Nicknamed the Land of the Morning Calm, South Korea is a unique blend of old and new, ancient and modern, nature and technology. You can experience a long historical landscape, full of natural beauty, with the plus side of seeing a major tech and entertainment hub in the city of Seoul.
These days, South Korea has achieved popularity among international students – and for good reason! There is a wide variety of universities and programmes for students everywhere to pursue their Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes. Plus, living and studying in South Korea is relatively inexpensive for most people. So, going to South Korea would ensure both stunning surroundings, interesting friends, and great value.
A cool thing about South Korea is that it doesn't differentiate between local and international students. Both categories pay the same fees. And these fees aren't even that high, especially when compared with how much you'd pay in the US, Canada, or Australia.
For most Bachelor's and Master's programmes, costs start at 1,000–1,500 USD and can reach 21,000 USD per semester. This may not sound exactly cheap, but remember that at American universities tuition can easily jump over 50,000 USD per year.
Engineering, Medicine, and Humanities are often the most expensive academic disciplines.
Many South Korean universities offer scholarships to international students. The requirements for each scholarship are different, but many such prizes are often awarded based on your previous GPA or academic performance.
South Korea prides itself with some of the best universities in both Asia and the entire world. Its schools are often ranked among the best higher education institutions, and South Korean students occupy one of the top 3 places in the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) Survey Results.
When it comes to ICT, few countries can match the impressive progress and contribution of big South Korean companies like Samsung, LG, or SK Hynix. It is also an important player in the automobile industry, thanks to Hyundai and Kia.
While studying and living in South Korea, you can discover its unique culture and history by visiting amazing monuments and sites, such as: the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the N Seoul Tower, the Bukchon Hanok Village, the Lotte World adventure and water park, the Nami Island, Everland, Seongsan Ilchulbong, etc.
Two words: constant excitement. If you find yourself studying and living in South Korea, you’ll have endless chances for adventure. Major technology hubs like Seoul, alongside wonderful countryside and mountain regions – you can spend all of your time outside of classes exploring and soaking in the scenery.
Apparently, in South Korea, there is a reputation of students dressing nicely to all of their classes. Several international students and locals have reported on this tradition, and it has come to be a stereotype of Korean university life – every student dresses up as if they are going to a job interview.
This is a stark contrast from, say, American universities, where students roll immediately out of bed in their pyjamas and slippers. In South Korea, it’s all about the professional look that compels everyone to think: ‘this guy must be important.’
South Korea is a place known for embracing technology, entertainment, and media. It’s a place where you can go to be inventive, bringing new and fresh ideas into the world. But, it’s also a place with a long, interesting, complicated political history, making it a great place for social scientists and history geeks.
Here are some ideas for subjects to find in South Korea:
By ‘major cities’ we mostly mean Seoul. And can you blame us? It’s such a wonderful place. It’s surrounded by mountains, it’s a bustling city full of life, people, and entertainment; and it’s got some excellent university options.
Seoul has started to turn into a hugely diverse city, welcoming more and more international people every year. Plus you’ll have a legendary nightlife in Seoul, with plenty of places to meet people and have fun after your classes.
South Korea has really started to boost its offer of English-taught study options for international students. Universities there are starting to gain a widespread reputation for producing some of the sharpest minds in the world, and bringing brilliant students into contact with the careers of their dreams.
Here are some universities to keep an eye out for:
Each university in South Korea has its own system on their website that allows future students to apply for and enrol in their degree programmes. So, once you select the university of your choice, you can go through their application and submit your materials there.
Here are some of the basic requirements you’ll need for every application:
These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.
Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.
If you’re attending a degree programme in South Korea you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
To apply to study in South Korea, you’ll need to provide proof you have a diploma for your English proficiency.
The certificates generally accepted by the universities in South Korea are:
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in South Korea:
Like most countries around the world, South Korea separates their universities into public (government-backed) and private universities.
Yet, one of the unique things about South Korea is that they don’t charge a different price to international students; instead, foreign students have the same fees as their local South Korean classmates.
1,100–20,900 USD/semester for Master's degrees
Engineering and Medicine degrees are usually the most expensive.
International students who enrol at private universities should expect to pay higher tuition fees.
South Korea can be a rather expensive place for your studies with average living costs of 900–1,400 USD/month. But, you can find plenty of ways to save money and budget properly while you’re there.
Here is a breakdown of costs in South Korea:
South Korea, officially called The Republic of Korea, is an independent state in East Asia, covering the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The country is fenced in by the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, the closest neighbouring countries are North Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan. With an overall population of over 50 million, the capital Seoul- a vibrant city, second largest in the world, is home to almost 20 million people.
Recent international policies promote international university cooperation and student exchange between countries worldwide. High-quality study and PhD degrees are made more available to students in order to create a global educational network, achievable through student and staff mobility. Career and research oriented programmes support international student development.
University cooperation enables students study worldwide, for instance in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States and provides ways of recognizing previous degrees. Different study options offer appropriate alternatives to students, depending on their preferred mode of study.
Many study programmes in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America are English-taught. The most popular international student destinations include the following countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, the United States, and more. However, these are not the only countries offering English-taught education. The rest of the world is full of endless study choices, from highly ranked to smaller, more specialized, universities.
If you want further education beyond the undergraduate level or if you want more personal development or a career in academia, you could obtain a PhD degree. PhD degrees are postgraduate programmes that usually follow a Master's, MPhil or MRes, but there might be additional requirements depending on the university. Students are required to do their own research in a chosen topic. With the help of a supervisor, you develop knowledge and analytical skills in a specific or multidisciplinary field and you carry out independent research. The duration of a PhD degree differs per country and institution. Sometimes your own research is accompanied by work for the department such as giving seminars or small group teaching.
PhD students are required to study on campus under close supervision, but there are universities that accept students enrolled into a part-time distance education PhD degree. Studying on campus can also be full-time as well as part-time, in which case the part-time variant is normally twice as long as the full-time study.
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