Study in South Korea

South Korea combines globally competitive universities, modern cities and tuition that is moderate by the standards of major study destinations. Seoul National University and KAIST are known worldwide for science and technology, while Yonsei and Korea University anchor a broad range of subjects in the capital. The government is actively expanding international enrolment, and the Global Korea Scholarship is one of the most generous government awards available to foreign students.

What it costs to study in South Korea

Average undergraduate tuition is about KRW 6.8 million a year, according to the official Study in Korea portal, which draws on the government’s Academy Info platform. National and public universities average about KRW 4.3 million a year, while private universities average about KRW 7.6 million. Fees also vary by field, from about KRW 6 million a year in the humanities and social sciences to about KRW 9.84 million in medicine. Living costs run about KRW 750,000–1,000,000 a month: housing KRW 500,000–700,000, food KRW 200,000–300,000, transport KRW 50,000–100,000, and phone, internet and health insurance KRW 100,000–200,000. Seoul is more expensive than other cities, and the metropolitan average tuition of about KRW 7.7 million a year reflects that gap.

Student visa and financial proof

Degree students apply for a D-2 student visa at a Korean embassy or consulate. Applicants must show documented proof of financial ability, with the amount set by the embassy and the university, so confirm the figure with both before applying. The Global Korea Scholarship, run by the National Institute for International Education under the Ministry of Education, covers tuition, round-trip airfare, Korean-language training and a monthly allowance for selected undergraduate and graduate students, and it is the main government scholarship to plan around. The government has designated 181 universities as accredited for degree programmes.

Working while you study

Part-time work needs a permit from the immigration office before starting, and the permitted hours depend on Korean ability. With the required level — TOPIK 3 in the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, TOPIK 4 in later years and for graduate students — bachelor’s students may work up to 25 hours a week on weekdays with no cap at weekends, on public holidays and in vacations; master’s and PhD students may work up to 30 hours, or 35 hours where a bonus condition is met. Without the required Korean level, the limit falls to 10 hours a week, or 15 hours for graduate students. The minimum wage is KRW 10,320 an hour in 2026. Learning Korean therefore pays twice: it opens more programmes and more working hours.

Staying on after graduation

Graduates switch from the D-2 visa to the D-10 job-seeker visa. The first switch after a Korean degree gives one year without a points test, and graduates with TOPIK 4 or KIIP stage 4 within three years of graduation can stay on D-10 for up to three years, one year at a time. Part-time work and internships are possible on D-10 under set conditions, and a job offer that meets the Ministry of Justice criteria allows a move to an E-7 professional work visa. Students should apply for D-10 before the D-2 visa expires.

Applying

The main intakes are March and September. English-taught programmes exist across many fields and usually require TOEFL or IELTS, with the exact score set by each programme; Korean-taught programmes require TOPIK. Because Korean ability affects both admission choice and work rights, students who plan to study in Korean should start language preparation a year ahead. Applications go directly to the university, and scholarship applicants should also watch the GKS timetable published by NIIED.

Official source: Study in Korea

Official Sources

https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/