South Korea

At a glance

Who it suitsStudents who want a short flight home, a cheap national university, and the longest job-hunting window in Asia.适合希望回家航程短、国立大学学费低，并且想要亚洲最长求职期的学生。

Tuition, national and public

About ₩4,265,842 a year on average; ₩7,625,336 at private universities平均每年约 4,265,842 韩元；私立大学为 7,625,336 韩元 [1]

Tuition by subject

₩6,003,000 a year for humanities and social sciences, ₩7,277,200 for engineering, ₩9,843,400 for medicine人文社科每年 6,003,000 韩元，工科 7,277,200 韩元，医学 9,843,400 韩元 [1]

Living costs

₩750,000 to ₩1,000,000 a month, of which ₩500,000 to ₩700,000 is housing每月 750,000 至 1,000,000 韩元，其中住宿占 500,000 至 700,000 韩元 [3]

The deposit nobody mentions

Renting off campus means a key-money deposit: two students interviewed by Seoul National paid ₩3,000,000 and ₩5,000,000 up front校外租房需要一笔“保证金”：首尔大学采访的两名学生分别预先支付了 3,000,000 和 5,000,000 韩元 [9]

Work during study

30 hours a week for undergraduates, and unrestricted at weekends and in the holidays本科生每周 30 小时，周末与假期不受限制 [6]

Stay and work after

The D-10 job-seeking stay extends in 6-month steps to a maximum of 2 yearsD-10 求职签证每次延长 6 个月，最长 2 年 [7]

Who else is there

253,434 international students in Korea, of whom 30.2% are from China韩国共有 253,434 名国际学生，其中 30.2% 来自中国 [10]

Which qualification leads where

• A-LevelGood route

  Named by Yonsei UIC among the standardised results it accepts.延世大学 UIC 在其认可的标准化成绩中明确列出。 [5]

• IB DiplomaGood route

  Accepted by name, and UIC gives transfer credit for IB DP subjects.明确接受，且 UIC 为 IB DP 科目给予学分减免。 [5]

• AP and a US high-school diplomaGood route

  Accepted by name, and UIC gives transfer credit for AP examinations.明确接受，且 UIC 为 AP 考试给予学分减免。 [5]

• GaokaoGood route

  Listed by name at UIC. Korea is one of the few destinations here that says so outright.UIC 明确列出高考。韩国是本栏目中少数直接写明这一点的目的地之一。 [5]

• Chinese high-school diploma onlyPossible

  A high-school diploma or an equivalency certificate is the baseline — but a GED, homeschooling or cyber-schooling certificate does not satisfy UIC's eligibility.高中毕业证或同等学力证明是基本门槛——但 GED、在家自学和网校证书不符合 UIC 的资格要求。 [5]

English you need

IELTS

6.0 [8] Prepare for IELTS →

TOEFL iBT

4.0 [8] Prepare for TOEFL →

Seoul National asks for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 — or, if you are studying in Korean, TOPIK level 3.首尔大学要求雅思 6.0 或托福 iBT 80——若用韩语就读，则要求 TOPIK 三级。

Universities to look at

• Yonsei University, Underwood International College Seoul

  Accepts ⚠️ UIC charges international students more than Korean students: ₩8,202,000 against ₩7,398,000 a semester. Applications for the March 2027 intake close on 22 September 2026.⚠️ UIC 对国际学生收费高于韩国学生：每学期 8,202,000 韩元对 7,398,000 韩元。2027 年 3 月入学的申请于 2026 年 9 月 22 日截止。

  Tuition a year ₩8,202,000 a semester for the international track, about ₩16,400,000 a year国际轨道每学期 8,202,000 韩元，约合每年 16,400,000 韩元

  Admissions page → [2]

• Seoul National University Seoul

  Accepts TOPIK level 3, or IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 80. Its International Admissions II route requires that all of your schooling, primary and secondary, was outside Korea.TOPIK 三级，或雅思 6.0 / 托福 iBT 80。其“国际学生特别招生 II”要求小学到高中的全部教育都在韩国境外完成。

  Tuition a year About ₩6,034,163 a year on average, varying by major and credits taken平均每年约 6,034,163 韩元，随专业与学分数变化

  Admissions page → [11]

• Korea University Seoul

  Tuition a year About ₩5,800,000 a semester for humanities and social sciences and ₩7,700,000 for engineering — roughly ₩11,600,000 to ₩15,600,000 a year人文社科每学期约 5,800,000 韩元，工科约 7,700,000 韩元——约合每年 11,600,000 至 15,600,000 韩元

  Admissions page → [12]

• KAIST Daejeon

  Accepts Its international scholarship is effectively a full ride: tuition exempted for 8 semesters, ₩350,000 a month and health insurance, as long as you keep a GPA above 2.7 out of 4.3 after the first year.其国际学生奖学金实际上是全额资助：免 8 个学期学费、每月 350,000 韩元并含医疗保险，条件是第一年后 GPA 保持在 4.3 分制的 2.7 以上。

  Admissions page → [13]

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Choose the language and the route

• Decide whether you are applying to an English-taught programme or a Korean-taught one — the tests and the universities differ.决定申请英语授课还是韩语授课项目——考试和可选大学都不同。
• Korean-taught? Register for TOPIK. Seoul National asks for level 3; requirements vary by university and even by department.韩语授课？报名 TOPIK。首尔大学要求三级；各校甚至各系要求不同。 [8]
• English-taught? Sit IELTS or TOEFL — or get a Medium of Instruction certificate from your school if it teaches in English.英语授课？考雅思或托福——若就读学校以英语授课，也可开具英语授课证明。 [5]

Apply

• Note the deadline: Yonsei UIC's first round for the March 2027 intake closes on 22 September 2026, almost six months before the term starts.记下截止日期：延世 UIC 2027 年 3 月入学的第一轮申请于 2026 年 9 月 22 日截止，比开学早近六个月。 [5]
• Check your qualification is eligible: a GED, homeschooling or cyber-schooling certificate is not accepted at UIC.确认你的学历资格有效：UIC 不接受 GED、在家自学或网校证书。 [5]
• Consider the Global Korea Scholarship — it covers airfare, a year of Korean training, tuition and a monthly allowance. Apply through the embassy track or directly to a designated university.考虑 GKS 韩国政府奖学金——涵盖机票、一年韩语培训、学费和每月生活费。可通过使馆渠道或直接向指定大学申请。 [15]

Visa

• Apply for the D-2 student visa with your standard admission letter and proof of financial ability.凭标准入学通知书和资金证明申请 D-2 留学签证。 [16]
• Remember the D-2 is issued single-entry and is valid for 3 months — enter Korea and register before it expires.注意 D-2 为单次入境、有效期 3 个月——须在过期前入境并办理登记。 [17]

Money and arrival

• Budget for the key-money deposit if you rent off campus: ₩3,000,000 to ₩5,000,000 before you have a bed.若在校外租房，预留保证金：入住前需准备 3,000,000 至 5,000,000 韩元。 [9]
• Get part-time employment permission from the local immigration office before you take a job.打工前先到当地出入境管理局办理兼职许可。 [6]

Mar 2027 Mar 2028

1. Mar 2027 12 months before

   Decide the language route and book the test you need.确定语言路径，并报考所需考试。

2. Apr 2027 11 months before

   Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship if you want it — the 2026 embassy round opened in early October.如要申请 GKS 奖学金：2026 年使馆渠道于十月初开放。 [4]

3. Sep 2027 6 months before

   Send applications — Yonsei UIC's March intake closes on 22 September.递交申请——延世 UIC 三月入学于 9 月 22 日截止。 [5]

4. Dec 2027 3 months before

   Accept an offer, then apply for the D-2 at a Korean diplomatic mission.确认录取后，到韩国驻外使领馆申请 D-2 签证。 [16]

5. Feb 2028 1 month before

   Arrange housing, and set aside the deposit if you are renting.安排住宿；若租房，备好保证金。 [9]

6. Mar 2028 At the start

   Arrive, register, and apply for work permission if you want a part-time job.抵达、办理登记；若想兼职，申请打工许可。 [6]

A year

¥64,000 – ¥140,000

Whole degree

¥260,000 – ¥550,000 over 4 years

Converted to RMB at two significant figures — the rate moves and the ranges are wide. Rate: European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026, checked 2026-09-19.

Tuition, national and public

About ₩4,265,842 a year on average平均每年约 4,265,842 韩元 [1]

Tuition, private

About ₩7,625,336 a year on average; Yonsei UIC is ₩16,400,000平均每年约 7,625,336 韩元；延世 UIC 为 16,400,000 韩元 [1]

Living costs

₩750,000 to ₩1,000,000 a month每月 750,000 至 1,000,000 韩元 [3]

Key-money deposit

₩3,000,000 to ₩5,000,000 up front for an off-campus room, returned at the end of the lease校外租房需预先支付 3,000,000 至 5,000,000 韩元，租期结束时退还 [9]

Money you must show

No published sum: the D-2 asks for proof of financial ability, and each embassy sets what that means没有公开金额：D-2 要求提供资金能力证明，具体标准由各使馆自定 [16]

Scholarships and funding

• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) [15]

  Airfare, one year of Korean language training, tuition and a monthly allowance. An undergraduate award runs 5 to 7 years — one language year plus 4 to 6 years of the degree.机票、一年韩语培训、学费和每月生活费。本科奖学金期限为 5 至 7 年——一年语言加 4 至 6 年学位课程。

  Two routes: the embassy track, applied for through the Korean embassy, and the university track, applied for directly to a GKS-designated university. Each country has its own quota. ⚠️ The monthly allowance is published only in the NIIED guidelines document — read it before you budget on a figure you saw elsewhere.两条路径：通过韩国使馆申请的使馆渠道，以及直接向 GKS 指定大学申请的大学渠道。各国有各自名额。⚠️ 每月生活费金额仅在 NIIED 募集简章中公布——在依据别处看到的数字做预算前，请先查阅该文件。

• KAIST international scholarship [13]

  Tuition exempted for 8 semesters, ₩350,000 a month and health insurance.免 8 个学期学费、每月 350,000 韩元并含医疗保险。

  Awarded with admission; you must keep a GPA above 2.7 out of 4.3 after your first year.随录取发放；第一年后 GPA 须保持在 4.3 分制的 2.7 以上。

Visa

• The D-2 student visa is issued for up to 2 years at a time, and a bachelor's stay can run to 6 or 7 years with extensions.D-2 留学签证每次最长签发 2 年，本科阶段经延期最长可达 6 至 7 年。 [16]
• You apply at a Korean diplomatic mission with a standard admission letter issued by the university and proof of financial ability.凭大学签发的标准入学通知书和资金能力证明，到韩国驻外使领馆申请。 [16]
• ⚠️ The D-2 is single-entry and valid for 3 months. It gets you into Korea once; your residence card is what keeps you there.⚠️ D-2 为单次入境，有效期 3 个月。它只能让你入境一次；之后靠外国人登录证留在韩国。 [17]

Work during and after studies

• Undergraduates may work 30 hours a week in term, and graduate students 35, once the local immigration office has granted part-time employment permission.经当地出入境管理局批准兼职许可后，本科生学期中每周可工作 30 小时，研究生 35 小时。 [6]
• There are no restrictions at weekends or during vacations.周末和假期不受时数限制。 [6]
• The hours allowed depend on your Korean level, and manufacturing or construction work needs TOPIK level 4 or higher.允许的时数与韩语水平挂钩；制造业或建筑业工作需要 TOPIK 四级以上。 [6]
• After graduating, the D-10 job-seeking stay extends in 6-month steps to a maximum of 2 years — twice what Japan allows.毕业后，D-10 求职签证每次延长 6 个月，最长 2 年——是日本的两倍。 [7]

When you arrive

• Register for your residence card at the local immigration office soon after you land.抵达后尽快到当地出入境管理局办理外国人登录证。 [16]
• National health insurance is part of the monthly costs the government's own estimate assumes.国民健康保险已包含在政府生活费估算的每月开支中。 [3]
• Apply for part-time employment permission before you start any job.开始任何工作前先申请兼职许可。 [6]

Common mistakes

• The key-money deposit catches families out. Renting off campus means ₩3,000,000 to ₩5,000,000 handed over before you move in — it is returned, but you need it first.租房保证金常让家庭措手不及。校外租房需在入住前交付 3,000,000 至 5,000,000 韩元——之后会退还，但你得先拿得出来。 [9]
• Yonsei UIC charges international students more than Korean students for the same seat. Read the fee table for the track you are applying to, not the headline figure.同一个座位，延世 UIC 对国际学生收费高于韩国学生。请查看你所申请轨道的收费表，而不是笼统的数字。 [2]
• Deadlines run about six months ahead of the term. A March start is decided the previous September.截止日期比开学早约六个月。三月入学在前一年九月就已决定。 [5]
• Claims about what share of classes are in English are not published by anyone official. Ask the department how many of its courses your cohort will actually take in English.关于英语授课比例的说法没有任何官方来源。请直接向院系确认你这一届实际有多少课程用英语上。 [5]

Sources

1. Study in Korea: tuition and expenses checked 2026-09-19
2. Yonsei Underwood International College: tuition checked 2026-09-19
3. Study in Korea: living expenses checked 2026-09-19
4. Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs: GKS undergraduate notice checked 2026-09-19
5. Yonsei Underwood International College: admissions checked 2026-09-19
6. Study in Korea: part-time work for students checked 2026-09-19
7. Study in Korea: the D-10 job-seeking visa checked 2026-09-19
8. Seoul National University: admissions FAQ checked 2026-09-19
9. Seoul National University: international students on the cost of living checked 2026-09-19
10. Study in Korea: international student statistics checked 2026-09-19
11. Seoul National University: registration and tuition checked 2026-09-19
12. Korea University: tuition, 2026 checked 2026-09-19
13. KAIST: international undergraduate scholarships checked 2026-09-19
14. Study in Korea: TOPIK and Korean study checked 2026-09-19
15. Study in Korea: the Global Korea Scholarship checked 2026-09-19
16. Study in Korea: visa and stay checked 2026-09-19
17. Korean Embassy: student visa requirements checked 2026-09-19

Rules and fees change. Everything here was checked against the official pages on the date shown. Confirm on those pages before you apply or pay.