– Cost of Studying in South Korea –
The Cost of studying in South Korea is very necessary to consider. Seeking the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and amazing aspect of academics in South Korea requires you to make a budget on the cost you will have to make while studying in the country. These cost includes your accommodation, travel medical insurance, and visa, and much more explained here for you.
Korean Education System
The Korean public education structure is divided into three parts: six years of primary school, followed by three years of middle school, and then three years of high school.
In 1996 only about five percent of Korea’s high schools were coeducational. The proportion of coeducational schools has increased by almost ten percent.
However, classes in many coeducational high schools are still divided along gender lines. The curriculum is standardized so now both boys and girls study technology and domestic science.
The primary curriculum consists of nine principal subjects: moral education, Korean language, social studies, mathematics, science, physical education, music, fine arts, and practical arts. English-language instruction now begins in the third grade, so that children can start learning.
Upon completion of primary school, students advance to middle school, which comprises grades seven through nine. The curriculum consists of 12 basic or required subjects, electives, and extracurricular activities.
While elementary school instructors teach all subjects, middle school teachers, like their colleagues in the United States, are content specialists.
High schools are divided into academic and vocational schools. In 1995, some 62 percent of students were enrolled in academic high schools and 38 percent in vocational high schools.
A small number attended specialized high schools concentrating on science, the arts, foreign languages, and other specialized fields.
Universities provide undergraduate programs, as well as, master and doctorate degree programs. and Eighty-one percent of higher education students are enrolled in private institutes.
An academic year in South Korea consists of two semesters. The first semester starts on March 1 and ends on August 31. There are two vacations every year: summer vacation from mid-July through August and winter vacation from late December through February.
Tuition Fee in South Korea for Master’s Degree program
A Masters’s degree in South Korea will usually require at least two years of study. Course content will vary between institutions and across different fields, but you should generally expect to complete coursework to the value of 24 credits (roughly equivalent to 48 of the ECTS credits used by universities following the Bologna system) before passing a final examination.
You will then be required to research and submit a thesis that must satisfy the evaluation of three or more examiners before your degree can be awarded.
University studies in South Korea can appear relatively expensive, but you should balance this with the fact that no additional fees are charged to international students.
The South Korean government is also keen to attract overseas students and offers several scholarships and funding programs specifically for foreign postgraduates.
Exact fees vary between different institutions, but courses in subjects such as Medicine are typically more expensive (and take the longest to complete) while humanities programs usually incur lower fees. The following figures are a rough guide to fees for postgraduate study in South Korea:
➛ National universities (per semester): ₩2,800,000 (USD $2,500) – ₩5,740,000 (USD $5,100)
➛ Private universities (per semester): ₩4,280,000 (USD $3,800) – ₩7,880,000 (USD $7,000)
Tuition Fee in South Korea for Undergraduate Studies
The undergraduate study in South Korea has a diverse course of study and this program spans from 4 to 6from 4 to 6 years. The cost of the undergraduate program in South Korea ranges from $ 1,600- $ 10,800.
Tuition Fee in South Korea for Doctorate Degree Program
The Korean academic year is divided into two semesters, with breaks from July to August and from December to February.
This long winter break may be particularly attractive if you’re hoping to travel home and visit family during seasonal holidays or you could just experience more of South Korea itself.
➛ Depending on your Masters level qualification, you may need to complete research training and taught courses to the value of 36 credits (roughly equivalent to 72 of the ECTS Credits used within the Bologna System)
➛ You may then be required to pass a written examination (sometimes referred to as the “comprehensive examination”)
➛ Finally, you’ll complete a thesis under the guidance of one or more appointed supervisors
University fees in South Korea can be relatively expensive, but the government and individual universities offer a number of scholarships and other funding options to attract students from overseas.
Also, unlike many other options for foreign study, South Korea imposes no additional tuition fees on international students.
Fees vary between individual universities and between private and national institutions. Courses in subjects such as Engineering and Medicine are typically the most expensive (and take the longest to complete) while courses in humanities disciplines usually have lower fees.
In general, graduate programmes at South Korean universities could cost anywhere between ₩1,290,000 (USD $1,100) and ₩25,600,000 (USD $21,900).
Cost of Visa
South Korea is keen to attract international students, but its visa system has some very specific requirements and you’ll need to make sure you have various documents prepared when you apply.
Certain stages of South Korea’s immigration system may benefit from sponsorship or representation by a resident national and your university’s international office may be able to assist with this if relevant in your case.
As an international student studying in South Korea, you will usually need to acquire a for Regular Educational Program (D-2). Your application should start by contacting a South Korean embassy in your home country, with the following documents ready to submit:
➛ A passport, valid for the duration of your intended stay in South Korea.
➛ A completed visa application form.
➛ A processing fee, equivalent to USD $50 for a single-entry or USD $80 for a multiple-entry visa.
Cost of Medical Insurance in South Korea
The basic doesn’t cover everything, though. First, you will have to pay a small amount of the cost of seeing the doctor, getting x-rays, etc.
Also, you will have to pay a small amount at the pharmacy for your medicine. Each of these fees is usually between 5,000 and 20,000 won.
However, anything extra, such as MRI scans or major operations will see your medical bills start to rise pretty fast, and if you have a serious illness, then it can be financially burdensome.
Full-on medical insurance (Allianz, etc.) can be bought, and usually costs around 100,000 to 200,000 won per month depending on the age and general health of the applicant.
Cost of Transportation in South Korea
If you are traveling around the country, then buses from Seoul to Busan are often around 20,000 to 30,000 won one-way depending on the type of coach you take.
A KTX train will cost just over 50,000 won for the same journey.
As the journey from Seoul to Busan is just about the longest possible journey within mainland Korea, other bus and train trips should be cheaper.
Taxis are also affordable for short distances, especially if you are sharing a cab with friends. A taxi journey halfway across Seoul (say from Itaewon to Jamsil) usually costs around 15,000 won. Taxi prices are more expensive after midnight.
Cost of Accommodation in South Korea
Most people live in small apartments, and a one-room apartment can set you back anywhere from 300,000 won per month to well over a million won a month, depending on the location of the apartment (Gangnam is one of the most expensive, the far north of the city is a lot cheaper), the facilities, and whether it is a new building or an old building.
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StudentsandScholarship Team.
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