Updated at: 17-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

One of the four “Asian tiger” economies, South Korea is riding high on the backs of its booming tech, education, and travel industries.

The number of international students enrolling in universities in South Korea has increased dramatically in recent years. The South Korean government has made it a priority to attract more international students, with a goal of doubling the number of international students studying in the country by 2032. Based on the results of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, these are the institutions that you should be applying to if you want to study in South Korea.

By offering a variety of financial incentives to institutions and individuals, streamlining student visa applications, and providing employment support for those who have studied in South Korea and wish to stay on and work, the government hopes to entice even more young people to study abroad in South Korea.

The Incheon Global Campus is located outside of Seoul and is a joint venture between various universities from around the world. Many South Korean universities have established English-speaking international campuses, and it is estimated that one-third or more of university courses are now taught in English.

Best Universities In Korea

Best universities in korea

Sogang University

Sogang University

Established by the Jesuits in 1960, Sogang University has since grown to become one of South Korea’s preeminent centers of academic research and liberal arts education. Sogang University, located in South Korea’s capital city of Seoul, ranks highest in the country in terms of its reputation as an employer. Sogang provides a large number of scholarships to both current and prospective international students, and almost one-third of its graduate school courses are taught in English.

Kyung Hee University

Internationalization is clearly one of Kyung Hee University’s strengths, as evidenced by the university’s perfect scores on the indicators measuring its proportions of inbound and outbound exchange students as well as its very high score on the international students indicator. Kyung Hee University, a private institution widely regarded as among the best in South Korea, was recently named among the world’s top 150 institutions for study in the fields of hospitality and tourism, development studies, and modern languages and linguistics by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018.

Pohang University of Science And Technology (POSTECH)

When it comes to indicators measuring research productivity and impact (papers per faculty and citations per paper), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) excels. The first campus of its kind in South Korea, POSTECH is spread out over 400 acres on the outskirts of the city of Pohang and features numerous cutting-edge facilities like the Tae-Joon Park Digital Library, a 25,000 square meter building housing more than 355,000 volumes.

Korea University

Korea University

Founded in 1905, Korea University (KU) now has over 37,000 students spread across two campuses. It has the highest percentage of international students (11%), and its international research network is second best in the country.

Thirty-three different fields of study at Korea University are currently ranked among the world’s best, including accounting & finance, business & management, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, modern languages, politics, and social policy & administration.

Seoul National University – SNU

It’s safe to assume that you’re familiar with this institution, as it’s the most renowned and esteemed in the nation. Since its founding in 1946, Seoul National University (SNU) has consistently ranked among South Korea’s best educational institutions.

As such, many high school seniors dedicate themselves to doing as well as they can on the “Suneung College Scholastic Ability Test” in the hopes of being accepted there. Students’ futures in school, the workplace, and beyond are all on the line for this exam, making it the most challenging in the world. Since Seoul National University is the most selective in South Korea, admission is extremely competitive and cannot be achieved without a high score on this exam.

A sigh of relief is warranted, however, as the situation is very different for visitors from other countries. There is no requirement for you to take that test as an international student.

But! However, that doesn’t make the admissions process any less difficult. There is a narrow window of opportunity to gain admission to SNU (between 15% and 20%), so you’ll need to demonstrate the kind of exceptional performance that the admissions committee values.

You will need a strong GPA, a well-thought-out study strategy, and a compelling personal statement to demonstrate your academic prowess. You should also submit strong supporting materials, such as strong letters of recommendation, a strong portfolio (if relevant), and any other accomplishments you can think of that will impress the admissions committee.

Friends of mine who are graduates of Seoul National University tell me that admission for international students is much simpler than for Koreans. This, however, does not imply that entry is simple; in fact, it remains quite challenging.

If you are considering attending this institution, you can rest assured that many courses, particularly those in the engineering and business departments, are taught in English. To further your Korean language skills, however, the university offers a variety of classes for both beginners and advanced students.

Sungkyunkwan University – SKKU

Sungkyunkwan University – SKKU

The University of Seongdae, also known simply as Seongdae, is a research institution with a rich history dating back to the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties. It was founded in 1398 in Hanyang, the historical name for modern-day Seoul, and has produced many illustrious graduates over the centuries, including scholars, kings, ministers, philosophers, and even a Buddhist monk.

The Institute can trace its history back to the Goryeo Dynasty (992 A.D.) in Gaegyeong (current-day Kaesong, North Korea). Until King Taejo moved the Institute to Seoul and gave it its current name, it had been known by a different moniker. So, if you take a stroll around the campus, you can see the original building from which it all grew.

You should know that this venerable institution is among the finest educational facilities in all of Korea if you’re thinking about enrolling here. Of course, this would be subject to your chosen field of study, with medicine, chemical engineering, and semiconductor engineering receiving the most praise from current and former students.

The best part is that it has evolved over time to become welcoming of international students by providing a growing number of courses in languages other than English. Don’t forget to check with the admissions office via email to see if your chosen major is offered in English.

While Sungkyunkwan is currently one of the best universities in Korea, international students like yourself should have little trouble being accepted.

Ulsan National Institute Of Science And Technology – UNIST

The University of Ulsan in northern South Korea will gladly accept you because of how easy it is to get accepted there. The goal of this Institute, which was founded in 2007 and inaugurated in 2009, is to advance the country’s industrial and economic sectors by recruiting and retaining top-tier scientists with extensive expertise in technology and research.

UNIST is a great example of a school that has maintained its Korean-language curriculum over the years. No matter how many Korean students enroll, classes will always be conducted entirely in English. In fact, it is the only university in the entire country to provide instruction in English. Now that you have this choice, you can relax.

Hanyang University

If you’re looking for a top-notch Korean university, look no further than Hanyang. Hanyang University places a similar emphasis on research, though its focus is more narrowly on the field of engineering. Hanyang University in Seoul was the country’s first school of architecture and engineering and has connections to other prestigious institutions like MIT and Cambridge.

Kyungpook National University

Kyungpook National University

South Korea’s Kyungpook National University is a nationally renowned educational institution that serves the province of Gyeongbuk and the metropolitan area of Daegu. Daegu, capital of South Korea’s Gyeongbuk Province, is home to the complex. After the Daegu Colleges of Education, Medicine, and Agriculture were elevated to the status of National College in September 1946, Kyungpook National University was established.

Ewha Womans University

As its name suggests, Ewha Womans University only admits female students. The campus of Ewha Womans University can be found in Seoul. One of the most prestigious universities in the country, it also happens to be the largest all-female educational institution on the planet right now.

Yonsei University

Seoul, South Korea is home to Yonsei University, a private research institution. Yonsei is among the best universities in South Korea for international students because it is both old and prestigious. Yonsei University, already recognized as one of the top private schools in the country and one of Korea’s most prestigious institutions, is expanding its already impressive reputation to become the country’s top school for foreign students.

Chungbuk National University

Among the ten most prestigious Korean national universities, Chungbuk National University (CBNU) is a shining example. Chungbuk is an abbreviation of the more formal Korean name for the province of Chungcheongbuk-do. The university has 15 colleges, 83 departments, and 9 graduate schools. The university’s 36 research institutes support the work of faculty researchers by providing infrastructure and expertise.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is another top-tier Korean university where all the math and science whizzkids go to school.

Here, the emphasis is on producing cutting-edge scientists and researchers who will go on to change the world.

In keeping with its moniker, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is well-known for its scientific research and technological advancements; one such advancement is the school’s groundbreaking robot technology.

With the help of American advisors, the South Korean government established KAIST in 1971 as the country’s first research and science university, and it has since become widely recognized as one of the finest educational institutions in South Korea, particularly among foreign students.

The Daejeon-based institution was founded “in recognition of the nation’s need for elite human resources in science and technology” and has stayed true to its original mission.

You may have a KAIST alumnus or alumna design your next smartphone, laptop, or car, and the university’s reputation for excellence in teaching and groundbreaking research has been instrumental in building Korea’s Southern High-Tech Skill.

The school’s curriculum and admission policies are innovative, and the university enjoys considerable independence from the central government.

The admissions process at KAIST is the first of its kind in South Korea; students are accepted based on their grades, the recommendations of their teachers, and their personal statements.

At KAIST, English is used as the medium of instruction in more than 80% of the classroom hours.

Undergraduates, graduates, and postgraduates can all further their education at KAIST. The language of instruction in most classrooms is English.

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Located in the southeastern port city of Pohang and established in 1986, this research-oriented university is a never-ending wellspring of excellent graduates, the source of world-class research, and the promoter of close ties with industry and commerce partners.

POST TECH is a leading Asian research university and one of the best universities in South Korea for foreign students.

POST TECH’s dedication to research is reflected in the university’s many research and technology buildings, which have had and will continue to have an international impact.

In a short amount of time, POSTECH’s private status has skyrocketed, and it is now widely recognized by scholars from all over the world.

To foster the next generation of creative, forward-thinking world leaders, the university has adopted a student-centric, cutting-edge approach, admitting only the brightest and best students and employing the most individualized teaching approach.

The university has some of the best facilities and over 70 research institutes, and its academic and research activities center on science and engineering. There are people from all over the world studying and teaching at POSTECH because of the school’s bilingual campus.

Both in terms of academic inquiry and pedagogical practice, POSTECH seeks to forge ahead.

Conclusion

The ability to call yourself a graduate after completing your degree program is a great accomplishment, but the prestige of the institution from which you graduated can have a significant impact on your career.

Graduates from the most prestigious universities in the world, such as the Ivy League, are often given special treatment.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, one of the best ways to do so is to enroll in one of the top universities in South Korea that welcomes international students and earn a degree there.