Study in South Korea - Study abroad destination

Costs & Funding - Study in South Korea

A realistic breakdown of tuition fees, living costs by city, KGSP and university scholarships, part-time work earnings, and total budget planning for international students in South Korea.

Updated March 1, 2026 8 min read

Costs & Funding for Studying in South Korea

South Korea offers one of the best value propositions in international education. Tuition at national universities starts from around KRW 4 million/year (approximately USD 3,000), living costs are manageable, and the KGSP/GKS scholarship program can cover your entire education. Even without a full scholarship, studying in South Korea is dramatically more affordable than comparable destinations like the US, UK, or Australia.

This guide gives you a realistic picture of what you'll spend and how to fund your studies.

Tuition Fees

By University Type

University Type	Annual Tuition (KRW)	Annual Tuition (USD)
National university (humanities/social sciences)	3,500,000 - 5,000,000	2,600 - 3,700
National university (engineering/science)	5,000,000 - 8,000,000	3,700 - 6,000
Private university (humanities/social sciences)	6,000,000 - 10,000,000	4,500 - 7,500
Private university (engineering/science)	8,000,000 - 15,000,000	6,000 - 11,200
Private university (medicine/dentistry)	12,000,000 - 20,000,000	9,000 - 15,000
KAIST (maintaining GPA 2.0+/4.3)	Waived	Free
GIST (graduate students)	Waived	Free

By Specific University

University	Type	Annual Tuition Range (KRW)
Seoul National University	National	4,200,000 - 7,800,000
KAIST	National (specialized)	Waived with GPA maintenance
POSTECH	Private (specialized)	Heavily subsidized; many on full scholarship
Korea University	Private	7,000,000 - 13,000,000
Yonsei University	Private	7,500,000 - 14,000,000
Sungkyunkwan (SKKU)	Private	7,000,000 - 14,000,000
Hanyang University	Private	6,500,000 - 12,000,000
Pusan National University	National	3,800,000 - 7,500,000

Living Costs

Monthly Living Costs by City

Expense	Seoul	Busan	Daejeon/Daegu	Smaller Cities
Housing (dormitory)	300,000 - 600,000	250,000 - 450,000	200,000 - 400,000	200,000 - 350,000
Housing (off-campus)	400,000 - 700,000	300,000 - 500,000	250,000 - 450,000	200,000 - 400,000
Food	300,000 - 500,000	250,000 - 400,000	200,000 - 350,000	200,000 - 300,000
Transport	55,000 - 80,000	50,000 - 70,000	40,000 - 60,000	30,000 - 50,000
Phone/internet	30,000 - 50,000	30,000 - 50,000	30,000 - 50,000	30,000 - 50,000
Health insurance (NHI)	~75,000	~75,000	~75,000	~75,000
Personal/entertainment	100,000 - 200,000	80,000 - 150,000	70,000 - 130,000	60,000 - 120,000
Total	860,000 - 1,200,000	735,000 - 1,000,000	665,000 - 900,000	595,000 - 800,000

Key notes on living costs:

Campus meals at university cafeterias are extremely affordable — KRW 3,500-6,000 per meal
Convenience store meals and kimbap restaurants offer meals for KRW 3,000-5,000
Transport passes (T-money card) make public transport very affordable in all cities
Dormitory living is the cheapest housing option and is recommended for your first semester

Housing Details

South Korea has a unique rental system you need to understand:

Housing Type	Monthly Cost (Seoul)	Deposit	Best For
University dormitory	300,000 - 600,000	None or minimal	First-year students; cheapest option
Goshiwon	300,000 - 500,000	None or 1 month	Single students; small rooms, no deposit
Oneroom (wolse)	400,000 - 700,000	5,000,000 - 10,000,000	Independent living; requires deposit
Shared apartment	300,000 - 500,000	Split deposit	Budget-conscious; social
Jeonse (lump-sum deposit)	No monthly rent	50,000,000+	Not typical for students

Pro tip: Goshiwon are small study rooms (typically 3-5 sqm) with shared or private bathrooms. They're very basic but require no deposit, making them the easiest option for students. Many include basic amenities like rice, kimchi, and ramen.

Scholarships

KGSP/GKS — The Full Package

The Korean Government Scholarship Program is the gold standard:

Benefit	Amount
Tuition	Full coverage
Monthly stipend	KRW 900,000 (undergrad) / KRW 1,000,000 (grad)
Round-trip airfare	Economy class
Settlement allowance	KRW 200,000
Korean language training	1 year included
Health insurance	Covered
Research support (graduate)	Up to KRW 2,100,000 - 2,400,000
Completion grant	KRW 100,000

University-Specific Scholarships

University	Scholarship Name	Coverage	Notes
KAIST	Admission Scholarship	Tuition waiver	Automatic for GPA 2.0+/4.3
GIST	Graduate Scholarship	Tuition + stipend	All admitted graduate students
SNU	SNU Global Scholarship	Tuition + stipend	Competitive; merit-based
Korea University	Global Leader Scholarship	25-100% tuition	Based on academic merit
Yonsei	Yonsei International Scholarship	25-100% tuition	Merit and need-based options
SKKU	Samsung Scholarship / SKKU Int'l	30-100% tuition	Samsung-funded options available
Hanyang	HISP (Hanyang International)	25-100% tuition	Based on GPA and extracurriculars

TOPIK-Based Scholarships

Many Korean universities offer tuition discounts based on your TOPIK score:

TOPIK Level	Typical Scholarship
Level 4	20-30% tuition reduction
Level 5	30-50% tuition reduction
Level 6	50-100% tuition reduction

This creates a strong incentive to invest in Korean language study before or during your degree.

Part-Time Work

International students can work part-time in South Korea under these conditions:

Eligibility: After 6 months of study (D-2 visa holders); must get permission from immigration
Hours: Maximum 20 hours/week during semester; unlimited during vacation periods
Minimum wage: KRW 9,860/hour (2026)
Typical jobs: English tutoring (KRW 15,000-30,000/hour), restaurant/cafe (KRW 10,000-12,000/hour), convenience store (KRW 10,000-11,000/hour), translation work

Estimated Part-Time Earnings

Work Type	Hourly Rate (KRW)	Monthly Earnings (20hrs/week)
English tutoring	15,000 - 30,000	1,200,000 - 2,400,000
Restaurant/cafe	10,000 - 12,000	800,000 - 960,000
Convenience store	9,860 - 11,000	788,800 - 880,000
Translation/interpretation	15,000 - 25,000	Variable

Pro tip: English tutoring is the most lucrative part-time work for native English speakers. However, be careful — private tutoring without proper authorization can violate visa terms. Work through legitimate language institutes (hagwon) or university-connected programs.

Total Annual Budget

Budget Scenarios

Scenario	Annual Tuition	Annual Living	Total (KRW)	Total (USD)
Budget (regional national + dorm)	4,000,000	8,000,000	12,000,000	~9,000
Mid-range (private Seoul + dorm)	8,000,000	12,000,000	20,000,000	~15,000
Comfortable (private Seoul + off-campus)	10,000,000	14,000,000	24,000,000	~18,000
KAIST/GIST (tuition waived)	0	8,000,000	8,000,000	~6,000
KGSP scholar	0	Covered by stipend	~0	~0

International Comparison

Country	Annual Tuition (USD)	Annual Living (USD)	Total (USD)
South Korea (national)	3,000 - 6,000	6,000 - 9,000	9,000 - 15,000
South Korea (private)	5,000 - 11,000	6,000 - 10,000	11,000 - 21,000
Japan	5,000 - 15,000	8,000 - 14,000	13,000 - 29,000
Germany	0 - 3,000	10,000 - 14,000	10,000 - 17,000
UK	18,000 - 45,000	12,000 - 22,000	30,000 - 67,000
USA	30,000 - 60,000	14,000 - 30,000	44,000 - 90,000
Australia	25,000 - 45,000	14,000 - 24,000	39,000 - 69,000

South Korea offers extraordinary value — particularly at national universities and with the generous scholarship options available.

Financial Documentation for Visa

For your D-2 student visa application, you'll need to demonstrate sufficient funds:

Tuition: Confirmation of payment or scholarship covering tuition
Living expenses: Bank statements showing at least USD 9,000-10,000 (or equivalent) for one year
Sponsor letter: If funds are from a family member, a notarized sponsor letter is required
KGSP confirmation: KGSP scholars need their scholarship award letter

Compare health insurance options for South Korea

Next Steps

Apply to universities — Start your application process
Check visa requirements — Understand D-2 visa financial requirements
Plan your studies — Build your timeline and budget
Explore career paths — Understand post-graduation earning potential

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Total annual costs range from KRW 12-25 million (USD 9,000-19,000) depending on university type and city. This includes tuition (KRW 4-15M at national vs. private universities) and living costs (KRW 8-14M/year). South Korea is significantly cheaper than the US, UK, or Australia, and comparable to or cheaper than Japan.

What is the cheapest way to study in South Korea?

The cheapest option is a regional national university (KRW 4-6M/year tuition) in a city like Daejeon, Daegu, or Gwangju (KRW 600,000-800,000/month living costs), combined with a KGSP scholarship or university merit scholarship. KAIST and GIST waive tuition for students maintaining minimum GPAs, making them effectively free.

What scholarships are available for international students in South Korea?

The main options are: KGSP/GKS (full government scholarship covering everything), KAIST/GIST tuition waivers (near-automatic for admitted students), university-specific scholarships (25-100% tuition reduction at most major universities), and TOPIK-based scholarships (many universities offer tuition discounts for high TOPIK scores). Private foundations like Samsung, LG, and Lotte also offer scholarships.

How much is the KGSP monthly stipend?

KGSP provides KRW 900,000/month for undergraduate scholars and KRW 1,000,000/month for graduate scholars. This covers basic living expenses. Additionally, KGSP provides a settlement allowance of KRW 200,000 upon arrival, research support of up to KRW 2,100,000-2,400,000 for graduate thesis, and a completion grant of KRW 100,000.

Can I work part-time as a student in South Korea?

Yes, with restrictions. International students can work part-time after 6 months of study (or immediately for certain visa types) with permission from their university and immigration office. The limit is 20 hours/week during semester and full-time during breaks. Minimum wage is KRW 9,860/hour (2026), and students typically earn KRW 700,000-1,200,000/month from part-time work.

How much does student housing cost in South Korea?

University dormitories cost KRW 300,000-600,000/month (the most affordable option). Off-campus one-room apartments (oneroom/goshiwon) cost KRW 300,000-700,000/month depending on the city. Shared apartments (flatshare) are also available. Key money (jeonse) deposits of KRW 5-10 million are common for monthly rent (wolse) apartments, though many student-targeted accommodations waive this.

Is health insurance included for students in South Korea?

All international students staying 6+ months must enroll in South Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI). The cost is approximately KRW 70,000-80,000/month for students. KGSP scholars have this covered by the scholarship. NHI covers 70% of medical costs at hospitals and clinics, with the remaining 30% as copayment.

How does South Korea's cost compare to other study destinations?

South Korea is one of the most affordable developed-country study destinations. Annual tuition is 70-80% cheaper than the US/UK/Australia and comparable to Germany (which charges near-zero tuition but has higher living costs). Japan is slightly more expensive for both tuition and living costs. The KGSP scholarship makes South Korea effectively free for recipients.

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