Applications to national lab university UST double in four years, hitting record high

The University of Science and Technology (UST), a national research university, recorded its highest-ever number of new applicants, doubling in four years. UST said it will expand its annual enrollment capacity to 430 students starting next year, reflecting the surge in applications and growing demand from government-funded research institutes to recruit students.

UST announced Wednesday that 877 domestic students applied for general admission for the 2026 academic year, up 9.4% from the previous record of 802 set last year.

Applications have risen for four consecutive years. From the 2022 to 2026 academic years, the average annual growth rate was 19%, with total applicants increasing 100.7% over the period — more than doubling in four years.

The enrollment rate has also hit 100% for four consecutive years, from the 2023 academic year through this year. UST raised its intake from 300 to 390 — a 30% increase — starting last year, yet still maintained full enrollment.

Beginning with the 2027 academic year, UST will increase its annual intake by about 10% to 430 students. Compared with the 300-student capacity in the 2024 academic year, that represents an increase of 130 students, or roughly 43%, over three years. UST cited the rise in applications, growing student recruitment demand from its affiliated research institute schools, and a shortage of science and engineering talent in South Korea as reasons for the expansion.

What stands out is that applications are growing rapidly despite UST's still-limited name recognition. In a 2025 awareness survey of 1,512 science and engineering undergraduates at 50 universities nationwide, only 34.1% said they were at least somewhat familiar with UST — roughly one in three.

UST attributes the increase in applications to growing awareness among prospective students of its high employment rate, research achievements and scholarship benefits.

According to UST, the employment rate for graduates stands at 94.6%. About 10% of graduates have been hired as full-time researchers at 29 government-funded research institutes, with others going on to become faculty members at general universities or policy officials at central government ministries.

Current students' research output is also notable. As of the second semester of the 2026 academic year, 50.6% of doctoral graduates had published a first-author paper in a journal ranked in the top 10% of the Journal Citation Reports while still enrolled.

Student support has also been strengthened. All enrolled students receive full tuition coverage of 2.5 million won ($1,840) per semester, while doctoral students receive a monthly stipend of at least 1.9 million won and master's students at least 1.43 million won. Additional scholarships are available in national strategic technology fields — including AI, quantum, advanced biotech and advanced robotics — along with awards for outstanding research assistants and support for overseas training and international academic presentations.

UST President Kang Dae-im said the university expects the number of strong applicants to grow further as awareness of its talent development outcomes, research and education infrastructure, and scholarship benefits continues to rise. "We will expand enrollment, advance our curriculum and strengthen scholarships so that more students can grow into world-class talent at the national research university," he said.

UST is a national research university that uses 30 government research institutes across the country — including the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) — as graduate campuses, allowing students to pursue master's and doctoral degrees directly in research settings.