Study and Research Opportunities in South Korea

Long and short term academic programs are available in South Korea across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, PhD and postdoctoral research programs in South Korea. Moreover summer schools and conferences are another excellent academic activities that makes South Korea an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every students, researcher and professor can always find a suitable program in South Korea and apply.

Scholarship in South Korea

Summer Programs in South Korea

Fellowships in South Korea

Grants in South Korea

South Korea as an academic destination

Your interest in South Korean studies has its back response, as the country also actively develops strategies to attract international students. The South Korean government has a goal to host 200,000 students by 2023. In 2017, the number was more than 123,000. 

Read below the main activities taken in South Korea to reach the above-mentioned goal.

  1. Many universities open international campuses or international branch campuses to satisfy the increasing demand of international students. Examples of such universities include Yonsei University and State University of New York (SUNY).  
  2. There is no difference in tuition fees for international and domestic students. On average, a public university undergraduate course costs around 4,350 $ per semester. Private university fees are higher and are near 5,800 $ per semester. The fees are significantly higher at the capital Seoul's internationally ranked universities, where you can expect to pay the average annual undergraduate tuition of 6,500 $.
  3. There is no mandatory requirement to have a high level of Korean language proficiency for entering a university. Of course, doing so will be advantageous for you. However, to soften language barriers for international students, around 30% of South Korean universities' courses are taught in English. Note that you should provide proof of language proficiency for your chosen course's main language in any case.
  4. If enrolled in a university for a full semester or more, you are eligible to work part-time during studies and full-time during course breaks. That's a great opportunity to support your expenses in a foreign country. Note that you will need to provide your employer with your student visa and a letter of recommendation from your university. 

The most convenient cities for international students are the capital Seoul, Daejeon, Pohang, and Busan. Seoul has been included in the QS Rankings' list of the best global student cities in 2018. 

The general rule of thumb for international student's admission is that undergraduate students need to pass a unified exam. At the same time, graduate-entry requirements don't require so and have individual conditions per universities. One common thing for the majority of universities in South Korea is that you can directly apply via post or online

You might find it useful to note that the South Korean academic year starts in March. In many universities, you will also meet the second starting date in September. For most cases, you will be asked to submit your application between September and November for March admissions and between May to June for September admissions. 

As an international student, your best accommodation option is a university dormitory, where you can spend as low as 280$ per semester if you share living space with other students. Private accommodation prices may reach 700$ per month. You can also benefit from campus catering included in the accommodation price for some universities. 

Universities of South Korea

The oldest university in Korea is believed to be Sungkyunkwan University, a private higher education institution founded in Seoul's urban setting in 1398. Since then, the academic infrastructure of South Korea grew to 370 total universities of the present

Out of all South Korean universities, 88 are included in the QS Asia University Rankings, and 29 in the QS World University Rankings. You have the opportunity to gain an education in the most prestigious educational institutions in Korea. 

Before we go on to the best South Korean universities list, three main ones are worth emphasizing separately. They are prestigious "SKY" trio members: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. The above-mentioned Sungkyunkwan university is also ranked among less known, however, the highest-quality institutions. 

Below find some of the other popular and prestigious universities in South Korea.

To explore the list further, enter the QS South Korea University Rankings. Here, you will find the 50 of the country's highest-ranked universities and maybe one fitting your academic goals!