South Korea is not only famous for its dramas and music, but is also popular because it is a destination for students to pursue international studies at the undergraduate to doctoral levels. In fact, South Korea has seen an increase in foreign student admissions with over 160,000 international students. If you are interested in studying in Korea, here are some things you need to know.
Top Fields of Study in Korea
Generally, South Korea is famous for the following fields of study:
1. Engineering
In recent decades, South Korea has made significant changes in the field of Engineering. Development and technological progress in South Korea is also growing very fast. In fact, one of the Engineering majors at KAIST and Seoul National University has managed to occupy the world’s top 100 campuses.
2. Natural Sciences
Natural science graduates at Korean universities are highly valued in the world job market. There are several universities that offer world-class programs, such as Seoul National University, KAIST, and POSTECH.
3. Language and Literature
South Korean language and literature have recently mushroomed especially among young people. With the spread of popularity of South Korean culture, such as K-pop and K-drama, the Korean language is also increasingly in demand among international students.
List of Top 3 Campuses in South Korea
1. Seoul National University (SNU), Ranked 36th in the World
Seoul National University (SNU) is the first national university in South Korea. SNU currently consists of 16 tertiary institutions, 1 graduate faculty, and 12 professional faculties. SNU offers career support, counseling guidance, financial aid, and language support for international students.
2. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Ranked 41st in the World
This university focuses on the development of Science and Technology. KAIST even collaborates with some of the world’s top engineering institutes and also has campus branches in Europe. The university also provides international classes in English and fully funded scholarships.
3. Korea University, Ranked 74th in the World
Korea University was founded in 1905 and is now recognized as one of the oldest universities in South Korea still in operation. The university also offers a number of courses in English, for example in Science, Mathematics and Art. Scholarships, housing and counseling services are also available for international students at Korea University.
Interested in studying in South Korea and want to consult further with an expert consultant? Schoters can help you, starting from preparing to choose a university, scholarships, document requirements to interviews.
Scholarship
Apart from having the world’s top campuses in the fields of Technology, Science, and Social Affairs, South Korea also has scholarship options from the local government, including:
1. Global Korean Scholarship (GKS)
This scholarship is a fully funded scholarship offered by the South Korean government for international students, including for Indonesia.
2. Art Major Asian+ (AMA+) Scholarship
For those of you who have artistic talent, this scholarship is perfect for trying. This scholarship is also a fully funded scholarship scheme from the Korea National University of Arts.
3. KOICA Scholarship Program, Seoul National University
This scholarship provides opportunities for students in developing countries, especially in the field of development studies. This scholarship is specifically for master program applicants.
Registration Method
Basically, university applications and scholarships in South Korea have the same pattern. The following is a general summary of the steps you can take to apply for scholarships and campuses in Korea.
Initial Registration Stage
1. Information form (check website: www.studyinkorea.go.kr)
Choose a level
Choose a university and major
Fill in the application form
Upload registration documents
Final verification
2. Personal statement
Personal statement is the most important factor that determines whether or not you are accepted at a university or scholarship, including in South Korea. So, you need to prepare and write your best personal statement!
3. Language ability
Generally, scholarships in South Korea do not require a certain minimum score for language requirements such as IELTS and TOEFL, however, the higher your score, the better it will support your application.
4. References
As with other overseas scholarship applications, you also need to prepare at least 2-3 letters of recommendation from lecturers, superiors, or supervisors related to your profession or educational history.
Special Requirements
For S-1, the majority of campuses do not provide international programs, so you have to study in Korean. However, if you want to apply for a master’s program, many universities in South Korea provide international programs and use English. However, if you have a Korean language certificate, that will be a plus.