Spring 2027: 14 programs at 11 universities take international applications in November; Hankyong National University graduate school closes first on Nov. 2, fees from waived to KRW 250,000, TOPIK 2-4

International admissions for the spring 2027 semester (March entry) remain open in November for 14 programs at 11 universities. The first to close is the Hankyong National University graduate school, at 17:00 on Monday, Nov. 2, followed by Kyung Hee University's undergraduate 2nd round at 17:00 on Friday, Nov. 6. Changwon National University's graduate school (Nov. 16), Sogang University's graduate school (Nov. 18), Hansung University's undergraduate 2nd round (Nov. 23) and Changwon National University's undergraduate 2nd round (Nov. 27) start taking applications in November and close in December. Application fees range from free at Ajou University's graduate school to KRW 250,000 for Kyung Hee's arts and music programs, and basic Korean requirements range from TOPIK level 2 to level 4.

13 programs by deadline

Many universities set different deadlines for the online application and the supporting documents. Applicants submit the online application first and then send diplomas, transcripts and financial documents separately by mail or in person, so it is safest to mark both dates in the table on a calendar. For Sogang University's graduate school, only the schedule is covered, in a separate section below.

Five programs closing by Nov. 13

The Hankyong National University graduate school has two days left. It accepts applications for its master's and doctoral international admissions online only until 17:00 on Monday, Nov. 2, and supporting documents must arrive by 18:00 on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The international track judges academic suitability through documents but can hold interviews or oral exams, and the common interview and oral exam period runs from Nov. 12 to 16. Admission results are scheduled to be announced at 17:00 on Thursday, Dec. 17. The special (evening) graduate school does not admit students through the international track.

Kyung Hee University's undergraduate 2nd round closes online applications at 17:00 on Friday, Nov. 6, but it accepts supporting documents by mail only and recognizes only those postmarked by Thursday, Nov. 5. In effect, the mail deadline comes one day before the application deadline. Starting with the first semester of the 2027 academic year, the university has dropped interviews and selects all admission units except arts and music programs through 100% document review, while the College of Music, College of Fine Arts and Department of Dance select students only in the 2nd round. The freshman Korean track requires one of TOPIK level 3, completion of Intermediate 2 at Kyung Hee's university Korean language institute, KIIP level 3 (pre-assessment 61 points) or King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1, and each requirement is one level higher for transfer admission. Admission results will be announced at 14:00 on Thursday, Dec. 24. Detailed procedures are laid out in our article on Kyung Hee's 2nd-round admissions.

Yeungnam University's undergraduate 1st round closes applications at 17:00 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and accepts supporting documents until Friday, Nov. 13. It selects students without interviews through a 100-point document review and announces 1st-round admission results on Monday, Nov. 23. For freshman admission, it accepts King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1, its own Korean test (YU TOPIK), completion of level 3 at its university Korean language institute and KIIP level 3 (61 points) in addition to TOPIK level 3. However, students admitted on a requirement other than TOPIK must separately complete 300 hours or more of Korean language training during their first year after admission. Applicants who miss November can apply in the 2nd round, which runs from Dec. 9 to Jan. 6, 2027.

Konkuk University's undergraduate program accepts applications until 23:59 on Friday, Nov. 13, and supporting documents by mail only, arriving by Friday, Nov. 20. The Korean requirement for regular departments is TOPIK level 4 (or completion of level 4 at Konkuk's university Korean language institute, completion of level 4 at an IEQAS-certified language program, or completion of King Sejong Institute 4B). Among the undergraduate programs compared here, Konkuk is the one with a basic freshman requirement of level 4. The application fee is KRW 150,000 for a 1st choice only and KRW 170,000 for up to a 2nd choice. Admission results are scheduled for 15:00 on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

At Shingyeongju University's undergraduate 1st round, applicants submit the application and supporting documents together, in person or by mail, to the Office of International Affairs by 17:00 on Friday, Nov. 13. The Korean requirement is one of TOPIK level 2, level 2 on the university's own test (SU-TOPIK), KIIP level 2 (pre-assessment 41 points) or King Sejong Institute Beginner 2, and students must obtain TOPIK level 4 before graduation. The university requires applicants to consult the admissions officer about their eligibility before applying, and admitted students will be notified individually on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Around Nov. 20: HUFS, Ajou and Jeonbuk

HUFS's undergraduate late round accepts applications and supporting documents together from Oct. 19 to Friday, Nov. 20. Under the track for applicants whose parents are both foreign nationals, students can apply without language scores, and those who do not submit scores have their language ability assessed through an interview. 1st-round successful applicants and those selected for additional interviews will be announced on Monday, Dec. 14, and interviews will be held by video on Saturday, Dec. 19. Final admission results come out on Monday, Jan. 4, 2027. Students entering the Division of International Studies must submit TOPIK level 3 or higher at graduation.

Ajou University's undergraduate program accepts applications and supporting documents until 17:00 on Friday, Nov. 20, and mailed documents must also arrive by that time. The Korean requirement is one of TOPIK level 3, completion of level 3 at a university Korean language institute in Korea (including expected completion), completion of King Sejong Institute Intermediate 3B, or passing Ajou's own Korean test. Applicants are evaluated 100% on documents, and admission results will be announced at 18:00 on Thursday, Dec. 31. Application procedures are in our article on Ajou's undergraduate admissions.

Ajou University's graduate school accepts applications and supporting documents until 17:00 on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and charges no application fee. Documents mailed before the deadline are not accepted if they arrive after it. The language requirement is TOPIK level 4 or English scores such as TOEFL iBT 71 or IELTS 5.5, and some departments set higher levels or require a pre-admission consultation. Department interviews, held between Dec. 14 and 18, can be replaced by video or phone, and admission results will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027.

Jeonbuk National University accepts 2nd-round applications for undergraduate and graduate programs over the same period, from 9:00 on Monday, Nov. 9, to 17:00 on Friday, Nov. 20, and the supporting document deadline is Friday, Nov. 27. If originals cannot arrive by the deadline, applicants have the option of first submitting copies by email and then submitting the originals by Feb. 19, 2027. The undergraduate Korean track accepts applicants with TOPIK level 2, but students admitted at level 2 must complete two semesters of Jeonbuk's Korean language training course immediately after admission. Undergraduate applicants do not submit a personal statement or study plan. Interviews are on Dec. 17-18, in person for applicants staying in Korea and by phone or video for those overseas, and undergraduate applicants who miss the interview are rejected. Results for both undergraduate and graduate programs will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027. Language standards for each graduate department are in our article on Jeonbuk's graduate admissions.

Three schools opening applications in November: Hansung, Sogang and Changwon

Hansung University's undergraduate 2nd round accepts applications from 10:00 on Monday, Nov. 23, to 17:00 on Friday, Dec. 4, and supporting documents must arrive by 17:00 on Friday, Dec. 11. The Korean requirement for freshmen in most departments is TOPIK level 3, while the Department of K-Video Content and the Department of Fashion & Beauty Creation also accept TOPIK level 2 or KIIP level 2 (pre-assessment 41 points). Scores from the 109th TOPIK, held Nov. 15, and the 16th TOPIK IBT on Nov. 28 are accepted. Applicants expected to complete, who have not yet finished a regular course at a university Korean language institute in Korea, cannot apply. Interviews are held Dec. 28-31 only for applicants who need additional verification, and admission results are scheduled to be announced at 15:00 on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2027.

Sogang University's graduate school accepts online applications for international admissions from 9:00 on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to 17:00 on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and supporting documents are due by 17:00 on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Interviews take place on Dec. 22 or 23, on campus or via ZOOM, and admission results will be announced at 14:00 on Friday, Jan. 8, 2027. Missing or late documents result in cancellation of the application, and the application fee is not refunded. Applicants to the Department of Artificial Intelligence need to read the department's separate track guidelines.

Changwon National University accepts graduate school applications from Monday, Nov. 16, to 18:00 on Friday, Dec. 18, and undergraduate 2nd-round applications from Friday, Nov. 27, to 18:00 on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Undergraduate supporting documents must arrive by 18:00 on Thursday, Dec. 10, and applicants whose documents do not arrive in time can be rejected without separate notice. Undergraduate freshmen need one of TOPIK level 3, completion of level 3 at Changwon's university Korean language institute, KIIP level 3 (pre-assessment 61 points) or King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1, and the Korean program of the Division of Global Undeclared Majors also accepts TOPIK level 2. Students admitted with TOPIK level 2 must additionally complete 300 hours of Korean or KIIP level 3, among other options, within one year. The graduate school requires TOPIK level 3 or English scores such as TOEFL iBT 3.5, IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2 or NEW TEPS 202, and will announce admission results at 10:00 on Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. The application fee is KRW 45,000 for undergraduate and KRW 50,000 for graduate programs, and applicants pay the KRW 4,000 online application service fee.

Korean requirements: where TOPIK level 2 works and where KIIP is accepted

Undergraduate programs that accept TOPIK level 2 are Shingyeongju University (all departments), Jeonbuk National University (two semesters of Korean language training required after admission), two departments at Hansung University and the Korean program of Changwon National University's Division of Global Undeclared Majors. By contrast, Konkuk University's undergraduate program and Ajou University's graduate school set TOPIK level 4 as the baseline. HUFS's undergraduate program accepts applications even without language scores, and in that case assesses language ability separately in the interview.

Schools that accept Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP) levels or pre-assessment scores as a Korean requirement are the Hankyong National University graduate school, Kyung Hee, Yeungnam, Hansung, Shingyeongju, Changwon's undergraduate program and the Jeonbuk National University graduate school, which sets standards by department. For freshmen, most require level 3 or a pre-assessment score of 61 points; Shingyeongju and some Hansung departments require level 2 (41 points), and transfer admission at Kyung Hee, Yeungnam and Hansung requires level 4 (81 points). This year's last paper-based test (PBT) KIIP pre-assessment takes place on Nov. 21, with results out on Dec. 4. The programs with document deadlines after that are Changwon's undergraduate 2nd round (Dec. 10) and Hansung's undergraduate 2nd round (Dec. 11). Registration dates for the pre-assessment are in our article on the KIIP pre-assessment.

Most schools also accept King Sejong Institute courses, but the required level differs. Kyung Hee, Yeungnam, Hankyong National University and Changwon require completion of Intermediate 1, Ajou's undergraduate program Intermediate 3B, and Konkuk 4B or higher. Kyung Hee and Ajou do not accept completion of the practical Korean course or online courses, and Yeungnam does not accept completion of online courses.

Three common document mistakes

First, the application deadline and the document deadline differ. This is the case at Hankyong National University (application Nov. 2, documents Nov. 4), Yeungnam (Nov. 11, Nov. 13), Konkuk (Nov. 13, Nov. 20), Jeonbuk (Nov. 20, Nov. 27), Hansung (Dec. 4, Dec. 11) and Changwon's undergraduate program (Dec. 8, Dec. 10). Submitting only the application and missing the documents voids the application.

Second, most universities go by arrival at the school, not by the post office postmark. Even Kyung Hee, which uses the postmark, accepts only items postmarked by Nov. 5, one day before the application deadline. For documents sent from overseas, applicants need to count international shipping time backward from the deadline.

Third, some schools do not allow in-person submission. Kyung Hee and Konkuk accept documents by mail only. HUFS, Yeungnam, Ajou, Jeonbuk, Hansung and Changwon accept both in-person submission and mail.

What to check before applying

• Check whether your department is recruiting in this round. Kyung Hee's College of Music, College of Fine Arts and Department of Dance select students only in the 2nd round, and HUFS's College of Education accepts freshman admission only.
• Confirm the cutoff date for language scores. Konkuk accepts only scores within their validity period as of the first day of applications (Oct. 19), and Hansung accepts scores up to the 109th TOPIK (Nov. 15) and the 16th IBT (Nov. 28).
• Meet the required financial proof. Jeonbuk's undergraduate program requires a balance of KRW 16 million or more, and Hansung requires KRW 20 million or more.
• Keep interview dates free: Jeonbuk on Dec. 17-18, HUFS on Dec. 19 (video), Sogang on Dec. 22 and 23, and Ajou graduate school on Dec. 14-18.
• Look at graduation requirements as well. Kyung Hee requires TOPIK level 4 before graduation for the Korean track, Shingyeongju requires TOPIK level 4 before graduation, and HUFS's Division of International Studies requires TOPIK level 3 at graduation.

Except for Yeungnam and Shingyeongju (late November), admission results are concentrated between mid-December and mid-January. The full spring-semester schedule, which has been running since August, is available in our article on the spring 2027 international undergraduate calendar. Schedules, fees and requirements are based on each university's international affairs and admissions office notices and admission guidelines as of Oct. 31.