Address: 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
Materials;Engineering;Nanotechnologies
Founded in 2007 as a research-focused science and technology institute, UNIST is emerging as a leading university in Korea.
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, UNIST, is a research university founded in 2007 in Ulsan, the industrial city on the south-east coast of Korea where Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Heavy Industries have their main plants. It has about 5,500 students and 600 staff, and around 30 percent of the students come from abroad. The campus lies in Eonyang-eup, in the west of the city, among hills and next to a reservoir, and it is a campus of modern glass and concrete buildings designed for research.
UNIST was designed to be a new type of Korean university, with a small size, an international faculty and instruction in English. Departments cover natural sciences, engineering, biomedical science, urban and environmental engineering, design and technology management, and computer science and artificial intelligence. Students work in laboratories early in their studies, and undergraduates can join research groups after the first year.
The institute is known for energy and materials research. Its laboratories work on lithium and next-generation batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, two-dimensional materials, carbon materials, nuclear and environmental engineering, and healthcare devices. The university has risen quickly in international rankings of young universities, and it is among the most cited institutions in Korea per researcher. Industry partners include Hyundai, SK and other firms of the Ulsan region.
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 lower than at the large private universities, and many students receive scholarships. Check the current tariff and the aid available for foreign students.
Ulsan is an industrial city with a large coastal area and a quiet environment. UNIST provides dormitories on campus, and the high-speed rail station is about 25 minutes by bus, with Seoul reached in about two and a half hours.
Domains taught:
Engineering, Materials, Nanotechnologies
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong partnerships with industries and international universities
Research:
Research emphasis on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnologies
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
600
Current students***:
5500
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
5000
Pros
Rapidly growing research university; modern campus
University of Ulsan follows much the same lines as this institution, with engineering as common ground, and it is larger, enrolling about 14,000 students against roughly 5,500 here, and is also a public institution.
For students who like the materials and engineering focus of this school but want another option nearby, Pusan National University fits well: it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers life sciences as well.
The comparison with Pohang University of Science and Technology is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on materials and engineering, and it is private, whereas this school is public, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Both schools build their programmes around materials and engineering, and Sungkyunkwan University is the one to compare first within the country, since it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers AI and machine learning as well.
For students who like the engineering focus of this institution but want another option nearby, University of Seoul fits well: it covers civil engineering and project management as well, and is larger, enrolling about 12,000 students against roughly 5,500 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
On content, National University of Science and Technology in Russia and this institution are close, as both teach nanotechnologies, materials and engineering; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers geotechnics and chemistry as well.
If this school is on your list for nanotechnologies, materials and engineering, Tambov State Technical University in Russia deserves a comparison, because it is larger, enrolling about 9,000 students against roughly 5,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Indian Institute of Science brings a India setting to the same core fields, materials and engineering, and it is slightly smaller, at about 4,500 students against roughly 5,500 here, and is also a public institution.
The closest overseas parallel on materials and engineering is Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, located in Brazil; it is far larger, with about 30,000 students against roughly 5,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad in India pursues a similar profile in materials and engineering, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*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 UNIST?
At 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun in Ulsan, South Korea.
When was it founded?
In 2007.
How large is it?
About 5,500 students and 600 staff, with around 30 percent of students from abroad.
What is it known for?
Energy and materials research, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, two-dimensional materials and artificial intelligence.
Which companies does it work with?
Hyundai, SK and other firms of the Ulsan region.
Are courses taught in English?
Yes. Courses are taught in English, and Korean language classes are offered.
Can undergraduates do research?
Yes. Undergraduates can join research groups after the first year.
How do international students apply?
They apply directly with academic records and language tests.
What does it cost?
Tuition is lower than at the large private universities, and many students receive scholarships. Check the current tariff and the aid available.
How do you reach Ulsan from Seoul?
About two and a half hours by high-speed rail.
Engineering, Environmental Technologies, Materials, Nanotechnologies, Renewable Energy, Research and Development, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Materials
*: 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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