From zero to living in South Korea
Written for students from Nepal. What I’d check first, what it costs, how the visa usually works, and what life looks like after you land.
Start here
Lifestyle & environment there
100% tuition · 100% dormitory fees
KDU Global - IUCEA Joint Scholarship provides Tier I (100% tuition for up to 4 years and dormitory fees for 2 years) and Tier II (100% tuition for first semester) scholarships for undergraduate students from East…
Korean workplace culture is hierarchical and top-down, which can be challenging for women, especially in predominantly male work environments;
The KDU Global Immersion Program (KGIP) is an annual event during summer and winter vacations that brings international and Korean students together to build networks, experience cultures, and enhance language and…
Prepare to apply
Exams & entry requirements
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| English test | $220 – ₩290000 | TOEFL iBT registration fee is approximately $220 USD (about ₩290,000 - ₩300,000 KRW), with late registration fee of $40 and rescheduling fee of $60. |
- English-taught programs in South Korea typically require TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS Academic 6.0+ as proof of English proficiency.
- TOEFL iBT test time is approximately 3 hours with section times: Reading 60-80 minutes, Listening 60-90 minutes, Speaking 17 minutes, Writing 50 minutes.
- TOEFL iBT assesses reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills with a total score range of 0-120 points.
Study options & tuition
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | ₩6,000,000 - ₩25,000,000 – USD 4,500 - 18,750 | Tuition fees range from ₩6 million to ₩25 million (USD 4,500 - 18,750) per year depending on university and program. |
| Cost detail | USD 20,000 (undergraduate) – USD 25,000 (graduate) | Financial documents must demonstrate access to at least USD 20,000 for undergraduate and USD 25,000 for graduate programs per academic year. |
| Scholarship | 30% tuition | KDU Global Citizen Scholarship offers 30% tuition fee scholarship to students demonstrating discipline, moral values, and intercultural harmony, renewed every semester. |
- Tuition fees in South Korea range from KRW 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 per year (~$2,200–5,200).
- Kyungdong University Global (KDU Global) course fee (Bachelor of Korean Business AI): KRW 8000.00 per year (source JSON;
College options
Kyungdong University
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Seoul National University
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Yonsei University
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Korea University
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Nationwide University
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Scholarships
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship | 100% tuition – 100% dormitory fees | KDU Global Scholarship covers 100% tuition and on-campus dormitory fees for the first semester for outstanding students from selected OECD and Latin American and Caribbean countries. |
Money & visa
Cost of going (fees, flights, first year)
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | USD 40 – EUR 36 | Visa fees for South Korea vary by nationality and visa type, with fees changing every 6 months based on exchange rates set by the Korean government. |
Visa, funds & must-knows
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of funds | KRW 800,000–1,200,000 per month | Proof of funds required for student visa includes tuition and living costs; living costs estimated at KRW 800,000–1,200,000 per month (~$600–900). |
| Cost detail | USD 50 | Student visa type D-2 is required for full-time study in South Korea. |
- Proof of funds can be a combination of documents such as a signed letter from a parent with their ID and bank statement, credit card statement showing line of…
Life after you land
Cost of living
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Housing / rent | ₩800,000 - ₩1,500,000 per month – USD 600 - 1,125 per month | Living expenses are estimated at ₩800,000 to ₩1,500,000 (USD 600 - 1,125) per month for accommodation and daily costs. |
| Cost detail | ₩300,000 - ₩500,000 per month – USD 225 - 375 per month | Miscellaneous personal and entertainment expenses are estimated at ₩300,000 to ₩500,000 (USD 225 - 375) per month. |
| Cost detail | SGD 2 billion – SGD 250 million | Public transport fare increase is moderated by government subsidies totaling over SGD 3 billion annually. |
| Living costs | USD 18,000 - 45,000 (undergraduate) – USD 22,000 - 55,000 (graduate) | For a South Korea student visa, you must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses for at least the first academic year. |
- Additional funds of USD 8,000 - 12,000 per dependent (spouse or child) are required for living expenses.
Housing
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost detail | $400-$600 per month | Shared houses in Korea cost about $400-$600 per month including utilities, with various room types and shared kitchen and bathroom. |
| Housing / rent | $700-$900 per month | Homestays cost $700-$900 per month including one or two meals per day, with private room and shared family living. |
Health cover
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| OSHC / health | ₩200,000 - ₩400,000 per year – USD 150 - 300 per year | Mandatory National Health Insurance costs about ₩200,000 to ₩400,000 (USD 150 - 300) per year. |
- Average monthly health insurance fee for international students in 2023 is 60,000 to 70,000 KRW after a 50% discount from the standard 127,510 KRW monthly fee.
- GKS (KGSP) Scholarship covers full tuition, KRW 900,000/month living allowance, airfare, Korean language training, health insurance, and settlement allowance.
Work while studying
| What | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time work | 6 months | Language trainees must wait 6 months after immigration status change before applying for part-time work permission; |
First weeks & settling in
First-week tasks after arrival include moving into temporary or confirmed housing, getting a prepaid SIM card (passport sufficient), registering at university to get a certificate of enrollment, applying for the…
First-week actions include moving into housing, obtaining a prepaid SIM card with just a passport, registering at university to get a certificate of enrollment, applying for the residence card through HiKorea, opening a…
Extra notes
More useful notes
USD 50 - 60 · USD 60 · USD 60
Monthly insurance fee for D-2 visa students is discounted, estimated at USD 50-60 in 2023 and USD 60 in 2024 and 2025 (around 80,000 KRW).
15 hours per week · 30 hours per week · 35 hours per week
Students in master's or doctoral programs may work up to 15 hours per week without Korean proficiency and up to 30 hours with proficiency; weekend/vacation hours can be up to 35 hours.
USD 50 · USD 100
Application fees are a regular feature of South Korea university applications. They are usually set between KRW 70,000 and KRW 140,000 (around USD 50 to USD 100).
Rules and fees change. Confirm the latest numbers on official sites before you apply.