How much does it cost to study in South Korea? This is a key question for many students if they are considering studying there. This essential guide breaks down the cost of every aspect of university life to ensure that you have budgeted for everything.
The South Korean government and universities have created a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students wishing to study in the country, and tuition fees are lower than other popular study abroad destinations.
Note that prices and exchange rates are correct at the time of publication and may vary from those shown here.
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Tuition fees
Tuition fees in South Korea are relatively affordable, especially when compared with those in the US and the UK. Fees for international students are the same as those for domestic students and there are a range of scholarships that students can apply to for financial assistance.
Costs will depend on the subject you choose as well as whether your institution is a private or public university.
On average, tuition fees at a public university in South Korea cost about ₩4,000,000 (£3,000) per semester for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Tuition fees at a private university in South Korea may cost roughly ₩6,500,00 per semester on average for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Medicine and engineering courses tend to have higher tuition fees in South Korea, while tuition fees for arts and humanities courses tend to be slightly cheaper.
It’s important to note that while public universities in South Korea may have cheaper tuition fees on paper, private universities may have more extensive financial aid options, so make sure you do your own research and look beyond the sticker price to find an option that works for you.
Accommodation costs
Accommodation costs for international students in South Korea depend on several factors, such as personal preference, budget, location, and whether you’ll be renting privately or staying in university-owned student halls.
If you stay in university halls, you can expect to pay anywhere between ₩500,000 (£300) and ₩1,600,000 per semester, depending on the room size and amenities available. The more expensive university halls in South Korea tend to be catered and this will be reflected in the cost.
On average you can expect to pay between ₩400,000 and ₩700,000 a month if privately renting a small studio or room in a shared flat. You’ll often be expected to pay a large security deposit on top of this, costing anywhere between ₩3,000,000 (£2,000) and ₩5,700,000. You will get this back at the end of your stay if the property is left in an acceptable condition.
Accommodation in larger cities such as Seoul will tend to be more expensive, so this is something to factor in when choosing a city and university to study at.
Other essential student costs
The application fee for a student visa for South Korea is ₩50,000 (£30).
Internet costs about ₩24,000 per month in South Korea, while the average phone bill is around ₩45,000. Other utility bills such as water and gas usually come as a monthly service fee, known as gwanlibi, on top of your rent, at an average cost of ₩100,000 per month.
Healthcare in South Korea is covered by the compulsory National Health Insurance to which everyone must sign up after six months in the country. Through this insurance, international students are able to access the same level of healthcare as Korean nationals.
If you would like to take out private medical insurance as well, this costs about ₩24,000 per month.
The average bus fare in South Korea is ₩1,200 (80p) one way while the average one-way subway fare is about ₩2,400.
Lifestyle costs
One thing that is notably expensive in South Korea is the food. An average supermarket shop will set you back about ₩80,000 (£50) a week,
A meal in a restaurant could cost between ₩8,000 (£5) and ₩30,000 (£18) and the average cinema ticket costs ₩11,000.
A beer costs about ₩3,000 (£1.80), although locals tend to prefer to drink Soju, a traditional Korean spirit that costs about ₩1500 per bottle.
What financial support is available?
The South Korean government is focused on encouraging more international students to study in the country and as a result has established a number of scholarships to provide them with financial support.
One such scholarship is known as the Global Korea Scholarship, which supports hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students to study in South Korea every year.
The scholarship covers travel costs, full tuition fees up to a maximum of ₩5,000,000 (£3,080) per semester, and up to ₩900,000 (£500) per quarter towards Korean language lessons. There are further smaller grants available through the scholarship to cover things like medical insurance, printing costs and more.
The government also offers financial support for exchange students who are enrolled at a university in another country who wish to study in South Korea for one or more semesters. Grants often cover tuition costs as well as a monthly stipend of about ₩500,000 (£310).
Beyond government support, some individual universities in South Korea offer financial support to international students. Examples include the Yonsei University Underwood International College Admissions Scholarship, which automatically considers all undergraduate international applicants and the Seoul National University President Fellowship, which covers full tuition plus living costs for PhD candidates from developing countries.
Under student visa rules in South Korea, full-time international students are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during their studies, so this is another option.
More information on scholarship opportunities to study in South Korea can be found here.
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