South Koreans take their higher education very seriously, and hence, the quality of academic institutions the country possesses is exceptional. Thirty-one of its total universities are ranked in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Its highly modern cities, along with their deep roots in its cultural heritage, give students a great platform to learn and thrive in their respective fields.
To study in any of the South Korean universities, an international student is required to take a standardized English language test. Most of these universities take into consideration TEPS, TOEFL, and IELTS scores.
In the article, we’ll be focusing on the IELTS band requirements for some of the best universities in the country. IELTS band scores represent levels of English language ability on a scale of 1-9, 1 being a non-user and 9 being an expert user. The required scores for these universities are somewhere between 5 and 7.
Minimum IELTS Band Requirements in South Korean Universities
1. Seoul National University
Seoul National University (SNU) is one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea. SNU is a national research university established in 1946 with 3 campuses in Gwanak, PyeongChang, and Daechangno. It operates 16 different colleges, 1 graduate school, and 9 professional schools for over 28,000 students from all across the globe.
Currently, the university has MoUs with more than 700 academic institutions across 40 countries to provide the best possible education and exposure to its students.
Some of the notable alumni of SNU include Ban Ki-Moon, former secretary-general of the UN, Samsung Electronics CEO Kwon Oh-Hyun, and former International Criminal Court president Song Sang-Hyun.
SNU accepts the following English proficiency exams: TOEFL, TEPS, or IELTS scores. It requires international students to have at least an IELTS Band of 6 or above.
Here is what Seoul National University Scholars Say about IELTS:
“Because Mozambique doesn’t have English as an official language, I made sure to also take an English proficiency test (IELTS).”
Keity Rose Mendes
“Standardized Tests: I submitted a 7.5 IELTS score and a TOPIK Level 6 certificate (Korean language proficiency test) after high school for my SNU application.”
Munkh-Erdene Munkhbat
“One of the requirements was proof of English proficiency. Since my previous university used English as the medium of instruction, I was able to submit a Certificate of English as Medium of Instruction instead of taking standardized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS.”
Jennifer Callanga
“Standard requirements included a bachelor’s diploma, a transcript of records, and a certification for the medium of instruction to exempt me from submitting TOEFL or IELTS results.”
TJ
2. Korea University
Korea University is a private research university based in the capital city, Seoul. Founded in 1905, it was ranked the best private university in the country for three consecutive years. Housing over 29,000 students across its 19 graduate schools with a total of 81 departments, the university is best known for its higher education courses.
Its College of Law is considered to be the best law school in the country. Notable alumni of the institution include the 10th President of the Republic of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak.
Korea University has a very hospitable environment for its international students. At any given point in time, there are more than 1000 international students from various parts of the world forming a part of its total student body.
International students from non-English-speaking countries need to submit proof of English proficiency. Applicants who have completed their degree program in an English-speaking country are exempt from this requirement.
Here is what Korea University Scholars Say about IELTS:
“While preparing for this scholarship, I took the IELTS test and obtained an overall score of 7.5.”
Islamuddin Alimurrijal
“I discovered late in the process that Korea University required IELTS scores.”
Nain Danish
“When I applied, I did not have any official standardized language test scores such as TOEFL or IELTS. Instead, I submitted an English proficiency certificate issued by the English academy I attended.”
Anjavola Rasolonjatovo
3. Yonsei University
Yonsei University is the second-oldest university on this list and traces its history back to 1885. The university was founded on the principles of Christianity by American Protestant Christian missionaries. It is also a part of the SKY Universities, the top three universities in South Korea, the other two being Seoul National University and Korea University.
The University has over 30,000 students studying across its 19 undergraduate and 16 graduate schools. You will be required to have at least an IELTS Band of 6.5 to attend this university in Korea.
Yonsei’s International Summer School, which started in 1985, brings more than 1,300 international students to its campus in Seoul from 30 different countries. International applicants aspiring to study at Yonsei need to submit their IELTS or TOEFL scores as proof of their English proficiency.
Here is what Yonsei Scholars Say about IELTS:
“Most schools or scholarship programs require getting 6 to 6.5 on average IELTS score, so I set myself to get at least 7 to be safe.”
Rizka
“I think having IELTS and TOPIK scores made my application stand out.”
Bella Naufal Wafa Nabila A
“I dedicated a month to studying and achieved a 7.5.”
Sara Nuruddin Panjawani
“Yes, I took the IELTS before applying because most international scholarships require proof of English proficiency. One tip: be strategic about timing. IELTS and similar test results are only valid for two years, so it’s best to schedule the test close to your application timeline to maximize its usefulness.”
Charmaine Distor
4. Hanyang University
Hanyang University was established as an engineering college in 1939 during the Japanese occupation of South Korea. The university is known for having a diverse pool of students from across the globe; enrolling more than 3,000 international students in its courses every year.
It has two campuses, one each in Seoul and Ansan, with 60 departments in its 15 different colleges. With such a diverse pool of student body, Hanyang University has made a name for itself as one of the best educational institutions in the country, especially in the field of engineering and related research.
Here is what Hanyang University Scholars say about IELTS:
“The first priority in preparing my university application was to ensure a high language proficiency score. In my case, I submitted IELTS, which played a crucial role in both the admission and scholarship evaluations.”
Stefanie
“I had TOPIK Level 5 and an IELTS band 7. For IELTS, I prepared intensively for three weeks with a tutor who helped me hit my target band 7.”
Juju San
“In terms of standardized tests, I took the IELTS in 2019 and achieved a score of 7.0, which helped demonstrate my English proficiency for admission.”
Gulsara
“The general eligibility for IISMA applicants is having at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA and a certificate of English proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, DET, and TOEIC). With a score for undergraduate, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 78, DET 100, and for vocational, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 60, DET 95, and TOEIC 605.”
Dhiya Iftikha
“I didn’t take exams like the GRE or IELTS. Instead, I focused on TOEIC and TOPIK, and used free online resources to prepare.”
Zeineb Ben Hamza
5. Sungkyunkwan University
The roots of Sungkyunkwan originate from the Joseon Dynasty, which was a Korean kingdom for more than five centuries. It was established as the foremost academic institution of this country in 1398, and also had the first library in the country. It has over 25,000 students and about 1,500 academic faculty members mastering various fields. The university gives heavy importance to research in development and has close ties with Samsung and Hyundai.
Today, SKKU provides courses in collaboration with MIT, UC Berkeley, and Indiana University. International students applying to SKKU need to submit their TOEFL or IELTS scores. It requires students to have at least an IELTS Band of 5.5. Students with nationalities that use English as an official language just need to submit their high school completion certificate.
Here is what Sungkyunkwan University Scholars say about IELTS:
“No GRE or SAT was required. I only needed to prove English proficiency, so I prepared for and submitted the TOEIC (Listening and Reading only). This test is relatively cheaper, and only the Listening and Reading sections are needed for acceptance”
Muhammad Omer
6. Pohang University of Science and Technology
Pohang University of Science and Technology, commonly abbreviated to POSTECH, is another private research university based in Pohang. It was founded by POSCO to provide advanced education to young, budding engineers in the 80s. Since its inception, POSTECH has made a concrete position for itself as one of the leading universities in the world.
POSTECH offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across 22 departments to 3,500+ students. It has a low student intake, which makes it one of the most competitive universities to get into on this list. Its 400-acre campus is built on smart technology with student boarding facilities, a gymnasium, and sports complexes for international students.
International students from non-English speaking countries have to submit their TOEFL, TEPS, IELTS, or TOEIC scores. Students from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain are exempted from the English proficiency policy of the college.
7. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Our last university on our list is KAIST, which is South Korea’s first fully research-oriented university in the field of science and engineering. It has two campuses, one each in Daejeon and Seoul. KAIST provides programs across its 6 colleges, comprising 33 departments. In 2016 and 2017, it was ranked as the 6th most innovative university and 21st best university for IT and Engineering in the world.
International applicants at KAIST have to prove their efficiency in English by taking the IELTS exam. Most study programs require a minimum of a 6.5 score to be eligible for the program.
The above-mentioned universities are some of the best academic institutions that have opened their doors to international students. Korean universities usually use Korean or English as a medium of imparting education to students at the college level. But with the advent of globalization, universities in Korea have become aware of the importance of having diversity in classrooms, which has gradually led to a high influx of international students into the country.
Here is what KAIST scholars say about IELTS:
“I took the TOEFL for NJUST and the IELTS for KAIST.”
Ana T. Paredes
“After 1 month of preparation, I appeared in both tests and cleared both (IELTS 7.5) and (TOEFL iBT 102).”
Omer Tariq
“In addition, I prepared for standardized tests such as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and IELTS, which strengthened my applications to international institutions.”
Rahul Agrawal
“I did have both IELTS and TOPIK (Korean Language Proficiency).”
May Myat Thwe
IELTS Scores of Students Studying in South Korea
FAQs about IELTS in South Korea
Do universities or scholarships in South Korea always require IELTS?
No, several recipients studied in Korea without IELTS. Anisatul Aqidah Tagiling (UNIST, GKS–Graduate) said she “did not take any international standardised language test, such as TOEFL or IELTS,” because it was optional for both GKS and UNIST; she instead submitted a nationally recognized English certificate and later completed the mandatory Korean course (TOPIK) under GKS.
What IELTS scores have successful Korea-bound students actually had?
Scores vary by person and program. Islamuddin Alimurrijal (Korea University, Master’s) shared, “I took the IELTS test and obtained an overall score of 7.5.” Juju San (Hanyang University, BBA) reported “an IELTS band 7.” These examples show competitive 7.0–7.5 ranges among admitted students, though requirements differ by university/track.
If my degree is taught in Korean, do I still need IELTS?
Usually the priority is Korean proficiency (TOPIK). Nunnalin (Ewha Womans University, CSE) took TOPIK and said she had Level 5 before admission; she also confirmed her classes were “in Korean,” and discussed the challenge of technical vocabulary even with a high TOPIK level. For such programs, TOPIK often matters more than IELTS.
Does having IELTS help for competitive scholarships or universities like GKS or SNU?
It can strengthen your application. Describing the embassy track competitiveness, Juju San observed that “most of the candidates I know have both IELTS and TOPIK.” While not always required, an IELTS score may boost your competitiveness alongside Korean proficiency.
Are there accepted alternatives to IELTS for Korea?
Yes, depending on the institution/scholarship. As noted by Anisatul, some routes accept other proof of English (e.g., a nationally recognized English certificate) and may focus on a Korean-language year with TOPIK under GKS. Always verify the exact documents each program accepts.
IELTS is just one of the many English language exams accepted in South Korean universities. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students and Study in Korea pages!
