South Korea is a generally safe country for travelers and students, and it offers a strong quality of life. These factors, along with the country’s emphasis on education and research, make the Asian country a great option for students who wish to study abroad.
With strong governmental support and a major commitment to research and development, South Korea has proven itself to be a competitive academic destination. Coupled with comparatively affordable tuition at many public and private institutions, South Korea offers international students strong academic options at a range of costs.
Affordable Schools in South Korea for International Students
1. Chonnam National University
Chonnam National University, or CNU, is a national university based in Gwangju, with an additional campus in Yeosu. The university traces its history to 1952 and is known for offering a wide range of academic programs across both campuses.
CNU’s undergraduate colleges cover fields such as nursing, business administration, agriculture and life sciences, education, arts, humanities, human ecology, engineering, social sciences, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, medicine, natural sciences, engineering sciences, culture and social sciences, fisheries and ocean sciences, and self-designed interdisciplinary studies.
It also has graduate and professional schools for students who wish to pursue higher studies in areas such as business, culture, law, medicine, dentistry, education, industry and technology, public policy, fisheries and ocean sciences, and industry-university cooperation.
2. Sejong Cyber University
Sejong Cyber University is a remote education institution that offers online study options. Its academic system is credit-based, and students complete graduation requirements by meeting credit, semester, GPA, and other academic requirements.
As a remote education institution, Sejong offers a variety of undergraduate options. These include degrees in fields such as international studies, Korean language, content creation, counseling psychology, social welfare, child and family studies, management, asset management, hotel and tourism management, information technology, disaster and safety, and arts and design.
3. Woosong University
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: from $6,400/year for on-campus undergraduate programs; online IDegree tuition starts from $3,840/year | from $7,014/year (Graduate)
Woosong University is part of the Woosong Educational Foundation, which was established in 1954. Woosong University itself opened in 1995. Located in Daejeon, it offers programs that emphasize global education, practical training, IT, and foreign-language learning.
Woosong lists more than 20 English-taught degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. These include options in business administration, AI management, global hospitality, AI and big data, AI-HCI, data science, global interdisciplinary studies, K-beauty design, early childhood education, global media and communication arts, global culinary arts, global restaurant management, and global railroad studies.
Woosong also offers graduate programs in areas such as artificial intelligence, AI convergence, hospitality management, AI business management, global and human studies, business administration, early childhood education, and related fields. Associate degree options include areas such as baking and pastry, culinary arts, K-beauty makeup, and K-pop music and dance.
4. Kangwon National University
Kangwon National University (KNU), one of the affordable universities in Korea for international students, traces its history to Chuncheon Agricultural College in 1947 and became a comprehensive university in 1978. Its current global site lists campuses in Chuncheon, Gangneung, Samcheok, and Wonju.
The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, arts, life sciences, fisheries and ocean sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and sports-related fields.
KNU also provides international student support programs and English-track options in selected fields, with tuition and requirements varying by campus, department, and level of study.
5. Cheongju University
Founded in 1947 as Cheongju Commerce University, Cheongju University has grown into a private educational institution in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.
Cheongju University offers undergraduate programs through colleges and academic units such as economics and business administration, humanities and social sciences, engineering, AI and software convergence, education, art, health and medical sciences, and liberal studies.
This affordable university in Korea also offers graduate programs in humanities and social sciences, natural science, engineering, and arts. Its current admissions pages also note that tuition and fees are subject to change by school policy.
6. Seoul National University of Science and Technology
Colloquially known as SeoulTech, the Seoul National University of Science and Technology traces its history to the Public Eoeudong Vocational Continuing School, established in 1910. Today, the Nowon-gu-based university is a national comprehensive university with about 14,842 students, including about 1,396 international students.
Currently, SeoulTech offers programs through academic areas such as engineering, information and communication engineering, energy and biotechnology, business and technology, art and design, humanities and social sciences, creativity and convergence studies, and international studies.
SeoulTech is ranked in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, where it moved up to joint 283rd. It is particularly associated with engineering, design, computer science, and technology-focused programs.
7. Seoul National University
Seoul National University – also known as SNU or Seouldae – is one of South Korea’s highest-ranked universities. It is ranked 38th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and joint 58th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. In the 2026 THE subject rankings, SNU is also ranked highly in medical and health, engineering, life sciences, and physical sciences.
Founded in 1946, SNU opened with nine colleges and one graduate school. Its history is connected to modern higher education institutions established during the era of Korean Emperor Gojong.
SNU, one of the affordable schools in Seoul, has 16 colleges and 11 professional graduate schools. Its campuses include Gwanak, Yeongeon, Pyeongchang, and Siheung.
SNU reports 30,323 enrolled degree students, along with 469 international exchange students and 870 language training students. Because tuition varies by major and credits taken, students should check the latest tuition notice for their chosen program.
FAQS About Studying in South Korea
What Are the General Requirements to Study in South Korea?
Students who wish to study in South Korea generally need to have completed secondary education to apply for an undergraduate course and need a bachelor’s degree to apply for a master’s program. Depending on the university’s medium of instruction, the applicant may need to show Korean or English proficiency.
Additional requirements such as transcripts, apostilles or consular verification, financial documents, entrance tests, interviews, and portfolios may also be requested by the university or department.
Do Universities in South Korea Offer English-taught Programs?
Yes. Although many programs are taught in Korean and may require Korean proficiency, Korean universities also offer a growing number of English-taught courses and degree options. For example, Korea University offers many English-taught courses, while Kyung Hee University lists an International Studies major in which major courses are taught in English. Availability varies by department and year, so students should confirm the language of instruction on the official program page before applying.
South Korea has numerous internationally recognized universities. While some institutions and programs can be expensive, many universities offer comparatively affordable tuition, and scholarships may help reduce costs further. This is one way Korean universities continue to attract international students to study in the country.
Hopefully, this article will encourage you to study in Korea. To find more information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students and Study in Korea!
