Home to K-pop, leading tech companies and one of the most educated populations in the world, South Korea is increasingly popular with international students. In 2014, fewer than 85,000 were enrolled in the country, but within a decade, there were more than 200,000. Clearly, it is an attractive place to study abroad, but we know that it may be unfamiliar. To help, we've set out what you need to know about the higher education system in South Korea.
How is the system run?
The Ministry of Education oversees higher education in South Korea. It develops policies, regulates institutions and ensures academic standards are maintained.
Separately, the non-governmental Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) handles some of the administration of the higher education system. This includes university admissions. As the national association for higher education institutions in South Korea, it also works with the government on how the system is run.
South Korean students can pursue higher education after completing 12 years of primary and secondary schooling. Those who apply to universities usually take a standardised exam called the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test), also known as Suneung.
This has a strong bearing on their admission prospects, and is taken very seriously. Each November, noise is kept to a minimum to allow students to concentrate on the day of the eight-hour exam.
International students who wish to attend university in South Korea are usually required to submit an online application form to their desired institutions. Applicants typically have to provide various documents, including academic transcripts and proof of proficiency in Korean or English.
For more information, read our article on how to apply to study in South Korea.
Types of institution
The South Korean higher education system contains a variety of institutions – more than 300 in total. These divide into universities and junior colleges, with further distinctions within each group.
Universities
There are around 200 universities in South Korea, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in various fields. Generally, they are divided into three types:
-
Private universities make up the majority of universities in Korea. They are run by educational foundations on a non-profit basis, and often have the highest tuition fees.
-
National universities make up a large minority of universities in Korea. They are overseen by central government, and often have lower tuition fees.
-
Public universities are uncommon. They are overseen by local government, and often have lower tuition fees.
Unlike in some other parts of Asia, there is no general distinction between private, national and public universities in terms of prestige or ranking. The top universities in Korea can be found in each category.
This is shown by the country's highest ranked institutions on the QS World University Rankings 2025. While the top two are national universities (Seoul National University and KAIST), the next three are private. Yonsei University, Korea University and POSTECH complete a top five that all place inside the world's top 100.
Some universities have characteristics that clearly distinguish them from others. These include:
- Specialist universities, which focus on particular areas of study. Examples include the Korea National University of Arts, Korea National Sport University and Korea Aerospace University.
- Cyber universities, which offer online courses and often focus on mature students and continuing education. Examples include Kyung Hee Cyber University and Daegu Cyber University.
Junior colleges
Junior colleges are post-secondary education institutions that are similar to community colleges in the USA. With a focus on practical skills and preparation for specific professions, they offer certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.
Subjects you can study at a junior college include nursing, engineering and early childhood education. Junior colleges can be national, public or private, and typically have lower tuition fees than universities.
Take our advice on how to find a graduate career in Korea.
Academic calendar
The South Korean higher education system operates on a semester basis, with two main semesters in a typical academic year.
The first semester (also known as the spring semester) runs from mid-February to mid-June. The second semester (also known as the fall semester) starts in late August or early September and ends in mid-December. Both may include mid-semester and end-of-semester exams.
Programme duration
The duration of study programmes in South Korea depends on their type and level.
- Associate degrees usually take two to three years
- Bachelor's degrees usually take four years
- Master's degrees usually take two years
- Doctoral degrees usually take at least three years
Consider our top reasons to study in Korea.
Korean language courses
If you plan to study in South Korea, it is a good idea to learn Korean. Many institutions in the country run language courses to help international students do this, with both short-term and year-long options proving increasingly popular. More than 74,000 people held the D-4 visa required to take one at the end of 2023, up almost 18 per cent year-on-year.
For students who feel more comfortable learning in English, there are still options. Many courses are taught in the language, with this most often being the case at postgraduate level and at the country's most highly rated universities. At POSTECH, for example, 60 per cent of courses are delivered in English.
Discover how to apply for a student visa in Korea.
Academic culture
Higher education in South Korea is always evolving, and this has helped its universities consistently climb global rankings in recent years. However, its reputation for excellence has always been underlined by a culture of hard work. Studying here can be as demanding as it is rewarding.
When structuring their degrees, South Korean universities use a credit system that is comparable to that of America. Under this, students must accumulate a minimum number of credits in order to graduate. As with the USA, it may also offer the opportunity to choose major and minor subjects. This allows you to closely align your degree with your interests.
We hope that this has made the South Korean higher education system seem more simple. If you're interested in joining it, we have more advice and information. Start with our list of top fields to study in Korea. Then, consider where you might live with our guide to student accommodation in Korea. When you're ready, you can look into the student cost of living in Korea.
Chat with Couru
