Study in Korea

Compared with English speaking countries (like the UK and the USA) or Japan, Korea has lower tuition fees, living costs and also well-prepared scholarship programs for international students.The Korean government has provided scholarships to 6,556 international students from 148 nations since 1967, and supports approximately 2,000 students annually. Applicants can also search other financial support programs offered through specific universities, foundations and companies.

Why study in South Korea

Having split from North Korea in 1948 into a separately governed country, South Korea has diverged considerably from its neighbor, developing into an internationally recognized Asian powerhouse in the fields of technology, education and tourism, to name but a few of its strengths. Embracing both tradition and modernity, this ‘Asian Tiger’ has much to offer international students, and capital city Seoul is currently ranked among the world’s top 10 student cities.

Investment in education and research has been at the heart of the South Korea’s growth into the world’s 13th largest economy and the third largest economy within Asia. It’s this investment and growth in innovation and technology that has meant the country is known as one of the four ‘Asian Tiger’ economies, alongside Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

In 2004 the South Korean government set a target of attracting 100,000 foreign students to its universities by 2012, and by 2011 the country had enrolled over 85,000 international students from 171 different countries. Now the initiative has sets its sights even higher, with an aim of 200,000 international students by 2020.

As part of this ongoing focus on internationalization, several universities in South Korea, including Yonsei University, are opening new international campuses to meet growing demand, while five universities have opened branch campuses at the Incheon Global Campus (IGC), including the State University of New York (SUNY).

Click on the tabs below to find out about universities in South Korea, student cities, tuition fees and more.

 

Korean education system

The Korean education system is like no other. With most of the Korean youth growing up attending additional after school institutions, it is no surprise that Korean universities are among the best in Asia. The quality of education and the dedication to achieving highly is exceptional. Attending a Korean university will inspire you to work hard and compete with students at the top of their game. If you find your country’s approach to education unsatisfactory and desire a challenge, Korea is the place for you.

Outstanding educational rankings

According to the 2015 World Competitiveness Ranking from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), South Korea placed 25th in the world for its competitiveness. It was also rated 4th in Asia in education, meaning that any student choosing to study in South Korea can expect to reap the rewards of a high-quality and globally respected education.

South Korea is home to a number of internationally renowned universities – Seoul National University (SNU) is one such institution, offering students the chance to study at a leading university while in a location brimming with opportunities. SNU was ranked 36th – and is the highest ranked institution in South Korea – in the QS World University Rankings 2015/16. Besides that, SNU placed 1st in South Korea and 9th in Asia as part of the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities 2016 rankings.

An affordable option for international study

Aside from gaining a degree from one of the region’s most prestigious universities, choosing to study in South Korea can offer a much more affordable experience for international students. An international student choosing to study in the United Kingdom might have to face the prospect of over US$17,000 per year in university fees, with this rising to over US$22,000 per year in the United States. South Korea, however, offers much better value. For example, SNU’s tuition fees come in at US$6,500 per year, with costs that are still lower than in the U.S., even after factoring in accommodation and study material costs.

With a range of scholarships and competitive bursaries on offer from the country’s high-calibre institutions and the government, a lack of funding should not put students off. At SNU, students can expect to pay around US$5,000 on accommodation annually, about US$3,000 on meals and US$2,500 on personal expenses. International students who wish to apply for four-year undergraduate programs at SNU can also apply for the Korean Government Scholarship Program, which provides a tuition fee exemption for eight semesters and a year of Korean language teaching.