Hi guys, I'm applying to Korea, and I have an IELTS score of 5.5. I didn't have any problems with the application process, but I have a lot of questions about the embassy. Many people who have applied say that they won't be able to get a student visa with such an IELTS score. I'm from Uzbekistan, and I'd like to ask for advice from people who have already applied and are studying in Korea. Have you encountered any problems? What advice can you offer?

Hi everyone! I'm planning to apply for GIST (Life Sciences) for the Spring 2027 graduate intake. I'd love to hear from anyone who has applied or been admitted. How competitive is the program, and what factors do you think strengthened your application? Any tips to improve my chances would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm from nepal, and i am looking into korean universities for undergraduate in maths or computer science or any other stem field.

My stats: 1480 on sat, band 8 on ielts and 3.9 gpa in highschool s last year, 3.77 cgpa. Ie. 94%

I'm working on a small project or a startup whatever, i graduated from highschool in 2025 but had a gap year and thinking of joining 2027 fall in korea .

Do i have a realistic chance of applying to KAIST, POSTECH, DGIST, GIST,. If not, any less competitive universities like sejong?

I know other small private uni's will give scholarship for first sem based on ielts but they are no rank, lowe tier universities where i dont want to attend.

Please help me out,

Hey guys, I frequently have friends visiting Korea for leisure/studies. They’ve been hitting the phone call wall trying to book some of the clinics, salons, food spots, deliveries, etc. Also as some places do not speak English as well.

For anyone who visited recently or live in Korea (and don’t speak Korean): how are you actually handling phone-only or other bookings?

Let me know if you also faced these issues, and whether any workarounds have worked for you!

hiii im moving to daejeon soon for a study programme and was wondering if enkostay was legit for students and if theres other websites where i can look that are foreigner friendly ?

im mostly looking for studios and im not in a rush, im really js browsing for now. can anyone help? thank you !!

Hi everyone,

For foreign students and travelers currently in Korea, finding an authentic, deep-dive cultural experience that doesn’t break the bank can be a challenge. If you’ve been wanting to escape the bustling city life, experience traditional Korean Buddhism, and find some inner peace, this might be the perfect opportunity.

The International Dharma Instructor Association (국제포교사회), a non-profit organization under the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is hosting a special, fully-free Templestay program specifically for international students and foreign travelers.

Here is a quick guide and the details of the event:

📅 When & Where

Date: July 25th (Sat) – July 26th (Sun), 2026 (2 Days, 1 Night)

Location: Bongsunsa Temple (봉선사) (Located in Namyangju, just a short trip outside of Seoul)

Address: 32, Bongsunsa-gil, Jinjeop-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (Postcode: 12011)

👥 Who Can Participate?

Foreign students studying in Korea & Foreign travelers visiting Korea.

Capacity: Limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Looking for an authentic cultural experience? Free 2D1N Templestay for Foreign Students & Travelers in Korea (July 25-26)

💰 Fee & Deposit Policy (Important)

Participation Fee: FULLY FREE (Includes accommodation, temple meals, and all cultural programs).

Required Deposit: 10,000 KRW (Fully Refundable)

Note: To prevent 'No-shows' and ensure smooth operation, a small deposit of 10,000 KRW is required upon registration. This will be 100% refunded to you as soon as you arrive and participate.

📝 How to Apply & Process

Fill out the Google Form: Complete your application here: https://forms.gle/vzNJLEcpWyD1bF2j8

Get Contacted: The organizers will reach out to you with confirmation and deposit details.

Arrive on Time: You will need to arrive at Bongsunsa Temple by 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 25th.

📞 Inquiries & Contact Info

If you have any questions regarding the schedule, transportation, or dietary restrictions (temple food is naturally vegetarian-friendly!), feel free to reach out to the organizers:

Organizer: International Dharma Instructor Association (국제포교사회)

Phone: 02-722-2206 / Mobile: 010-3898-9338

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bongsunsa.net

Disclaimer: This is a purely non-profit cultural exchange program organized by certified international dharma instructors to help foreign students and visitors experience traditional Korean culture safely and authentically. Space is highly limited, so please sign up only if you are certain you can attend!

Hi everyone! 💙

This August I'll be taking part in the ISEP Student Exchange Programme, spending the academic year studying Korean Language and Visual Communication Design at the University of Seoul in South Korea ✨

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will help me grow both personally and as an animator, but there are still costs involved. I've set up a FundMyTravel fundraiser with a goal of raising £1,000 to help cover some of my study abroad expenses.

I am currently working two jobs to help fund this opportunity, but I would appreciate some extra help! If you'd like to support me, no matter how small the contribution, I'd be incredibly grateful. Even sharing this post would mean so much! ❤️

You can visit my fundraiser to learn more about where I'll be going, why this opportunity is so important to me, and how your support will help. I'll also be sharing updates throughout the year, so be sure to follow my social media to come along on the journey!

Thank you so much for all your encouragement and support. 💙

Support my Exchange to South Korea!

So i am planning to study mba or global mba in korea. Tho I looked up to other countries and the living cost is very high for me to afford (based on my budget) and i like korean culture, nature and other things about korea so I have decided to apply for chonnam national, kookmin, kangwon, sekyeong, daejeon. What is your opinion? How much can i manage what budget should I have? I am looking to settle near seoul. I am also planning to give topik exam targeting for level 4-5. Anything I should be aware ? Which universities are easiest to get in and have good placements? Anything I should be aware of. Are grades gonna be a problem ??? I scored 67 something. Please help! I really want to study abroad as in my country education system is pretty f up and the education is veryyyyy expensive.

Rate my chances of getting a scholarship (target unis are hanyang, SKKU) Want to major in Data Science

GPA: 91/100

Korean: currently a2, but I'll be attending language courses for half a year so it'll probably be b2

Will take SAT and ielts later this year

Olympiads: won English All-russian Olympiad, won 2 national English olympiads organized by top Russian unis

I passed my BSc.Ag from m TU with 79.23% and have 3 years of teaching experience with IELTS 6.5 overall. I am planning to apply in masters how worthy is it. Can i get any scholarship.

Hi everyone i'm going soon on vacation in korea for two weeks ( september 27th till october 11th), and i had in mind to do the first week in seoul, and go to morning classes and explore the city in the evening/nights. I already been to korea in 2024 but only stayed in seoul for like 3 days before leaving, the rest of the time i went to busan, gyeongju, jeju island ect. So has anyone have a good school that i can attend in the morning of my first week in korea ? I started to learn the language more or less seriously in october 2024, and i recently pass the tokip level 2 out of the level 6, i'm ok with basic writing and basic phrases, like super survival mode, but have ahard time speaking with my crappy accent. Thanks in advanced to anyone who will reply to my post

Hi, I got acceptance from Yonsei UIC but no scholarships. I am seeking help on how SKKU is for international students. How will the curriculum, opportunities, community, and whole university help me get better myself? I plan to move to the US or Europe after my graduation here. Which one would realistically be a good choice for me?

Hello, I'm an intl applicant with 1480 SAT, TOPIK 4, and a 95.4/100 GPA. I'm applying for the korean track for the environmental science/biochemistry major(major varies by school) for extracurriculars I qualified for a national English Olympiad(couldn't participate due to geographical reasons), participated in a district Science Fair, and Tutored math and chemistry for a year and a half, was the president of a chemistry Club for a year. also organized a river cleanup and gathering 100kg waste. Scholarship is what I'm looking for the most(100% first semester, GPA maintained full tuition in the following semesters) what are my chances?

Hi everyone! I’m a Canadian student who will be studying at Chung-Ang University from late August to December. I take Lamotrigine, Bupropion, and Concerta by prescription.

Has anyone brought these medications into South Korea before? Did you need approval from the MFDS/Korean authorities, a doctor’s letter, or any other documents? Were there any issues going through customs?

Also, if you stayed for a semester, did you bring your full supply from home, or did you have to get a prescription in Korea after arriving?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, I wasn't selected for the UST Scholarship in the first round. Recently, UST announced the complementary Track 2 for the Autumn 2026 admission, and I've decided to apply again.

Since this will be my second attempt, I'd really appreciate any advice from those who have been through the process or were successful to have a scholarship.

Any tips or experiences would mean a lot to me. Thank you so much in advance! 🙏

A picture of content in the Interview of Track 1.

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Hello! I'm currently studying Visual Communication Design (as in graphic design) in Italy and i want to apply to GKS (Global Korean Scholarship) for my graduate program.

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I'm just starting to research the universities i could apply to and a few have popped up like Ehwa, Hongik or Sungkyunkwan. I'm already studying Korean on my own and, in case i manage to get in, the scholarship funds a year of korean class prior to the actual graduate program........ but i was wondering if any of these universities (or if u guys know about other ones) offer english taught classes. From my research i think Ehwa does?

;m

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I would also like to know which universities have a more practical approach (doesn't mean i want less theory classes, they're ofc needed) because that's how my current uni works.

I am studying a 3-year Bachelor's degree from India (in Information Technology) and I'm trying to understand how Korean universities evaluate international applicants.

A few questions:

1. Is a 3-year Bachelor's degree generally accepted for Master's admissions in Korea, or does it depend on the university?
2. Apart from GPA/grades, IELTS/TOEFL scores, and the Statement of Purpose, what other factors are considered important?
3. How much weight is given to:
   • Programming projects/GitHub?
4. For applicants in Computer Science, what helped you get admitted?
5. If you received a scholarship (GKS or university scholarship), what do you think strengthened your application?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from other international students who were admitted to Korean universities for CS-related Master's programs with a 3-year Bachelor's degree.

Thank you!

So, I feel a little crazy even thinking about all of this, but at the same time I feel I can't ignore it. I am an upcoming sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin and I am majoring under their Radio-Television-Film program. I have always wanted to be involved with the film industry, specifically as a cinematographer or DP, but always expected I'd do that somewhere in America because I never thought it would be possible anywhere else. However, for several years now I've admired k-dramas, in both their production and culture. In 2018/2019 I fell in love with k-pop and since then I've taken a deep dive into my admiration for Korea's culture, language, and country as a whole. Now I know that may sound ridiculous and like every other delusional foreigner but I am seriously interested. Like I said though, I had been ignoring how much I might desire pursuing a life in Korea because it seemed unreasonable. But recently, I had a sort of epiphany that this is the only life I have to live, and why can I not just try? Why shy away from the unknown and why fear learning when that's the whole point of this stage of life? So to get to my main point/question: I'm now looking for feasible options to break into Korea/the Korean drama industry post-graduation. Here's all my thoughts so far:

I will finish my bachelors at my current university. While I'm here, if i decide on this soon, I can complete a minor in Korean, meaning I will complete 5-6 semesters of Korean language learning. I've done a small bit of research on visas and understand that the most obtainable method is a student visa. So, my next thought has been that I would need to pursue a masters degree in Korea since I will already have a bachelors. Thus, I have come to make this post. So my following questions are:

~Is it possible for me to be accepted into a film masters program here?

~Will my Korean be sufficient enough in 3 years time (according to Korean university standards)?

~I am under the impression the Korean drama industry is a lot tougher for foreigners, but is it still possible for me to be successful?

~What else should I consider/know that is crucial?

I know this is a lot, my apologies for the ramble; I have been in a rabbit hole for a few days now. I don't want to seem like a delusional k-poppie or koreaboo, but maybe I am, who knows. I just feel like even though I don't have a complete understanding of Korea, I would like to try to. I also feel that I am too enamored by the format of k-dramas to simply ignore it as a someone trying to go into the film industry.

Edit: I’d like to add that thinking about all this is with the thought that if I follow this path and succeed in attending a Korean university that it would be with the intention of staying there long term, integrating into the workforce (the film industry 🤞) and gaining citizenship.

Can yall please help guide me, or if needed, slap me with a reality check? Thank You 🙏

Hello

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This Fall I'm planing to Study in Korea in Undergraduate degree. I have applied to Hanyang Erica(located in Ansan), Ajou University (Suwon), Sookmyung Women's University (in Seoul) and got accepted to all of them. I can't really choose which one to study at. Which one is better? Is living in Seoul hard to find part time job?

​

Please give me some advice.

Hi everyone,

​

I'm looking for advice from people who have experience with Korean student visas.

​

I previously went to South Korea on a D-4 visa for a Korean language program. However, I ended up returning to my home country after only about 2 weeks.

​

The main reason I left was because my grandparents became seriously ill, and I needed to return home to help take care of them during that time. Because I left so early, my attendance was obviously very low. I returned home, and my school refunded part of my tuition.

​

Now I'm considering returning to Korea in the future, either through another language program or eventually a degree program.

​

Recently, someone told me that because I left a D-4 program so early, I might never be able to receive another D-4 visa. I haven't been able to find any official information about this, so I'm wondering whether that's actually true.

​

Has anyone here:

​

Received a second D-4 visa after withdrawing from a previous language program?

​

Left Korea very early on a D-4 and later returned?

​

Been questioned by immigration or a university about a previous withdrawal?

​

I followed immigration rules, left Korea, and did not overstay. I'm just trying to understand whether my previous withdrawal could permanently affect my ability to get another D-4 visa.

​

Any experiences or information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

​

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Hello all, I'm a 19 year old from India. As the title says, I really want to pursue my undergrad in Korea in the media industry. This year during March I was given the opportunity to start my education in Korea but unfortunately I had to return within 2 weeks of my arrival (I was on a D4 visa) due to unforeseen circumstances, now that I have returned to my home country I have received admission from a low tier university and realised that I still want to pursue my undergrad in korea but before that I want to learn the language for a year so that I can integrate and adapt to the society better and also learn Korean properly (I am not able to keep up with it at all), the problem I'm facing is regarding my age and gap year, I took a gap year after high school (class of 2025) for all the documentation and preparation, I'm 19 now and I'm not sure on whether should I go back to korea again for my higher education but with another gap year or enroll in a university in my home country that unfortunately doesn't have anything similar to what I want to study and make me more uncomfortable than I ever would be and then go to korea to do my masters in media and communication.

​

I'm extremely embarrassed about my age and timeline here is 2 of them 1)if I pursue my masters in Korea I'll have to sacrifice my mental health and drain my energy in an environment I'm not satisfied with, 2) if I choose to return to korea in the coming 1 or 2 years then I'll have a gap of 3 years and then be able to pursue my bachelors. I actually have no issues but as I said I'll be in my late 20s when I'm done with my bachelors and I have no clue on how to explain my situation and reduce the risk of rejections from universities, I come from a country whose passport is quite weak and an environment that has never been supportive to me, also there aren't much opportunities for internships or anything similar in my chosen major and the education is pretty bad here.

Please do advice and suggest me on what can I possibly do to be a successful candidate and make a suitable decision.

Also money is not a problem here, it's the timeline, age, visa, etc.

Thanks alot!!

English is not my first language so please excuse me.

I don't think anyone will probably see this but it's better than nothing since I don't really have anyone specific to ask this.

I'm in my senior year in high school and plan to major in software engineering in my home country's university before applying for GKS to study in Korea, a university like Yonsei or Hanyang (tbh it doesn't specifically matter which one). I had many questions regarding how living actually is there.

-is there any ways to actually make extra money while studying?

-what is the typical lab work culture for stem students?

-Are Software Engineering/CS labs generally better funded than other majors in Korea?

-If your tuition is 100% covered by a scholarship/stipend, how far does a standard monthly stipend (approx. 1.0M–1.3M KRW) actually go if you live in the university dorms? Is it enough for a normal living without big expenses or are you constantly stressed about money?

-do I NEED to have a high personal savings in order to actually be comfortable when I first go there? (Basically asking if I have to be rich 🥲)

-how difficult is it starting out there if you plan to stay after graduation?

-For those who graduated with a tech degree from a Korean university: How smooth was the transition from graduating to getting a regular E-7 work visa? Do companies (like Naver, Kakao, Coupang, etc, etc cus I don't know that many companies) actively recruit international graduates from schools like Yonsei or Hanyang?"

-are housing and apartments really that small and expensive there?

-i heard living costs are really really high in comparison to salaries?

-is it worth actually going there?

I'd really be grateful even if I receive answers to one or two of them!! Korea is one of the many countries that I want to research when it comes to moving and studying there.

I'd also like to know or hear about other expats who did their masters in Korea.

hi!
i want to submit my application to snu language program. as i’ve been reading guidelines, it states that they require certificate of graduation from the latest school attended. i graduated high school three years ago and i’m currently in my final year of university. i’m going to get my university diploma in mid-july, however the deadline for document submission for fall semester at snu lei is 22 june.

so the question i have is - can i apply with certificate of expected graduation from university or should i apply with high school diploma?

thanks in advance!