How to Apply to Universities in South Korea (2027): Step by Step

South Korea admits international students into a mostly Korean-taught higher education system built around two intakes, Spring in March and a smaller Fall in September, alongside a growing number of English-taught programmes. National universities such as Seoul National University and KAIST charge international students the same tuition as Korean students, while private universities generally set a separate, higher schedule; POSTECH funds every admitted freshman's first-semester tuition in full. International students hold a D-2 student visa, can work part time with prior permission, and a graduate of a Korean institution can generally move to a D-10 job-seeking visa for up to two years after finishing.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources

Bachelor's degree

Confirm which nationality route applies: most universities require the applicant and both parents to hold non-Korean nationality, though a second route exists at several universities for Korean nationals who completed their whole school education abroad.
Choose a Spring (March) or Fall (September) intake and check that specific university's own deadline, since several set their Spring deadline in July or August of the year before, far earlier than a typical Fall deadline.
Gather a certificate of (expected) high school graduation, full transcripts, and one language proficiency document, either a TOPIK score (or an equivalent Korean-language institute certificate) or an English test score, most commonly TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic; documents from outside Korea generally need an apostille or Korean consular authentication.
Apply online through the university's own admissions portal (a small number, including POSTECH, route international undergraduate applications through the government's Study in Korea portal instead) and pay the application fee, which finalises submission at most universities.
Sit any interview, written test or practical exam your programme requires.
If admitted, obtain your Certificate of Admission and apply for a D-2 student visa before travelling.

Master's degree

Identify a specific graduate school or department, since Korean universities generally set admission requirements, deadlines and language standards at department level rather than through one university-wide standard.
For a research-based programme, contact a prospective supervisor and confirm their willingness to accept you before applying, since many departments expect this.
Prepare a bachelor's degree certificate and transcript, a research plan or statement of purpose, and a language proficiency document matching your programme's teaching language.
Apply within the department's own deadline and pay the application fee.
If admitted, apply for a D-2 student visa before travelling to Korea.

PhD

Contact a prospective supervisor in your field and agree a research topic before applying, since Korean universities generally expect this contact ahead of a formal application.
Confirm your prior degree is recognised as equivalent to a Korean master's degree.
Apply to the specific graduate school within its own deadline.
Arrange funding, since doctoral study is rarely fully scholarship-covered outside a small number of national schemes and university-specific fellowships.
If admitted, apply for a D-2 student visa before travelling.