Requirements and preparations to study in the Republic of Korea
Preparations for admission
- Any person who intends to study or pursue training in the Republic of Korea should obtain information on and consider the curriculum, academic term, required credits, school expenses, and sojourn expenses, etc. in order to choose the most suitable school.
- Any person intending to enroll in a regular program, not a course in Korean language or a short-term program, should determine whether he fulfills the prerequisites for entering the school of his choice. To enter a university in the Republic of Korea, for example, an applicant should have completed high school and provide proof thereof, and some universities may require a certain score in a Korean or English proficiency test.
- Once the above is satisfied, one should submit an application for admission and relevant documents to the intended school.
Entry into the Republic of Korea
- Once admission is granted, a visa to enter the Republic of Korea should be acquired. One can apply for a visa at any ROK diplomatic mission in his country or a third country. Depending on the specific purpose of entering the ROK, a student (D-2), general trainee (D-4), or general short-term (C-3) visa is issued.
※ Astudent from a country which concluded a visa waiver agreement with the ROK canenter the ROK without a visa if he intends to enroll in a short-term Korean language course (generally less than 90days). Visit the MOFA website on safeoverseas traveling (
www.0404.go.kr) and go to [ConsularServices/Visa-Visa] to view the countries that concluded agreements on thewaiver of visas with the ROK.
- Once entering the ROK, one should register with the head of the Immigration Office or head of the branch office of the Immigration Office having jurisdiction over his place of sojourn within ninety days of entry and obtain a foreigner registration certificate. A foreigner registration certificate has the same effect as an ID card in the ROK.
Life in Korea
- Foreign students may experience difficulties obtaining housing, opening bank accounts, and using mass transportation, telecommunications, postal service, and medical service, etc. due to unfamiliarity with the environment.
- To help them when problems occur and adapt to life in the ROK, each school has staff dedicated to assisting them, and they can find useful information at Study in Korea (
http://www.studykorea.go.kr) and e-Government for Foreigners (
http://www.hikorea.go.kr, ☎1345), run by the ROK government.
Completion of study
- Upon completing their studies, foreign students can return to their home countries, obtain employment in the ROK, or go to higher educational institutions such as graduate schools. If they wish to get a job in the ROK, they should obtain the status of sojourn that is appropriate for the job type. When going to a higher educational institution, the status of sojourn should be changed or extended.