Admission procedures
Information collection and admission application
- If the purpose of studying abroad in Korea, major program, etc. are decided, a student should select a school that best suits his needs and apply for admission. Information on schools can be found on the website of each school. General information on the requirements and preparation for study in the ROK and life as a foreign student in the ROK can be found at the Study in Korea site (
www.studykorea.go.kr).
- A student can compare and analyze collected information to select a school to go to. Then, he should submit an admission application and relevant documents by the admissions deadline of the selected school.
Admissions screening
- The school receiving the admission application decides whether to grant admission in conformity with education-related Acts and subordinate statutes and regulations separately set by the school.
Visa issuance, entry into the ROK, and foreigner registration
- Once admission is granted, the student should receive the appropriate visa for his status of sojourn, enter the ROK, and go ahead with the admission procedures set by the school.
- Anyone intending to sojourn in the ROK in excess of ninety days from date of entry should complete foreigner registration with the head of the Immigration Office or the head of the branch office of the Immigration Office having jurisdiction over his place of sojourn within ninety days from his entry.
Admissions screening by educational institutions
Elementary schools
- The head of the school having jurisdiction over the place of residence of a foreign student may substitute the procedures for admission, transfer, or special admittance to the elementary school by verifying the contents of the confirmation of the entry into and departure from Korea or confirmation of the foreigner registration by accessing the joint administrative information database (Article 36(1) of the 「Electronic Government Act」): Provided that, where the legal guardian of said foreign student does not agree to such verification, said legal guardian shall be required to submit documents that verify entry into and departure from Korea or foreigner registration, or documents that verify residence such as a lease contract and a written guarantee by a relative or acquaintance about the residence (Article 19(1) of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act」).
Middle and high schools
- In principle, exceptional admission for foreign students shall be admission into the same program, school year, and semester as or preceding those at their foreign school: Provided that admission, transfer, or special admittance is exceptionally allowed to a higher or lower year than the school year if the students had continued to study in the ROK within the scope of one semester (six months) due to the differences in school systems between the ROK and foreign countries [ IV.2 of the「Guidelines on the Handling of Tasks for Exceptional Admittance to Middle and High Schools」(Ministry of Education Notice No. 2022-37)].
- The following documents shall be submitted to enter, transfer to, or be specially admitted into middle and high schools [IV.8 and Form of the 「Guidelines on the Handling of Tasks for Exceptional Admittance to Middle and High Schools」(Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Notice No. 2008-115)]:
1. Application for admission to a middle (high) school;
2. Transcript for all years at foreign schools;
3. Copy of the passport or certificate of confirmation of entry into and departure from Korea (for students);
4. Foreigner registration completion certificate issued by the ROK government (together with the certificate of parents if the parents are also foreigners)
※ Refer to Section 2-2-1 for information on the issuance of the confirmation of entry into and departure from Korea and the confirmation of foreigner registration.
Universities and colleges, and graduate schools
- Admission to universities and colleges, and graduate schools is possible when satisfying the requirements set forth by Acts and subordinate statutes and by the regulations of each school.
- Those who have graduated from high schools or those who are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter universities and colleges (Article 33(1) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
- High-school graduates or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes or those who are enrolled in relevant universities or colleges and meet the qualification requirements prescribed by the regulations of said universities or colleges shall be qualified to enter combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs (Article 33(2) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
- Those who hold bachelor's degrees or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter master's degree programs and combined master’s and doctoral degree programs (Article 33(3) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
- Those who hold master's degrees or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter doctoral degree programs (Article 33(4) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
- The quota of foreign students to be recruited shall be separately set from the quota of each recruitment unit at universities and colleges, and graduate schools. (Article 32 of the 「Higher Education Act」 and subparagraphs 6 and 7 of Articles 29(2) and subparagraph 1 of Article 30(7) of the「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act). The quota to recruit, selection method, application documents, and the like vary among universities and colleges, and graduate schools. Students shall check the application guidelines of the schools they are applying to.
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TOPIK
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Most universities and colleges require certain or higher scores on the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) or an English proficiency test (TOEFL, TOEIC, and TEPS, etc.) as one of the admission requirements for foreign students. The TOPIK measures and evaluates the capability to use Korean of foreigners and overseas Koreans to whom Korean is not a native language. It is administered by the ROK government (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology). ※ Information on the TOPIK such as its implementation dates, evaluation grades, acceptance standards, questions from previous tests, and countries where the test is administered can be found on the TOPIK website (www.topik.go.kr).
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Scholarships for foreign students studying in the ROK
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Scholarships for foreign students studying in the ROK - Foreign students invited by the ROK government · The ROK government concludes culture and other agreements with some foreign governments, and they invite scholarship students from each other's country. Foreign scholarship students invited by the government are students of universities and colleges, and graduate schools. Financial aid is provided for school expenses, Korean language training expenses, round-trip airfares, living expenses, and medical insurance for students' time in the ROK (four years for universities and colleges, two years for master's degree programs, and three years for doctor's degree programs) · The quota of students to be selected, selection methods, etc. can be different among countries. Students should refer to the National Institute for International Education website (www.niied.go.kr) for more details. - Scholarships for different schools · Many schools offer scholarships for foreign students. Students can find information on the scholarships of the schools they are attending through the schools' departments responsible for foreign students or scholarship departments. - Scholarships from foreign students' home countries · Another way to obtain a scholarship is to become a student studying abroad at the expense of the government of one's home country, become an exchange student aided by his school in his home country, or receive a scholarship offered by various scholarship foundations.
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