Studying in South Korea

What a year costs

Tuition varies by university and subject, and neither the Ministry of Education nor the Study in Korea portal publishes a national figure. As a benchmark, Seoul National University states that its average undergraduate tuition was KRW 6,034,163 a year in 2024. Private universities in Seoul generally charge more, and medicine, engineering and the arts more than humanities. Confirm the fee for your exact programme on the university's own page.

Living costs. The Study in Korea portal estimates KRW 750,000-1,000,000 a month, broken down as:

• Housing: KRW 500,000-700,000 (dormitory prices vary with room size and whether meals are included)
• Food: KRW 200,000-300,000
• Transport: KRW 50,000-100,000
• Other, including phone, internet and health insurance: KRW 100,000-200,000

Treat the top of that range as the realistic figure in Seoul if you live off campus.

Health insurance. International students are enrolled automatically in the National Health Insurance Service from the date of alien registration. Eligible students pay a reduced rate, but the premium changes every year, so ask your university's international office for the current figure. Unpaid premiums can block your visa extension.

The visa

Degree students use the D-2 visa. Korean language students use D-4. You apply at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country with your university's certificate of admission, the university's business registration certificate, your academic documents and proof of funds. Document lists and processing times are set by each mission: the Embassy in Singapore, for example, quotes four working days.

The money. Since 3 July 2023, the Ministry of Justice has set the required balance in won rather than dollars:

• D-2 degree students: KRW 20 million at universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, KRW 16 million at universities elsewhere
• D-4 language students: KRW 10 million in the Seoul area, KRW 8 million elsewhere

Some missions add conditions. The Embassy in Iran asks for bank statements covering the last six months. The JoongAng Daily reported in 2024 that applicants from countries such as Uzbekistan and Vietnam must hold the balance for at least three months. Ask your university and your embassy which rule applies to your nationality before you deposit anything.

The fee depends on your nationality and the mission. At the missions we checked, a single-entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days costs USD 60 at the Embassy in Bangladesh and USD 80 at the Embassy in Iran. Check your own embassy's current notice.

After arrival you register with immigration for an alien registration card within your first 90 days. Your university usually organises this in bulk at the start of semester.

Working while you study

You may not work until immigration grants a part-time work permit, applied for with your university's confirmation. The hours depend on three things: your level of study, whether you can prove Korean ability, and whether your university is certified by the government's international education quality scheme.

• Undergraduates without a TOPIK score: 10 hours a week in term
• Undergraduates with TOPIK 3 (years 1-2) or TOPIK 4 (years 3-4): more hours, up to 25 or 30 a week depending on the university
• Graduate students: 15 hours a week without Korean proof, up to 30 or 35 with TOPIK 4

Seoul National University, a certified university, publishes the upper limits: 30 hours a week for qualifying undergraduates and 35 hours for qualifying graduate students, with no limit at weekends and in vacations. Other universities' limits can be lower, so confirm yours with the international office.

Some fields are restricted whatever your hours, and Seoul National University lists them alongside the hours: check the restricted list before you accept a job. Working without a permit, or over your hours, puts your visa at risk.

After you graduate

The D-10 job-seeker visa lets you stay to look for work. It is granted in 6-month periods, up to 2 years in total. If you switch directly from D-2, you do not have to show the D-10 proof of funds, which is otherwise KRW 900,000 a month for six months, about KRW 5.4 million. Internships are allowed within limits: up to one year in total, and six months per company.

Once you have a job offer, you change to a work visa, most often E-7 for professionals. Your degree subject and the salary offered both matter for approval.

Language

Korean-taught programmes set a minimum TOPIK level, and each university chooses its own. English-taught programmes set their own IELTS or TOEFL minimums: check the programme page.

You do not need Korean for the D-2 visa if your programme is in English. You do need it for more work hours, as shown above, and in practice for most jobs off campus and most graduate roles. TOPIK is held several times a year in Korea and abroad. Plan to reach TOPIK 3 in your first year and TOPIK 4 before your third.

When to apply

The Korean academic year has two semesters: spring (March), the main intake, and fall (September). Each university sets its own international admissions window, and many close several months before the semester starts to leave time for the visa. Check the international admissions page of each university you are applying to.

Work backwards from the funds rule. If your embassy requires the balance to be held for three or six months, the money has to be in the account before you even apply to the university. Add the embassy's processing time and time to find housing, and allow at least six months from application to arrival.

What to watch out for

The funds rule is enforced by your embassy, not your university. A university admission letter does not guarantee a visa. Refusals commonly come from balances that were deposited recently, are not in your or your parents' name, or are not held for the period your embassy demands.

Language programmes that act as a work route. Some D-4 language courses recruit students who intend mainly to work, and the JoongAng Daily has reported international students turning to illegal jobs to meet funding demands. Illegal work is the fastest way to lose your visa. Choose a course run by an accredited university.

Your university's certification matters. Students at certified universities get higher work-hour limits, as shown above. Ask the university directly whether it is currently certified under the government's international education quality scheme, and get the answer in writing.

Housing in Seoul. Private rooms often require a large deposit (the key money system), and many landlords prefer tenants who speak Korean. University dormitories are the cheapest and safest start: apply as soon as you are admitted, as places are limited.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it. National tuition averages and the current health insurance premium are not published on the pages we checked: ask your university.