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Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea South Korea

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THE World Ranking: 401

Overview

Overview

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a research-focused institute that was set up by the South Korean government in 1993. It helps students from across Korea, and the world, build a successful, international career in their chosen area of science.

 

Since its establishment 29 years ago, GIST's research and education standards have been improving towards world-class levels. In 2010, GIST welcomed its first international undergraduate students, and they are very much part of the community at GIST.

 

All international students who meet GIST’s criteria are given full scholarships, including no tuition fee for eight semesters and a monthly living allowance. This allows students to focus on their studies.

 

GIST has 199 professors and other skilled staff who offer high-quality teaching in English. It has a good staff-to-student ratio of 11:1 so students receive a personalised learning experience. There are seven major areas of study, and 14 areas to minor in.

 

GIST students need a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or international equivalent) to study here. To improve their chances of admission, students should take part in other activities outside school, like sports, volunteering and work.

 

Students can apply for the many full scholarship programmes on offer. Every student here is offered a dormitory, where they can work, relax and make friends. Safe accommodation with fellow students means everyone can focus on enjoying their studies and social life at GIST.

 

Despite its short history, GIST has already made a name for itself as an excellent research and education centre. It runs joint research centres where six Nobel Prize winners have worked. GIST is the only university in South Korea that has an exchange programme with Caltech. It also has partnerships with world-class universities, including UC Berkeley and the University of Cambridge.

 

Students at GIST have access to lots of support services, including personal support and study. Staff offer guidance and students support each other through a system of peer support. This includes student-staffed helpdesks, academic families, buddying, mentoring and information points. There is also a student counselling service, which is free and confidential.

 

GIST has a career service to help graduating students apply for jobs in South Korea and all over the world. Discover more about GIST:

 

Teaching quality

Entry requirements

Scholarships & funding

University structure

Facilities

Student support

Graduate outcomes

 

Teaching quality

GIST has skilled professors and staff who help students reach their full potential. Its mission is to hire renowned professors, who can carry out insightful research and offer inspiring teaching. In the 2020 QS World University Rankings, GIST’s academics had the highest number of citations in Asia, and fourth highest in the world. That means scientists and researchers across the world read and respect what people at GIST have to say.

 

With a staff-to-student ratio of 11:1, each student has plenty of opportunities to ask questions. They’ll build their English language and career skills by working with an expert in their field.

 

GIST has a competitive undergraduate programme designed to make students even more intelligent and capable. All programmes have been designed to offer a genuinely interesting and useful student experience.  

 

GIST takes pride in its teaching. Student feedback is important, and students can submit surveys on modules and overall course experience. This information is gathered and used to help improve the teaching, and the university.

 

GIST has links to Imperial College London and many more universities abroad, making it a truly international and collaborative university to be a part of. Its staff have been awarded prestigious Korean GRL grants, alongside highly respected academics like Ji-Seon Kim, James Durrant, Martin Heeney and Martyn McLachlan.

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for GIST vary depending on which course an applicant chooses. The university makes it simple for students to find out exactly what they’ll need to study here. Every course asks undergraduate students to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or international equivalent). Applicants will have a better chance of getting in if they can show other things they’ve done outside their studies, like sports, community projects or personal or academic projects.

 

Those who would like to study on a postgraduate course will need to show proof of previous, relevant university qualifications and pass an interview. They’ll need to have achieved at least a 2:1, or the equivalent of a B grade.

 

English Score Required

  • An Official English Proficiency Test Score Report is required

Minimum scores:

  • 80 (TOEFL iBT)
  • 550 (TOEFL PBT)
  • 6.5 (Academic IELTS)
  • 750 (TOEIC)
  • 285 (NEW TEPS)
  • Tests must be taken within two years before the application date

 

Admission

Students can only apply to study at GIST through its online application system. First, they need to create an account with GIST and fill out the online application for their chosen course. It’s important to write down the application number. Part of this application process means getting a letter from a recommender, such as a teacher or employer.

 

Once students have uploaded all the information needed, it’s important they submit their application before the deadline. After this, they should check their email daily to see if GIST needs more information or would like to interview them. Postgraduate students might need to share more information.

 

Potential new students will be asked to present:

 

  • The relevant qualifications
  • A reference
  • A personal statement
  • Evidence of English language proficiency

 

Scholarships & funding

GIST offers a range of scholarships and financial support for international students. All international students pay no tuition fee for eight semesters and are given a one-off amount to help them settle in. Students who have been at the university for a month can claim back the cost of their flight to South Korea. Those who do well can access other benefits. If they achieve a 3.0 GPA at GIST and gain 11 credits in the previous semester, students will also receive a meal and student allowance.

 

University structure

GIST’s staff and students make new scientific and technical discoveries every year and help to grow South Korea’s economy. There are many different departments and schools including:

 

  • GIST College
  • Graduate School
  • School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • School of Materials Science and Engineering
  • School of Mechanical Engineering
  • School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering
  • School of Life Sciences
  • School of Physics and Chemistry
  • Institute of Integrated Technology
  • Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering
  • Department of Nanobio Materials and Electronics
  • Artificial Intelligence Graduate School
  • Language Education Centre

 

GIST also has several dedicated research organisations. These are home to researchers and postgraduate students.

 

  • Advanced Photonics Research Institute
  • Research Institute for Solar and Sustainable Energies
  • Korea Culture Technology Institute
  • Integrated Institute of Biomedical Research
  • International Environmental Research Institute
  • GIST-Caltech Research Centre
  • Nobel Research Centre
  • Laboratory Animal Resource Centre
  • GIST Central Research Facilities
  • GIST Institute for Artificial Intelligence

 

Facilities

The GIST campus is large and has lots of facilities to help with students’ studies and use in their free time. There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields, a gym, a basketball court and a swimming pool. GIST also has student-run campus clubs. Anyone can set up a club, as long as it has 10 members and fits with the school’s conditions.

 

If they’re looking for a place to study outside their rooms, students can read and socialise in the university study rooms and cafeteria. The campus’s cafeterias have a weekly menu of dishes, which are mostly Korean. In the Central Library, students can access services to help with things like dissertations, government technical reports and media collections.

 

If students need to access any other help, they can speak to the Bilingual Administrative Service. All staff speak both Korean and English. There’s also plenty of green space where students can relax.

 

Accommodation

GIST’s on-site accommodation, which is free for all international students, is set up as dormitories. Married students who are studying at GIST together are offered on-site apartments.

 

The dormitory environment creates a sense of community for all students and stops anyone feeling lonely in a new country. It’s also a creative place to study, where students push each other to get the best results. Each building has a manager, who looks after the rooms and students.

 

There is a support service for all international applicants which gives students assistance, support and advice.

 

Student support

Students at GIST have access to lots of support services, including personal support and study. Staff are on-hand to guide students on how best to study. There’s a useful system of peer support through student-staffed helpdesks, academic families, buddying, mentoring and information points. Anyone can also access free, confidential counselling.

 

There’s a residential support service in the student accommodation. These staff are professionally trained and help students adjust to life at GIST. There’s also a University Health Centre on site that offers convenient medical care.

 

Graduate outcomes

Leaving university can be a stressful and confusing experience. GIST has a supportive career service that helps students find a job or research position. The university also offers students a range of internship opportunities including:

 

  • On-campus summer internships
  • Opportunities with local employers
  • Work shadowing alumni based locally and nationally
  • International summer internships

Subjects you can study at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

  • Applied and Pure Sciences Applied and Pure Sciences
  • Computer Science and IT Computer Science and IT
  • Engineering Engineering
  • Health and Medicine Health and Medicine
  • Social Studies and Media Social Studies and Media
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Key facts and figures at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

Rankings

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

401

OVERALL SCORE

45.4%

TEACHING

48.5%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

43.9%

INDUSTRY INCOME

99.9%

RESEARCH

39.6%

CITATIONS

50.3%
QS World University Rankings 2024
Source: QS

328

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
Source: ARWU

801

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR
LIVING COSTS

₩21,473,904

AVERAGE PRIVATE RENT

₩7,034,786

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

POSTGRADUATE

₩6,830,000

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