How to Study Nursing in South Korea (7 Steps)

Why choose Korea? Korea has become a popular destination for international students. From local food to pop culture, there is always something trendy and interesting to look forward to in Korea. Aside from that, Korea’s educational system is competitive with international educational standards. Several Korean universities are ranked among the best schools worldwide.

Studying nursing in Korea is typically completed in four years for undergraduate programs. Many universities offer nursing degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. If you choose a Korean-taught program, you will usually need to submit proof of Korean proficiency, such as TOPIK, or meet the language requirement set by the university. Some universities may also accept completion of a Korean language program. Learning Korean is highly useful for daily life, school communication, and clinical training.

If you’re interested in taking a nursing program in Korea, you need to prepare beforehand. To help you with this, we listed the steps to follow as you study in Korea.

Steps on How to Apply for a Nursing Program in South Korea

Step 1. Understand the Prerequisites of Becoming a Nurse

To become a nurse in South Korea, you must graduate from an accredited nursing major at a university or junior college, pass the national nursing examination, and obtain a license from the Minister of Health and Welfare. Most nursing applicants start by choosing an accredited undergraduate nursing program, while graduate and doctoral nursing programs are also available at many universities.

To study an undergraduate nursing program, the applicant generally must be a graduate of an accredited high school and meet the language requirements of the chosen university. Depending on the institution, applicants may also be evaluated based on academic records, language proficiency, documents, interviews, and, in some cases, examinations.

At Seoul National University, for example, undergraduate international admission is handled by the university admissions office. SNU College of Nursing states that applicants to its B.S.N. program include Korean and foreign students who received elementary, junior high, and high school education outside Korea. For SNU’s International Admissions I, both the applicant and both parents must hold foreign citizenship. Applicants must also meet SNU’s education and document requirements, including high school graduation documents, transcripts, nationality documents, and proof of Korean or English language proficiency.

Step 2. Research about the Best Nursing Schools in South Korea

Before studying nursing in Korea, you have to do some research on the best nursing schools in South Korea. Depending on your location preference, you can choose nursing schools in smaller cities or larger urban areas. Costs may vary depending on the city, housing type, and university. If lifestyle and budget are the least of your concerns, several universities and colleges are situated in major cities. These institutions often have strong hospital affiliations and clinical training facilities.

When choosing a nursing school, research the program curriculum, clinical training opportunities, accreditation status, hospital affiliations, student support services, and national nursing examination preparation. This will help you assess the school’s performance and the quality of its nursing education.

Step 3. Aim to Get High Marks in the Korean and English Language Requirements

As a rule of thumb, speaking the local language will help you throughout your stay in South Korea. You also have to look into the long-term advantages of learning more than one language. In the future, employers may consider Korean and English proficiency an advantage in your career. This is also beneficial if you plan to work in the country after studying nursing.

Many programs in South Korea are taught in Korean, though some universities offer English-taught courses or accept English proficiency documentation for admission. For instance, Seoul National University asks international applicants to submit documents proving proficiency in Korean or English, which may include Korean or English language proficiency scores, standardized test results showing Korean or English ability, or official documents showing that the applicant’s high school curriculum was taught entirely in Korean or English. At Kyungpook National University, many departments require TOPIK, while other applicants may satisfy the language requirement with options such as TOPIK Level 3 or higher, completion of a university-affiliated Korean language program, or an accepted English test score such as TOEFL iBT 59 or IELTS 5.5.

Step 4. Prepare Financially

As part of the requirements, students often need to prove they are capable of financing their studies in South Korea. This is essential to show that you can pay for your tuition and living expenses. Living expenses vary by city and lifestyle, but official and university guides commonly advise students to budget for housing, meals, textbooks, insurance, transportation, and personal expenses.

Tuition also varies depending on the university, program, year level, and whether the institution is public or private. Study in Korea, a Korean government-run resource, lists the average annual tuition for four-year Korean universities at about KRW 6.82 million, with national and public universities averaging about KRW 4.27 million and private universities averaging about KRW 7.63 million. Nursing tuition at private universities can be higher. For example, Yonsei University lists 2026 international undergraduate tuition for the College of Nursing at KRW 5,511,000 for the first semester, KRW 5,297,000 for the second semester, and KRW 5,325,000 for semesters three through eight. At an exchange rate of about KRW 1,500 per USD, this is roughly USD 3,500 to USD 3,700 per semester.

Step 5. Prepare All Necessary Documents

Prepare your application documents in advance and check if your documents are valid and complete. The university’s website states all the requirements, and exact requirements may change by semester, degree level, and department.

For example, Kyungpook National University requires undergraduate international applicants to complete the online application and submit documents such as a completed application form, statement of purpose and study plan, high school graduation certificate or proof of completion, high school transcript, language proficiency results such as TOPIK or IELTS, a certificate of enrollment or completion from a Korean language institute if applicable, a passport copy, and family or nationality documents. Financial documents are submitted after the interview and oral examination stage.

Step 6. Submit Your Application to Nursing Schools

When you have finished choosing a school and checking your eligibility to apply, you can start your application process. The application process for studying nursing in Korea generally involves submitting documents, document screening, interviews and/or examinations, admission results, tuition payment, and issuance of admission documents for visa purposes.

For instance, at Kyungpook National University, the 2026 Fall undergraduate international admissions process includes online application submission, submission of application documents, qualification screening, an interview, submission of financial documents, admissions committee screening, notification of admission results, tuition payment, issuance of the Certificate of Admission, orientation, and enrollment. The interview is conducted online, and admitted students receive the Certificate of Admission after tuition payment and submission of academic verification documents.

Step 7. Apply for a Student Visa in South Korea

After receiving admission, you can start applying for a student visa. For degree-seeking students, the usual visa category is the Student Visa (D-2). Required documents vary by Korean embassy or consulate, but they commonly include a visa application form, passport, photo, Certificate of Admission, certificate of business registration from the Korean university, proof of academic background, proof of financial ability, and the visa application fee. Some applicants may also need a visa issuance confirmation number or additional documents depending on nationality, country of residence, and the consulate handling the application.

You should check the Korean embassy or consulate in your country for the most accurate requirements and processing time. For example, the Korean Consulate General in Seattle lists a processing time of three to four weeks for D-2 and D-4 visas, but timelines and document requirements vary by location. SNU also notes that D-2 applicants may need documented proof of financial ability equivalent to tuition and living expenses for one year, with a stated minimum of KRW 20,000,000 that may increase depending on tuition.

FAQs: Enrolling in a Nursing Program in South Korea

We hope this will serve as a guide when planning to study nursing in Korea. Make sure to also check out the Study in Korea and Available Programs for International Students for more study options!