United States
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
Ireland
Japan
Cyprus
Airalo
Phone and dataA data plan that works the moment you land, without hunting for a SIM.
Visit Airalo
Affiliate link
Photo: Mira Kireeva on Unsplash
Cost of a year
What will a year really cost?
From the country guide: tuition, living costs and the visa fee, plus the money you must show. The part you lose if the visa is refused is marked.
In short: a first year in South Korea costs about EUR 10,200 to 12,200: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 13,500 before it is decided.
Last checked: 24 September 2026, against the official sources linked below.
A year in South Korea
| In KRW as published | In EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one year | KRW 6,034,163 | EUR 4,090 Public university, international student |
| Living costs, twelve months | KRW 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 | EUR 6,090 to 8,130 |
| Visa or permit fee | Not published | |
| First year, all in | EUR 10,180 to 12,210 | |
| Money you must show for the visa | KRW 20,000,000 | EUR 13,540 Held in your account before you apply; most of it then pays your living costs |
If the exchange rate moves. Today 1 KRW = 0.000677 EUR (rate of 13 November 2026). A 10% move either way changes this first year by about EUR 1,120, and a whole three to four-year degree by roughly EUR 3,360 to EUR 4,480. Plan with a margin, and pay large sums when the rate suits you.
Worth knowing. Work hours range from 10 to 35 a week depending on level, TOPIK score and university, and the tuition figure is only Seoul National University's 2024 undergraduate average.
The full South Korea guide, with every source →
Partners
Things you will need anyway
We may earn a commission if you use these links, at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be listed here, and nothing here affects what the official register says about any school. Disclosures
Booking.com
Your first nightsA hotel or short let for your first nights, while you look for a room or wait for your hall.
Visit Booking.com
Affiliate link
Welcome Pickups
Your first nightsA driver who meets you at the airport with your name on a sign, booked before you fly, so your first trip to your new address is sorted.
Visit Welcome Pickups
Affiliate link
South Korea: what a year costs next to
Tuition, living costs and the visa fee side by side, in your currency.
Leaves out flights, deposits and insurance unless the guide includes them. Currency: Rates by Exchange Rate API, 13 November 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to study in South Korea for a year?
a first year in South Korea costs about EUR 10,200 to 12,200: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 13,500 before it is decided.
How much money do I need to show for a student visa in South Korea?
KRW 20,000,000 a year (about EUR 13,500), from the official source in the South Korea guide.