Study in South Korea

Name: Stubard Education
Address: India

South Korea is one of the best destinations for international students seeking quality education at minimal cost. With most public universities offering free tuition, 1,500+ English-taught programs, and post-study work rights up to 18 months, Germany offers a strong mix of affordability, academic excellence, and career potential.

How to Study in South Korea: A Complete How-to-Guide for Indian Students

South Korea has become one of the most rapidly developing study destinations among Indian students who seek education in Asia, with the most modern education system, advanced technology, and at reasonable prices. The nation boasts world-ranked universities, research excellence, a high level of scholarships and various excellent employment prospects – particularly in the engineering, IT, business, and design fields.

South Korea is a country that is associated with high academic standards, an innovative economy, secure cities, and an active student life. As more and more of the English-taught programs and government-sponsored scholarships are offered, Indian students can pursue their studies in South Korea without having to pay the hefty tuition that is charged in Western countries.

This is a guide that tells the Indian students all that they need to know about studying in South Korea, the admission process, cost, best universities, scholarship, visa, and student life in a simple step-by-step approach to the whole process.

Why Choose South Korea

The key issue that makes South Korea appealing to Indian students is its affordable education, high level of technological ecosystem, and high employability rates. Universities are tightly connected with such companies of the world as Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and Naver.

The major reasons why one should study in South Korea include:

Powerful universities in the world with an emphasis on STEM.
Low tuition fees when we compare it with the USA, UK and Australia.
Different universities in South Korea have numerous generous Korean Government Scholarships (GKS).
More English-taught programs.
It is allowed for students to do part-time work during their studies.
There are options for job-seeking visas.
Supremely secure cities and campuses that are friendly to students.
Degrees are accepted all over the world, even in India.

South Korea is said to be education-intensive and rewarding by Indian students who have articulated that it provides global exposure and familiarity with Asian culture.

Quick Facts Concerning South Korea

Feature	Details
Capital	Seoul
Top Cities to Study	Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu
Popular Fields	Engineering, IT, Business, AI, Design
Tuition Fees	₹4–10 lakh per year (average)
Living Cost	₹50,000–80,000 per month
Intakes	March & September
Scholarships	Government & University-funded

Education in South Korea (Education System that is friendly to Indian students)

South Korea has a systematic but dynamic education system which focuses on research, innovation and industry cooperation.

Study Levels:

Bachelor’s: 4 years
Master’s: 2 years
PhD: 3–4 years

Types of Institutions:

Public Universities: Research-intensive, much subsidized.
Private Universities: Industry based, ranked in the world.
Science & Technology Institutes: KAIST, POSTECH, UNIST.

The majority of universities have March (Spring) and September (Fall) intakes.

Top Degrees to Pursue in Korea as an Indian student

South Korea is an internationally known place of technology, engineering and creativity industries.

Popular Programs:

Engineering & Technology

Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Electronics, Robotics.

Computer Science & IT

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software engineering.

Business & Management

International Business, Finance, Marketing, MBA.

Design, Animation & Media

Game Design, Visual Communication, UI/UX.

Natural Sciences & Research

Physics, Biotechnology, Chemistry.

Korean Language/ International Studies.

Perfect in case the student is planning a career in Korea, which is long-term.

Admission Requirements of Indian Students

For Bachelor’s:

Class 12 completion (60 percent or above)
IELTS 5.5-6.0 (IELTS can be waived in some English-taught courses)
Korean is not obligatory (TOPIK would be an advantage)

For Master’s:

Bachelor’s degree or diploma.
IELTS 6.0–6.5 (or TOEFL equivalent)
SOP + LORs + Resume

Common Documents:

Passport
Academic transcripts
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
English proficiency proof
Portfolio (design courses)

Start 4-6 months prior to the intake to ease the visa application.

Indian Student Visa South Korea (D-2)

The Indian students have to seek the D-2 Student Visa at the Korean Embassy.

Documents Required:

Valid passport
Higher education admission letter.
Evidence of money (KRW 10–20 million ≈ ₹6–12 lakh)
Tuition payment receipt
Medical certificate
Academic documents

Visa processing time: 2–4 weeks

Price of Studying in South Korea

Average Tuition Fees:

Study Level	Fees (INR/year)
Diploma / Language	₹3–6 lakh
Bachelor’s	₹4–8 lakh
Master’s	₹5–10 lakh
PhD	₹3–6 lakh

The scholarships decrease the fees by 30-100 per cent.

The Price of Living in South Korea- Indian Students

Expenses	Monthly Cost (KRW)	Approx INR
Rent (shared)	400,000–700,000	₹25,000–45,000
Food	300,000–400,000	₹18,000–25,000
Transport	60,000–100,000	₹4,000–6,000
Utilities	80,000–120,000	₹5,000–7,000
Personal	100,000	₹6,000

Seoul is more expensive; Busan, Daegu and Daejeon are cheaper.

Best Universities in South Korea for Indian Students

QS Rank 2026	University	Avg Fees (KRW)	Best Programs
38	Seoul National University	6–8M	Engineering, Research
–	KAIST	5–7M	AI, Technology
50	Yonsei University	7–9M	Business, Medicine
61	Korea University	7–9M	Law, Management
102	POSTECH	5–7M	Engineering
126	Sungkyunkwan University	6–8M	IT, Business

Every degree is recognized worldwide over even by the Indian employers.

Scholarships in South Korea for Indian Students

Government Scholarships:

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Korean Government Research Grants are available as well.

University Scholarships:

KAUST International Student Scholarship
Yonsei Merit Awards
Korea University Global Scholarship
.POSTECH Tuition Waivers

Benefits Include:

Full/partial tuition waiver
Monthly stipend
Medical insurance
Airfare (GKS)

Apply 6–8 months in advance.

Study Intakes in South Korea

Study Intakes in South Korea:

Intake	Months	Notes
Spring	March	Main intake
Fall	September	Second major intake

Work and Post-Study Opportunities

Part-time employment: 20 hrs/week semesters.

Vacation time is full-time.
D-10 Visa: Post-graduate job-hunting.
E-7 Visa: Employment-skilled visa.

South Korea has IT, engineering, research and manufacturing demand.

Career Opportunities and Global Exposure

A degree from a university in South Korea will expose one to international career opportunities. Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and SK Group are multinational companies found in South Korea. Internships, industry projects, and good university-industry relationships are beneficial to the students.

There is also a possibility to work in South Korea after graduation, and international graduates are able to receive productive working experience. The economy and demand for skilled professionals are very strong in the country, so it could be considered the right place to begin a foreign career.

Korean Cultural and Lifestyle Experience

It is not only studying in South Korea, but it is also a full-fledged culture. Students enjoy a rich lifestyle with K-pop, K-dramas, traditional palaces, cuisine, and festivals. The nation is characterized as having safe, well-timed transportation and up-to-date living standards.

Student Accommodation

There is a range of accommodation available for international students, and many of them are suitable for Indian students. Like other cities in different parts of the world, every type of accommodation is available in the cities in South Korea. You can find on-campus accommodations in or near universities. Besides, off-campus accommodations by private developers can also be found here. The options of private apartments and homestays are available here also.

Brief About the Study Guide for Indian Students in South Korea

South Korea, as a study destination, is gaining popularity among Indian students. There are a lot of opportunities to study in South Korea for Indian students. It has a secure environment, welcoming campuses, and an ever-increasing number of Indian students in the country. The Indian students find it easy to adapt in universities based on good academic backing, modernity, and exposure to multiculturalism.

The majority of universities provide English-taught undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate courses, particularly in engineering, business, science, and international studies. There is no need for Indian students to know Korean if they study in English-taught programs; however, basic learning of the Korean language helps to improve day-to-day life and employment prospects (part-time jobs).

South Korea option of studying as an Indian student is a good option since there are high visa rates, affordable tuition fees, and good scholarships, including the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) that includes tuition, living, airfare, and medical insurance.

Your Path to South Korea Study Starts Now

In case you are seeking a place outside India where you can get a good education, cheaply, as well as one that is rich in culture, then studying in South Korea is your best option. Whether you are planning to study abroad in South Korea or you are simply comparing the opportunities available to Indian students, South Korea is the place that promises you a future of opportunities and innovation, as well as worldwide success.

Make the initial move to your international education and find out why South Korea is now turning out to be one of the best places to study in an overseas country.

Cost of Living in South Korea

Manage your living costs in South Korea effortlessly! Plan your budget from accommodation to daily expenses with an average of Euro 10,000–15,000 per year.