Universities in South Korea

South Korea's universities have become one of Asia's main destinations for international students. According to Ministry of Education figures published on Study in Korea, the government's official study portal, Korean higher education institutions had 253,434 international students in 2025, up from 91,332 in 2015. Of these, 120,150 were in university and junior college programmes, 41,278 in master's and 17,762 in doctoral programmes, and 58,764 in Korean language training.

Korean higher education consists of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes at universities and vocational colleges, plus university-affiliated Korean language programmes. Most degree programmes are taught in Korean, but some programmes, and some whole schools, teach in English.

How Korean universities work

Universities are national, public or private. National universities receive government funding, which generally makes their tuition fees lower than those of private universities. The usual programme lengths are:

• Associate degrees at junior colleges: 2 years, or 3 years in fields such as nursing
• Bachelor's degrees: 4 years, or 6 years for medicine, Oriental medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy
• Master's and doctoral programmes at graduate schools: 2 years or more each

International students can enrol in regular degree programmes, in short-term programmes of one or two semesters, or in Korean language courses. Short-term study is usually arranged through an exchange agreement between the home university and a Korean partner university, which often brings simplified admission, credit transfer and scholarships. Distance-learning institutions such as cyber universities do not accept international students.

Admission for international students

A bachelor's programme requires a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification recognised by law, and a master's or integrated master's and doctoral programme requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Each university runs its own admission process, with its own deadlines and documents.

Language is the main requirement. Korean-taught programmes set a minimum Korean level, and applicants usually submit a score from TOPIK, the Test of Proficiency in Korean; scores are valid for two years. English-taught programmes ask for proof of English proficiency instead.

After admission, degree students apply for a D-2 student visa at a Korean embassy or consulate, and Korean language students for a D-4 visa. The documents include the university's standard admission letter and proof of financial ability, and a D-2 visa allows a stay of up to two years per issuance. With permission from the local immigration office and a certain level of Korean, students may work part-time up to 30 hours a week as undergraduates and 35 hours as graduate students.

Costs and funding

Study in Korea publishes average annual tuition fees for bachelor's programmes: about KRW 4.27 million at national and public universities and about KRW 7.63 million at private universities. Fees also vary by field, from about KRW 6 million a year in the humanities and social sciences to about KRW 9.84 million in medicine. The portal estimates average living expenses at approximately KRW 750,000 to 1,000,000 a month.

The main government scholarship is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), which covers airfare, Korean language training, tuition and a monthly allowance for approximately 280 undergraduate and 1,600 graduate students. Many universities also have their own scholarships: the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, for example, states that more than 95% of its international students receive a scholarship.

How to choose a university

• Language of instruction: Korean-taught programmes need TOPIK; English-taught programmes need an English test
• Type of university: national universities generally charge lower fees than private ones
• Level and format: full degree, exchange semester or Korean language course
• Location: most universities in our directory are in Seoul, with others in Suwon, Daejeon and Andong
• Scholarships: check GKS and each university's own scholarships before applying

The Korean universities in our directory show the range. In Seoul, Kyung Hee University, Ewha Womans University and Sookmyung Women's University are multi-faculty universities; Ewha, whose origins go back to 1886, has graduate schools of international studies and of translation and interpretation and a College of Artificial Intelligence. The KDI School of Public Policy and Management is a graduate school with over 200 international students from more than 40 countries. Outside the capital, Ajou University in Suwon traces its origins to an engineering college founded in 1973, SolBridge International School of Business in Daejeon reports that 80% of its professors are international, and Gyeongkuk National University in Andong describes itself as a key national university and a Glocal University in its region.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at a Korean university in English?

Yes, in English-taught programmes, which ask for proof of English proficiency; schools such as the KDI School and SolBridge teach in English. Korean-taught programmes usually require a TOPIK score.

How much does a degree in South Korea cost?

According to Study in Korea, average annual tuition for a bachelor's degree is about KRW 4.27 million at national and public universities and KRW 7.63 million at private ones, plus living costs of approximately KRW 750,000 to 1,000,000 a month.

Which visa do I need to study at a Korean university?

Degree students need a D-2 student visa, and Korean language students a D-4 visa. You apply at a Korean embassy or consulate after receiving the admission letter.

Are there scholarships for international students in Korea?

Yes. The Global Korea Scholarship covers airfare, language training, tuition and a monthly allowance, and many universities offer their own scholarships.