Ajou · Suwon
A university in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, that began in 1973 as an engineering junior college under a Korea-France agreement. Exchange students study and live at the campus in Suwon.
주전자, CC BY-SA 3.0, croppedThings Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
Ajou Engineering Junior College opened in March 1973 with 280 students in four departments: electronics, precision mechanical, fermentation chemical and industrial management. It became Ajou Engineering College in 1974.
In 1971 Korea and France agreed to set up a technology junior college to exchange technology and culture, and Ajou grew out of it. In 1978 nine Ajou scholarship students went to France under the Korea-France culture agreement.
The emblem is a circle with a torch in the middle made from the letters A and J. Its Prussian blue is called Ajou-blue, and the school says it stands for high intelligence and deep learning.
A Pioneer statue stands where you can see it from the main entrance, and Ajou calls it a symbol of the university. The torch in its hand matches the torch in the emblem.
In 2015 Ajou started the Paran Semester, where students design their own programme for a term. Ajou says it was the first of its kind at a Korean university.
From Ajou's official English pages (history, symbols and the history since 2011), checked on 26 October 2026.
Help and events for international students at Ajou.
Ajou Global Ambassadors, about 40 Ajou students picked by the International Office each semester to be buddies for exchange students. They help with airport pick-ups, field trips and culture events, and start at the end of February for spring.
@ajou_agaInstagram accounts checked on 21 October 2026.
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at Ajou.
Going with friends? Make a group in A-CHA for your own crew and send them the invite link.
Open to every international student in Korea, not only at Ajou.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Ajou's campus is in Suwon, and exchange students study and live there.
경기도 수원시 영통구 월드컵로 206
206 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
Hwaseong Fortress, Haenggung Palace and Gwanggyo Lake Park within 3 km of campus.
Contemporary exhibitions next to Gwanggyo Lake Park, so the day works whatever the weather does.
An ordinary evening walk and picnic spot in Suwon - the kind of place you use if you live here.
Market food and everyday Suwon in one place, for when picking between tourist restaurants gets tiring.
Indoor and outdoor palace grounds in the middle of the wall walk, so the route does not have to break.
You walk the fortress wall and read a late-Joseon city from it - the clearest history day trip out of Seoul.
For Spring 2027. The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official Ajou page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on Ajou's official site before you apply or book anything. Ajou exchange programme ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university nominates you, by 1 November for spring. Then you apply online between 1 October and 15 November. For autumn it's 1 April to 15 May.
A GPA of 3.0 out of 4.5, and TOEFL 71, CET level 6 or IELTS 6. Without an English score, a professor's letter can show your English is good enough for courses in English. You upload a transcript, a self-introduction essay, your passport, a photo for your student card, a health form with your TB test result and a survey of the English courses you want.
Post the original enrolment certificate and bank statement to Ajou.
Exchange students need a D-2-6 visa, using the admission and invitation letters from Ajou. For spring, Ajou sends them to your home university in late December or early January.
Every international student is enrolled in National Health Insurance. Ajou explains it, and how to opt out, at orientation.
Orientation is compulsory for every international student and covers the academic schedule, the residence card and tips for living in Korea. In spring 2026 it was on 23 February, two days after the dorm opened. Ajou advises arriving on the dorm opening day.
An airport pick-up, a welcome reception, field trips and a buddy.
Everyone staying longer than 90 days has to. The card usually takes 4 to 5 weeks.
You need the card to open a phone contract in your own name, open a bank account and sign up for most Korean apps.
Booking the immigration visit. Papers, fee and HiKorea screens step by step. Read the guide
Ajou has two dorms for exchange students on campus. You can apply for a room, though it isn't guaranteed. In the past almost every exchange student lived on campus.
Ajou's 2025 factsheet and dorm website. The fees are from 2024 and Ajou says they can change. Checked on 21 October 2026.
Korean universities point exchange students to these. They're private companies with no tie to any school. Don't send a deposit before you've seen the contract.
Finding a room. Browse rooms near campus in the app. If nothing fits, tell us what you need and we'll ask local agents for you, free.
₩747,000 to ₩1,440,000
A semester, 2024 fees
Exchange students need a D-2-6 visa, using the admission and invitation letters from Ajou.
For spring, Ajou sends them to your home university in late December or early January.
AGA
Ajou Global Ambassadors, about 40 Ajou students picked by the International Office each semester to be buddies for exchange students.
They help with airport pick-ups, field trips and culture events, and start at the end of February for spring.
Yes.
Ajou has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
Orientation is compulsory for every international student and covers the academic schedule, the residence card and tips for living in Korea.
In spring 2026 it was on 23 February, two days after the dorm opened.
Ajou advises arriving on the dorm opening day.
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Everyone staying longer than 90 days has to.
The card usually takes 4 to 5 weeks.
Every international student is enrolled in National Health Insurance.
Ajou explains it, and how to opt out, at orientation.
Up to 19 credits, usually six or seven courses.
The minimum is 3 credits, and Ajou suggests at least 12.
A 3-credit course is 45 hours of work.
Your home university nominates you, by 1 November for spring.
Then you apply online between 1 October and 15 November.
For autumn it's 1 April to 15 May.
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