A combined review of cheapest and best Korean universities for international students; find out cost of studying in Korea, tuition fee etc.
About Korea
Korea is a contemporary country with tall skyscrapers and cultural landmarks. The East Asian nation, which is a lovely mix of old and new, is well-known for its high educational standards. After all, several of its institutions are regarded as among the best in the world. Korea is ideal for international students seeking a world-class education because of this characteristic.
Best Cheap Korean Universities for International Students
Below is a review of the best Korean universities for international students, read on;
1. Seoul National University
- Number of International Students: 5,592
- Percentage of International Students: 19.96%
Seoul National University (SNU) is a public research university in Seoul, South Korea. It is the cheapest university in Korea. Both the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the Shanghai Rankings rank it as the best university in South Korea. It’s also the ninth greatest in Asia and the 64th best worldwide.
There are 15 colleges at SNU, with 83 undergraduate programs. There are additional 12 graduate institutions that provide 99 post-graduate degrees.
SNU, South Korea’s most prominent university, has a very competitive admission process. In addition to the normal criteria, performance assessments are necessary in Fine Arts and Physical Education programs.
2. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
- Number of International Students: 3,839
- Percentage of International Students: 11.61%
SKKU is a private university that has been in existence since 1398. It offered Confucian canon and Chinese classics studies as the Joseon Dynasty’s highest educational institution. It is not only East Asia’s oldest university, but it is also considered one of the greatest in the region.
SKKU has campuses in Suwon (Humanities & Social Science) and central Seoul (Humanities & Social Science) (Natural Sciences).
SKKU offers special programs such as the International Summer Semester and the Winter International Student Experience because of its large number of international students. It also provides a Global MBA, which is the country’s first English-taught MBA program. Sungkyunkwan University has a large number of international students, which is why we’ve listed it as one of the finest Korean universities for international students.
3. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- Number of International Students: 1,027
- Percentage of International Students: 9.77%
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was founded in 1971 as the country’s first research-oriented science and engineering institution. Frederick Terman (Stanford University) and Chung Geum-mo (Daejeon University) devised the academic scheme (Polytechnic Institution of Brooklyn).
Natural Sciences, Life Science & Bioengineering, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Convergence Science, and Business are all represented at KAIST.
Overall grades, math/science grades, recommendation letters, personal statements, study plans, and other relevant data are used by KAIST to determine competitive admission. Despite this, overseas candidates had a nearly same acceptance rate of 13.2 percent compared to 14.9 percent for locals.
4. Yonsei University
- Number of International Students: 4,108
- Percentage of International Students: 12.52%
Yonsei University is the Y in the famous SKY universities of South Korea. While it dates back to 1885, it was only formally established in 1957 when Yonhi College and the Severance Union Medical College merged.
Undergraduate programs in Liberal Arts, Commerce, Business, Engineering, Life Science, Theology, Social Science, Law, Music, Human Ecology, Education, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy are available at Korea’s premier institution for overseas students.
Post-graduate degrees are also available in theology, international studies, communication, social welfare, business administration, education, public administration, engineering, journalism, law, and economics, to name a few.
Yonsei, like many of South Korea’s prestigious colleges, has a low admittance rate of just under 5%.
5. Korea University
- Number of International Students: 4,316
- Percentage of International Students: 17.08%
Korea University is a private university in Seoul, South Korea, that is regarded among the best in the country. It is the K in the SKY – the abbreviation given to three of the country’s most distinguished universities – and was founded in 1905. It was the country’s first university to provide law, journalism, and economics studies, making it a true educational pioneer.
Law, Business, Liberal Arts, Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Political Science & Economics, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Education, Nursing, Informatics, Health Science, Art & Design, International Studies, Media & Communication, Mechatronics, and Interdisciplinary Studies are among the 17 colleges and schools at Korea University.
Korea University has an admission rate of little over 5%, making it a very elite institution.
6. Pohang University of Science and Technology
- Number of International Students: 88
- Percentage of International Students: 2.56%
POSTECH, a private research university that specializes in science and technology courses, is next on our list of top Korean universities for overseas students. Despite the fact that it was only founded in 1986, Times Higher Education named it the best university under 50. (2012 to 2014).
Admission at POSTECH, like most South Korean universities, is extremely competitive. However, the university has been able to expand its international graduate student pool by offering full-tuition fellowships as part of its recruitment efforts. During the first semester, all overseas graduate students are eligible for a $1,500 one-time settling award.
7. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
- Number of International Students: 291
- Percentage of International Students: 6.09%
UNIST is one of four research institutes devoted to science and technology. It was established in 2007 to meet the growing need for higher education in Ulsan, the industrial hub of South Korea.
Despite its youth, UNIST is widely regarded as one of the greatest universities in the country. It was already ranked in the World University Rankings in the 201-250 category ten years after it opened. It is currently ranked as the world’s 20th greatest young university.
Undergraduate schools of the university specialize in a variety of engineering disciplines, as well as Life Science, Natural Science, and Business Administration. Graduate programs in Creative Design Engineering, Technology & Innovation Management, and Interdisciplinary Management are also available.
8. Kyung Hee University
- Number of International Students: 4,183
- Percentage of International Students: 12.03%
Kyung Hee University was established in 1949 as a private educational institution. It includes extensive campuses in Seoul and Suwon, and is regarded as one of Korea’s best institutions for overseas students.
Humanities, Law, Politics, Management, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Music, Fine Arts, Dance, Engineering, International Studies, Foreign Language, and Physical Education are only a few of the areas covered by its undergraduate colleges.
It also has 16 graduate schools with master’s and doctoral programs.
9. Sejong University
- Number of International Students: 1,700
- Percentage of International Students: 12.73%
Sejong University is one of the best Korean Universities for International Students, and a private university that specializes in tourism, dancing, and animation. It is named after Sejong the Great, the Joseon King who developed the Hangul alphabet, and was founded in 1947.
Foreign students are welcome to apply to any of the school’s nine colleges. Liberal Arts, Social Science, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Natural Science, Life Science, Electronics & Information Engineering, Engineering, and Arts & Physical Education are the colleges that make up this group.
Graduate courses in Business, Public Policy, Education, Tourism, Industry, and Interdisciplinary Arts are also available at the Seoul-based university.
10. Hanyang University
- Number of International Students: 2,749
- Percentage of International Students: 6.81%
Hanyang University, a private college named after the former Joseon capital, brings our ranking of the greatest institutions in Korea to a close. It has campuses in Seoul and Ansan, and was founded in 1939. (ERICA).
Hanyang is a specialist in Engineering, as well as other related fields. Aside from that, the university’s Seoul campus provides courses in medicine, humanities, policy, economics, business, education, music, performing arts, music, nursing, and international studies.
On the other hand, the ERICA Campus offers programs in Engineering, Pharmacy, Science, Language, Communication, Business, Design, Sports & Arts, and Advertising.
Hanyang also has a number of foreign projects, such as the ‘Global G2’ (Chinese-English) scheme and the ‘Global 3.0 Project Connects the World.’
I hope you found this post on top Korean universities for international students useful, read about cheap Korean universities for international students below.
Cheap Korean Universities for International Students
The following review is about the cheapest Korean universities for international students, you can choose the most affordable one to you, please be guided, fees are subject to change, always consult your school directly.
1. SeoulTech
- Undergraduate Tuition: $5,000
- Graduate Tuition: $8,000
This is one of the cheap Korean Universities for International Students. SeoulTech’s motto is three words: sincerity, creativity, and collaboration. It focuses on three main objectives: facilitating creative education, providing top humanities education, and providing a practical education that ensures student competency in the workplace.
This university is well-regarded across the country, with the best employment rates among four-year colleges.
2. Handong Global University
- Undergraduate Tuition: $7,175
- Graduate Tuition: N/A
Handong Global University places a strong emphasis on English language instruction, and while English language courses are required for all programs, five majors are taught exclusively in English.
This low-cost Korean institution likewise stresses foreign student learning and has a feature called “Communities.” These groups are formed based on students’ geographical and cultural backgrounds and are intended to make them feel at ease. Handong University claims to have 53 separate communities, each representing a different country.
The fact that the Handong campus has its own hair salon is an unusual feature. As a result, students won’t have to go far to get their hair fixed the next time they have a bad hair day.
3. Soongsil University
- Undergraduate Tuition: $7,500
- Graduate Tuition: $7,500
Soongsil University is another of the cheapest Korean Universities for International Students, and a private Christian university based in Seoul, South Korea. It is thought to be Korea’s first modern university. It is well-known for business and economics degrees, but it also boasts a total of ten undergraduate schools offering a wide range of disciplines.
Graduate programs are also available at the school. Soongsil is a smaller school with a smaller student body, therefore students looking for a smaller school may find it appealing.
4. Korea University
- Undergraduate Tuition: N/A
- Graduate Tuition: Up to $7,280
Korea University is renowned for being the country’s first private university. The Clock Tower at the College of Liberal Arts is one of the campus’s most distinctive and noteworthy elements.
Every day at noon, the clock at this affordable university in Korea chimes the university theme “Birds, birds, blue birds.” The lighting on the Tower above LG-POSCO is another distinctive element. Indeed, the building’s lighting will change color to reflect stock prices: red if they climb, blue if they decrease.
5. Yonsei University
- Undergraduate Tuition: Up to $5,890
- Graduate Tuition: Up to $7,630
Yonsei University is Seoul’s historic private university. It aspires to bring together Christian religion, creativity, and connection.
On campus, there are buildings in both Asian and European styles. The “Gwanghyewon” building was previously a general hospital, but today contains the “Yonsei Archives,” which houses archives and relics. The iconic Yonhi Hall, which was created in conjunction with the American Air Force, is considered to embody the “cooperative spirit of the United States.”
6. Seoul National University
- Undergraduate Tuition: $5,330
- Graduate Tuition: $6,000
Seoul National Institution is a public liberal arts university with a student body of approximately 30,000 students. With four campuses, Seoul National University is the largest campus in the city.
The main campus of this low-cost university in Korea, Gwanak, has its own subway line, making transportation for students and faculty simple and convenient. Gwanak is also home to the university library, which stores over 4 million books.
There are two museums on the campus as well. Seoul is said to spend more money on its students than any other prominent university in the country, according to sources.
7. Pusan National University
- Undergraduate Tuition: Up to $2,535
- Graduate Tuition: Up to $3,120
Pusan National University is South Korea’s oldest public university, with a student body of over 26,000 students. Busan is home to the school, which is recognized for its gorgeous beaches, temples, and unique geography.
The largest seafood market in Korea, Jagalchi Market, is not far from campus, as is Taejongdae, a cliffside beach with a panoramic view of the sea. “Truth, Freedom, and Service” are believed to be important to Pusan.
- Read also; Study abroad in South Korea
Volunteer work and other activities for students to give back to the community are emphasized at the university. The institution is also involved in the sustainability debate, and its multi-campus construction has aided in the creation of four new environmentally efficient buildings.
8. University of Seoul
- Undergraduate Tuition: $5,330
- Graduate Tuition: Up to $8,400
It turns out that students looking for low-cost education in Korea should thank the University of Seoul.
In 2012, a mayoral decree reduced tuition at the University of Seoul to half its previous level in an attempt to encourage other universities to do the same. The strategy worked, and Korea’s tuition costs have been significantly reduced since then.
This is one of Korea’s cheapest institutions, with modern architecture and a facility known as the “21st century building.” One of Korea’s finest universities is the University of Seoul. It has a student body of approximately 28,000 students who are divided into 15 colleges.
9. Sogang University
- Undergraduate Tuition: $7,000
- Graduate Tuition: $7,500
Sogang Institution is a Catholic university in Seoul. Sogang is surrounded by a number of college towns where students can take a break from their studies. Daehango is one such town, with theater and street performers as well as a sprinkling of restaurants catering to the student crowd.
The numerous biking trails nearby are another appealing selling aspect. Many international students choose to live on campus because of the school’s good location, and 40% of those students choose to live in the campus resident halls.
- See also; Study abroad for free in these countries
10. Hoseo University
- Undergraduate Tuition: $6,800
- Graduate Tuition: $6,800
Hoseo University is a Christian private university with graduate and undergraduate programs. For the previous five years, this low-cost university in Korea has had a perfect pass rate for Nursing and National Examinations!
The school has two main campuses, one in Asan and the other in Cheonan, both in South Korea. Hoseo also holds the distinction of being the first university in the country to establish a Student Business Incubator. The Incubator is presently successfully assisting students in starting their own enterprises.
Korean universities for international students – Frequently Asked Questions Answered!
How happy are international students studying in South Korea?
86 percent of international students are satisfied with the Korean educational system, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How do I apply to Universities in Korea?
International students frequently ask this question. Because the application process in Korean institutions differs significantly from that in Canada and the United States, you should become acquainted with it. If you’re interested, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide for international students on applying for international studies, so take a look!
How do I Afford My Studies in Korea?
Scholarships, grants, work studies, and attendance at affordable institutions in Korea are all options for financing your education. Even though they come from a disadvantaged family, some international students can fully fund their education in Korean universities.
What can I study in Korea?
In South Korea, you can virtually study anything because Korean institutions teach almost everything imaginable.
What are the most popular study programs in Korea for international students?
Arts and Literature, Business, and Economics are the top three most popular programs among international students.
How many foreign students are enrolled in Korean universities?
In Korea, more than 160,000 foreign students are enrolled.
What is the most prestigious university in South Korea?
Several ranking groups believe Seoul National University to be the best Korean University for International Students.
Conclusion on Top and Cheap Korean universities for international students
I hope that this article on Korean universities for international students, top and affordable was helpful. You can share on social media and also read other articles, thank you.
Share on Social Media