Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Korea? Tuition and Living Costs
A realistic budget for an international student in 2027, in Korean won and US dollars, including the one-time costs that catch people off guard. Plus the lever that erases most of it.
Studying in Korea is more affordable than most English-speaking destinations and more expensive than studying at home for many students. A realistic all-in figure, tuition plus living, lands around KRW 16,000,000 to 30,000,000 per year (about USD 12,000 to 22,000), before any scholarship. The two big variables are whether your university is national or private, and whether you live in Seoul or a smaller city.
- Tuition, national universities: roughly KRW 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 per year (about USD 3,000 to 7,400). Frozen by government policy for over a decade.
- Tuition, private universities: roughly KRW 8,000,000 to 16,000,000 per year (about USD 5,900 to 11,900), with medicine and engineering at the top.
- Living in Seoul: about KRW 1,000,000 to 1,600,000 per month (USD 740 to 1,185). Smaller cities cost noticeably less.
- One-time costs add up: flights, the visa fee, and a housing deposit.
- Scholarships are the real lever. A fully funded award like GKS can take your net cost close to zero.
Tuition: national vs private
The single biggest split is national (public) versus private. National university tuition has been effectively frozen for over a decade under government policy, which keeps it low and predictable. Private universities cost more and tend to rise a few percent each year.
| Item | KRW | USD (approx) |
|---|---|---|
National / public university Per year. Government tuition freeze keeps this stable | 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 | 3,000 to 7,400 |
Private university Per year. Medicine and engineering at the top end | 8,000,000 to 16,000,000 | 5,900 to 11,900 |
Admission fee Frequently waived for funded students | Often 0 with a scholarship | Varies |
Living costs in Seoul
Seoul is the most expensive place to live in Korea, and housing is the line item that varies the most. Here is a typical student month in the capital.
| Item | KRW | USD (approx) |
|---|---|---|
Housing Goshiwon or dorm at the low end, a one-room with a deposit higher | 300,000 to 700,000 | 220 to 520 |
Food Cooking at home is the biggest saving | 400,000 to 600,000 | 300 to 445 |
Transport Subway and bus, with a transit card | 60,000 to 80,000 | 45 to 60 |
Phone, utilities, misc Mobile plan, internet, personal spending | 240,000 to 420,000 | 180 to 310 |
Monthly total Excludes tuition | 1,000,000 to 1,600,000 | 740 to 1,185 |
One-time and upfront costs
These do not recur every month, but you need them in hand at the start. Budget for them separately.
| Item | KRW | USD (approx) |
|---|---|---|
International flight Depends on your region and season | 550,000 to 2,000,000 | 400 to 1,500 |
D-2 visa fee Single or multiple entry | About 60,000 to 120,000 | About 50 to 90 |
Housing deposit (one-room) Refundable. Dorms and goshiwon need little or none | 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 | 1,500 to 7,400 |
There is also money you must show but do not spend: for the D-2 student visa, you typically need to prove a bank balance of around KRW 20,000,000 for Seoul-area universities, or about KRW 16,000,000 for schools in the provinces.
A realistic yearly total
Putting tuition and living together, before any scholarship:
| Item | KRW | USD (approx) |
|---|---|---|
National university + modest living Lower if you live outside Seoul | 16,000,000 to 22,000,000 | 12,000 to 16,300 |
Private university + Seoul living Higher for medicine and engineering | 24,000,000 to 30,000,000+ | 17,800 to 22,000+ |
How to bring the cost down
The biggest savings are not in skipping coffee. They are structural.
- Win a scholarship. This is the real lever. A fully funded award like GKS covers tuition, gives you a monthly stipend, and pays your flights, which can take your net cost close to zero. Start with our GKS guide and the wider fully funded scholarships guide.
- Choose a national university, or a city outside Seoul. Either choice meaningfully lowers your baseline.
- Use a dorm or goshiwon in year one. It avoids a large deposit and keeps housing simple while you settle in.
- Work part-time, within the rules. D-2 students can work limited hours per week with permission, which helps with living costs without replacing a scholarship.
What to do next
- Run the KoreaAdmit quiz to find scholarships that can offset these costs.
- Compare schools and cities in the universities directory.
- Read the GKS guide and the fully funded scholarships guide.
- Budgeting for the visa? See the D-2 student visa guide.