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About South Korea
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Universities
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Admission
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Costing
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Living
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Globally Accepted Qualifications
Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries.
Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries.
Affordable Education Cost
The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. As such, Canada is often the preferred choice for students attending college or university.
The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. As such, Canada is often the preferred choice for students attending college or university.
Multicultural Society
With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures. In fact, your international student advisor can help you get in touch with any number of ethnic clubs and associations for you to join while you’re here.
With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures. In fact, your international student advisor can help you get in touch with any number of ethnic clubs and associations for you to join while you’re here.
Land Of Opportunities
Under Canada’s highly dynamic and hands-on academic environment, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills in analysis and communication, but you will also learn how to express yourself, demonstrate your creativity, and develop your self-confidence! Teachers and professors are always available and eager to help with lessons, and studies fuse academic excellence with interaction and collaboration in the classroom.
Under Canada’s highly dynamic and hands-on academic environment, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills in analysis and communication, but you will also learn how to express yourself, demonstrate your creativity, and develop your self-confidence! Teachers and professors are always available and eager to help with lessons, and studies fuse academic excellence with interaction and collaboration in the classroom.
Possibility Of Immigration
Did you know that some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? For more information about the possibility of immigration to Canada once your schooling is complete, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
Did you know that some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? For more information about the possibility of immigration to Canada once your schooling is complete, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
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Steps to APPLY
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Applying to Korean Universities is pretty straight forward. Here, I will give step-by-step guide on how to apply to Korean Universities.
a. Create a list of Korean universities to apply.
Visit Korean Scholarships List for all the Korean Universities that offer scholarships to international students.
b. Read the application materials for each university to see the required documents, eligibility (English proficiency test scores, etc.), and application dates.
If you look at List of Korean scholarships, there are application deadlines listed with each scholarship.
c. Divide the universities into reach, match, and safety schools.
Reach schools are schools that are difficult for you to get into, match schools are schools that you have a good chance for you to get into, and safety schools are schools that you are almost 100% sure that you will get into. If your scores are not stellar, you might not have safety schools. In that case, you need to apply to more match schools.
d. Prepare the necessary documents for each university that you are applying to.
I have made a list of commonly required documents to apply to Korean Universities below.
e. Submit the necessary documents and application to universities.
They will state if they want the application submitted online or submitted by mail.
a. Create a list of Korean universities to apply.
Visit Korean Scholarships List for all the Korean Universities that offer scholarships to international students.
b. Read the application materials for each university to see the required documents, eligibility (English proficiency test scores, etc.), and application dates.
If you look at List of Korean scholarships, there are application deadlines listed with each scholarship.
c. Divide the universities into reach, match, and safety schools.
Reach schools are schools that are difficult for you to get into, match schools are schools that you have a good chance for you to get into, and safety schools are schools that you are almost 100% sure that you will get into. If your scores are not stellar, you might not have safety schools. In that case, you need to apply to more match schools.
d. Prepare the necessary documents for each university that you are applying to.
I have made a list of commonly required documents to apply to Korean Universities below.
e. Submit the necessary documents and application to universities.
They will state if they want the application submitted online or submitted by mail.
Required Documents
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Application Form
In Korea however, every university uses different application forms that you will need to fill out individually.
Also, most, if not all Korean universities use the online application, and you have to pay a fee for each application you send to different universities. However, some universities provide fee exemptions to all international students or to students with financial difficulty.
Standardized Tests
To apply to Korean universities as an undergraduate, you need to take a standardized test for high school students such as the United States’ SAT and ACT. Depending on the country that you are from, the required standardized test will be different.
If you want to have a better chance in graduate admissions, taking standardized tests such as the United States’ GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and getting a good score will help significantly.
Language Proficiency Tests
Korean Universities expect all international students to be somewhat proficient in English. Proficiency in Korean is not necessary, but you will have better opportunities to receive scholarships if you are proficient in Korean. Many universities require TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency and TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for Korean Proficiency.
Recommendation Letters
To apply to Korean universities as an undergraduate, you need two recommendation letters for most universities. Each school has different recommendation letters asking different questions about the student, so you might not want to ask the same teachers to complete all of the recommendation letters.
To apply to Korean universities as an graduate student, you need different type and quantity of recommendation letters for different universities, so it is wise to check with different universities.
In Korea however, every university uses different application forms that you will need to fill out individually.
Also, most, if not all Korean universities use the online application, and you have to pay a fee for each application you send to different universities. However, some universities provide fee exemptions to all international students or to students with financial difficulty.
Standardized Tests
To apply to Korean universities as an undergraduate, you need to take a standardized test for high school students such as the United States’ SAT and ACT. Depending on the country that you are from, the required standardized test will be different.
If you want to have a better chance in graduate admissions, taking standardized tests such as the United States’ GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and getting a good score will help significantly.
Language Proficiency Tests
Korean Universities expect all international students to be somewhat proficient in English. Proficiency in Korean is not necessary, but you will have better opportunities to receive scholarships if you are proficient in Korean. Many universities require TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency and TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) for Korean Proficiency.
Recommendation Letters
To apply to Korean universities as an undergraduate, you need two recommendation letters for most universities. Each school has different recommendation letters asking different questions about the student, so you might not want to ask the same teachers to complete all of the recommendation letters.
To apply to Korean universities as an graduate student, you need different type and quantity of recommendation letters for different universities, so it is wise to check with different universities.
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Additional Documents for
Under-Graduate Admission |
Counselor Reference (Undergraduate Only)
This reference is written by your high school counselor. If you attend a school that doesn’t have a school counselor, your principal can submit it instead.
The counselor reference contains information about your high school career such as your GPA, the level of your courses, and extracurricular activities. Sometimes, the counselor can submit an optional recommendation letter vouching for your character qualities.
School Report (Undergraduate Only)
A school report contains the information about your high school such as the students’ average standardized scores, rigor of the high school compared to other high schools, courses offered, universities that their graduates have attended, and other relevant information. Every school should have a school report available, and you can ask your school counselor or principal to submit the school report for you.
Transcripts
Transcripts contains the your courses throughout high school, grades for each courses, and overall GPA. If you are applying as an undergraduate, many Korean universities only consider grades from 10th-12th year of high school, but some universities consider grades from 9th-12th year as well.
If you are applying as a graduate student, you need the transcript containing your GPA and all of your courses taken as an undergraduate student.
Personal Statement
Personal statements ask you different questions regarding your personal life, career goals, and extracurricular activities. Since universities use different application forms, the questions will not be the same from universities to universities. Since personal statements are important part of your application, you need to take time writing each one. Applying to few universities will help you to focus your time on each application which will make you a successful applicant.
Students who are applying as a graduate student need to write a personal statement regarding your interest and the field of study. Some universities might ask you specific questions about yourself and your accomplishments. Since the requirements are different for each university, check with individual universities.
Copy of your and your parent’s passport
Students who are applying as an international student and their parents cannot be citizens of Korea. To confirm this fact, many universities require you to submit a scanned copy of your and your parent’s passports.
If one or both of your parents are Korean citizens, you need to apply through a separate application called International Application II. This application is for students who have studied in foreign country for twelve years and for international students whose one or both parents are Korean citizens.
Supplementary materials
If you are applying as a music or art major, many universities require you to submit a portfolio featuring your best work.
If you are a graduate student, certain universities require summary of thesis of your research as an undergraduate student if you have conducted research. Also, if you have published any papers, it would greatly strengthen your application to submit these as well.
This reference is written by your high school counselor. If you attend a school that doesn’t have a school counselor, your principal can submit it instead.
The counselor reference contains information about your high school career such as your GPA, the level of your courses, and extracurricular activities. Sometimes, the counselor can submit an optional recommendation letter vouching for your character qualities.
School Report (Undergraduate Only)
A school report contains the information about your high school such as the students’ average standardized scores, rigor of the high school compared to other high schools, courses offered, universities that their graduates have attended, and other relevant information. Every school should have a school report available, and you can ask your school counselor or principal to submit the school report for you.
Transcripts
Transcripts contains the your courses throughout high school, grades for each courses, and overall GPA. If you are applying as an undergraduate, many Korean universities only consider grades from 10th-12th year of high school, but some universities consider grades from 9th-12th year as well.
If you are applying as a graduate student, you need the transcript containing your GPA and all of your courses taken as an undergraduate student.
Personal Statement
Personal statements ask you different questions regarding your personal life, career goals, and extracurricular activities. Since universities use different application forms, the questions will not be the same from universities to universities. Since personal statements are important part of your application, you need to take time writing each one. Applying to few universities will help you to focus your time on each application which will make you a successful applicant.
Students who are applying as a graduate student need to write a personal statement regarding your interest and the field of study. Some universities might ask you specific questions about yourself and your accomplishments. Since the requirements are different for each university, check with individual universities.
Copy of your and your parent’s passport
Students who are applying as an international student and their parents cannot be citizens of Korea. To confirm this fact, many universities require you to submit a scanned copy of your and your parent’s passports.
If one or both of your parents are Korean citizens, you need to apply through a separate application called International Application II. This application is for students who have studied in foreign country for twelve years and for international students whose one or both parents are Korean citizens.
Supplementary materials
If you are applying as a music or art major, many universities require you to submit a portfolio featuring your best work.
If you are a graduate student, certain universities require summary of thesis of your research as an undergraduate student if you have conducted research. Also, if you have published any papers, it would greatly strengthen your application to submit these as well.
Optional Material
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The following materials are optional but will greatly strengthen your application. You should not worry if you don’t have these because only few students will. However, if you still have time to prepare to participate in these programs and take the corresponding tests, you should definitely consider taking them.
International Baccalaureate (Undergraduate Only)
International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide program known for its rigorous assessment. IB is offered in over 3,000 schools in over 140 different countries. It is a very rigorous program, but it is definitely worth it if you do well. If you have a high IB score, you can go to almost any elite Korean universities and other Asian elite universities because they are extremely impressed with students who have a high IB score.
Advanced Placement (Undergraduate Only)
Advanced Placement (AP) offers college-level classes in high school. After you have finished the class, you need to take a standardized AP tests to receive a score from 1-5. If you do well on AP classes and receive a score of 4 or 5, you can be admitted to elite universities. Also, the advantage of AP classes is you can receive college credits for certain classes if you receive a certain AP score such as a 4 or 5.
SAT Subject Tests (Undergraduate Only)
SAT Subject Tests are separate from SAT I and test your knowledge in a certain subject such as Biology or Math. This 60-minute long test is usually taken by Americans and will greatly help your application if you receive a high score.
International Baccalaureate (Undergraduate Only)
International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide program known for its rigorous assessment. IB is offered in over 3,000 schools in over 140 different countries. It is a very rigorous program, but it is definitely worth it if you do well. If you have a high IB score, you can go to almost any elite Korean universities and other Asian elite universities because they are extremely impressed with students who have a high IB score.
Advanced Placement (Undergraduate Only)
Advanced Placement (AP) offers college-level classes in high school. After you have finished the class, you need to take a standardized AP tests to receive a score from 1-5. If you do well on AP classes and receive a score of 4 or 5, you can be admitted to elite universities. Also, the advantage of AP classes is you can receive college credits for certain classes if you receive a certain AP score such as a 4 or 5.
SAT Subject Tests (Undergraduate Only)
SAT Subject Tests are separate from SAT I and test your knowledge in a certain subject such as Biology or Math. This 60-minute long test is usually taken by Americans and will greatly help your application if you receive a high score.
Fees
& Funding |
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One of the good things about studying in South Korea is that tuition fees are the same for domestic and international students, as part of the national plan to bring more international students to the country. These fees will vary depending on the course and university.
An undergraduate course at a public university costs around US$4,350 per semester (with humanities subjects at the lower end and medicine at the top). At a South Korean private university, fees are estimated at US$5,800 per semester. And at Seoul’s 16 internationally ranked universities, the average annual tuition fee for undergraduate students is US$6,500.
To calculate the total cost, bear in mind that there are two semesters in each academic year, and South Korean undergraduate programs typically last four years (or six years for subjects like medicine and dentistry).
Scholarships for international students are widely available from individual universities, covering between 30 to 100 percent of tuition fees.
In addition, a number of governmental scholarships are available, which may also cover air fares and living expenses. One such governmental program is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). More scholarships to study in South Korea are listed here.
Recent government deregulations of scholarships, dormitories, part-time jobs and employment after graduation aim to make studying in South Korea more accessible for international students – by making it easier to cover the costs, and also to stay and seek work in the country after graduation.
An undergraduate course at a public university costs around US$4,350 per semester (with humanities subjects at the lower end and medicine at the top). At a South Korean private university, fees are estimated at US$5,800 per semester. And at Seoul’s 16 internationally ranked universities, the average annual tuition fee for undergraduate students is US$6,500.
To calculate the total cost, bear in mind that there are two semesters in each academic year, and South Korean undergraduate programs typically last four years (or six years for subjects like medicine and dentistry).
Scholarships for international students are widely available from individual universities, covering between 30 to 100 percent of tuition fees.
In addition, a number of governmental scholarships are available, which may also cover air fares and living expenses. One such governmental program is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). More scholarships to study in South Korea are listed here.
Recent government deregulations of scholarships, dormitories, part-time jobs and employment after graduation aim to make studying in South Korea more accessible for international students – by making it easier to cover the costs, and also to stay and seek work in the country after graduation.
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Accommodation
and living costs |
University dormitories are usually the cheapest options for accommodation, costing around US$280 to US$1,300 per semester, with the costs varying depending on how many students you’ll be sharing with, and whether catering is included.
Private accommodation costs can vary considerably, at anywhere between US$280 and US$700 per month.
Most universities offer affordable catering on campus, and if you take advantage of this you’ll likely only spend around US$260 on food a month. In Seoul (South Korea’s most expensive city), a one-way public transport ticket costs around one US dollar, or alternatively a monthly pass would be US$50.
Private accommodation costs can vary considerably, at anywhere between US$280 and US$700 per month.
Most universities offer affordable catering on campus, and if you take advantage of this you’ll likely only spend around US$260 on food a month. In Seoul (South Korea’s most expensive city), a one-way public transport ticket costs around one US dollar, or alternatively a monthly pass would be US$50.
Visas to study in South Korea
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To study in South Korea as an international student, you will require a ‘D-2 visa’, which can be gained from a South Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. Typically, as well as proficiency in English or Korean, you will be asked to provide your passport, a completed application form, a certificate of your most recent school record, confirmation of your acceptance at a South Korean university and proof of sufficient finances. For your D-2 visa you will be required to pay a processing fee of about US$50 (for single entry) or US$80 (for multiple entry). The visa allows you to stay for up to two years. Engineering students can apply for the D-2-7 visa, which allows government-invited international students to stay in South Korea after they graduate and find work.
You’ll also need to purchase health insurance from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which will entitle you to access treatment at all hospitals in the country and costs around US$20 per month.
You’ll also need to purchase health insurance from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which will entitle you to access treatment at all hospitals in the country and costs around US$20 per month.
During Study
Once you’ve been enrolled for six months (one semester) you’ll be eligible for applying for part-time work to help supplement your income. You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during semester breaks, and will need to supply employers with your student visa and a letter of recommendation from your university.
Once you’ve been enrolled for six months (one semester) you’ll be eligible for applying for part-time work to help supplement your income. You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during semester breaks, and will need to supply employers with your student visa and a letter of recommendation from your university.
After Study
Recent government deregulations of scholarships, dormitories, part-time jobs and employment after graduation aim to make studying in South Korea more accessible for international students – by making it easier to cover the costs, and also to stay and seek work in the country after graduation.
Recent government deregulations of scholarships, dormitories, part-time jobs and employment after graduation aim to make studying in South Korea more accessible for international students – by making it easier to cover the costs, and also to stay and seek work in the country after graduation.