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South Korea is officially known as the Republic of Korea, and it is located in the southern part of the Korean peninsula in East Asia. Currently, it is one of the biggest economies in the world. Although a relatively small country, South Korea has the 11th largest GDP in the world. The Korean peninsula is surrounded by the West Sea/Yellow Sea, the South Sea/East China Sea and the East Sea/Sea of Japan.
Capital : Seoul
Currency: South Korean won (₩) (KRW)
Main languages: Korean, Korean Sign Language
South Korea isn’t just a wonderful place to visit; it’s also an excellent destination for international studies, and an increasingly popular one. In fact, South Korea has experienced six consecutive years of growth in foreign enrollments with over 160,000 international students attending its universities and colleges as of April 2019.
1. Quality Education
Korean universities sincerely focus on delivering quality education amongst their local and international students. Though there are various fields of study one can opt for, the most rewarding for Indian students are Arts, Science, and Management courses. Thus, if you are interested in shaping your career in any of these fields, pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in a South Korean university will open the doors to innumerable opportunities!
2. Cheap cost of living
Living in South Korea, on average, is very cheap. This includes the cost of accommodation, food and transportation. For example, a taxi ride costs roughly ₩1150 (US$1) per kilometre.
3. Excellent education institutions
South Korea is renowned for its universities. The three largest world-recognised universities are Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. The universities all have high postgraduate employment rates and excellent reputations. South Korea also boasts the Korea Advance Institute of Science and Technology and Sungkyunkwan University which are lesser known but equally impressive institutions.
4. Opportunity for travel
South Korea is very well located. It is within close proximity to many Asian countries including China and Japan. With the cheap travel costs, it is relatively easy to travel to them.
5. Language
Most universities in South Korea offer language lessons alongside their courses. The classes vary in levels of difficulty so you can go in as near bilingual or a complete beginner.
6. High standard of living
South Korea is Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of the world’s leading financial centres. It has remained relatively unscathed during the recession and has rapid economic growth, making it a promising place to live, work and study.
7.An Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Leader
Few countries can equal the outstanding success and contribution of significant South Korean corporations like Samsung, LG, and SK Hynix when it comes to ICT. Thanks to Hyundai and Kia, it is also a major player in the automobile sector.
8. Safety
Moving abroad to a culturally different country can certainly give you cold feet. However, when you plan to study in South Korea, you will find the country to be extremely safe for international students. Seoul has also been placed at the 8th position in EIU’s Safe Cities Index report [2019]. Hence, with a conducive work and study environment, pursuing higher education from South Korea can be a suitable choice!
9. Affordable Costs
In compared to Western countries, both education costs and living expenditures are quite low. The average expense of a foreign student studying in Korea is about USD $6,500 (INR 4.6 Lacs) a year.
Seoul National University is the best university in Korea for international students, which is setting the standard of academic excellence in the country since 1946. It is part of the elite SKY universities, a 3-member league of the most prestigious universities in Korea. It has sixteen colleges offering a wide range of subjects, from humanities to medicine to engineering. Its professional graduate schools provide practical skills in fields like data science and public administration. Over 700 courses are taught in English, and it’s increasing every year. Some courses are Korean Studies, Korean Studies, International & East Asian Studies, Economics & Business, Engineering & Life Sciences, Music & Fine Arts, Korean Language, Global Practice and Field Learning.
Korea University is one of the oldest universities in Korea. It offers high-quality education in almost all study areas with its 81 academic departments. Law education, medicine, and business programs are exceptionally renowned in the institution. In recent subject rankings, KU excelled in Social Sciences & Management, Natural Sciences, and Engineering & Technology. Furthermore, KU instills humanitarian principles in all of its academic work. KU belongs to the influential SKY universities in Korea. Over 4000 international students are studying at Korea University and is continuously increasing.
Yonsei University is the oldest university and one of the most prestigious institutions in Korea. As a SKY university member, it has incredibly competitive admission rates and is known to ace world university rankings. Yonsei offers comprehensive graduate and undergraduate programs in almost every discipline. Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Music, MBA, Law School, Some courses offered.
The Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is the leader in innovations, entrepreneurship, and science & technology in Korea. Established in 1971 by the Korean government, it is the first public research-oriented institution for science and engineering. Interesting and advanced areas like Entertainment Engineering and Eco-Energy are among the focus of its research units.
Some courses are
Aerospace Engineering, Bio and Brain Engineering, Business and Technology Management, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering (see pre-approved courses), Electrical Engineering, Industrial Systems Engineering, Industrial Design, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Physics.
Sungkyunkwan University is one of the best private universities in Korea that traces its roots from Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon dynasty’s primary academic institution. The university remains in its historic site but is presently a leading force in business and technology. The research units of SKKU are sponsored by Hyundai, Samsung, and many government agencies, creating research outputs relevant to industries and society. Some courses are College of Confucian Studies and Eastern Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts, College of Law, College of Social Sciences, College of Economics., School of Business., College of Education., School of Art.
South Korea is home to many internationally acclaimed higher education institutions and attracts scores of international students from around the world. Here are the top universities to study in South Korea.
| University | Location |
| KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) | Daejeon |
| Seoul National University | Seoul |
| Chonbuk National University | Jeonju |
| Korea University | Seoul |
| Yonsei University | Seoul |
| Dongguk University | Seoul |
| Hanyang University | Seoul |
| Kyung Hee University | Seoul |
| Pusan University | Busan |
| Sogang University | Seoul |
South Korea is famous for its openness to technology, entertainment, and the media. It is a place where you can create and offer new and innovative ideas to the world. But it is also a place with a long, interesting, and complex political history, which makes it an ideal destination for social scientists and historians.
Following are some of the programs to study in South Korea for Indian students:
Whether you are planning to study in South Korea after 12th or graduation, there are certain admission requirements that you need to accomplish. Here are the major requirements to study in South Korea for international students:
Like other prominent nations, South Korea also has a 2-semester system. If you are thinking of studying in South Korea and want to know the difference between the 2 semesters, read the following points:
With South Korea’s focus on increasing the number of international students and aid those who are not financially stable, several scholarships and other awards are offered. Apart from the Government-funded schemes, almost all universities in the Republic of Korea provide grants to international students. So if you are planning to study in South Korea then, here are some of the scholarships which you can consider:
Here are the key details of some of the major scholarships
| Scholarship | Details |
| Global Korea Scholarship | 1. For students enrolling in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. 2. Covers Airfare, Medical Insurance, Living costs, Tuition Fees, etc. 3. GPA should be above 80% 4. Candidate should not be a Korean Citizen |
| GKS for ASEAN Nations | 1. Offered in Science and Engineering programs 2. Should hold citizenship of one of the 10 ASEAN nations 3. Fluency in English/Korean |
| Korean Government Scholarship Program | 1. Korean and Indian government partnership 2. Masters, Doctorate and Post-doctorate programs in the field of Biotechnology, Electrical Engineering, Korean Language, and International Relations |
After securing admission to one of your shortlisted universities, you will require a study or what is called a D-2 Visa to study in South Korea. It is for any student enrolling in a Bachelor’s, Masters, or PhD program at a junior college, university, or graduate school. The following are the documents required for submission:
The immediate question when you plan to study in South Korea is, can one work with a student visa in South Korea? The candidates holding D-2 [Student] and D-4 [Language Trainee] visas are allowed to work part-time, provided the university they study in allows it. For this, Students need to go to the immigration office to get a permit to work part-time. While for the undergraduate students, the time constraint is 20 hours a week [Monday to Friday], for postgraduates, it is 30 hours a week with weekends off for both categories.
Part-Time jobs are very important for international students. Here are some highlights of part-time jobs in South Korea:
As the most industrialized member of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and one of the G-20 major economies, South Korea ensures a financially secure future of students following graduation. Further, with the partnerships the South Korean universities have established with various recruiters across sectors, the career prospects are immense! Though not compulsory, if you want to study in South Korea and then work, it is advised to learn the Korean language as it will give you an edge over other candidates. Enlisted are the industries which recruit scores of candidates:
South Korean markets are competitive but if you know the language well then your Korean degree and international background can serve as an added advantage. IT sector is the most popular amongst Indian students. With the growing political ties with the country, Indian students can find better jobs prospects for themselves. An IT or Computer Engineer earns up to $46,980 annually. Whereas the salary of a Business graduate can be around $74,500.
There are various companies in South Korea that offer excellent opportunities to Indian students. Here is a list of such companies, most of them have their branches all over the world, including India:
“How much does it cost to study in South Korea?” is a question that one must think about before deciding to start a career abroad. Depending on the course and the university you choose, the tuition fees can vary. Thus, it is advised to go through the costs and expenses before deciding to study in South Korea. Tabulated below are the total cost of living and studying in South Korea.
| Program | Approximate Costs (per semester, in USD) |
| Associate Degree | $1,500-$2,600 [Rs 106,000-Rs 184,000] |
| Undergraduate Course | $1,600-$10,000 [Rs 110,000-Rs 710,000] |
| Postgraduate Program | $1,100-$10,000 [Rs 78,000-Rs 710,000] |
| Types | Approximate Costs Per Semester |
| Accommodation | 1. Dormitories: $600-$1,400 [Rs. 42,000-Rs 99,000]2. Boarding House: $300-$600 [Rs. 21,000-Rs 42,000]3. Rented Apartments: $300 [Rs. 21,000]* The cost can further vary based on the city, single/shared rooms, and whether it includes food services or not |
| Other Expenses | $400-$500 [Rs 28,000-Rs 35,000]This includes transportation, food, medical insurance, internet, stationery etc. It can vary based on the city. |
