Why international students choose South Korea
South Korea’s public universities charge relatively low fees, the government runs one of Asia’s best-known scholarship schemes, and graduates get a long window to find work. The national study portal, Study in Korea, is run by NIIED, the government agency that also manages the Global Korea Scholarship.
What it costs
Study in Korea gives these average annual tuition fees for degree programmes (Study in Korea):
- Undergraduate, all universities: KRW 6,820,244
- Undergraduate, national and public: KRW 4,265,842
- Undergraduate, private: KRW 7,625,336
- Graduate, all universities: KRW 4,216,103
By subject, the averages run from KRW 6,003,000 for humanities and social sciences to KRW 9,843,400 for medicine. The page does not say which year the figures cover, so check your university’s own fees.
For living costs, Study in Korea estimates KRW 750,000 to 1,000,000 a month on average, including housing at KRW 500,000 to 700,000 and food at KRW 200,000 to 300,000 (Study in Korea).
The student visa and proof of funds
Degree students need a D-2 (study) visa. The official checklist includes your passport, a photo, the university’s business registration certificate, a standard admission letter, proof of your highest education, a tuberculosis test result if it applies to you and proof of financial ability (Study in Korea). A D-2 allows a stay of up to two years per issuance, and if you stay longer than 90 days you must complete alien registration within 90 days of entry.
The official page gives no amount for financial proof. Korea University’s visa guide, updated on 12 December 2025, asks for a bank balance certificate of USD 20,000 a year, stated in KRW or USD and issued within 30 days of the application; a parent’s account is accepted with a family relation certificate (Korea University_2026.pdf)). Confirm the figure with your university and the Korean embassy in your country.
Working while you study
You need the required level of Korean and permission from the local immigration office before you start a part-time job. Hours are limited to 30 a week for undergraduates and 35 a week for graduate students. The Korean requirement is TOPIK level 3 for first and second-year bachelor’s students and level 4 for third-year and above and for master’s and doctoral students. Without it, weekday hours are lower (Study in Korea).
After you graduate
To look for work, you change to a D-10-1 job-seeking visa. It can be extended in six-month increments up to a maximum of two years, and internships are capped at one year within that period. If you are moving from D-2 to D-10 for the first time, you do not need to submit proof of finances (Study in Korea). Once you have a job offer, you change to the matching work status. Graduates with a Korean bachelor’s or higher can move to E-7 without career requirements if the job relates to their major, though changes are generally restricted if the monthly wage is below KRW 1.5m (Study in Korea).
Scholarships for South Korea
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the government’s main scheme. For degree students, it covers airfare, Korean language training fees, tuition and a monthly allowance. It usually includes a year of Korean language training followed by the degree: two to three years for an associate degree, four to six for a bachelor’s, two for a master’s and three for a doctorate (Study in Korea). Check the GKS notices on Study in Korea for the current call and how to apply.
