Study in South Korea
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Top universities in South Korea
Quick Facts About South Korea
Why Study in South Korea?
Government Scholarships That Pay Tuition and Living Costs
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), run by the Korean government, covers tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly living allowance and up to a year of Korean-language training. It plans to invite about 2,000 international graduate students in 2026.
Research Universities That Teach in English
Some of Korea's leading research universities teach graduate programmes in English. KAIST, for example, asks master's and PhD applicants for TOEFL iBT 83 or IELTS 6.5 rather than Korean.
A Visa to Look for Work After You Graduate
Graduates of a Korean university with a bachelor's degree or higher can apply to switch to the D-10 job-seeker visa and look for full-time work in Korea.
Studying in South Korea: Key Facts
The Korean government publishes these figures on Study in Korea, the official portal run by NIIED. All amounts are in Korean won (KRW).
Undergraduate tuition
About KRW 6.8 million a year on average: about KRW 4.3 million at national and public universities and about KRW 7.6 million at private ones.
Source: Study in Korea, Study Expenses
Living costs
About KRW 750,000 to 1,000,000 a month. Housing is the biggest part, at KRW 500,000 to 700,000, then food at KRW 200,000 to 300,000.
Source: Study in Korea, Living Expenses
Student visa
Degree students need the D-2 visa. It is issued for up to 2 years at a time, and in total you can stay up to 6 years after admission for a bachelor's degree and up to 5 years for a master's.
Source: Study in Korea, Visa and Stay
Registering on arrival
If you will stay longer than 90 days, you must complete alien registration within 90 days of arriving in Korea.
Source: Study in Korea, Visa and Stay
International students
253,434 international students were in Korean higher education in 2025, up from 91,332 in 2015 (Ministry of Education).
Source: Study in Korea, Korea statistics
Students from Nepal
12,784 Nepali students were in Korea in 2025, including 1,249 on master's and 282 on doctoral programmes (KEDI). Study in Korea publishes no figure for India.
Source: Study in Korea, Korea statistics
Checked 2 November 2026.
Government Scholarships for Studying in South Korea
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the Korean government's scholarship for international students, run by NIIED. You apply through the Korean embassy in your country (the Embassy Track) or directly to a participating university (the University Track).
Bachelor's degrees (GKS-U)
For applicants under 25 (born on or after 1 March 2002 for the 2027 round) with at least 80% in their last school, or in the top 20% of their class. NIIED announces it in September; the 2027 Embassy Track application closed on 30 September 2026.
Master's and PhD (GKS-G)
For applicants under 40 with an average of at least 80% in their last degree. NIIED announces it in February and final results come in June. The 2027 graduate guidelines are not out yet.
What it pays (2026 graduate round)
Economy airfare, tuition up to KRW 5 million, Korean-language training worth KRW 5.2 million, and a monthly allowance worth KRW 16,560,000 a year during the degree (KRW 14,400,000 in the language year), subject to budget.
GKS places by country
NIIED sets the number of places country by country, so check the card for yours. Bachelor's places are for the 2027 round; master's and PhD places are from the 2026 round, the latest published.
India
Bachelor's, 2027 Embassy Track: 4 places (2 General, 2 R-GKS). Master's and PhD, 2026: 26 Embassy Track places and 47 University Track places (5 General, 42 R-GKS).
Nepal
Bachelor's, 2027 Embassy Track: 2 places (1 General, 1 R-GKS). Master's and PhD, 2026: 4 Embassy Track places and 6 University Track places (4 General, 2 R-GKS).
Bangladesh
Bachelor's, 2027 Embassy Track: 3 places (2 General, 1 R-GKS). Master's and PhD, 2026: 7 Embassy Track places and 20 University Track places (3 General, 17 R-GKS).
Sri Lanka
Bachelor's, 2027 Embassy Track: 2 places (1 General, 1 R-GKS). Master's and PhD, 2026: 7 Embassy Track places and 10 University Track places (3 General, 7 R-GKS).
Pakistan
Bachelor's, 2027 Embassy Track: 3 places (2 General, 1 R-GKS). Master's and PhD, 2026: 8 Embassy Track places and 17 University Track places (2 General, 15 R-GKS).
Sources: Study in Korea, GKS; NIIED 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines; NIIED 2026 GKS-G Application Guidelines (Program Quota and Scholarship Benefits sections). Checked 2 November 2026.
Why Students Trust Galvanize for Their South Korea Applications
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Personalised University Shortlisting
We match you with universities that fit your profile, goals, and budget. No cookie-cutter lists. Just smart, data-backed recommendations based on your profile.
Expert SOP, LOR & Essay Support
Tell your story in a way that admissions teams can't ignore. Our experienced mentors help you showcase your achievements authentically and powerfully.
Scholarship & Funding Guidance
We'll help you discover scholarships, assistantships, and funding opportunities you qualify for, so you can make studying abroad more affordable.
End-to-End Admissions Support
From your first university list to hitting submit, we're with you every step of the way. Organized, straightforward, and completely stress-free.
Personalised South Korea Admissions Support
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South Korea Guides & Resources
Scholarships
Scholarships in South Korea
GKS and other scholarships for international students.
Read more →PhD Scholarships in South Korea
Funded PhD awards you can filter by eligibility.
Read more →Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
We help with university shortlisting, SOP and LOR guidance, IELTS or TOEFL preparation, scholarship applications and your student visa.
Average bachelor’s tuition is about KRW 6.8 million a year: about KRW 4.3 million at national and public universities and about KRW 7.6 million at private ones. The Korean government estimates living costs at about KRW 750,000 to 1,000,000 a month, most of it housing.
The Global Korea Scholarship is the Korean government’s scholarship for international students, run by NIIED. For graduate degrees it covers tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly allowance and Korean-language training. Graduate applicants must be under 40 with an average of at least 80% in their last degree. Indian applicants for the 2026 round applied online through Study in Korea by 25 February 2026.
Not for an English-taught programme: those ask for IELTS or TOEFL instead, such as TOEFL iBT 83 or IELTS 6.5 at KAIST. Programmes taught in Korean set their own TOPIK level, so check each university you apply to.
Korean universities start their semesters in March (spring) and September (fall). Each university sets its own application deadlines, so check the admissions page of every university on your list.
Degree students need the D-2 student visa. You apply for it after your university issues your admission letter.
Yes, but you need a part-time work permit from Korean immigration before you start. How many hours a week you may work depends on your degree level and your Korean-language (TOPIK) level.
Yes. Graduates of a Korean university with a bachelor’s degree or higher can apply to switch to the D-10 job-seeker visa to look for full-time work.
A D-2 visa is issued for up to 2 years at a time, and you can extend it. In total you can stay up to 6 years after admission for a bachelor’s degree (7 for a 5-year programme) and up to 5 years for a master’s degree (6 for a 3-year programme). If you will stay longer than 90 days, you must complete alien registration within 90 days of arriving.
Yes. 12,784 Nepali students were studying in Korea in 2025, including 1,249 on master’s and 282 on doctoral programmes. GKS sets separate places for Nepal: 2 on the 2027 undergraduate Embassy Track, and 4 Embassy Track and 6 University Track places in the 2026 graduate round.
253,434 international students were enrolled in Korean higher education in 2025, up from 91,332 in 2015, according to Ministry of Education figures published on Study in Korea.