POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POSTECH)
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) was founded in 1986 by POSCO, one of the world’s leading steel companies. It was established to train specialist engineers who could lay the groundwork for future technological development. The founding chairman of the university, Park Tae-joon, used the California Institute of Technology as a model for POSTECH.
There are 11 undergraduate departments at the university, four specialising in science and seven specialising in engineering. The university also has a graduate programme, which consists of the same 11 departments, as well as five divisions, two inter-disciplinary programmes, two professional graduate schools and one special graduate school. The university’s student to faculty ratio is 5:1, which enables faculty to focus on individual students and provide high quality teaching.
Dates and Deadlines
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | 2024 | 02/01/2024 | Late August | Late December |
| Academic Year | 2024-25 | 02/01/2024 | Late August | Mid June |
| Spring Semester | 2025 | 02/01/2024 | Mid-February | Mid June |
Academic Details
At POSTECH, you can participate in the exchange program as a course-taking student or a course-taking and research student. Most of the 11 undergraduate departments and 21 graduate programs focus science and technology, though there is also a Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at POSTECH. If you are interested in pursuing research during your exchange, you will be required to contact a POSTECH professor to get approval for research projects before submitting your secondary application. You will then include the professor’s letter of approval with your application.
Around 60% of the courses at POSTECH are taught in English, and you are able to take both undergraduate and graduate-level classes as long as you meet the prerequisites. There are a limited number of English-taught humanities classes and upper-division STEM classes, so it is highly recommended that you either have Korean language proficiency or review the courses offered on POSTECH’s website carefully when planning your exchange program.
You will be able to register for courses during the course registration period as long as spaces permit. To see the course list, follow this link. In order to register classes with prerequisites, exchange students will need to consult with the course instructor and submit a “Change of Course Registration Form” to academic department during the add/drop period at the start of the semester.
The standard credit load is 15 semester credits per semester, but as an exchange student, you are able to take between 10 and 22 semester credits per semester. Each 1 credit at POSTECH = 1.5 UO quarter credits.
Students should work closely with their UO academic advisor before selecting courses at POSTECH.
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Additional requirements
Applicants must have completed at least one term at the UO by the application deadline. There no language requirement, but one year of college-level Korean is highly recommended in order to facilitate daily life in Pohang and navigating a Korean university.
Application process
The application process for this program is competitive: GEO staff will review your application materials, and a decision about your enrollment will not be made until after the application deadline. In some cases, an interview is required. If your program requires an interview, you will be contacted with further details about this process after the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged.
Successful applicants will receive an exchange nomination from GEO. Selection will be based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and written statements.
Applying for an exchange program involves 2 steps. If you receive a nomination from GEO, you will also need to complete the host university's application, which is administered and reviewed by your host university directly. Instructions will be provided after acceptance by GEO. The host university makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the program.