Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
#183 QS World Ranking#201 THE RankingSouth KoreaPrivate
QS World Rank#183
Acceptance rate30%
Typical GPATop STEM student scores
Tuition / year$800,000
Overview
About Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
Korea's Caltech; smallest major research university in Korea (~3,500 students); highest research output per student in Korea; POSCO-funded (steel company); Pohang industry connections
International environmentLimited international; ~8% intl; growing in English programs
Teaching styleHighly research-intensive; small class sizes; lab-focused; mentorship culture
Academics
Subjects and fit
Strongest subjects
Physics
Chemistry
Materials Science
Engineering
CS
Life Sciences
Best for
Physics
chemistry
materials science
engineering researchers; those wanting research-intensive environment
Getting in
Admission requirements
GPA: Top STEM student scores (domestic)
TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.0+
CSAT for domestic; international: TOEFL + GPA + research statement
Difficulty: Competitive
Acceptance rate: ~30% overall (small class sizes)
Deadline: UG: Nov | Graduate: Aug–Sep
On campus
Campus and location
On-campus housing guaranteed; Pohang city affordable
Money
Costs and scholarships
Tuition (USD)8,000,000 KRW/yr ≈ ~$5,900 (but financial aid extensive)
Employability: Top for materials science, physics, chemistry research in Korea; POSCO-guaranteed industry pipeline
Worth knowing
Pohang is a small city with limited social/cultural activities; career paths mainly in Korean industry
GlowBal's insider note
VERIFIED: POSTECH has highest research output per faculty in Korea by citation count. INSIGHT: POSCO actively recruits POSTECH graduates near-guaranteed placement for materials/energy engineering.
Ask a human
Talk to someone who studied here
Book a 1-1 session with a current student or alumnus for honest advice about your application and life on campus.
