University of Science and Technology (UST)

(The Future model of Higher Education) In 2003, 32 Korean government-funded research institutes decided to use their world-class facilities and 16,000+ Ph.D. holding researchers to educate future generation of S&T professionals. Those research institutes are UST itself as all of our faculty members and students are learning and participating in national R&D projects onsite. 

(World Class R&D Infrastructure) Did you know that the Republic of Korea (South Korea) is the 2nd largest R&D investor in the world? The country spent more than 4.8% of its total GDP in 2020 followed by Sweden (3.5%), the U.S. (3.45%), Japan (3.26%) and many others. This substantial national R&D investment has been the basis for not only the R&D capacity building, but as well as for the national development at large. Studying at UST, students can learn how the R&D driven national development was achieved. 

(Student-Researcher Model) At UST, 100% of the students participate in national R&D projects as student-researcher. This unique system not only allows students to earn monthly salary that can easily cover their living expenses, but also, offers opportunities to experience national level R&D projects from A to Z. Thanks to the world-class R&D infrastructure of the 32 Korean government-funded research institutes, UST students enjoy their access to equipment and facilities that students at regular universities can only wish for. UST students can participate in polar research projects in the Arctic/Antarctic, the Korea’s first Lunar exploration project, international fusion reactor project, and many others. 

(Comprehensive Financial Support) As 100% of UST students are participating in national R&D projects as student-researcher, they are paid with monthly salary based on degree course. For Master’s, the minimum monthly stipend is KRW 1,200,000 and doctoral course, KRW 1,600,000. According to our students, the amount can easily cover their living expenses in Korea and thanks to this scheme, anyone can study at UST without much financial burden. 

(University Diversity) At UST, international students contribute to more than 30% of the total student population. Thanks to our students’ international backgrounds, UST offers diverse cultural experiences to our students. Korean language proficiency is not mandatory to our international students neither for admission nor for graduation.