Not Just Medical Schools... A School Surpasses 10,000 Applicants for the First Time in History

KAIST Sees Increase in Both Undergraduate and Graduate Applicants
Innovative Reforms in Admissions Process
President Lee Kwanghyung: "We Support All Challenges and Failures"

KAIST selected 799 freshmen for the 2025 academic year and held an entrance ceremony. Photo by KAIST

Despite the 'medical school craze' drawing top high school students to medical colleges, the number of applicants to KAIST has surpassed 10,000 for the first time in history.

According to KAIST on the 19th, the number of undergraduate applicants has surged by 61% over the past three years (an average annual growth rate of 26.9%), and foreign graduate school applicants have increased by 64.5% (an average annual growth rate of 28.2%). KAIST has made efforts to innovatively reform its admissions process by establishing the 'Creative Challenge Track' to select bold and creative talents with the 'KAIST DNA' and by revitalizing the science gifted student selection system. As a result, the number of undergraduate applicants for the 2025 academic year reached 10,041, surpassing last year's 8,250. This represents a 61% increase compared to 6,238 applicants in the 2023 academic year.

The number of applicants for master's and doctoral graduate programs also increased by about 13%, from 5,992 in the 2021 academic year to 6,783 in the 2024 academic year. In particular, the number of foreign applicants for master's and doctoral programs surged from 902 in 2021 to 1,370 in 2024.

KAIST selected 799 freshmen for the 2025 academic year and held an entrance ceremony. Photo by KAIST

On the same day, KAIST held the 2025 entrance ceremony for undergraduate students at the main auditorium in Daejeon. This year's incoming class consists of 799 students. Baek Seoyun, the representative speaker for the new students, said, "A true scientist is not someone who solves problems with predetermined answers but someone who asks questions no one has asked before," adding, "I believe KAIST is a place where such questions can be explored." Baek previously developed a communication aid device for visually impaired people and demonstrated it at Gangwon Myeongjin School, a special education school.

President Lee Kwang-hyung said in his congratulatory speech, "If there is something that makes your heart race, you should take on the challenge," adding, "You are welcome to return to KAIST after 5, 10, or 20 years. KAIST will support and embrace all challenges and failures of its students."