Four schools became one
Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Kyungwon University, Gachon Gil College and Kyungwon College merged in March 2012. Gachon calls it the first integration of four-year private universities in Korea.
Gachon University
Gachon · Seongnam
A university in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, that took its present form in March 2012 when four schools merged. Exchange students study at the Global Campus in Seongnam.
- Founded
- 1939 merged with three other schools in 2012
- Campus
- Seongnam Suin-Bundang Line, Gachon Univ. Station
- Dorm
- ₩1,182,400 to ₩1,486,400 for 16 weeks, 2025 prices, deposit included
- Course load
- Up to 18 credits 9 for master's students
가천, CC BY-SA 4.0, resizedWhat Gachon is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
A station that leads into campus
The Vision Tower was finished in 2010. Gachon says it was the first university in Korea to have its campus connected straight to a subway station.
The first software college
Gachon set up the country's first College of Software in 2002, and in 2020 it says it became the first Korean university to offer an undergraduate major in artificial intelligence.
A college just for foreign students
On 20 March 2025 Gachon opened an international college that takes only foreign students, which it says is the first in Korea.
- Words you'll hear
- Gachondae 가천대 Short for Gachon University
- Gachondae-yeok 가천대역 The Suin-Bundang Line station with a passage into campus
- Vision Tower 비전타워 The building joined to the station
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From Gachon's official English pages (Gachon's journey and history) and its exchange handbook, checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Ways to meet Korean students at Gachon.
Gachon Buddy
Gachon matches you with Korean student buddies who help with campus and daily life all semester.
- How to join
- No application. Your buddy gets in touch at the start of the semester.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at Gachon.
Netherlands
Germany
France
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Finland
PolandGoing with friends? Make a group in A-CHA for your own crew and send them the invite link.
A-CHA events
All eventsOpen to every international student in Korea, not only at Gachon.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
Exchange students study at the Global Campus in Seongnam. Gachon's medical and Ganghwa campuses are in Incheon.
Address in Korean
경기도 성남시 수정구 성남대로 1342
1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- Subway
- Gachon Univ. Station on the Suin-Bundang Line. A passage leads straight from the station into Vision Tower.
- From Incheon Airport
- Gachon picks exchange students up on 23 February 2027 at 13:30, near Gate 1 on the first floor of Terminal 1. Book with the pick-up form by 15 January, and fill it in even if you don't need a ride.
- Campus shuttle
- An electric shuttle runs every 10 minutes from 8:30 to 17:30 between the IT Convergence College and the dorms.
- International Office
- Room 731 in the Global Center. The inbound exchange coordinator is at shkimted@gachon.ac.kr, +82-31-750-5466.
- Going home
- Gachon doesn't arrange transport when you leave. Take the subway, an airport limousine bus or a taxi.
Every place to eat near campus.
204places to eat near Global CampusVegetarian options 70Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
Before you come
0 / 5For 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 Gachon page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on Gachon's official site before you apply or book anything. Gachon exchange handbook ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university agrees the number of students with Gachon, then emails your documents. For spring, nominations close on 15 October and applications on 31 October. For autumn it's 15 and 30 April.
At least two semesters done at your home university and a GPA above 2.5 out of 4.5. For the English track you need TOEFL iBT 70, IELTS 5.5 or TOEIC 700, and only Business and Computer Engineering teach their major courses in English. For the Korean track you need TOPIK 3. You also need a bank statement for at least US$4,000 for one semester. If you're from outside the OECD, your enrolment certificate needs an apostille or a consular stamp.
Exchange students need a D-2 visa. Apply at the Korean embassy in your country with the certificate of admission and invitation letter from Gachon.
Buy travel insurance for your whole stay and send Gachon a copy, with an English translation, before you enter Korea. National Health Insurance only starts after your residence card, which usually takes about two months, and then costs about ₩70,000 to ₩80,000 a month.
Orientation is on 25 February 2027, two days after the dorm opens.
Other dates
- 15 JanuaryAirport pick-up booking
- 23 FebruaryAirport pick-up and dorm check-in
- 25 FebruaryFree TB test at the dorm
- 28 FebruaryCourse registration closes
- 2 MarchSemester starts
- 19 JuneDorm move-out
- 21 JuneSpring semester ends
After you arrive
Residence card
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Gachon arranges a group application at the start of each semester.
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
- How long
- Your visa ends with your exchange, even if the card shows a later date. You can extend by up to a month for a vacation Korean course or travel in Korea.
- Trips abroad
- Leaving Korea before you have the card can cancel your visa. Talk to the International Office before you plan a trip.
- Keep it private
- Only give out your registration number to open a bank account or a phone plan.
- Fee
- The government fee for the card is ₩35,000.
- Changes
- Report a new address within 15 days of moving, at your local community centre or at immigration. Report a new passport to immigration within 15 days as well. Both are free.
- Immigration helpline
- Call 1345 with visa or residence card questions. It answers in English and other languages on weekdays from 9:00 to 22:00. From abroad, dial +82-2-1345.
Going to Gachon with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
Every exchange student lives in Gachon's on-campus dorm, in rooms for two or three. Gachon doesn't offer off-campus housing.
Exchange student dorm
₩1,182,400 to ₩1,486,400for 16 weeks, 2025 prices, deposit and internet included
- Rooms
- Twin or triple. Triples have bunk beds and little space, and the room type you ask for can change.
- Fees
- Twin ₩1,360,000 and triple ₩1,056,000, plus ₩26,400 for internet and a ₩100,000 deposit.
- Meals
- No meals included. The cafeteria in Dorm 3 serves breakfast for ₩1,000 and lunch and dinner for ₩6,000.
- Kitchen
- A shared kitchen and a laundry room at ₩1,000 a wash. Apply for fridge space, or bring a fridge of 46 litres or less.
- Bedding
- Only bed sheets. Rent the rest from a bedding company and get it on move-in day.
- Length
- You get four months, and can apply to add four or eight weeks.
- Shop
- An unstaffed convenience store on B1 of Dorm 2.
Before you apply
- TB test. Hand in a negative TB result from a test in Korea by the day after check-in. For spring 2027, free tests run at the dorm from 25 to 27 February, 10:00 to 16:00.
- Deposit. Pay a ₩100,000 deposit when you move in. Mid-semester it goes back to your bank account and you pay ₩50,000 in cash, which you get back in cash when you leave.
- Paying. The bill comes when you check in. Pay in cash at the bank on campus or by international transfer. SENTBE isn't accepted.
- Moving out. Regular move-out for spring 2027 is 19 June. Leaving at another time can cost two weeks' rent.
Gachon's exchange handbook and dorm cafeteria page. The fees are 2025 prices. Checked on 21 October 2026.
- Living costs
- Gachon estimates about ₩1,000,000 a month. A meal near campus is about ₩10,000, and a bus or subway ride ₩1,550.
Room search sites in English
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.
Courses
- How much
- Up to 18 credits, or 9 for master's students, and you can't mix bachelor's and master's courses.
- Major courses
- Only students who meet the language requirement can take major courses. Everyone else takes Korean classes and one set elective.
- Korean
- Without TOPIK 3, you take five Korean classes at the liberal arts college, 15 credits, three hours a day. With TOPIK 3, you take the Korean Language Center's course of four classes and 12 credits over 10 weeks, weekdays 9:00 to 13:00 or 14:00 to 18:00.
- Course Finder
- Search by '전공' (major) or '교양' (elective), and click a course code for the syllabus. Business and Computer Engineering's English major courses are on Gachon's course list sheets.Course Finder ↗
4 more
- Registration
- Register through the link Gachon sends, by 28 February for spring 2027. Go to your classes in week one, then make changes in the change period.
- Exams
- Midterms run 20 to 26 April and finals 8 to 14 June 2027.
- Attendance
- Miss more than a quarter of the classes and you can't get a grade. Absences are only excused for legally notifiable infectious diseases, so tell your professor and ask about other work.
- Grades
- Out of 4.5. An A+ is 95 to 100, and below 60 is an F.
Questions exchange students ask
How does course registration work at Gachon?
Register through the link Gachon sends, by 28 February for spring 2027.
Go to your classes in week one, then make changes in the change period.
How much is the dorm at Gachon?
Exchange student dorm · On campus
From the last semester₩1,182,400 to ₩1,486,400
For 16 weeks, 2025 prices, deposit and internet included
Does the Gachon dorm give you bedding?
Only bed sheets.
Rent the rest from a bedding company and get it on move-in day.
What do I need for the visa to study at Gachon?
Exchange students need a D-2 visa.
Apply at the Korean embassy in your country with the certificate of admission and invitation letter from Gachon.
How do exchange students meet Gachon students?
Gachon Buddy
Gachon matches you with Korean student buddies who help with campus and daily life all semester.
Is there a group chat for Gachon exchange students?
Yes.
Gachon has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
When should I arrive at Gachon?
Orientation is on 25 February 2027, two days after the dorm opens.
How do I get my residence card at Gachon?
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Gachon arranges a group application at the start of each semester.
Do exchange students at Gachon need health insurance?
Buy travel insurance for your whole stay and send Gachon a copy, with an English translation, before you enter Korea.
National Health Insurance only starts after your residence card, which usually takes about two months, and then costs about ₩70,000 to ₩80,000 a month.
How many credits can I take at Gachon?
Up to 18 credits, or 9 for master's students, and you can't mix bachelor's and master's courses.
How do I apply to Gachon as an exchange student?
Your home university agrees the number of students with Gachon, then emails your documents.
For spring, nominations close on 15 October and applications on 31 October.
For autumn it's 15 and 30 April.
Who do I contact at Gachon?
Official links and help
Office of International Affairs+82-31-750-5466
shkimted@gachon.ac.krStudent life
- Language exchange
- One exchange student and four Korean students meet at least five times a semester, and Gachon pays for meals or activities. Sign-up details come at the start of the semester.
- Exchange handbook
- 2027 academic calendar
- Housing and check-in
- Airport pick-up
- Course Finder
- Directions