Hongik University (홍익대학교) is a private university in Seoul's Mapo-gu district, next to Hongik University station, best known for fine arts, design and architecture; its second campus is in Sejong City. The language bar is low — TOPIK 1 is enough to apply — but with TOPIK 1–2 your first semester becomes a leave of absence spent on two terms of paid Korean. The spring 2027 intake closed in July 2026, so the next realistic entry is autumn 2027, for which the last cycle took applications in May. In spring 2026 a semester cost $3,710 (KRW 5,025,200) in the humanities and $4,820 (KRW 6,527,200) in sciences, engineering and the arts.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Campuses for international students | Seoul (Mapo-gu, 94 Wausan-ro) and Sejong (Sejong City) |
| Do not confuse | Hongik's Sejong campus is not Sejong University, which is in Seoul |
| Teaching language | Korean |
| Minimum to apply | TOPIK 1 or Level 1 at the Hongik International Language Institute |
| Spring 2027 | applications 16–23 Jul 2026 (closed), results 18 Dec 2026 |
| Autumn 2026 (pattern for autumn 2027) | applications 11–18 May 2026, fee then $96 (KRW 130,000) |
| Application fee | $110 (KRW 150,000) + $6 (KRW 8,000) processing |
| Tuition per semester, spring 2026 | $3,710–5,300 (KRW 5,025,200–7,174,200) |
| Graduation language rule | TOPIK 4 |
Who Hongik suits
Hongik is the natural choice for artists, designers and architects: oriental painting, painting, printmaking, sculpture, visual communication and industrial design, metalwork and jewellery, ceramics and glass, woodworking and furniture, textile art and fashion. It also offers engineering, business, law, economics and languages.
| Good fit | Compare with |
|---|---|
| Art and design applicants with a strong portfolio | Anyone wanting English-taught classes: everything here is in Korean; see Sejong |
| Applicants with TOPIK 1–2 who can spend six months on Korean inside the university | Students who do not want to lose the first semester to a leave of absence |
| Strong Korean speakers: TOPIK 5 opens a chance at four years of free tuition and housing | Media, film and K-content applicants: compare Dongguk and Konkuk |
| Future game developers: the Sejong campus has a games college | Students who must be in Seoul when their chosen major exists only in Sejong |
Programmes
Seoul campus: electronic and electrical engineering, materials science and chemical engineering, computer engineering, industrial and data engineering, mechanical and system design, civil and environmental engineering; architecture (5 years), interior architecture, urban design and planning; business administration, economics, law; English, German, French and Korean language and literature; art history and theory and the fine arts and design majors listed above; musical theatre (acting) and contemporary music (vocal, composition).
Sejong campus: electronic and electrical convergence engineering, software and communications, materials, architecture and architectural engineering, mechanical and design engineering, naval architecture and mobility, biological and chemical engineering, game software and game graphics, business management and finance, advertising and PR, design, film and animation.
You may apply to one department on one campus only. There is no fixed quota for international students; selection depends on academic ability.
Korean level: three categories
| Category | TOPIK or Hongik Language Institute level | What happens after admission |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4–6 | one required academic writing course, two more recommended |
| B | 3 | only five designated Korean courses in the first semester |
| C | 1–2 | leave of absence in the first semester and at least two terms (six months) at the Language Institute; return once you reach A or B |
If you move up a category before the semester, send the new TOPIK by 28 December 2026 (for the spring intake) and your course plan is adjusted. Category C students who skip the two terms, or fail the same level three times, are dismissed from both the institute and the university. Graduation requires TOPIK 4. See our TOPIK guide.
Timeline
| Step | Spring 2027 |
|---|---|
| Online application | 16–23 Jul 2026 |
| Documents | 16–24 Jul 2026 (postmark by 24 July, arrival by 7 August) |
| Results | 18 Dec 2026 |
| Pre-registration | 21–23 Dec 2026 |
| Additional documents | 13–26 Jan 2027 |
| Tuition payment | 10–12 Feb 2027 |
| Semester starts | 2 Mar 2027 |
The autumn 2026 intake took applications on 11–18 May 2026. The autumn 2027 handbook will appear in the admissions archive (hongik.ac.kr, International Students); plan your documents and portfolio for April.
Selection and documents
Humanities, sciences and arts applicants are selected on documents alone; performing arts count documents at 60% and video at 40%. The committee can reject applicants whose academic level, including Korean, is very low.
Everyone submits signed forms 1–3 from the online application; the school diploma and all-year transcripts with apostille and a notarised Korean or English translation (notarised in Korea or the issuing country); a family relationship document and passport copy; and TOPIK or a Hongik Language Institute record. Art applicants (except art history) add a teacher's recommendation in a sealed envelope, a portfolio of up to five A4 works each signed by applicant and teacher, and a signed authenticity pledge. Performing arts applicants submit two unedited videos under three minutes each (singing and dance for musical theatre; vocal, or piano or acoustic guitar for composition) on two identical USB drives. Optional extras: language course records, national exam results and school awards. General document tips are in our guide to applying to Korean universities.
Costs
| Campus and field | Tuition per semester (spring 2026) |
|---|---|
| Seoul and Sejong, humanities | $3,710 (KRW 5,025,200) |
| Seoul and Sejong, sciences, engineering, arts | $4,820 (KRW 6,527,200) |
| Seoul, performing arts | $5,300 (KRW 7,174,200) |
Tuition is paid in won to a Shinhan Bank virtual account, with transfer charges on the student. Category C students pay the semester they spend on leave (it is carried forward to the semester they return) plus about $2,660 (KRW 3,600,000) for two Language Institute terms including the application fee; the institute confirms the exact amount.
Housing is allocated by admission score. In Seoul, Dormitory 2 has double rooms with bathrooms and Dormitory 3 offers singles for men and doubles, 1.3 km from campus, about ten minutes by bus; Dormitory 1 is closed for reconstruction. Applications open from late December to early January on the dormitory website. For off-campus options see student housing in Korea.
Hongik Global Scholarship
| Scholarship | Requirement | Award |
|---|---|---|
| International Scholarship | freshman with TOPIK 5+; at most 10 a year, two per nationality | full tuition and a double room for 4 years (5 in architecture) with GPA 3.0 |
| Korean Language Scholarship, Seoul | TOPIK 4 / 5 / 6 (TOPIK 5+ for architecture, interior and fine arts) | 50% / 60% / 70% of tuition and housing for one semester |
| Korean Language Scholarship, Sejong | TOPIK 4 / 5 / 6 | 50% / 60% / 70% for 1 year / 1 year / 2 years |
| Language Institute scholarship | two terms and Level 4 at Hongik's institute | 30% of tuition and housing for one semester |
| Academic | GPA 4.0 / 3.5 / 3.0 / 2.5; $890 (KRW 1,200,000) from 2.0 | 100% / 80% / 60% / 40% of tuition |
| First-semester Korean courses | all 15 credits passed (not architecture, interior or fine arts) | $670 (KRW 900,000) in the second semester |
| TOPIK while enrolled | first TOPIK 4+ | $74 (KRW 100,000), then $30 (KRW 40,000) per further level |
Awards do not stack, except the TOPIK scholarship. In architecture, interior architecture and fine arts, academic awards go only to the top 3% of the college. Scholarship holders must still pay the remaining balance on time. GKS is a separate competition; see our GKS guide.
Bank balance and visa
Admitted students send an original bank certificate between 13 and 26 January 2027, issued no earlier than 13 January 2027. A Korean bank certificate must show $14,780 (KRW 20,000,000); a foreign bank certificate must show at least USD 20,000. If the account is a parent's, add the parent's employment (or business registration) certificate and income tax certificate. The registration guide sent on results day explains the Certificate of Admission and visa steps; the D-2 visa itself is decided by the Korean consulate. See our student visa guide.
Hongik for applicants from Russia and the CIS
- The USD 20,000 requirement for foreign bank accounts is higher than at many Seoul universities; prepare it early.
- You and both parents must have held foreign citizenship before you entered high school.
- Paying won into a Shinhan account from Russia needs a working route: see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Common mistakes
- Preparing for spring when the window has closed: the spring intake applies in July of the previous year.
- Sending more than five artworks, or forgetting the teacher's signature on each.
- Submitting a foreign bank certificate for $14,780 (KRW 20,000,000) instead of $20,000.
- Choosing the Sejong campus in the belief that it is Sejong University.
- Underestimating Category C: six months of leave, courses and extra fees.
FAQ
Can I get into Hongik without Korean?
Not with zero Korean: you need at least TOPIK 1 or Level 1 at Hongik's Language Institute. With TOPIK 1–2 you are admitted but spend the first semester on leave studying Korean, then join your major at TOPIK 3 or above.
How much does Hongik cost?
In spring 2026 a semester cost $3,710 (KRW 5,025,200) in the humanities and $4,820 (KRW 6,527,200) in sciences, engineering and the arts, with performing arts in Seoul at $5,300 (KRW 7,174,200). The spring 2027 application fee was $110 (KRW 150,000) plus $6 (KRW 8,000) processing.
When should I apply?
For a spring start, in July of the previous year: spring 2027 applications ran on 16–23 July 2026. The autumn 2026 intake applied on 11–18 May 2026, so aim to have documents and a portfolio ready by April for autumn 2027.
Do I need a portfolio for Hongik?
For art and design majors other than art history, yes: up to five A4 works with signatures, a teacher's recommendation and an authenticity pledge. Musical theatre and contemporary music applicants send videos instead of a portfolio.
Is Hongik's Sejong campus the same as Sejong University?
No. Sejong is the city where Hongik's second campus teaches engineering, games and business. Sejong University is a separate university in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, with its own admission and English-taught programmes.
Can StudyU help with a Hongik application?
Choosing the campus and major, a TOPIK plan, and preparing the portfolio, documents and bank certificates are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Hongik decides on admission and scholarships, the dormitory office on housing, and the Korean consulate on the visa.
Sources
- Hongik: International Student Admission Guide, Spring 2027 (English, PDF)
- Hongik: International Student Admission Guide, Fall 2026 (English, PDF)
- Hongik Admissions: International Students archive
We convert won to dollars at the ECB reference rate for 29.09.2026 — EUR 1 equalled USD 1.1355 and KRW 1,536.74, roughly KRW 1,353 per dollar — rounding to the dollar under $100 and to $10 above that. Compare options on Study in South Korea and in universities in Seoul. To prepare an autumn 2027 portfolio application in time, send an application.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Sejong University: Admission, Tuition and English-Taught Programmes
- Dongguk University: Admission, Tuition and Scholarships for International Students
- Konkuk University: Admission, Tuition and Scholarships for International Students
- Studying in South Korea for international applicants
- TOPIK Exam Guide 2026–2027: Levels, Scores, Test Dates and Where to Sit It
- Student Housing in Korea 2026: Dormitory Prices, Goshiwon, Deposits and How to Protect Your Money
