KR · Master's
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
MS in Computer Science
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Course Overview
KAIST's School of Computing MS is a research-led 2-year program with concentrations across AI, machine learning, computer systems, security, HCI, and graphics. Students are admitted into a specific lab, work directly with a faculty advisor from semester one, and produce a thesis — it is genuinely a research degree, not a coursework conversion master's.
For Sri Lankan applicants with a solid CS or engineering background, the KAIST Scholarship makes this one of the lowest-net-cost top-50 CS master's globally. The school's AI faculty (Sung Ju Hwang, Eunsol Choi, Jaegul Choo) publish heavily at NeurIPS, ICML, and CVPR, and KAIST partners directly with Samsung Research, Naver Labs, and Kakao Brain for industry projects.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related discipline with a strong GPA (3.3+ / first class equivalent).
- check_circle Demonstrable programming and math foundation — data structures, algorithms, linear algebra, probability.
- check_circle Statement of purpose identifying 2–3 prospective lab advisors (KAIST CS admissions are advisor-driven).
- check_circle Two academic recommendations; GRE optional but helpful.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 83 Overall.
- check_circle Waivable if your bachelor's degree was taught in English.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (KRW) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (2 years) | KRW 32,384,000 | Rs. 7,448,000 |
| On-Campus Dormitory (24 months) | KRW 6,000,000 | Rs. 1,380,000 |
| Living & Food (24 months) | KRW 12,000,000 | Rs. 2,760,000 |
| D-2 Student Visa & Insurance | KRW 1,200,000 | Rs. 276,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | KRW 51,584,000 | Rs. 11,864,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
KAIST CS graduates are heavily recruited by Samsung Research, Naver, Kakao, LG AI Research, SK Hynix, and Korean offices of Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Many continue to a KAIST PhD on a fully funded track. International graduates use the D-10 job-seeker visa to convert to E-7 (specialised employment) — engineers in semiconductors and AI typically clear the points threshold easily.
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