Admission Requirements for Higher Education in South Korea

Higher Education in South Korea is provided by 7 different types of institutions that are either public or private. Higher Education in South follows a 3-tier degree structure- Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree programs. Along with that, junior college diploma and associate degree are also provided at the Undergraduate level in South Korea.

The applicant should be a high school graduate or has achieved an equivalent education. At least 12 years of education must be completed by the applicant for admittance to Bachelor degree program. 

The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

The applicant should hold a Master’s degree or its equivalent.

Step 1: Choose the University and the department. Visit their respective websites and know about the admission procedure and requirements. Each Institution has their own application form- online or offline. 

Step 2: Fill in the application form of the institution you wish to study at.

Step 3: Submit the form along with the application fee payment and relevant documents. If applying via online mode, upload all the documents as attachment files. Print the online application form after submitting it.

Step 4: If accepted, you’ll receive an entry confirmation.

Step 5: After you receive the entry confirmation, apply for visa. Contact the Korean Embassy in your country (For International Students)

• Application form
• Letter of Recommendation
• Academic Records: High School transcripts, GPA, and subjects undertaken.
• Passport Photocopy and passport-size photograph
• Proof of English and Korean languages
• Proof of Financial Resources: Can be bank statements, or any other form
• Acceptance Letter/Entry Confirmation Letter: Issued by the Institution
• Portfolio or Video: Applicants who want to pursue arts or physical education program are required to submit a video illustration or portfolio of their work.

The application deadline for March admissions, i.e. spring semester generally starts from September and continues until November, and for September admissions, i.e. fall semester the application process starts from May and goes on until June. The dates and deadlines vary depending on the Institution, so contact the respective institution to know about the dates and deadlines for applications. 

Admissions are based on the applicant’s academic achievements, grades and potential. The admission panel reviews the academic credentials-GPA, grades received, study plan, letter of recommendation, and personal statement. Along with the academic records, the language proficiency is also taken into consideration. Some of the Universities also conduct interviews or examinations. Get in touch with the respective Institutions to know more about their selection methodology.

Entrance Examination

Applicants are required to prove their Korean as well as English language proficiency in order to gain admittance to Universities and Colleges in South Korea.

Test of Proficiency in Korea, or TOPIK: TOPIK assess the Korean language skills and is used for admission to Educational Institutions and for job seeking purposes in South Korea. 

If the medium of instruction is English, then the TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores are accepted. TOEFL iBT accepted score is 79 to 80 or IELTS accepted score is 6.0 or more

Test of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL  tests proficiency in English language in academic settings.

International English Language Testing System: IELTS tests the proficiency in English language of non-native speakers.

Test of English Proficiency: TEPS is an English proficiency test established by Seoul National University's Language Education Institute to assess South Korean applicants English language knowledge and skills.