South Korea Universities & admissions Questions

Seoul National University accepts proof of language skills from international undergraduate applicants. The current guidance cited gives TOPIK Level 3 or higher, or IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 or higher, for English. Requirements can differ by program, so check your department's page before you apply.

South Korean universities mainly follow two intakes: spring, which generally starts in March, and fall, which generally starts in September. Both suit undergraduate, postgraduate and selected doctoral programs. Language courses and some programs may offer extra admission periods, so check each university.

More than 50 institutions participate in the Korean Government Scholarship Program, including Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, KAIST, POSTECH, Sogang University, Kyung Hee University and Pusan National University. The list of universities and eligible programmes may change each year.

The Korean Government Scholarship Program supports undergraduate, master's, PhD and research programmes across fields, including STEM, business, economics, humanities, arts, media, agriculture and environmental studies. Your course must be eligible under the official guidelines for your admission year, and most students complete up to one year of language training.

Both tracks of the Korean Government Scholarship offer the same benefits. With the Embassy Track you apply through the South Korean Embassy in your country and can apply to multiple universities. With the University Track you apply directly to one participating university, and NIIED conducts the second-round selection.

Korean-taught programmes typically require TOPIK Level 3 or higher. English-taught programmes typically ask for IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 or TOEFL 71 to 90, depending on the university. For undergraduate entry, a 12th pass certificate is necessary but not sufficient alone. Many universities require an apostille on transcripts and certificates.

Generally no, you do not need Korean for a master's at KAIST and Yonsei, as most programmes run in English, though some Yonsei programmes require Korean. KAIST's IELTS minimum is 6.5, and thresholds vary by department, typically IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 or TOEFL 71 to 90.

Often yes. For undergraduate courses in South Korea, a 12th pass certificate is usually the basic qualification and no entrance exam is typically needed, though some universities require exams or interviews. You apply directly with marksheets and a study plan, and language scores and apostilled documents may be required.