Students who cannot take South Korea's 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT, known in Korean as Suneung) because of final acceptance through early university admission, illness or another recognized reason may receive a refund of 60% of the examination fee they paid. Applications must be submitted from Monday, November 23, through Friday, November 27, 2026, along with supporting documents, to the institution where the student originally registered for the exam. However, anyone who submitted an answer sheet for even one test section on exam day is ineligible for a refund.
Based on the Ministry of Education's registration guidance and related detailed requirements for the 2027 CSAT,this article explains the actual refund amounts and the conditions applicants need to check.
Does Final Acceptance Through Early University Admission Qualify for a CSAT Refund?
Final acceptance through South Korea's early university admission process, known as *susi* (수시모집), is a recognized reason for a refund of the 2027 CSAT examination fee. However, merely applying through early admission or expecting to be accepted does not qualify a student for a refund.
The recognized reasons include:
Being unable to take the exam because of a natural disaster
Being unable to take the exam because of illness
Receiving final acceptance through early university admission
Being unable to take the exam because of military enlistment
Losing eligibility to take the examination
An essential condition is that the student must not have taken any section of the examination on test day.
For example, a student who receives final acceptance through early university admission and does not take the CSAT at all may apply for a refund. By contrast, if the student takes any section of the CSAT, the refund eligibility rules apply differently, regardless of their early admission results.
Students must also prepare documentation proving their admission status. It is advisable to check in advance how to obtain documents confirming final acceptance.
Can Students Receive a Refund if They Become Ill During the Exam?
Even when illness is a recognized reason for a refund, a student who submits an answer sheet for any section during the examination cannot receive a refund. This is because actual participation in the examination, not just the existence of an illness, is an important factor in determining eligibility.
The distinction becomes clear when different situations are compared.
| Situation on Exam Day | Refund Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Absent from all sections because of illness | May apply after supporting documents are verified |
| Absent from all sections following final acceptance through early admission | May apply after supporting documents are verified |
| Takes the first section but withdraws because of illness | Not eligible for a refund |
| Submits a blank answer sheet for one section | Not eligible for a refund |
| Simply misses the exam without a recognized reason | Not eligible for a refund |
In particular, students should be aware that submitting an answer sheet counts as participation even if the sheet is completely blank.
Students who miss the exam because of illness must prepare supporting documents, such as a medical certificate, for their refund application. If it is unclear whether a particular document will be accepted, the safest approach is to check with the school or local education support office where the examination application was submitted.
How Much Is the 2027 CSAT Refund? Fee and Refund Amounts by Number of Sections
The refund amount depends on the number of examination sections selected. For the 2027 CSAT, the examination fee is KRW 37,000 for four or fewer sections, KRW 42,000 for five sections and KRW 47,000 for six sections.
The refund is calculated as 60% of the examination fee actually paid.
| Number of Sections Selected | Examination Fee Paid | 60% Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Four or fewer sections | KRW 37,000 | KRW 22,200 |
| Five sections | KRW 42,000 | KRW 25,200 |
| Six sections | KRW 47,000 | KRW 28,200 |
The refund amounts above are the author's calculations based on the official examination fees and the 60% refund rate.
For example, if a student selected five sections and paid KRW 42,000, the calculation is:
42,000 won × 0.60 = 25,200 won
The remaining 40%, which is not refunded, amounts to KRW 16,800.
The number of examination sections should not be confused with the number of individual subjects. The examination fee is determined by the number of sections selected from Korean language, mathematics, English, Korean history, inquiry subjects, and a second foreign language/Classical Chinese.
When and Where Can Students Apply for the 2027 CSAT Fee Refund?
Applications for the 2027 CSAT examination fee refund must be submitted to the original examination registration office from Monday, November 23, through Friday, November 27, 2026.
The CSAT examination date is Thursday, November 19, 2026. The refund application period therefore begins the week after the examination.
Students must apply at the institution where they actually submitted their examination registration form.
Therefore, graduates should not automatically assume they must visit their former school, nor should all students assume they need to visit an education support office.
Students should check their original registration location using their examination registration receipt or other relevant records, then contact that institution to confirm the refund application procedure.
The hours during which applications are accepted are just as important as the application dates. Before visiting, applicants should confirm the institution's operating hours and document submission deadline.
What Documents Are Required for a CSAT Fee Refund Application?
A refund application requires a refund request form, identity verification documents and evidence supporting the reason for the refund. The required evidence varies by circumstance, so students should not assume that the same documents apply to every applicant.
Applicants can prepare by following these steps:
1. Confirm that the reason for not taking the examination is recognized under the refund rules.
2. Verify that no examination sections were taken on test day.
3. Identify the school or education support office where the examination registration was submitted.
4. Prepare the refund application form, identification and supporting documents relevant to the reason for the absence.
5. Submit the application to the original registration office between November 23 and November 27.
Students who were absent because of illness may need medical evidence, such as a medical certificate. Students who received final acceptance through early university admission must prepare documents confirming their acceptance.
Military enlistment and loss of examination eligibility also require evidence confirming the relevant circumstances.
Students who cannot visit in person should check in advance whether an authorized representative may submit the refund application and whether additional documents are required. They should not assume that the rules for submitting an examination registration through a representative automatically apply to refund applications.
CSAT Examination Fee Exemption vs. Refund: What Is the Difference?
An examination fee exemption allows an eligible student to avoid paying the fee when registering for the examination. A refund, by contrast, is a procedure for recovering part of a fee that has already been paid after the student does not take the examination.
For the 2027 CSAT, the following groups may apply for an examination fee exemption by submitting the relevant supporting documents, based on their eligibility as of the examination registration date:
Recipients of benefits under South Korea's National Basic Livelihood Security system
Members of the legally designated near-poverty group (*chasangwi*, 차상위계층)
People eligible for support under South Korea's single-parent family assistance system
If a student qualifies for an exemption and did not pay the examination fee, there is no payment to refund.
By contrast, a regular applicant who paid the examination fee but could not take any part of the exam because of illness, final acceptance through early university admission or another recognized reason may use the post-examination refund procedure.
The two systems have different application periods and eligibility conditions and should be treated separately.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2027 CSAT Fee Refund
Can I Get a Refund if I Received an Initial Early Admission Acceptance Notice?
The refund criterion is final acceptance through early university admission. Even if a student has received an initial acceptance announcement, they should confirm with their original examination registration office whether their final acceptance status can be verified and whether the supporting documents will be accepted.
Can I Get a Refund if I Went to the Exam Venue but Did Not Take the Test?
Actual examination participation matters more than simply visiting the test venue. A student who submitted an answer sheet for even one section, including a blank answer sheet, is excluded from the refund. The student must also have a recognized reason for not taking the examination and provide the required supporting documents.
Can I Get a Refund if I Simply Decide Not to Take the CSAT?
Absence resulting from a change of mind or a personal decision is not included among the recognized reasons. Students must confirm that their circumstances fall under an approved category, such as final acceptance through early university admission, illness or military enlistment.
Can I Apply After November 27?
The officially announced refund application period is November 23–27, 2026. Students should not assume that applications will be accepted after this period. They must submit the required documents within the designated dates.
Final Checklist: What to Confirm Before Applying for a CSAT Refund
A refund of the 2027 CSAT examination fee is not processed automatically simply because a student did not take the examination.
Students must first confirm that they have a recognized reason, such as final acceptance through early university admission or illness, that they did not take any section of the examination on test day, and that they can submit the necessary supporting documents.
The application period runs from November 23 through November 27. Checking the original examination registration office and preparing the required documents in advance can help avoid confusion during the application period.