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
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 17 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 22 June (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 18 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 23 November (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Full-time study load
15 credits per semester at KAIST is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
Minimum academic requirements
GPA
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 to study at KAIST.
Study Options
Not applicable to this university. However, you must take at least 50% of courses from your UQ major(s).
Note: Host university eligibility criteria are at the discretion of the host and may change without notice.
Find courses
Search the KAIST course catalogue.
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.
You must still check the host university course catalogue to see if courses from the Credit Precedent Database are still on offer and in the correct semester of your exchange.
Study areas taught in English
Course restrictions
Additional academic information
Exchange deadlines
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 17 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 22 June (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 18 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 23 November (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 a Semester-based Exchange 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
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 17 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 22 June (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 18 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 23 November (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, experiences to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.
Find out the risk level and travel advice, and sign up to receive updates for your host country on the Smartraveller website.
Exchange deadlines
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 17 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 22 June (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 18 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 23 November (for Semester 2 of the following year)