Universities and Colleges in South Korea - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Renowned for its rich cultures and traditions, state-of-the-art infrastructure and technological advancements, South Korea is gradually becoming one of the top study-abroad destinations for international students.

From Seoul being one of the top student cities to Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yonsei University, Korea University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) being a part of the top 100 global universities, South Korea is a top choice to pursue higher education abroad.

In order to get enrolled as a student in any South Korean university, all interested students must appear for at least one of the following English proficiency exam(s): IELTS/TOEFL.

As of Sep 2024, the count of international students enrolled in South Korean universities is more than 200,000, observing a 25% increase from the previous record. It is interesting to note that the number of international students in non-metropolitan areas has also witnessed a surge.

Universities in South Korea: Highlights

Why Study in South Korea?

South Korea is a very favourable destination for overseas students, as it is home to several globally renowned universities. South Korea offers higher education degrees that are accepted and recognized throughout the world and the majority of South Korean courses encourage students to obtain experience while they are enrolled, providing them with professional experience.

A wide variety of scholarships are available to support education, and one of the main draws to South Korea is the country's affordable educational system. International D-2 student visa holders are permitted to work part-time jobs for up to 20-25 hours per week, and they are also permitted to work full-time during the summer.

Here’s all you need to know about studying in South Korea.

Top Universities in South Korea

Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yonsei University, Korea University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) are some of the top ranked universities in South Korea, which are part of the top 100 universities in the world.

Given below is the list of the top 10 universities in South Korea as per some of the top university ranking bodies:

Here’s detailed information about top-ranked universities in South Korea:

Best Business & Management Universities in South Korea:

As per the QS World University Rankings for Business & Management, the top universities in South Korea are:

Best Engineering Universities in South Korea:

As per the QS World University Rankings for Engineering & Technology, the top universities in South Korea are:

Best LLM Universities in South Korea:

As per the QS World University Rankings for Social Sciences & Management, the top universities in South Korea are:

Top Cities in South Korea to Study in

South Korea is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for higher education among international students and is home to a few cities that rank among the top student cities, as per the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2025. Seoul, Daejeon and Busan are some of the best locations for overseas candidates, with ranks #3, #74 and #136 respectively.

Top Courses in South Korea

South Korea is known for its quality of teaching and world-class programs all around the globe. Most of the South Korean universities offer popular courses such as the MBA/PGDM, MS, BBA, BE/BTech, MIM and more.

Admission Requirements to Study in South Korea

Listed below are the details:

Entrance exams accepted by universities in South Korea:

A few universities in South Korea may require GMAT/GRE scores as an entry requirement and international students must fulfil this criterion to secure admission, especially in Business & Management courses. However, most of the universities accept work experience certificates or specific business certifications instead.

English language requirements by universities in South Korea:

In order to get into a university in South Korea, all international students must provide proof of proficiency in the English language, as an admission requirement. Majority of the South Korean universities accept IELTS/TOEFL score(s) for their English language requirements. In South Korea, all the universities accept IELTS scores. Hence, students must take this test (if possible).

Cost of Studying in South Korea

On average, the cost of studying in South Korea can be considered affordable, as most of the South Korean universities have an annual tuition fee under INR 10 L, which makes them ideal study-abroad options.

Cost of Living in South Korea

South Korea is a popular choice among students all around the globe even though its cost of living is quite heavy on the pocket. On average, the annual cost of living in South Korea for international students ranges between INR 1 L - 1.5 L for Indian students. However, the expenses are very subjective, depending on the lifestyle and purchasing power of the student residing and studying in a university in South Korea.

Scholarships Offered by Universities in South Korea

Several universities in South Korea offer scholarships to international students and some are publicly funded, to help students cut down the expenses of studying abroad. Some scholarships to study in South Korea for Indian students are listed below:

Jobs in South Korea

Studying in South Korea is very fruitful for students worldwide as the return on investment is huge. Some of the most popular and highest-paying job sectors for international students in South Korea are Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Environmental Engineering, Science, Aviation, Law, Fashion Design, etc.

Listed below are the details of the average salary offered after education from the top-ranked South Korean universities:

Conversion Rate: 1 SKW = INR 0.059