Study in Seoul, South Korea

About Seoul

Seoul is the capital of South Korea and by far its largest city. It had 9,579,449 registered residents in 2026, including 275,049 foreign residents, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The Hangang River divides the city into a northern and a southern half, and the city is made up of 25 autonomous districts. Seoul has been a capital since 1394, when the Joseon dynasty established Hanyang there.

For students, Seoul combines a dense concentration of universities with Korean language programmes, summer schools on Korea and Asia, and graduate schools that recruit internationally. Many students also come for the city's role in technology, media and popular culture.

Studying in Seoul

Our directory lists two universities and one summer programme in and around Seoul:

• Kyung Hee University has its Seoul Campus on Kyungheedae-ro in Dongdaemun-gu and a Global Campus in Yongin, in neighbouring Gyeonggi Province. Its colleges include engineering, Korean medicine and art and design.
• The International Summer Session in Korean & Asian Studies (ISS) of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) has run since 2003. It offers intensive courses on Korea and Asia taught in English, for students who do not yet speak enough Korean to enrol as regular students. Each summer students from approximately 30 countries attend, and about 20% of participants are Korean students earning credit for their degrees. Lectures run from Monday to Thursday, with field trips on Fridays or Saturdays.
• The KDI School of Public Policy and Management was founded in 1997 with authorisation from the Ministry of Education and is linked to the Korea Development Institute. It offers master's and doctoral programmes in public policy and development. Its campus is in Sejong City, not in Seoul. International students make up 50% of the student body, and it counts over 3,100 international alumni from 143 countries.

Check the language of instruction for each programme before applying. The government's Study in Korea portal lets you search programmes by medium of instruction and lists scholarships from the Korean government (GKS), universities, companies and foundations.

Student visa

According to Study in Korea, the official portal of the Korean government, degree students need a D-2 visa and students on non-degree programmes need a D-4 visa. The D-2 category includes sub-types for associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, research and exchange students (D-2-6); Korean language training at a university language institute falls under D-4-1. A D-2 visa allows a stay of up to two years per issuance. Applications go to a Korean embassy or consulate abroad.

Cost of living for students

Study in Korea estimates average living expenses for a student in Korea at approximately 750,000 to 1,000,000 KRW a month. Housing costs 500,000 to 700,000 KRW a month (dormitory fees depend on the number of occupants and whether meals are included), food 200,000 to 300,000 KRW, and transport 50,000 to 100,000 KRW. A meal in a university cafeteria costs 5,000 to 15,000 KRW.

Tuition depends on the university. The same portal gives an average annual undergraduate tuition of KRW 4,265,841.8 at national and public universities, KRW 7,625,335.6 at private universities and KRW 7,654,029.5 in the metropolitan area around Seoul. National universities receive government funding, so their fees are generally lower.

Getting around and daily life

The subway is the backbone of daily life: according to the city government, Seoul's subway carried 7,406 thousand passengers a day in 2024. Seoul is within a three-hour flight of 43 cities with over one million inhabitants.

Winters are cold and summers hot and wet. The Seoul Metropolitan Government gives average monthly temperatures of -0.4 °C in January and 28.8 °C in July, and July rainfall of 293.9 mm.

Frequently asked questions

Which visa do I need to study in Seoul?

Degree students need a D-2 visa; students on non-degree programmes such as Korean language courses need a D-4 visa. You apply at a Korean embassy or consulate abroad.

How much does a month in Seoul cost for a student?

The Korean government's Study in Korea portal estimates average living expenses at approximately 750,000 to 1,000,000 KRW a month, of which 500,000 to 700,000 KRW goes on housing.

Can I study in Seoul without speaking Korean?

Yes, in some programmes. The HUFS International Summer Session teaches Korean and Asian Studies in English. For degree programmes, use the Study in Korea portal to search by medium of instruction.

Is the KDI School in Seoul?

No. The KDI School of Public Policy and Management is based in Sejong City.