Higher Study in Korea

Higher Study at South Korea

Content: 1. Tertiary Education System 2. Korean Universities 3. Eligibility to apply 4. Scholarship opportunities 5. Factors influence obtaining scholarship 6. Application documents 7. Living Expense in Korea 8. How to make a start

Prepared by Belas Ahmed Khan 1

This document is prepared to provide basic information to Bangladeshi students seeking for Korean scholarships. I would like to thank all the volunteers helping Bangladeshi students. Korean universities do not have any agent. Please, do not spend money on any agent. You can succeed if you help yourself.

Tertiary Education System in Korea

Degree Usual Duration

Credits Comprehensive Exam required

Minimum Publication Required (depends on supervisor)

Bachelor 4 years Varies Varies No

Master’s 2 years 24 3 Courses 1 conference

PhD 3 years 36 5 Courses 2 domestic or 1 international journal

Integrated 5 years 60 8 Courses 1 domestic and 1 international journal

Integrated means Master’s+PhD, however, only PhD degree will be conferred.

Usually, 1 course = 3 credits

Publication requirement depends on supervisor’s agreement. Usually Science and Engineering major requires more publications.

In comprehensive exam, student demonstrates his/her knowledge on chosen courses


Korean Universities • Please visit: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ • Currently there are more than 370 official South Korean higher education

providers, including 179 private universities and 43 national universities.

Some Korean Universities, Bangladeshi students prefer

Seoul National University Korea University

KAIST Yonsei University

Pohang University of Science and Technology Sungkyunkwan University

Hanyang University Inha University

Pusan National University Ewha Woman’s University

Ajou University Sogang University

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Kyung Hee University

Chung-Ang University Soongsil University

Kyungpook National University University of Ulsan

Yeungnam University Konkuk University

Sejong University Kookmin University


http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/



Minimum Eligibility for Admission Degree Admission Requirements

Bachelor • 12 years formal schooling (like HSC or A level)

Master’s • 4-year Bachelor degree on closely related major

PhD • 4-year Bachelor degree and at least 1 year Master’s degree, Or • 3-year Bachelor degree and a 2-year Master’s degree, Or • 4-year Bachelor degree and 2-year Master’s degree

Integrated • 4-year Bachelor degree on closely related major

Semester Application Period

Spring (March – June)

October –November (previous year)

Fall (September – December)

April – May (same year)


Scholarship Opportunities

Degree Total Duration Eligibility

Bachelor • 5 years (1+4) • Non-Korean parents • 12 years formal schooling (like HSC or A level)

Master’s PhD

• 3 years (1+2) • 4 years (1+3)

• Non-Korean parents • Age below 40 • A Bachelor degree or Master’s degree • Minimum CGPA 2.64/4.0

Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP) For detail information, http://www.niied.go.kr

Application can be submitted to either Korean Embassy (through Education Ministry) or directly to Korean University. However, Korean university only accepts application with supervisor’s recommendation.

1 year Korean language is mandatory where student must obtain TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) level 3.

Minimum CGPA doesn’t guarantee acceptance of application. In fact, KGSP is more competitive.

KGSP is not offered for integrated program.


http://www.niied.go.kr/


Degree Benefits

Bachelor Master’s PhD

• Round trip air ticket (economy class) • 200,000 KRW upon arrival (settlement) • 800,000 KRW (undergrad) and 900,000 KRW (Master’s or PhD) per

month • 210,000 KRW per semester for humanities and social sciences and

240,000 KRW per semester for sciences (Only for Master’s and PhD) • Language training fee, Tuition fee, general student health insurance

(20,000 KRW per month) • Dissertation printing cost • Additional 100,000 KRW per month to TOPIK 5 or 6 holders

Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP) For detail information, http://www.niied.go.kr


http://www.niied.go.kr/


Degree Eligibility

Bachelor • Undergrad scholarships are very competitive without Korean proficiency.

• Some universities offer partial scholarship like SNU, KAIST etc.

Master’s PhD Integrated

• Non-Korean parents • A Bachelor degree or Master’s degree in closely related major • Minimum CGPA 2.5/4.0 or more • IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 76 or TOEIC 700 or TEPS 600 or TOPIK 3 or more • Korean supervisor’s recommendation is preferred.

University Scholarship Information is given on the university websites

Most of the university scholarships only cover tuition fee (100% or partial). Very few university scholarships provide additional monthly allowances.

Science and Engineering major students can receive monthly allowance from lab/supervisors. That’s why students are encouraged to contact a professor before application submission.

Monthly allowance (from supervisor) varies from 400,000 KRW to 1,500,000 KRW depending on supervisor’s generosity and available funds.

Students may also get Teaching Assistantship or Lab Assistantship


Factors influence obtaining scholarship

Factors Score

Results or CGPA 20

English proficiency score 15

Korean proficiency score 15

Study plan including research experience and publications 20

Interview and Korean supervisor’s recommendation 20

Graduating University’s position in World Ranking 10

Total 100


Each university has its own policy for scholarship. This is an example that generally followed.

Science and Engineering majors are given priority for scholarships.

PhD and Integrated programs are given priority to Master’s.

Factors influence obtaining scholarship

CGPA (on scale of 4.0) Marks (%) Score given

Not eligible 50~59 6




2.50~2.99 80~84 14

3.00~3.49 85~89 16

3.50~3.74 90~94 18

3.75~4.00 95~100 20

IELTS TOPIK Score given

Interview Interview 3

Interview Interview 5

Interview 2 or equivalent 7

5.5 3 11

6.5 4 13

7.5 5 or 6 15

Ranking Score given

600~ 4

401~600 6

201~400 8

1~200 10

Study plan including research experience and publications are entirely assessed by the supervisor. Thus, score is given by him.

Interview can be taken by the department or supervisor’s recommendation (satisfaction) level is considered as interview score.

Usually QS World ranking is considered.


Application Documents (Masters or PhD)

• Application form (usually online application, then printed) • Resume (usually designated form) • Photo • Degree Certificates • Transcripts • Letter of Recommendation (usually free format) • IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC/TEPS/TOPIK score • Personal Statement/Study of Purpose/Motivation Letter (designated form) • Study Plan/Research Plan (designated form) • Copy of Passport • Bank Statement/Sponsorship from Supervisor • Letter of consent (permission for previous degree verification) • Passport/Nationality certificate of Parents

Copy of Certificates and Transcripts are to be verified and attested by university registrar, then by Education Ministry followed by Foreign Ministry and finally by Korean Embassy.


Living in Korea

• Korea is quite safe, even at night. • Korean people are kind to international students. • It is not wise to disobey supervisor. Supervisor is always right!!! • Public transportations are very convenient. No need personal car. • All the government offices (tax office, police, immigration) are helpful. • Part-time job is very difficult to get without Korean proficiency.


Housing Type Rent (KRW)

Single bedroom with shared kitchen and toilet 120,000 to 160,000 per month

A studio apartment (private bathroom) 200,000 to 350,000 per month

Dormitory (including breakfast and dinner) 900,000 to 20,000,000 per semester

Particulars Expense (KRW)

Food (if cooked at home) 130,000 to 200,000 per month

Lunch or Dinner at restaurant 3000 to 10,000 per person

Mobile (depends on package) 10,000 to 50,000 per month

Internet (depends on package) 15,000 to 35,000 per month, free in some houses

Transport (very convenient) 20,000 to higher per month

How to contact make a start

• Go through the university websites • Check the research area of professors • Make a list of professors whose research areas are of your interest. • Contact them by e-mail with a concise resume (one page) • Your email address should be formal (full name is preferred). • Email title can be “Seeking for PhD position” “Regarding PhD

research” etc. • Don’t send e-mail to many professors at a time of same

department and school. • Show your passion on particular research area and demonstrate

your ability to the professor. You may refer one of his published paper that you read.

• Wait a week for reply, then you may politely remind again. If no reply yet, seek for another professor.

• There are lot of tips you may find on internet.


• “Scholarship for Bangladeshi Students” and “HigherStudyAbroad Bangladesh Chapter” are two useful facebook groups to have guidance.

• “টেকনিকাল নিপ ােট িাইটিং” in shikkhok.com can be useful to learn resume writing, cover letter writing and research proposal writing at the initial stage.

• If you have any query, do not hesitate to ask in “Scholarship for Bangladeshi Students” or “HigherStudyAbroad Bangladesh Chapter” facebook group. There are many volunteers to help you.

Some useful links
