South Korea · Master's
KAIST
MS in Industrial Design
KAIST
Course Overview
The MS in Industrial Design at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) — South Korea's top science-and-technology university and a global top-tier research institution — sits within one of Asia's most respected design departments. Uniquely, KAIST's Department of Industrial Design fuses design with engineering, HCI, and technology, so students work at the intersection of product design, user experience, interaction design, and emerging tech (AI, robotics, smart products). The two-year, English-taught, research-based Master's culminates in a thesis, often produced in collaboration with industry giants such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai.
For Sri Lankan graduates in design, engineering, or HCI, KAIST offers a rare combination: a world-class, tech-forward design education at remarkably low cost, because KAIST provides generous scholarships and heavily subsidised tuition to graduate students — many international students study on full or near-full funding with a monthly stipend. South Korea grants graduates a post-study job-seeking visa (D-10), and Korea's design-driven tech economy (Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Naver) offers exceptional career opportunities in product and UX design.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A Bachelor's degree in design, engineering, HCI, computer science, or a related field with a strong record — a Sri Lankan Second Class degree in a design or technical discipline (Moratuwa, or an equivalent overseas degree) is competitive.
- check_circle A design portfolio is central to the application and often the decisive factor.
- check_circle A statement of purpose / research plan and two recommendation letters.
- check_circle Academic transcripts and degree certificates (authenticated as required).
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall, or TOEFL iBT 83+ — English-proficiency evidence is required for the English-taught programme.
- check_circle No Korean required — graduate programmes are taught in English (Korean classes available for daily life).
- check_circle Waived if your prior degree was taught and assessed entirely in English — most Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees qualify with an MOI letter.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (₩) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, before scholarship, 2026) | ₩14,000,000 | Rs. 3,220,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Daejeon) | ₩12,000,000 | Rs. 2,760,000 |
| Student Visa (D-2) + Insurance (per year) | ₩900,000 | Rs. 207,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment (before scholarship) | ₩26,900,000 | Rs. 6,187,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
South Korea grants graduates a post-study job-seeking visa (D-10), with skilled-work and residence pathways. KAIST industrial-design graduates enter product design, UX/interaction design, and design-research roles at Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Naver, and global tech and design firms, or launch design-led startups — an exceptional pipeline given Korea's design-driven tech economy. The engineering-plus-design training and KAIST brand are highly regarded worldwide, including for roles across Asia and beyond.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.