A promise that started it
In December 1992 a presidential candidate pledged to build a national university in Ulsan, and a promotion committee formed in March 1994. The first students entered on 2 March 2009.
UNIST
UNIST · Ulsan
UNIST is a science and technology university in Ulsan, and its first students entered in 2009. It has one campus, in Ulju-gun. Exchange students study and live there.
- Founded
- 2009 first entrance ceremony on 2 March
- Campus
- Ulsan Bus 513 from KTX Ulsan Station
- Dorm
- About ₩880,000 a semester in a twin room, every exchange student gets one
- Course load
- 10 to 21 credits undergraduates, usually 12 to 18
Jongbhak, CC BY-SA 3.0What UNIST is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
A million signatures
In 2002 the Ulsan Nanum-hoe led a signature drive that aimed for one million citizens. UNIST lists it in its history.
The Leading Star emblem
UNIST says its square emblem is the Leading Star, a shining frontrunner in science and technology. The colours are UNIST Navy and Emerald.
- Words you'll hear
- UNIST 유니스트 How people say the school's name in Korean
- Eonyang 언양 The town where the campus is
- Gwagiwon 과기원 Short for a science and technology institute
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From UNIST's official Korean pages on its history and university identity, checked on 26 October 2026.
People
The International Affairs Team runs programmes, events and culture classes for international students.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at UNIST.
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 UNIST.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
UNIST has one campus, in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. Exchange students live in the dorms on campus.
Address in Korean
울산광역시 울주군 언양읍 유니스트길 50
50 UNIST-gil, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- From KTX Ulsan
- Bus 513 runs from KTX Ulsan (Tongdosa) Station to UNIST.
- From Ulsan Airport
- Take bus 1432, 246 or 225 from the airport to Taehwaru, then bus 513 to UNIST.
- International Affairs Team
- Building 114, Room 301. Open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, closed 12:00 to 13:00. Exchange questions go to inbound@unist.ac.kr, +82-52-217-4123.
Every place to eat near campus.
3places to eat near Ulsan campusEach place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
Before you come
0 / 6For 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 UNIST page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on UNIST's official site before you apply or book anything. UNIST inbound exchange ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university nominates you, then UNIST emails you a link to send your documents. For spring 2027 nominations closed on 1 October and applications on 10 October 2026. Acceptance comes in early December. For autumn, nominations close in early April.
Undergraduates after a full year at a UNIST partner, and master's students after a semester. You need a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.3, and English at B2 level, such as IELTS 6.5 or TOEIC 800. A recommendation letter about your English also works.
The application form, a CV, an enrolment certificate, your transcript, a copy of your passport and the English certificate or letter, all in English.
UNIST sends your certificate of admission and invitation letter. Take them to the Korean embassy or consulate at home for a D-2-6 visa.
National Health Insurance starts once you register for your residence card, at about ₩80,000 a month. Joining can take over a month, so bring travel insurance for at least your first month.
For spring you move into the dorm and go to the welcome orientation in late February. There's a separate orientation for international students.
Other dates
- 4 FebruaryCourse registration
- 1 MarchSemester starts
- 2 MarchCourse changes
After you arrive
Residence card
Booking the immigration visit. Papers, fee and HiKorea screens step by step. Read the guide
- When
- Register at the Ulsan Immigration Office within 90 days of arriving. Staying past 90 days without registering is illegal.
- What to bring
- The form, your passport, a 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photo, proof of where you live, an enrolment certificate and ₩35,000 in cash.
- Immigration office
- Ulsan Immigration Office, 405-1 Jongga-ro, Jung-gu. From the UNIST Ib-gu stop take bus 337 to Seong-an Goga Habu Doro, then walk for about 10 minutes. Book a visit first, or apply online on HiKorea.
- Trips abroad
- Don't travel to other countries until your card is out. A single-entry visa works only once, so leaving early can stop you from coming back on it.
- 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 UNIST with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
From spring 2027 every exchange student gets a twin room on campus, with no separate application.
UNIST dorms
About ₩880,000a semester in a twin room (spring 2027), plus a ₩180,000 deposit for water and electricity
- Rooms
- Twin rooms only. UNIST places you, so you don't apply.
- Furniture
- Bed, desk, bookshelf and closet. Bring your own blanket and pillow.
- Deposit
- What's left after water and electricity comes back at the end of the semester.
- Meals
- The cafeteria in Dorm 1 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
- Health check
- Give the dorm office a health record with TB, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B tests. You can get it at home or at a clinic in Korea.
Before you apply
- Rules. Everyone in the dorms follows the dorm rules on the dorm website.
UNIST's spring 2027 fact sheet and its housing pages. Checked on 21 October 2026.
- Off campus
- UNIST can't help you find a room off campus. Ulsan city lists estate agents for foreign residents.Off-campus page ↗
- Living costs
- UNIST guesses about US$680 a month, with about US$300 of it for food and US$200 for housing.
- Halal and vegetarian
- UNIST says it provides halal and vegetarian food.
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
- Course list
- The spring 2027 list is final in January. Until then, look at the spring 2026 courses in Browse Open Courses. Not every course runs every semester.
- Registration
- You register yourself, on 4 and 5 February 2027 for spring, and can change courses from 2 to 5 March. UNIST sends a guide before registration opens.
- How much
- Undergraduates take 10 to 21 credits, usually 12 to 18, which is four to six classes. Graduate students take 3 to 13.
- Departments
- Some graduate schools and the semiconductor programmes can't take exchange students. Otherwise you can take classes in other departments and levels if you have the prerequisites.
2 more
- Grades
- A+ is 4.3, down to F at 0. D- and above, and S, count as credits earned.
- Transcript
- Usually online within a month of the semester ending. UNIST can send it to your home university.
Questions exchange students ask
How does course registration work at UNIST?
You register yourself, on 4 and 5 February 2027 for spring, and can change courses from 2 to 5 March.
UNIST sends a guide before registration opens.
How much is the dorm at UNIST?
UNIST dorms · On campus
About ₩880,000
A semester in a twin room (spring 2027), plus a ₩180,000 deposit for water and electricity
What about living off campus at UNIST?
UNIST can't help you find a room off campus.
Ulsan city lists estate agents for foreign residents.
What do I need for the visa to study at UNIST?
UNIST sends your certificate of admission and invitation letter.
Take them to the Korean embassy or consulate at home for a D-2-6 visa.
Is there a group chat for UNIST exchange students?
Yes.
UNIST has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
When should I arrive at UNIST?
For spring you move into the dorm and go to the welcome orientation in late February.
There's a separate orientation for international students.
How do I get my residence card at UNIST?
Register at the Ulsan Immigration Office within 90 days of arriving.
Staying past 90 days without registering is illegal.
Do exchange students at UNIST need health insurance?
National Health Insurance starts once you register for your residence card, at about ₩80,000 a month.
Joining can take over a month, so bring travel insurance for at least your first month.
How many credits can I take at UNIST?
Undergraduates take 10 to 21 credits, usually 12 to 18, which is four to six classes.
Graduate students take 3 to 13.
How do I apply to UNIST as an exchange student?
Your home university nominates you, then UNIST emails you a link to send your documents.
For spring 2027 nominations closed on 1 October and applications on 10 October 2026.
Acceptance comes in early December.
For autumn, nominations close in early April.
Who do I contact at UNIST?
Official links and help
International Affairs Team+82-52-217-4123 · Weekdays 9:00 to 18:00
inbound@unist.ac.krStudent life
- Company visits
- Tours of factories in Ulsan, such as Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Heavy Industries and nuclear power plants.
- Inbound exchange
- Fact sheet, spring 2027
- Academic information
- Visa and insurance
- Foreign registration
- Directions