Kyungpook National University

A large national university in Daegu, one of Korea's major cities. For Spring 2027 it opens the Global Liberal Studies division, built only for international students: a year of academic Korean and major exploration, then your chosen department from year two.

Get notified KNU admissions

Admission status: opens Oct 12

Spring 2027: applications Oct 12 – Oct 30, 2026. Final results expected Jan 4, 2027. The detailed guideline hasn't been published yet.

Last verified Sep 23, 2026

Quick facts

Campus: Daegu
Type: National
Founded: 1946
Students: About 36,000
New for 2027: Global Liberal Studies
Applications: Oct 12 – 30, 2026
Results: Jan 4, 2027
Contact: knu2024150@knu.ac.kr

The new Global Liberal Studies division

Admitted students spend their first year on academic Korean and general foundation courses, while exploring majors and settling into the university and the city. They move into the department they want at the start of year two.

What this really means

This is the same idea as Korea University's Global Open Major or Kyung Hee's free major division, but at a national university outside Seoul, where tuition is typically lower. How majors are assigned in year two, and what Korean level is needed, will be in the guideline. Read that carefully before you apply.

Why consider Kyungpook

National university

Tuition at national universities follows a government-linked structure and is usually well below Seoul private universities.

Strong reputation

Ranked first among Korea's national universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education rankings.

Life outside Seoul

Study in one of Korea's major cities, with its own airport, subway and university hospital, away from the Seoul crowds.

Scholarships (from an earlier guide)

Kyungpook's 2023 guide offered first-semester tuition scholarships by TOPIK level: 16–20% for TOPIK 3, 40–42% for TOPIK 4, 80–84% for TOPIK 5 and 100% for TOPIK 6. These may have changed; we'll update this once the 2027 guideline is out.

Sources and verification

Kyungpook National University announcements on the Global Liberal Studies division (June 2026, via Korean press); Spring 2027 dates as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily; university facts and 2024 ranking from public references; scholarship figures from KNU's Fall 2023 undergraduate guide. Last verified Sep 23, 2026.

K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with Kyungpook National University.