Are you looking for the best universities in South Korea for international students? South Korea is home to highly regarded comprehensive universities and specialized science and technology institutions offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Its universities are particularly well known for fields such as engineering, technology, business, medicine, natural sciences, and the humanities.
International students who choose to study in South Korea can find an increasing number of courses and degree programs taught in English, although the language of instruction varies by university and department. The country also offers academic opportunities in creative fields such as music, film, and culinary arts. Applicants should check each program’s language requirements carefully before applying.
This guide ranks the top universities in South Korea primarily according to their overall academic standing in major international university rankings while also considering their research reputation and strengths in individual subjects. You can compare their programs, admissions information, tuition fees, and scholarship opportunities before making your decision.
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| Seoul National University | Humanities, Medicine, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Data Science, Public Administration |
| Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Science, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Culture Technology, Green Transportation, Business and Technology Management |
| Sungkyunkwan University | Business, Technology, Political Science, Software Engineering |
| Pohang University of Science and Technology | Science, Engineering, Industrial and Management Engineering |
| Yonsei University | Multidisciplinary Studies, Economics |
| Korea University | Law, Medicine, Business, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence |
| Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology | Advanced Materials, Next-Generation Energy, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Chemistry |
| Sogang University | Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Communication, International Relations |
| Hanyang University | Engineering, Science, Technology |
| Ewha Womans University | Medicine and Health Sciences, Psychology, Education, Life Sciences, Engineering, Climate and Environmental Research, Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence |
| Pusan National University | Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Biotechnology, Environmental and Climate Science, Marine Science |
| Hankuk University of Foreign Studies | Languages, Regional Studies, Linguistics, Interpretation and Translation, International Studies, AI Convergence, Biomedical Engineering |
| Kyungpook National University | Food Science and Technology, Multidisciplinary Studies |
| Chonnam National University | Data Science, Medical Artificial Intelligence, Agricultural Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics |
| Kyung Hee University | Korean Medicine, Medicine, International Studies, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Visual Communication Design |
| Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology | Science, Engineering, Technology |
| Chung-Ang University | Pharmacy, Culture and Arts, Business, Technology, Animal Science, Chemical Engineering |
| Konkuk University | Technology and Innovation Management, Data Science, Multidisciplinary Studies |
| Sejong University | Hospitality and Tourism Management, Animation, Dance, Green Energy, Climate Science, Astrophysics, Advanced Technology |
| Ajou University | Artificial Intelligence, Future Automobiles, Molecular Science and Technology, Energy Systems, Medicine, Business, Engineering, International Studies |
Top Universities in South Korea for International Students
1. Seoul National University
Seoul National University is one of the best universities in South Korea for international students and has been setting the standard of academic excellence in the country since 1946. SNU is part of the elite SKY universities, a three-member group of the most prestigious universities in Korea. It has 16 colleges and 11 professional graduate schools offering a wide range of subjects, from humanities to medicine to engineering. Its professional graduate schools provide practical skills in fields like data science and public administration. SNU also offers many English-taught courses across its departments. Furthermore, SNU is known for its strong research, especially in engineering and the natural sciences.
A recipient’s path: Ana Sarem pursued her master’s in Anthropology at Seoul National University through the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. Applying through the Embassy Track, she first went through embassy review and interview before NIIED sent her application to three universities; she was accepted by two and chose SNU, and she says her academic record, research experience, prior study in Korea, and clear explanation of why Korea mattered to her research strengthened her case. Her experience also shows the importance of checking language of instruction carefully, as her graduate classes were conducted primarily in Korean. View More Seoul National University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Seoul National University: Ilyas Khurshid: after completing his SNU PhD in Numerical Simulation in Petroleum Engineering, he is now based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is a leading institution for innovation, entrepreneurship, science, and technology in South Korea. Established in 1971 by the Korean government, it is widely recognized as Korea’s first public research-oriented institution for science and engineering. Advanced areas such as culture technology, artificial intelligence, green transportation, and interdisciplinary science are among its major academic and research strengths.
This top public university in Korea comprises five colleges, seven schools, 13 graduate schools, and 27 departments. KAIST has a large international community, with more than 900 international students listed in its current institutional figures. Moreover, many KAIST courses are taught in English.
One student’s journey: Pidchayanin Chutipattana completed a master’s in Business and Technology Management at KAIST. She researched her options extensively, cross-checking more than 100 sources before applying, and used her personal statement and study plan to connect her background to the program; although she received several Korean university admissions, she chose KAIST. Her scholarship-supported degree later became a foundation for her entrepreneurial work. View More KAIST recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST): Lei Chen: became a Machine Learning Engineer in San Francisco; Dr. Botchu Vara Siva Jyoti: became a faculty member in Space Engineering at TU Delft; May Myat Thwe: progressed from her KAIST master’s to a Horizon Europe-funded PhD at TU Delft.
3. Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University is one of the best private universities in Korea and traces its roots to Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon dynasty’s primary academic institution. The university remains connected to its historic legacy while being a leading force in business, technology, and research. SKKU has a long-running partnership with Samsung, which has helped strengthen its research infrastructure and industry-linked programs.
Sungkyunkwan University has strong academics and various support systems for international students. Kristien, a master’s student in political science at Sungkyunkwan University, notes, “SKKU has a dedicated Global Student Support office that helps with visa processing, housing, course registration, and counseling. They also organized cultural excursions and language exchange events that made adapting to life in Korea easier.” She also notes, “Academically, the faculty was highly experienced and supportive, with many courses designed to challenge students to think critically. I appreciated the mix of theory and practical case study work in most classes.” Her experience at SKKU shows that Sungkyunkwan University is a strong institution in terms of academics and international student support
Naranjin’s path to Sungkyunkwan University: Naranjin is pursuing Software Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University on the Samsung Global Sungkyun Scholarship, which covers all four years of tuition. She researched English-taught programs and scholarships through official university sources, self-studied for both IELTS and SAT, and says starting early and showing a balance of academic strength and sustained activities made her application stronger. Her story is a useful example of an undergraduate application built around consistency rather than a single achievement. View More Sungkyunkwan University recipients →
Outcomes of students who studied at Sungkyunkwan University: Dalim Leang: after his SKKU master’s, secured a fully funded PhD position at the University of Texas at Austin..
4. Pohang University of Science and Technology
Pohang University of Science and Technology is a private research university established by the Korean steel company POSCO. POSTECH has built a strong reputation in world university rankings as a science and technology-focused university. It trains specialist engineers and scientists through its science and engineering departments and research centers. POSTECH also has state-of-the-art facilities such as the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, which operates Korea’s only third- and fourth-generation synchrotron facilities.
As one of the leading universities in Korea for international students, POSTECH admits many international students, especially at the master’s and doctoral levels. It also has close collaborations with global and local institutions with the same goal of innovation. For instance, POSTECH and KAIST host the annual Science War as a knowledge exchange platform for students.
A recipient’s path: Virda pursued a master’s in Industrial and Management Engineering at POSTECH with full funding. While working as a data analyst she prepared for IELTS on weekends, ultimately reaching the required score after multiple attempts, and her professor later told her that a Q1 journal publication was one of the strongest parts of her application. Her route shows how prior research output can matter alongside test preparation for a research-intensive graduate application. View More POSTECH recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH): Hajiyev Sarkhan: after finishing his POSTECH master’s in 2023, remained in South Korea to work and apply the research and technical skills developed during the degree.
5. Yonsei University
Yonsei University is one of the oldest and most prestigious private institutions in Korea, with roots that began in 1885 through Gwanghyewon, Korea’s first modern hospital. As a SKY university member, it has incredibly competitive admission rates and performs strongly in world university rankings. Degree-seeking students who want to apply at Yonsei can choose from a wide array of graduate and undergraduate programs in almost every discipline. Yonsei fosters the principles of truth and freedom in its academic community.
Yonsei has notable international collaborations and programs that serve a large international student community. Its campuses are renowned internationally for their beauty and supportive learning environment, especially the Sinchon campus.
Amal Varghese’s path to Yonsei University: Amal Varghese entered a master’s in Economics at Yonsei University with the Global Leader Fellowship. He earned IELTS 8.0 after two weeks of self-study and says research work, recommendation letters, institution-specific preparation, and keeping his CV and statement of purpose from simply repeating one another strengthened his application despite an imperfect transcript. He especially credits his experience as editor-in-chief of an undergraduate economics research journal with helping him stand out. View More Yonsei University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Yonsei University: Charmaine Distor: after her Yonsei master’s, became a doctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne and a research consultant for UNU-EGOV.
6. Korea University
Korea University is one of the oldest universities in Korea. It offers high-quality education in many study areas. Law education, medicine, and business programs are especially well known at the institution. In recent subject rankings, KU has performed strongly in fields such as social sciences and management, natural sciences, engineering, and technology. Furthermore, KU instills humanitarian principles in all of its academic work.
KU belongs to the influential SKY universities in Korea. Its international programs include the College of International Studies and Graduate School of International Studies, and the university maintains exchange agreements with more than 1,000 partner schools in 98 countries.
A recipient’s path: Namrah Siddiqua completed a master’s in Artificial Intelligence at Korea University through the Global Korea Scholarship. She began months ahead of the deadline, assembling essays, recommendations, certificates and extracurricular evidence, built a broad profile rather than relying on grades alone, and was able to apply without IELTS, TOEFL or GRE because her university supplied an accepted English-proficiency certificate. She says strong, authentic personal statements and evidence of leadership, volunteering, internships and research alignment helped her application stand out. View More Korea University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Korea University: Dirgha Raj Joshi: enrolled in a fully funded PhD program at Korea University before transferring to Yonsei University, where he completed his PhD, then worked as a research scholar at the U.S. National Institutes of Health before returning to Nepal; Deepak Kumar: after earning his Electrical Engineering bachelor’s at Korea University, became a Partner Manager at SAP Labs India.
7. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology is a young research university for science and technology. This top university in Korea was established in 2007 in response to the demand for a national university in Ulsan, Korea’s industrial capital. In a short time, the university has built an international reputation in many disciplines. UNIST’s research strengths include advanced materials, next-generation energy, artificial intelligence, and engineering.
UNIST encourages interdisciplinary education, with students and professors working across more than one area of concentration. UNIST is actively seeking international students, and many of its programs use English as the language of instruction.
Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling’s path to UNIST: Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling is pursuing a master’s in Chemistry at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) through the Global Korea Scholarship. She applied through the University Track and was interviewed by three Chemistry professors; she believes that interview, together with her research record, publications, leadership and clear academic direction, strengthened her candidacy. Her case is especially useful because the selection centered on research fit and interview performance rather than simply accumulating standardized-test scores. View More Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology recipients →
8. Sogang University
Sogang University is a private Jesuit university located in Seoul. It was established by the Society of Jesus and is known for its liberal arts education, academic rigor, and strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, business, and communication.
Sogang University provides international programs, student support services, and campus resources for international students. Its Jesuit educational philosophy emphasizes academic excellence, human dignity, and service to society.
Souljah’s path to Sogang University: Souljah is completing a master’s in International Relations at Sogang University through the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. She began preparing only two months before applications opened and says connecting with alumni and current scholars was especially valuable; her own profile combined a magna cum laude Foreign Affairs degree, seven Model UN programs and an internship with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Fourteen applicants from the Philippines were selected in her GKS Embassy Track cohort. View More Sogang University recipients →
9. Hanyang University
Hanyang University is a leading university in Korea, particularly in STEM fields. It was established in 1939 and represented Koreans’ desire to control their own educational institutions during the Japanese occupation. Presently, HYU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in diverse study fields. Its engineering programs remain among the university’s strongest areas.
Hanyang University has several research accomplishments in STEM and collaborates with government institutes in various endeavors. HYU has a wide global network of partner universities. It is not difficult to apply at Hanyang University, and the university welcomes many international students each year.
10. Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University traces its history to 1886, when Mary F. Scranton began classes for women in Seoul, and it developed into Korea’s first higher-education institution for women. Based primarily in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the university reported 23,124 enrolled bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students as of April 2026, including 2,468 international students. Its academic organization comprises 15 colleges, 81 departments, and 16 graduate schools.
Ewha combines a broad academic portfolio with substantial research activity in fields including medicine and health sciences, psychology, education, life sciences, engineering, climate and environmental research, brain science, and artificial intelligence. Its research infrastructure includes the Ewha Brain Institute, Brain Disease Research Institute, Center for Climate / Environment Change Prediction Research, Global AI Drug Discovery Center, and numerous university- and medical-center-affiliated institutes. The university also operates the Ewha Womans University Medical Center, which includes Mokdong Hospital and Seoul Hospital.
One student’s journey: Oumaima Latrech pursued her master’s at Ewha Womans University through the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. She began studying the official guidelines six to seven months before the application deadline, navigated apostilles and conversion of her Moroccan grades to a 4.0 scale, and applied with both IELTS and TOPIK Level 3; she considers her study plan and personal statement among the strongest elements of her application. Because the degree was conducted in Korean, her language preparation also served as evidence that she understood the academic environment she was entering. View More Ewha Womans University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Ewha Womans University: Daniela Fajardo: after completing her bachelor’s in Computer Science at Ewha, received an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship for the Software Engineering for Green Deal program across universities in Italy, Finland and the Netherlands; Gita Poudel: became Director of Human Capital and Compliance at Maganti IT Resources; Thai Quynh Anh Nguyen: after her Ewha PhD, became a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
11. Pusan National University
Pusan National University was founded in 1946 as Korea’s first national university and developed into a comprehensive research institution serving Busan and southeastern Korea. It operates campuses in Busan, Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami, with different campuses supporting specialized areas of teaching, research, and clinical education. The university comprises 15 colleges alongside graduate and professional schools and reports a community of roughly 30,000 students.
PNU has broad academic coverage, with particularly visible research strengths in engineering, the natural sciences, medicine, biotechnology, environmental and climate science, and marine-related fields. Its research infrastructure includes institutes in areas such as functional materials, microbiology, marine science, advanced physics, and climate research, including the IBS Center for Climate Physics. International subject rankings also show comparatively strong research performance in atmospheric science, marine and ocean engineering, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, energy science, and several engineering specialties.
A recipient’s path: Camila Painefilo completed a master’s in Management Information Systems at Pusan National University through the Global Korea Scholarship. She applied through the Embassy Track with IELTS 8 and TOPIK Level 2, and says an earlier unsuccessful undergraduate GKS attempt led her to spend her five undergraduate years strengthening her profile through grades, international experience and teaching-assistant work before applying again. For the final application she sought feedback from a previous GKS scholar and friends on her essays and prepared specifically for the Korean Embassy interview. View More Pusan National University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Pusan National University: Dr. Sangram Keshari Mohanty: after his PNU PhD, received BK21, Pusan National University and G-LAMP postdoctoral fellowships.
12. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is a private university founded in 1954 with campuses in Seoul and Yongin, where its Global Campus is located. The university has developed from its original specialization in foreign-language education into an institution spanning 19 colleges, nine graduate schools, and a broad range of humanities, social science, business, science, engineering, and interdisciplinary programs. Official university figures report 19,648 enrolled students as of April 2025.
HUFS is particularly distinguished by the scale and breadth of its language and regional-studies curriculum. The university teaches 45 languages and combines language study with subjects such as politics, economics, culture, and society, while maintaining dedicated strengths in linguistics, interpretation and translation, and international and area studies. Its academic structure also includes newer areas such as AI convergence, biomedical engineering, climate studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
A recipient’s path: Zuzana BeneÅ¡ová completed a master’s in Korean Education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, with her entire degree and thesis completed in Korean. In her application, she focused on presenting her existing achievements and commitment authentically rather than trying to manufacture a distinctive profile; the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) funded her language year and master’s studies. She graduated and then began looking for professional work to build career experience. View More Hankuk University of Foreign Studies recipients →
13. Kyungpook National University
Kyungpook National University is a national university located in Daegu, South Korea. It was established in 1946 and has grown into one of the major national universities in the country, with a large student body and hundreds of international partner universities.
Kyungpook National University has a good reputation among international students because it offers exchange programs, study-abroad opportunities, and international student support. The campus gives students a natural and comfortable environment, with facilities that support both academic and student life.
One student’s journey: Kainat Fatima pursued a master’s in Food Application Technology at Kyungpook National University through the Global Korea Scholarship’s R&D pathway. She says having a professor’s acceptance, a clearly defined research idea and choosing the scholarship pathway that matched her subject were central strengths in her application; she did not rely on a standardized English test and instead used proof of English-medium instruction. Her experience highlights research fit and supervisor alignment as practical differentiators for a graduate application. View More Kyungpook National University recipients →
14. Chonnam National University
Chonnam National University, also known as CNU, is a public university in Gwangju, South Korea. It is ranked #901-950 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and is also included in major global university rankings. The university has campuses in Gwangju, Hwasun, and Yeosu.
Chonnam National University offers a range of courses and programs for international students. The school also provides resources to help students succeed, such as academic support, career-related services, and assistance for international students adjusting to life in Korea.
A recipient’s path: Tran Ngoc Ly is completing a master’s in Data Science at Chonnam National University through the R&D University Track of the GKS Graduate Scholarship. She entered with previous GKS experience, TOPIK Level 6 and a clear Medical AI research direction, after researching the department and consulting current CNU scholars; her application linked that proposed research to a concrete real-world problem rather than relying on a generic study plan. She is finishing the degree with a 4.5/4.5 graduate GPA and a medical-image-analysis paper under review. View More Chonnam National University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Chonnam National University: Toyin Bukola Kezia Oluwatuyi: completed her Agricultural Economics master’s and now lives and works in Seoul; Micheale Haileslassie: after completing his Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s, secured a fully funded U.S. PhD position in robotics and artificial intelligence.
15. Kyung Hee University
Kyung Hee University, one of the best universities in Korea for international students, is part of an academic system that provides education from kindergarten to graduate studies. KHU is well known for Korean medicine, medicine, international studies, and hotel and tourism-related fields. Its hospitality and leisure management programs are among the university’s strongest areas.
Kyung Hee University has extensive global collaborations, including hundreds of partner universities around the world. The university also has a large international student community and offers many opportunities for inbound and outbound exchange.
A recipient’s path: Nada completed a bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design at Kyung Hee University through the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. Before applying she strengthened both her English and creative preparation, completed a two-month British Council IELTS course, and then concentrated heavily on Korean after the scholarship reopened to Yemeni applicants. She believes moving to Korea independently to learn the language and adapt before the scholarship application demonstrated commitment and genuine interest beyond simply wanting a degree abroad. View More Kyung Hee University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Kyung Hee University: Uyen Q. Nguyen: after her Kyung Hee hospitality and convention-management bachelor’s, continued to a postgraduate certificate in Sports and Event Marketing at George Brown College in Canada, graduating with honours.
16. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology is a research-oriented university in Gwangju, South Korea, and one of the country’s strong science and technology institutions. It was established to develop students who can contribute to the advancement of science and technology and promote academic exchange between domestic and foreign universities.
The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology is located in Gwangju, South Korea. The university offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. International students at GIST may be eligible for scholarships and financial support, including tuition support, stipends, housing support, and other benefits depending on the program and eligibility requirements.
17. Chung Ang University
Established in 1918, Chung Ang University is a private research institution in South Korea. It operates two campuses, in Seoul and Anseong, and has grown from its early roots in education into a comprehensive university with strong programs in fields such as pharmacy, culture, arts, business, and technology.
The school offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It also administers exchange programs with partner schools around the world on a semester or academic-year basis.
Arxel Gutierrez Elnar’s path to Chung-Ang University: Arxel Gutierrez Elnar completed an integrated M.S.–Ph.D. in Animal Science and Technology at Chung-Ang University through the Chung-Ang University Young Scientist Scholarship. Rather than choosing universities by name alone, he reviewed faculty profiles, recent publications and active projects to identify laboratories aligned with his research, then built his CV and application around research experience and supervisor fit; he did not take the SAT, ACT, GRE or GMAT for the application. After the degree he remained at Chung-Ang as a BK21 FOUR postdoctoral researcher. View More Chung-Ang University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Chung-Ang University: Mohamed Atwair: after earning his Chung-Ang master’s in Chemical Engineering, progressed to a fully funded Chemical Engineering PhD at the University of South Carolina, where he works as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant.
18. Konkuk University
Konkuk University traces its roots to Minjung Hospital, founded in 1931, and to the Korea Institute of Politics, founded in 1946. It later developed into a comprehensive private university. Konkuk University has campuses in Seoul and Chungju, with a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
In terms of internationalization, Konkuk University has growing global connections and various partnerships with foreign universities. Its Seoul campus is located in Gwangjin-gu and is known for its urban location and green campus environment.
One student’s journey: Mou Noshin Mustafa pursued an MSc in Technology and Innovation Management at Konkuk University through the embassy track of the Global Korea Scholarship. She prepared for IELTS in one month while finishing her previous MBA, submitted three sets of documents to the Korean Embassy in Dhaka, passed document screening and then interviewed; she credits that embassy interview, including showing a genuine interest in living and adapting in Korea, as particularly important. She later secured a full-time export-company job three months before graduation. View More Konkuk University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Konkuk University: Shahla Aghayarli: now works as a Specialist coordinating the Baku Engineering University–Inha University Dual Degree Program; Said Ali Ahmed: after his Data Science master’s and internships in Korea, became a Network Performance Analyst Consultant and university lecturer in Somalia.
19. Sejong University
Sejong University is a private university named to honor Sejong the Great and his contributions to the Korean alphabet, Hangul. Numerous international students enroll at SJU because of its recognized study programs, especially hospitality and tourism management. Animation, dance, and other creative fields are also among the institution’s strengths.
The university’s research units focus on areas such as green energy, climate change science, astrophysics, and advanced technology. Sejong University has also performed strongly in recent global rankings, including a high placement in hospitality and leisure management and strong performance in the Leiden rankings.
20. Ajou University
Ajou University is a leading research university in South Korea. Established in 1973 and located in Suwon, Ajou has colleges and programs in fields such as artificial intelligence, future automobiles, molecular science and technology, energy systems, medicine, business, engineering, and international studies.
Ajou University provides support for international students through its Office of International Affairs. International students can access residential life resources, student support services, summer programs, and international student activities designed to help them adjust to campus life.
Lubna Maryum’s path to Ajou University: Lubna Maryum pursued a two-year master’s in International Development and Cooperation at Ajou University through the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. She began with broad online research, shortlisted countries and government-funded programs that matched her background, and took IELTS even though it was not mandatory; she says the test, community involvement and co-curricular record helped strengthen her application. After being shortlisted, she prepared for the interview using previous scholars’ experiences and other online resources. View More Ajou University recipients →
FAQs: Study in South Korea
Is Korea a Good Place to Study for International Students?
Korea is one of the most popular study destinations in Asia and the world. Universities in Korea consistently appear in several world-renowned university rankings. Study options available for international students include Korean language programs, study-abroad semesters, and full degree programs. Many courses are taught in Korean, but English-taught options are increasingly available, especially at graduate level. Tuition varies by university and program, and many universities and government institutions provide scholarships and research funds. Living costs in Korea can be lower than in many other developed countries, depending on the city and lifestyle. It offers strong internet and mobile services, varied accommodation options, and vibrant culture. Modern Korea still reflects Confucian values through many aspects of social conduct.
Can International Students Work in Korea While Studying?
International students in Korea generally study under a D-2 visa for degree programs or a D-4 visa for language training and other training activities. D-2 and eligible D-4 visa holders may work part-time only after receiving permission from their institution and the immigration office. The allowed working hours depend on visa type, degree level, year of study, Korean language ability, and whether the student meets special conditions such as studying at an accredited university or having excellent academic performance. For example, bachelor’s students who meet the language requirement may work up to 25 hours on weekdays, while master’s and doctoral students who meet the requirement may work up to 30 hours on weekdays. Some students may receive higher weekday limits, and weekend or vacation rules depend on the student’s category and eligibility.
Can International Students Stay in Korea After Graduation?
After completing your studies, you may be able to change your visa to a D-10-1 Job-Seeking Visa. This visa is for international graduates and other eligible foreigners seeking employment in Korea or participating in internship and start-up preparation activities. The D-10-1 visa can be extended in six-month increments for up to two years. After getting hired, you can change to an employment visa category that matches your job, such as an E-7 Specific Activities Visa, if you meet the requirements. If your work area falls under academic work or other specific occupations, you may need another visa category, such as E-1 to E-6. These categories include professor, researcher, technical instructor, foreign language instructor, professional, artist, athlete, and other fields designated by the Minister of Justice.
We hope this list will encourage you to enroll in one of Korea’s top universities. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!