Language of instruction
KAIST was established as a research-oriented university to foster outstanding talent in science and technology. It has successfully become a highly-respected member of the global science community, currently ranked within the Top 100 universities worldwide.
The main campus and the Munji campus are both located in the centre of Daedeok Innopolis in Daejeon, the largest scientific and technological research and development cluster in Korea. The city of Daejeon is home to the Mt Gyejoksan Barefoot Festival, one of Korea’s most famous barefoot festivals where visitors walk barefoot along a 14km red clay trail in the forest.
Semester dates
| UQ Semester | Host Semester | Dates |
| Semester 1 | Spring Semester | February–June |
| Semester 2 | Fall Semester | August–December |
View the KAIST academic calendar.
Guides and additional information
KAIST has online resources to help get more from your exchange:
Campuses
KAIST has campuses located in Daejeon and Seoul.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Student testimonials
- B. EngineeringSemester 1, 2015; Semester 2, 2015
- B. EngineeringSemester 1, 2017 ; Semester 2, 2017
- B. Science
Full-time study load
15 credits per semester at KAIST is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
Minimum academic requirements
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 to study at KAIST.
Find courses
Search the KAIST course catalogue if courses do not appear in the database.
Search the Credit Precedent Database to find courses offered by your host university that have been previously approved for credit at UQ. The database should be used as a general guide only.
Study areas taught in English
Course restrictions
KAIST accepts Science and Engineering students only.
Thesis courses are not open to exchange students.
Students must select at least 50% of courses from their UQ majors.
Additional academic information
Exchange students will be automatically considered for a $1,000 Student Mobility Fellowship from KAIST.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Accommodation
All KAIST students can apply to live in the on-campus dormitories. Some students choose to find their own accommodation and live off-campus. The KAIST International Student Support Service provides information regarding both of these options.
Cost of living
Guides are available to help you understand the cost of living while studying at KAIST and prepare a budget for your exchange.
Financial support
A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.
Insurance
Students approved to participate in the Student Exchange Program are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.
For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).
If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.
KAIST does not provide any insurance for exchange students. It is mandatory that you purchase insurance for overseas study prior to leaving for your exchange.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Organise your visa
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.
Students must have a valid passport before mid-September (for Spring semester admissions) or mid-March (for Fall semester admissions) to faciliate the Korean student visa process.
KAIST provides visa and immigration information for incoming exchange students.
Contact the Korean Embassy for more visa information.
Travel risk levels
The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.
If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, Global Experience programs to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.
Find out the risk level and travel advice for your host country on the Smartraveller website.
Register your travel plans
We recommend that you register your travel plans on the Smartraveller website so that the Australian Government can contact you or your family in an emergency.
Non-Australian citizens should register with their closest consulate.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.