South Korea has dozens of excellent universities. Numerous universities and institutions in the country welcome international students, meaning, the acceptance rates of international students are much higher than for Korean students, therefore, it is easier for foreign nationals to get admitted compared to domestic students.

In this article, we will be discussing the universities in Korea that have the highest rates of acceptance.

Universities in South Korea with High Rates of Acceptance

1. Sun Moon University

The first university on our list is the Sun Moon University. This academic institution began in 1989 and has now transformed into a global university with a colorful and multi-cultured community. The proportion of international students in Sun Moon is among the top in Korea and across the continent of Asia.

Whatever your background, skin color, or religion, Sun Moon will welcome you with open arms. Forge your path and take charge of your future with Sun Moon’s globally distinguished academic programs and advanced research pursuits.

2. Kookmin University

Kookmin University was established in 1946 as the first private university to be put up after WW2 when the Republic of Korea was liberated from Japan.

The KMU campus is located in Seoul with several foreign students studying at its Korean Language Center. They enjoy Kookmin’s highly conducive learning environment and state-of-the-art multimedia facilities.

3. Inje University

Inje University is on a noble mission: to save the world through the powers of love and virtue. The health of the environment and the value of human life is what IU fights to protect. The school was established in Gimhae, South Korea, and the alumni of Inje University are known to be moral, collaborative, and practical.

In 2015, the Ministry of Education recognized Inje as the best institute for the Leading University for International Cooperation Program, and this is indicative of the quality of education foreign students may access in Inje.

4. Hoseo University

Hoseo University is a private university situated in Asan, South Korea. The school was established in 1978 in the spirit of Christianity. One of Hoseo’s accolades is that it’s the first school in Korea to set up a graduate school for venture businesses.

The goal of the university is to encourage its students to be creative and dutiful through pragmatic education coupled with spiritual guidance. At Hoseo, your faith will help you reach your future. Notable alumni include a big name in K-Pop, Kim Minseok, and he is more popularly known as Xiumin of the sensational boy group EXO.

5. Kyung Hee University

Kyung Hee University takes pride in being one of Korea’s top ten universities. This Korean university began in 1949 as a private institute and has since then made it a point to be a university of ‘global eminence’ by partnering up with 434 sister universities for their study abroad programs.

It is the center of the renowned College of Korean Medicine which preserves and enhances traditional Korean and Asian medical practices. Also found within Kyung Hee’s campus are Korea’s first national museum, the Central Museum, the Hye Jung Museum of Maps, and the Natural History Museum, which is a repository of over 70,000 specimens of animals, rocks, and minerals.

6. Ajou University

Even though Ajou University is nationally recognized as a top engineering university, it is one of the universities in Korea with high acceptance rates. It may be a young school, having just been created in 1973, but the soaring achievements of Ajou University have put it on the map as one of the top 100 universities under 50 years old.

You can find Ajou University in Suwon, which is 30 km south of the capital. Thousands of students are attending Ajou and as of late, the school has been very welcoming to international students from across the globe.

7. Handong Global University

One of the younger Korean universities, having been founded in 1994, is the private Christian-centered Handong Global University. With an estimated acceptance rate of 30%, Handong Global University is one of the Korean universities with the highest acceptance rates.

It is geared towards providing its students with the tools and education to enable them to compete on an international level. It is located in the highly industrialized city of Pohang but is also within reach of Gyeongju City, which is known for its calmer atmosphere and rich Buddhist roots.

It has several English-taught programs and international staff, making Handong Global University a good fit for students from abroad.

*There is no published estimated acceptance of Korean universities for international students available. We’ve estimated the acceptance rates of Korean universities by their rankings, by the number of international students, and through third-party sources like ranking sites.*

FAQs about Studying in South Korea

Which University Has the Highest Acceptance Rate in South Korea?

Sun Moon University is probably one of the easiest institutions to gain admission since this institution in South Korea has the highest estimated acceptance rate of around 85% for international students.

If you are an aspiring student and are planning to study in South Korea, we recommend applying to several universities. And if you received an acceptance letter, don’t accept it right away, it is best to wait for the results of the other schools you applied for since you might receive a better offer.

What Is the Minimum GPA When Applying to Korean Institutions?

When applying to institutions in South Korea, the minimum GPA should be no less than 2.0, which is a passing grade (C). However, should you be content with a C? Of course not. Since your chances of admission depend on your academic grade, you need to get the highest score on the GPA scale, which is around A or A+.

 

We hope that this article on the universities in Korea with the highest acceptance rates was helpful! Feel free to check out Available Programs for International Students and Study in Korea pages to learn more about studying abroad.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships. I also provide consulting services as well, and you can check the consulting services page for more information.

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73 Comments

  1. tanisha March 12, 2024 10:10 pm - Reply

    I’ve 60% in my 12th boards. Do I have a chance to get scholarship?

  2. Zayam April 14, 2024 4:10 am - Reply

    I have completed my O levels with 7 A and 2B and this is my last year of A levels. In which university I can get in easily?

    • Hyun Lee May 5, 2024 2:31 pm - Reply

      Hello, you need A levels to get into Bachelor’s program in Korea. In my knowledge, O levels aren’t eligible to apply for a bachelor’s.

  3. Anna May 17, 2024 1:30 pm - Reply

    In Korea, which college having high acceptance rate for MBBS? I have completed my +2 with 90% marks

    • Hyun Lee May 26, 2024 5:13 pm - Reply

      Hello, there is none. All Korean medical schools are highly competitive, and they don’t accept international students, and if they do, they accept extremely limited international students who speaks Korean like a native

  4. Samreen Imran May 23, 2024 9:38 pm - Reply

    Hello, I am currently studying as an international student in Belgium in an English language Bachelors program. If, after completing this degree, I would like to study masters in Korea, do still I need to submit any language proficiency certificate?

    • Hyun Lee May 26, 2024 6:03 pm - Reply

      Yeah I am afraid so for most universities. Unless you are a citizen of countries that only speak in English or studied there like USA, Canada, UK, etc, you do need to submit language proficiency for language that you want to study in

  5. Sahbi May 27, 2024 2:54 am - Reply

    Hello,
    I’d like to start a bachelor in software engineering, I have a budget around 4500€ per year and 8 grade IELTS, do you know which university could be a good fit ?
    Also, is there a medical examination needed before applying, or any test to pass before applying ?

  6. Ami July 2, 2024 12:25 pm - Reply

    Hello does Ewha Woman’s University have a tourism program?

    • Hyun Lee July 10, 2024 4:07 pm - Reply

      I don’t think they offer degrees related to tourism

  7. Brenda July 4, 2024 2:29 am - Reply

    Hi Lee, which university is less competitive for the Global Korea scholarship

    • Hyun Lee July 10, 2024 4:09 pm - Reply

      I would say lower tiered National Universities like Kangwon National University and Chonnam National University are less competitive than high-tiered private universities

  8. Rubyy July 15, 2024 9:41 pm - Reply

    Hello,
    I have completed a bachelor’s degree in Computer Application and Business Administration and I am eager to pursue a master’s in Data Science in South korea. I want to apply for the professor scholarship.
    I have interned as data analytics at various foundations and institutes, gaining valuable experience. I graduated with a CGPA of 8.92 out of 10 and have earned several co-curricular certificates.
    However, I am nervous about whether the professors will accept my application. Could you please suggest some crucial steps I should take before applying to boost my chances of acceptance?

    • Hyun Lee July 16, 2024 8:53 am - Reply

      Hello, in South Korea, the graduate admissions is different by department and university. For example, at PosTech AI department, the professors tell you to not contact them and just apply centrally. At KAIST, it seems like contacting professors is encouraged. So, you should first make a list of universities to apply to and then contact the professors if they tell on their website to do so. It is totally normal to be nervous. You should try to get high scores on IELTS to boost your chances, preferable IELTS of 7 or higher and also try to have research experience, whether a project or even better, a paper, since Master’s in Korea is more research oriented

      • Rubyy July 16, 2024 2:43 pm - Reply

        Thank You😊
        I am targeting national universities. Some universities currently have openings. What do you think about Kwangwoon University and SKKU? What is the acceptance rate for Master’s programs at these universities? If you have any idea, can you please tell me what they might ask in the interview and how long it will last?

        • Hyun Lee July 16, 2024 4:22 pm - Reply

          I wouldn’t recommend Kwangwoon University. It’s a good university for Koreans, but I’m not so sure about international students because it might lack support for international students. For SKKU, it’s a good choice. For Master’s program, again, it is different for different universities. I don’t think most university have interviews though for Master’s.

  9. Rubyy July 17, 2024 1:16 pm - Reply

    I want to apply for the Spring semester of 2025.Should I start sending emails to professors even though I don’t have my IELTS yet, as I am still preparing for the exam? Is it acceptable if I provide a Medium of Instruction certificate for now to show that I have completed my coursework in English? I will have my IELTS by the time I apply to the university.
    As I heard, it takes a lot of time to get a reply and acceptance.

    • Hyun Lee July 17, 2024 3:29 pm - Reply

      I don’t think the professors will care much about your IELTS score, so I would go ahead and start sending emails now. Then, prepare for the IELTS exam

  10. Rubyy July 17, 2024 8:11 pm - Reply

    Thank you so much for your help. I truly appreciate it!😊

    • Hyun Lee July 24, 2024 8:51 am - Reply

      You are welcome!

  11. Rubyy July 26, 2024 4:05 pm - Reply

    Hello,
    Do you know which university professors prefer international students for their research work?

    • Hyun Lee August 8, 2024 10:08 pm - Reply

      I don’t think any have a “preference” for international students, but definitely, there are a lot of international students at top-tiered universities. It will probably be easier time researching at those top schools because they tend to be more English friendly.

  12. Timi August 3, 2024 12:42 pm - Reply

    Hello sir, I would like to pursue my master’s program in international relations and diplomacy in the following shortlisted schools through the GKS scholarship embassy track route; Seoul National Uni, Pusan University, Kyung Hee University, Sun Moon University, and Kookmin University. What are the best 3 as regards my chances of being admitted?

    • Hyun Lee August 8, 2024 4:27 pm - Reply

      Hello, order of prestige is SNU, Kyung Hee, Pusan, Kookmin, and Sun Moon University, so I would guess that last 3 is your best 3 in chances of being admitted, but it might be different for GKS

  13. Prince August 13, 2024 1:00 am - Reply

    Hello, Korea university, Dongguk university and Keimyung university are good for business/accounting student for undergraduate? I also want to give CPA Exam in Korea, so are they good enough for it? Or any other university for suggestion by you?

    • Hyun Lee August 24, 2024 2:36 pm - Reply

      Yeah those 3 are all good universities. CPA Exam is in Korean and is much more difficult than the American CPA Exam because it is graded on a curve. So, you will be competing with all the other Koreans who are giving the CPA exam. Your Korean needs to be native level and you need to be better than most Koreans on the CPA test. The university really doesn’t matter for CPA exam, and those 3 that you’ve mentioned will be more than sufficient.

  14. Taiwo August 15, 2024 3:42 pm - Reply

    I would like to apply for undergraduate scholarship this year. I am from Nigeria. Can I use neco to apply? Also I have an my associate degree and I have GPA of 65. Can I still use it?

    • Hyun Lee August 25, 2024 5:42 pm - Reply

      Hello, you can use your neco results, but you probably won’t be able to use your associate degree results.

  15. Mariam August 15, 2024 9:40 pm - Reply

    Good day. Please I need advice on which university that has high rate of acceptance of international students. I would love to read Nursing.

    • Hyun Lee August 24, 2024 2:57 pm - Reply

      Hi, please check the post above! We’ve listed out the high acceptance rates universities. Also, many of these universities do offer nursing, but they will be taught in Korean.

  16. Anonymous August 18, 2024 12:20 pm - Reply

    Hello lee, do you know any universities in South Korea whose mechanical/civil engineering programs are in English and accept international transfer students into sophomore or junior year . thanks

    • Hyun Lee August 25, 2024 5:51 pm - Reply

      Hello, I’m not so sure about transfer process work with international students. For English taught programs, KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, and Postech all teach engineering in English.

  17. Snow August 19, 2024 2:23 am - Reply

    Hello! Thanks for sharing. Actually I have a question. I’ll be really thankful if you respond.^^
    If I published a book plus Korean book review and Korean movie review at the magazine of previous department I studied in there, and have a Korean blog where I post my Korean poems, and take TOPIK exam, could I have a good chance to apply for GKS?

    My major was English translation as for bachelor’s degree and my CGPA was 3.97/4, but I’ll change the major to Korean language and literature for graduate degree as I’m really passionate about this major and love reading Korean books etc. I was considering 충남대학교, but it is not easy to get into it. Shall I go for 선문대학교 or I have a chance for 충남대학교 or 단국대학교 as well?
    I really need to be accepted.

    • Hyun Lee August 25, 2024 5:57 pm - Reply

      I think if you have a good TOPIK score, like 4 and above, you will have a good chance to apply for GKS given that your other parts of your application is decent. I think you have a good chance at Dankook University if your application is strong? However, I do not know about studying Korean language and literature because you really do need to be proficient in Korean. You might want to check out some Global Korea Scholarship Recipients Stories

      • Snow August 28, 2024 8:10 pm - Reply

        Thank you so much for replying!!^^

  18. JK August 19, 2024 7:57 pm - Reply

    Hello! Is it difficult to get into Kangwon National University? Does it have a competitive nature?
    I really need to be accepted through GKS.
    I’ll be grateful if you respond.

    • Hyun Lee August 26, 2024 7:46 pm - Reply

      No, it is not difficult to get into Kangwon National University. However, for GKS, it’s a different story since the scholarship itself is competitive.

  19. HOPE August 25, 2024 1:46 pm - Reply

    Hello! I hope you have a perfect day. I have a question, does Kangwon National University has a higher acceptance rate for international students than Chungnam National University or Kookmin University ? I want to apply through GKS for Korean language and literature!
    Thank you in advance

    • Hyun Lee August 26, 2024 7:09 pm - Reply

      Hello, yes I will say that Kangwon National University has a lower acceptance rate than those two universities that you’ve mentioned because it is lower ranked. I do not know about GKS acceptance rates since that might be different.

  20. Reen August 29, 2024 10:40 pm - Reply

    Hello! I hope this finds you well. I have a question: Which university, between Jeoubuk National University and Kangwon National University, has a higher acceptance rate? undergraduate for social science.

    • Hyun Lee September 2, 2024 5:59 pm - Reply

      I would say Kangwon National University has a higher acceptance rate due to it being ranked lower than Jeonbuk National University.

  21. Qirtas September 29, 2024 4:52 am - Reply

    Hello!

    I recently completed my Bachelors in Metallurgy and Material Engineering from a top tier university in Pakistan, PIEAS University, Islamabad (QS World Ranking: 375 as of 2021). I want to pursue Masters from Korea in Material Science/ Nanotechnology/ Nanomaterials or any related field. Could you please suggest which university would be best for me, also in terms of acceptance. Also please possible scholarships that might help.

    Thank You.

    • Hyun Lee September 29, 2024 4:37 pm - Reply

      Hello, if you are going to do STEM, try KAIST, SNU, Postech, UNIST, GIST, and DGIST. Make sure that they offer those countries. The competitiveness is in that order and if you do get in, you’ll most likely receive some sort of scholarships, whether it be professors scholarship or other form of scholarships

  22. Priya Gupta September 30, 2024 3:06 am - Reply

    Hi I am Priya. I want to ask which university is best for engineering for computer science and have a high acceptance for GKS?

    • Hyun Lee October 9, 2024 1:01 pm - Reply

      Hello, the national universities generally have a good curriculum as well as high acceptance rates

  23. Zainab October 16, 2024 11:05 pm - Reply

    Hi, I am Zainab. I scored 50% in my 12th grade exams. Is there a possibility for a partial scholarship? If so, how can I find out more about the scholarship options available?

  24. Mahnoor October 29, 2024 4:21 am - Reply

    I’m interested in applying for an undergraduate program in AI or an MBA in Seoul. Could you recommend universities in Seoul that offer an 80% scholarship or higher and have a high acceptance rate?

  25. Sumayla November 19, 2024 8:59 pm - Reply

    Hello,
    I scored 95% in my Class 12 exams and would like to pursue Political Science at Kyung Hee University or Hoseo University. Could you please advise if I have a chance of being selected? If not, could you suggest alternative universities?

    • Hyun Lee December 9, 2024 6:35 am - Reply

      Hello, there are other requirements you need to meet than your GPA. Please check out Kyung Hee University and Hoseo University‘s websites for more information on the admission requirements.

  26. maria December 3, 2024 4:25 pm - Reply

    Hi, I am currently a freshmen student in American university of Kuwait, Auk. I would like to transfer to Younsei university to continue my business major there. Do they offer the major in English, and do they accept transfer student?

  27. Daevian December 3, 2024 4:58 pm - Reply

    I’d like to start my masters in advertising and media. My Korean is not very strong but will get better while study in Korea. Which university would provide English lectures and provide lots of merit and need based scholarships?

    • Hyun Lee December 22, 2024 2:53 pm - Reply

      Hello, I’m not sure if there’s any media related degree for Master’s that are completely in English. You probably will need to do a Global MBA that is tailored towards advertising if you want to study completely in English. There are many universities that offer it such as Yonsei and Korea University, and they should have scholarships available for internatonal students as well

  28. Habiba Azmat December 25, 2024 6:15 pm - Reply

    Annyeonghaseo, I am from Pakistan. I scored 81% marks in science and want to apply for undergraduate program in AI. Is there any chance to get fully funded scholarship in Korea. Recommend me universities please I didn’t pursue my studies in Pakistan because of financial instability

    • Hyun Lee January 9, 2025 10:51 am - Reply

      Try KAIST, UNIST, and Postech. They are all great universities and give fully funded scholarships for undergraduate students.

  29. Anonymous January 11, 2025 11:12 pm - Reply

    Helllo if my GPA is low, am I still eligible to apply to Korean universities

    • Hyun Lee January 25, 2025 2:10 pm - Reply

      Yes, but you should have other things in your application such as good application letters, standardized test scores, language test scores to make up for your low GPA.

  30. Jason Olobo January 17, 2025 10:25 pm - Reply

    Hello
    I recently completed my Bachelors in surveying and land information systems (geo-informatics) from Kyambogo University located in Kampala(Uganda). I would like to pursue a Masters in GIS or any other major related to geo-informatics. Which universities would you suggest and the majors that they offer?
    Thank you.

    • Hyun Lee January 26, 2025 5:16 pm - Reply

      Hello, some universities that offer GIS are University of Seoul, Seoul National University, Sejong University, and Inha University. Check these universities out!

  31. Pavan Badiger January 26, 2025 2:21 am - Reply

    Hello I am from India I want to apply in Sun Moon university, do I need to write SAT exam and how can I check my GPA I don’t know about basic please help me to understand. Thank You sir

    • Hyun Lee January 26, 2025 12:54 pm - Reply

      Having SAT will definitely help your application but it’s not a requirement. With regards to your GPA, doesn’t your school provide you with one? It’s your high school score.

  32. Pavan Badiger January 26, 2025 2:26 am - Reply

    Hello, I am from India and I score 69.3% in science and I want to apply for undergraduate program in AI. Is there any chances that I can get into universities and if there is chance what exams I need to write. Please suggest me universities

    • Hyun Lee January 26, 2025 12:53 pm - Reply

      Hello, you should get IELTS or TOEFL, and if possible, get a high score on SAT/ACT and also AP. For AI, you should look into KAIST, Postech, and UNIST. They all teach in English.

  33. Anas Khan February 1, 2025 12:22 am - Reply

    I am from Pakistan and I am currently doing my master’s in IC design interested in digital ic design and verification side. I am interested in ms studies in Korea in electrical or computer engineering. Could you please tell me about universities that have highest acceptance rate for interactional students? And do inform me about the scholarship worth for MS programs. I heard IELTS and TOEFL is not mandatory for master studies.

    • Hyun Lee February 8, 2025 3:03 pm - Reply

      Hello, you should try applying to lower-tiered national universities like Jeonbuk University or Gangneung-Wonju National University. Those have higher acceptance rates. For scholarships, you should be able to get Professor Scholarships especially if you work at a lab. They might require you to take IELTS or TOEFL so check individual universities if they require it or not.

  34. Anonymous February 5, 2025 12:56 am - Reply

    hello! i have ielts 6.5, topik 2 and GPA 4.5/5.0 (no background activities, only 2 certificates 1 and 3 place in english olympiads) do i have a chance to get a scholarship? and can you recommend korean universities with college of architecture (where i have a chance to be accepted)?

    • Hyun Lee February 8, 2025 3:12 pm - Reply

      If you can get IELTS up, you probably have a good chance. Try getting SAT/ACT too if you are able to. Also, almost all universities have a bachelor’s in architecture but the problem is that they are mostly taught in Korean. You should try to look at programs that teach in English if you want to study in English.

  35. Anonymous April 5, 2025 9:24 pm - Reply

    hello. If I have an IELTS score of 5.0 and a GPA of 2.7, which university should i apply to in order to maximize my chance of being accepted for bachelor of business administration. I’m interested in Sejong university and Chung Ang University. I will appreciate it if you recommend me more choice of university.

    • Hyun Lee April 21, 2025 1:21 pm - Reply

      Hello, you should take a look at lower national universities. Also, you should definitely raise your IELTS score for best chances. If you can do SAT or ACT, that will be a plus.

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