KR · Bachelor's
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
BSc Computer Science
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Course Overview
KAIST's School of Computing is consistently ranked #1 in South Korea and top-30 globally for Computer Science (QS, THE). The 4-year BSc CS is taught entirely in English at the Daejeon campus, with first-year students starting in a common engineering/science track before declaring CS at the end of year 1. The curriculum covers algorithms, AI, systems, theory, HCI, and a heavily-coded software engineering capstone. Internships at Samsung, LG, Naver, Kakao, Hyundai Motor Group, and Korean AI startups (Upstage, Lunit, Twelve Labs) are standard.
Sri Lankan demand for KAIST CS has spiked over the last 3 years for three reasons: the tuition is dramatically lower than UK/US/Singapore (under KRW 8M/yr — roughly LKR 1.8M), the Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP) covers full tuition + monthly stipend + airfare for 10+ Sri Lankan undergraduates per year, and Korea's D-10 post-study Job Seeker visa gives 2 years to find skilled work. Korea's E-7-1 working visa converts cleanly for IT roles at Korean conglomerates and AI startups.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A Levels: AAA preferred; Maths and Physics required at A Level.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 38+ points including HL Maths and HL Physics at 6.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 As (Physical Science stream) with Combined Maths A required; competitive z-score 1.8+.
- check_circle Strong record of programming, science olympiads or maths competitions is the differentiator.
- check_circle Two recommendation letters, statement of purpose, KAIST online interview (English).
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 83 Overall.
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall.
- check_circle TEPS: 326 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your secondary qualification was completed in English (most Sri Lankan applicants from Edexcel/Cambridge International streams qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (KRW) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | KRW 7,994,000 | Rs. 1,838,400 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Daejeon) | KRW 12,000,000 | Rs. 2,760,000 |
| D-2 Student Visa & Insurance | KRW 800,000 | Rs. 184,000 |
| Books, Setup & Travel | KRW 1,200,000 | Rs. 276,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment (often fully covered by KGSP for scholarship admits) | KRW 21,994,000 | Rs. 5,058,400 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year D-10 Job Seeker visa post-graduation. Conversion to E-7-1 skilled-worker visa for IT roles. Korean PR (F-5) achievable after 5 years on a skilled work visa. KAIST CS grads place at Samsung Research, LG AI Research, Naver, Kakao, Coupang, Upstage, Lunit. Starting SE salaries in Korea: KRW 50-70 million (LKR 11.5M-16M).
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