Study Masters in South Korea: Application Process,Cost of Living

Popularly known as the Land of the Morning Calm, South Korea is a fantastic blend of old and new, ancient and modern, nature and technology. When you study here, you will experience what we call a long historical landscape, filled with natural beauty, in addition to living close to a major tech and entertainment hub in the mega city of Seoul.

At present, South Korea has gained popularity among international students – and for good reason! There are tons of universities and low tuition programmes for students to study abroad and pursue their Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes. Additionally, living and studying in South Korea is really cheap for most people. So, making the move to study in South Korea would give you access to both stunning surroundings, interesting friends, and fantastic value.

Why Study in South Korea?

Variety, that’s the reason! In South Korea, you will have access to an endless stream of options for careers, activities, cuisine, and weekend vacations; you’ll also have tons of universities to choose from. To provide context, in South Korea alone, you will discover hundreds of university options, each offering different types of training, research, and instruction that will suit just what you are looking for.

Using mostly an American education model, the universities in South Korea award 4 year Bachelor’s degree programmes, with Master’s degrees giving you an additional 2-3 years of post grad education. So you’ll have enough time to acquire requisite skills and knowledge before you are out there on the job market.

Tuition fees in South Korea

As it is with most countries around the world, South Korea categorizes their universities into public (government-backed) universities, and private universities. Yet, one fantastic thing about South Korea is that they don’t charge a separate tuition to international students; instead, international students are charged the same fees as their local classmates.

Public universities: 3810 EUR per semester
Private universities: 5080 EUR per semester

Cost of living in South Korea

In many ways, South Korea can be a rather expensive country to go for your studies with average minimum living costs being 1,200 EUR/month. But, there are plenty of ways to save money and budget properly while you’re there.

Find below a breakdown of costs in South Korea

Renting out a 3-bedroom apartment near a city centre will 1,230 EUR per month
Monthly transportation pass (train, metro, bus) will go for 42 EUR
A 3-course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant wil cost 32 EUR
Milk: 1.81 EUR
Cappuccino: 3.34 EUR
Loaf of bread: 2.13 EUR
Rice: 3.10 EUR

How to Apply to a Master’s in South Korea

Once you’ve decided to study a Master’s degree at a university in South Korea, you will have to put together the right documents to prove that you satisfy the university requirements.Remember to provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement in addition.

What documents do I need to provide to apply in South Korea?

Inorder to apply to a university in South Korea you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:

birth certificate;
recent photos;
your passport or national identity card;
one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your Bachelor’s degree transcript;
academic transcripts;
letter of intent;
Curriculum Vitae;
Bank statements or sufficient proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.

Based on the course or specialization of your chosen Master’s, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests such as GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Do well to check if your programme requires any of these, or others.

Generally, the list of documents required depend largely on the specific requirements of universities in South Korea so you may be required to include additional documents. It’s also possible you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.

Prove your English skills

Since you’ll study an international program in English, you’ll be required to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you fail to meet the minimum language requirements, you are expected to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.

Application deadlines for South Korea

The deadline for applying to a Master’s in South Korea usually happen during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Bear in mind that some universities do not have specific application deadlines, which means you are able to apply whenever you are ready.

Do well to avoid delays or missed deadlines, by submitting your required documents well in advance.

List of Universities

EDHEC Business School

Sejong University

Seoul National University

Sungkyunkwan University

University of Seoul