Overview

KAIST AE Overview

Since its establishment in 1979, the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST has been leading flight technology and space exploration research including aircraft, UAVs, drones, satellites, space launch vehicles, air traffic management, and satellite navigation systems. We are providing the well-designed utmost quality education curricula for B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. levels with the motto of “system-oriented education” in a way that KAIST AE graduates can lead the national large-scale aerospace system projects.

On top of regular curriculum, we also offer Space Exploration Engineering Program cooperating with KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center to cultivate excellent space professionals with sufficient field experiences.

Vision and Mission

Vision

We train talented individuals with creative and challenging mindsets and carry out pioneering aerospace research dedicated to expanding the scope of human lives.

Mission

  • Train future talent by providing innovative education programs that can lead aerospace engineering.

  • Conduct research on aerospace technology development and pursue excellence through global research activities.

  • Contribute to technological development of national science and aerospace industry by cultivating responsibility and leadership.

  • Promote global value creation based on aerospace knowledge.

Academic programs

구분 B.S. M.S. Ph.D.
Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
Space Exploration Engineering Program

Recent student achievements

  • Grand Prize in Human Powered Aircraft Competition (‘2015)
  • Best-in Theme Award in RASC-AL Space Mission Design Competition organized by NASA and NIA (‘2017)
  • Grand Prize (Minister of Industry Award) in KAI Paper Competition (‘2017, ‘2019, ‘2020)
  • Grand Prize in the International Military Science and Technology Fair (‘2018)
  • KAIST Creative Challenge Award (‘2016, ‘2018)
  • Undergraduate student start-up (Perigee Aerospace, attracting investment of 20 billion won)
  • Grand Prize in Aero Future Tech & Business Contest ('2024)

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment
Total enrollment (Sophomore, Junior, and Senior) 101 People
International student ratio* 18 % (18 People)
B.S. degree awardee in 2023 academic year 26 People
Graduate enrollment
Total enrollment (M.S. and Ph.D.) 264 People
Part-time students 39 People
Space Exploration Engineering Program 12 People
International student ratio* 8.3 % (22 People)
M.S. degree awardee in 2023 academic year 39 People
Ph.D. degree awardee in 2023 academic year 26 People

* Since more than 95% of the lectures at KAIST AE are in English, international students are able to complete their academic programs without language barrier.

Faculty & Staff

  • Tenured and tenure-track professors
    20

  • Emeritus professor
    9

  • Adjunct professors
    3

  • Joint-appointed professors
    5

  • Invited professor
    4

  • Research professor
    4

  • Post-doc. researchers
    17

  • Staff members
    21

Research Areas

KAIST AE contributes to various aerospace programs in Korea through active research in the following five areas.
During the past 5 years, there has been annual research funding of approximately 12 billion won, and about 6 SCI-E publications per professor yearly.

Research Areas