Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
#QS #132
QS Rank
7%
Intl. students
$8,000
Tuition/yr
3,234
Enrollment
9.2:1
Student:Faculty
About Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
POSTECH is a private South Korean research university in Pohang specialising exclusively in science and engineering, ranked #102 in QS World 2026.
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) is a private research university founded in 1986 by POSCO, one of the world's largest steel companies, in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It enrolls roughly 3,200–3,600 students and focuses exclusively on science, engineering, and technology, making it one of the most research-intensive universities in Asia.
POSTECH's strongest programs include materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and data science. The university consistently ranks among Asia's top 25 in QS subject rankings, placing in the global top 25 for materials science and top 50 for physics and astronomy. Approximately 85 percent of courses counting toward undergraduate and graduate majors are offered in English.
The campus is a self-contained residential environment in Pohang, a mid-sized industrial city on South Korea's southeastern coast, about 60 km south of Gyeongju. Its small size, under 5,000 students, means a very low student-to-faculty ratio and close faculty contact. Times Higher Education ranked it the 2nd-best small university in the world in 2024.
World University Rankings
For Nepali students
- POSTECH launched its first international undergraduate admission track for Fall 2026, and all admitted international students receive a full tuition waiver for all eight semesters, provided they maintain a GPA above 3.0/4.3, meaning the cost burden is significantly lower than most Western universities.
- Graduate students admitted through the GIFT (Graduate Institute for Ferrous Technology) and main graduate school programs receive full tuition coverage plus monthly stipends and a settlement allowance, making POSTECH one of the most affordable elite STEM postgraduate options for Nepali students.
- South Korea's D-10 job-seeker visa lets POSTECH graduates stay up to two years after graduation to search for employment, and graduates of top-200 QS universities (POSTECH qualifies at #102) are exempt from the usual points and financial requirements when converting to an E-7 work visa.
- POSTECH's specialisation in engineering and materials science aligns well with Nepali students pursuing STEM careers in semiconductor, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors, industries where South Korea is a global leader and where Korean companies actively hire international graduates.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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