Address: 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, South Korea
Engineering;AI and Machine Learning;Physics
Established in 1993, GIST focuses on science and engineering research and graduate education in Korea.
The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, GIST, was established in 1993 in Gwangju, in the south-west of Korea, as a research institute with a focus on graduate education. It has about 900 students and 600 staff, and roughly 30 percent of the students come from abroad. An undergraduate college, GIST College, opened in 2014, and it follows the same model of small classes and early research experience. The campus lies on Cheomdangwagi-ro, in the north of the city, in a green area with modern laboratories.
GIST is organised around schools of electrical engineering and computer science, materials science and engineering, mechanical and robotics engineering, earth sciences and environmental engineering, life sciences, physics and chemistry, and an AI graduate school. It was designed to develop the south-west region, which had been far from Korea’s industrial centres, and it has become a regional hub for photonics, optics and information technology.
Research strengths include photonics and laser technology, with the Advanced Photonics Research Institute, as well as artificial intelligence, environmental science, materials, biomedical science, robotics and energy. The Korea Photonics Technology Institute is located in Gwangju, and the cluster of optical companies cooperates with GIST. The institute is active in international networks and welcomes researchers from other countries.
Admission for Korean students uses the national exam and the university’s own screening, while international applicants apply directly with academic records and language tests. Courses are taught in English, and Korean language classes are offered. Tuition is covered or reduced for many students through scholarships. Check the current tariff and the aid available for foreign students.
Gwangju is a mid-sized city known for its food, its art scene and its role in the democratic movement of 1980. Students live in dormitories on campus, and the high-speed train links the city to Seoul in about two hours.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Engineering, Physics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Collaborates with research centers worldwide including DARPA and Fraunhofer
Research:
Research active in AI, photonics, and nanotechnologies
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
600
Current students***:
900
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
7000
Pros
Strong research focus; well-regarded in science and engineering
Cons
Limited undergraduate student body
Best For
Research-oriented science and technology institute
Both schools build their programmes around AI and machine learning and engineering, and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology is the one to compare first within the country, since it covers robotics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 1,400 students against roughly 900 here.
Kyung Hee University works in much the same fields, chiefly AI and machine learning and engineering, and it also offers bachelor's programmes and covers life sciences as well.
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology shares the core fields of this institution, namely engineering; it also offers bachelor's programmes and covers nanotechnologies and materials as well.
For students who like the AI and machine learning and engineering focus of this school but want another option nearby, Sungkyunkwan University fits well: it is private, whereas this school is public, and also offers bachelor's programmes.
Another national school that puts AI and machine learning and engineering at the centre is Ewha Womans University, and it is far larger, with about 21,000 students against roughly 900 here, and is private, whereas this institution is public.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on AI and machine learning and engineering is ENSAE Paris in France, and it is also a public institution and runs the same master's and doctoral programmes.
If this institution is on your list for physics, AI and machine learning and engineering, Télécom Saint-Étienne in France deserves a comparison, because it covers ergonomics and UX and optics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 500 students against roughly 900 here.
If this institution is on your list for physics, AI and machine learning and engineering, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in India deserves a comparison, because it has almost the same size, at about 1,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Looking internationally, Westlake University in China is where physics, AI and machine learning and engineering get a comparable treatment; it covers microbiology and genetics and chemistry as well, and is private, whereas this institution is public.
Looking internationally, CUNY Graduate Center in the United States is where physics get a comparable treatment; it covers nanotechnologies and optics as well, and is far larger, with about 3,100 students against roughly 900 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is GIST?
At 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu in Gwangju, South Korea.
When was it established?
In 1993.
How large is it?
About 900 students and 600 staff, with around 30 percent of students from abroad.
Does it offer undergraduate degrees?
Yes. GIST College opened in 2014.
What is it known for?
Photonics, laser technology, artificial intelligence, materials, environmental science and robotics.
Which institutes are linked to it?
The Advanced Photonics Research Institute and the nearby Korea Photonics Technology Institute.
Are courses taught in English?
Yes. Courses are taught in English, and Korean language classes are offered.
How do international students apply?
They apply directly with academic records and language tests.
What does it cost?
Tuition is covered or reduced for many students through scholarships. Check the current tariff and the aid available.
How far is Gwangju from Seoul?
About two hours by high-speed train.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Engineering, Environmental Technologies, Machine Learning, Nanotechnologies, Photonics, Research and Development, Robotics
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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