan National University had 301 master's and 317 doctoral students, putting its master's and doctoral population 193 above its undergraduate population. It also had one associate-degree student. Pukyong National University had 211 master's and 311 doctoral students, 96 more graduate than undergraduate students. At Korea Maritime & Ocean University, the 189 degree students and 151 language trainees formed groups of a similar size.

Pusan National offers the broadest range of majors and research base

Pusan National University's 2026 international undergraduate admissions cover humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, economics and international trade, business, nursing, arts and the Global Open Major. Its international-student data also show 317 doctoral students, the largest graduate research population among the three universities.

First-semester scholarships vary by TOPIK level. Level 4 waives Tuition I, Level 5 waives all of Tuition II, and Level 6 waives both Tuition I and Tuition II in full. After enrollment, academic scholarships consider both TOPIK Level 4 or above and the student's previous-semester grades. A student who earns a new TOPIK result or improves an existing one while enrolled can receive 400,000 won up to three times.

Dormitory availability matters as much as price. In its notice for international students for the second semester of 2026, Pusan National University warned that a rise in international enrollment and construction of the new Hyowonjae residence were expected to leave many applicants without a room. It also said that very few additional places would be available. Students who include a dormitory in their budget should therefore prepare for off-campus housing until their place is confirmed.

Pukyong National combines engineering and fisheries with an international summer term

Pukyong National University offers engineering, natural sciences, fisheries and marine studies alongside humanities, social sciences and business. Its tuition for the same fields was the lowest of the three. Its international population comprised 948 degree students, 386 language trainees, and 66 exchange students, researchers and others.

The 2026 International Summer School offered courses including international relations, basic Korean, sports scuba and the underwater environment, and global culture. It also ran a buddy program in which international students lived alongside local participants. This is a current example for students looking for short international courses and exchange activities in addition to a regular major.

Pukyong National University's 2026 Korean Language Program guide lists a double room in Sejong Hall I at about 2.6 million won for six months. The price includes three meals a day and utilities. This is the dormitory rate for the Korean language program; degree students must check the residence-hall notice for their semester for room allocation and charges.

Korea Maritime & Ocean links maritime studies with campus life

Korea Maritime & Ocean University focuses on maritime studies, ocean science, ocean engineering, and maritime humanities and social sciences. Teaching and research facilities and residence halls are concentrated on its Achi Island campus in Yeongdo-gu. About 70 people took part in a support event for new international students in spring 2026, including 19 degree students, 25 exchange students and 12 Korean-language students. The program included orientation and a campus tour.

Of the university's 353 international students, 188 were Vietnamese, the largest nationality group. China followed with 31, Sri Lanka with 17, Uzbekistan with 16 and Indonesia with 11. The total is smaller than at the two comprehensive universities, but both academic programs and campus life are concentrated around maritime fields.

Dormitory comparisons must align the period and number of meals

The latest official dormitory information from the three universities covers different periods and student groups. Pusan National University's notice is for the first semester of 2026, Pukyong National University's for six months in the Korean language program, and Korea Maritime & Ocean University's for 115 days.

A single room at Pusan National University ranges from 1,711,140 won to 2,401,980 won depending on the meal plan. At Korea Maritime & Ocean University, a single room ranges from 1,423,010 won to 2,026,900 won. Because room and meal charges are often bundled on one bill, comparing only the “dormitory fee” can produce a figure that differs from the amount actually due.

Choosing among Busan's national universities takes more than one line of tuition data. Pusan National University stands out for its broad range of majors and graduate research base; Pukyong National University for relatively low undergraduate tuition and its combination of engineering with fisheries and marine studies; and Korea Maritime & Ocean University for maritime-focused programs and life on an island campus. The final terms for admissions units, scholarships and dormitory allocation are set by each university's notice for the semester of application.

Busan National University of Education is also a national university in the city, but it specializes in elementary teacher education. The June 2026 international-student dataset showed only three exchange students, so it was not compared in the same table as the three universities serving a broader international undergraduate market.

Data and methods

Tuition figures come from Pusan National University's Fall 2026 International Student Admissions Guide, Pukyong National University's 2026 tuition schedule and Korea Maritime & Ocean University's 2026 tuition notice, using one-semester amounts for general international admissions. Dormitory charges retain the periods and meal terms stated in Pusan National University's 2026 International Student Guide, Pukyong National University's 2026 Korean Language Program Guide and Korea Maritime & Ocean University's first-semester 2026 residence-hall notice. Student totals were aggregated from the Ministry of Justice's international-student management dataset by university as of June 30, 2026.