Can international students study in Korea in English without knowing Korean?

Yes. A number of Korean universities offer fully English-taught degree programs, especially in business, engineering, and international studies, that ask for TOEFL or IELTS rather than TOPIK. Korean is still very useful for daily life, and some programs and the GKS scholarship expect you to reach a TOPIK level over time. Always confirm a specific program's language of instruction on the official university page.

What is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and what does it cover?

GKS is a scholarship funded by the Korean government and administered by NIIED. It is widely described as fully funded — covering tuition, return airfare, a monthly stipend of roughly 900,000 to 1,000,000 KRW, health insurance, and one year of Korean language training. Exact amounts are set each year; verify on the official Study in Korea site (studyinkorea.go.kr).

How much does it cost to study in Korea as an international student?

Costs vary by university and city. Tuition is charged per semester and differs between public and private schools and between humanities and STEM. Living costs are highest in Seoul and lower in other cities. For the D-2 student visa you also need to show financial proof of funds. See the Cost of Studying in Korea guide for current ranges and always confirm figures with the university.

How do I get a student visa to study in Korea?

Degree students apply for the D-2 student visa after receiving a Certificate of Admission from a Korean university. You submit the admission documents and financial proof to a Korean embassy or consulate, then complete arrival steps such as registering for an Alien Registration Card (ARC). Language-school students use the D-4 visa instead. Verify current document lists with your local Korean embassy.

Free · Updated June 2026

Study in Korea, without the guesswork

An honest, step-by-step guide for international students — degree programs, English-taught options, applications, the government GKS scholarship, costs, the D-2 visa, and TOPIK. We explain how the process really works and always point you to official sources. We never promise admission.

Start the roadmap GKS scholarship guide Start Korean with a tutor

21practical guides

4step roadmap

0admission promises

Your 4-step roadmap

From "is this even possible?" to landing in Korea. Most international students move through roughly these four stages.

Understand your options

Degree vs language path, English-taught programs, and whether Korea fits your goals.

Apply to universities

Intakes, documents, language scores, financial proof, and a realistic timeline.

Fund it

The fully-funded GKS scholarship, university awards, and the real cost of living.

Get your visa

The D-2 student visa, financial proof, processing, and arrival steps like the ARC.

Key 2026 facts at a glance

Verified June 2026 from official and authoritative sources. Always confirm current figures on the official sites linked below — rules and dates change.

GKS-G (graduate) 2026: the application window ran in February 2026, aiming to admit around 2,000 graduate students (800 Embassy Track, 1,200 University Track). GKS-U (undergraduate) applications typically open in September. — Korea.net / NIIED
GKS coverage: fully funded — tuition, return airfare, a monthly stipend of roughly ₩900,000–1,000,000, health insurance, and one year of Korean language training. — NIIED
TOPIK 2026: held as both PBT and IBT, with IBT expanding to more countries. IBT results publish faster (about 2–3 weeks vs ~5). Scores are valid for 2 years from the announcement date. — NIIED / TOPIK Guide
Applications: most now run online through the official Study in Korea system (studyinkorea.go.kr) rather than in person. — Study in Korea

Getting started

New to all this? Begin with the big-picture guides before diving into the details.

Study in Korea: A Guide for International Students

The 2026 overview: degree vs language paths, applications, scholarships, costs, and the visa.

Study in Korea Application Timeline

A month-by-month plan: Spring vs Fall intakes, when to sit TOPIK, and when to start Korean.

English-Taught Degrees (No Korean Required)

Which fields offer fully English-taught degrees, the TOEFL/IELTS scores asked for, and the real limits.

Study in Korea Without Knowing Korean

Can you study with no Korean? Which universities offer it, and where it gets hard.

Applications & admissions

The paperwork, deadlines, and language requirements — explained without the panic.

Korea University Application Guide

Intakes, documents, language scores, financial proof, and the timeline.

Graduate School Application Guide

Master's or PhD: eligibility, research proposals, deadlines, language scores, and funding.

Korean Language Proficiency for University

What TOPIK level you need: admission vs graduation, Korean- vs English-taught.

Best Universities for International Students

SNU, Yonsei, Korea University, KAIST, POSTECH — and how to choose for your goals.

Best Korean Universities for Engineering

KAIST, POSTECH, SNU and more: strengths, English-taught options, and funding.

Korea MBA Programs

English-taught Global MBAs: admission, GMAT/GRE, experience, costs, and scholarships.

Study Medicine in Korea Guide

The honest reality: program length, the Korean-language requirement, costs, and licensing.

Korean Language Schools (어학당)

How university language institutes work: levels, terms, costs, and the D-4 visa.

Exchange Student Program Guide

A semester or year via your home university, the exchange visa, and the GKS exchange award.

Scholarships, costs & the visa

How to fund it and how to get legal — the parts students worry about most.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Guide

The government scholarship: who it's for, what it covers, eligibility, and how to apply via NIIED.

Scholarships for International Students

The GKS, university merit and tuition-reduction awards, and graduate assistantships.

Cost of Studying in Korea

Tuition per semester, living costs by city, insurance, and visa financial proof.

How to Apply for the D-2 Student Visa

Documents, financial proof, processing time, and arrival steps like the ARC.

Part-Time Work Rules for Students

The work permit, weekly hour limits by visa and TOPIK level, and how to work legally.

Living in Korea as a student

Where you'll live, how daily life works, and how to settle in.

Dormitory & Housing Guide

Dorms, goshiwon, one-rooms and officetels: monthly costs, deposits, and the rental system.

Student Life & Culture Guide

Clubs, festivals, dorm life, cheap campus food, transport, and etiquette.

Learn Korean Before You Go

The TOPIK level universities ask for, a realistic timeline, and combining self-study with a tutor.

Need Korean before you arrive?

Even for an English-taught degree, some Korean makes daily life far easier — and many programs and the GKS expect you to reach a TOPIK level. A 1-on-1 tutor builds speaking confidence faster than apps alone. Book a low-cost trial lesson before you commit — italki offers a money-back guarantee on unsatisfactory lessons, so there's little risk in trying one.

Book a 1-on-1 Korean trial lesson on italki

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. First read how to learn Korean before studying in Korea.

Why trust this site

No admission promises

We explain how the process works and never pretend any school is "best" for everyone.

Verified, cited facts

2026 figures checked against official sources, with a clear "always verify" reminder.

Independent

Not affiliated with NIIED, TOPIK, or the Korean government.

Requirements vary by school and year. Tuition, scholarships, language thresholds, and visa rules change. Always verify with the official university and the Study in Korea (studyinkorea.go.kr) site.
Last reviewed June 2026.

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