Guide
Study in Korea in English: English-Taught Degrees and TOPIK, Explained
The most common worry we hear is "but I do not speak Korean." Good news: you can earn a full degree in Korea entirely in English. Here is how, and when Korean still matters.
Yes, you can study in Korea without speaking Korean. Over the past decade Korean universities have built out complete bachelor's and master's degrees taught entirely in English, especially in business, engineering, computer science, international studies, and the sciences. For those programs you submit an English test score, not a Korean one.
- You can earn a full degree in English. Many programs are 100 percent English-taught and require no Korean to enroll.
- TOPIK is the Korean proficiency test, scored Level 1 to 6. English-track students usually do not need it to start.
- When Korean is required depends on your track. Korean-taught admission needs TOPIK Level 3 up front; English-taught needs none to enter but often TOPIK Level 4 to graduate; funded routes like GKS include a year of Korean before your degree.
- English-taught programs ask for English proof instead: typically TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.0+, with some schools accepting the Duolingo English Test.
- KAIST and POSTECH teach almost entirely in English. SNU, Yonsei, Korea University, and others offer many English-taught tracks.
- Learning some Korean still pays off for daily life, part-time work, and graduation requirements at a few schools.
Can you really study in Korea without Korean?
For an English-taught degree, yes. Admission is based on your academic record and an English proficiency score. Lectures, readings, assignments, and exams in these programs are in English. Plenty of international students graduate from Korean universities with only survival-level Korean.
Where Korean becomes necessary is if you choose a Korean-taught program, or a program with a graduation-language requirement, or a fully funded route like GKS that includes a Korean language year. More on that below. And if you would rather learn Korean first and then apply, that is a well-paved road too: the language year to degree guide shows how a year at a university language institute leads into a Korean-taught degree.
What is TOPIK, and when do you need it?
TOPIK, the Test of Proficiency in Korean, is the standard measure of Korean ability. It has two versions and six levels:
| Test | Levels | Roughly means |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I | Level 1 to 2 | Beginner, basic survival Korean |
| TOPIK II | Level 3 to 4 | Intermediate, can handle daily and some academic life |
| TOPIK II | Level 5 to 6 | Advanced, near-academic and professional fluency |
You generally need TOPIK in three situations: you are applying to a Korean-taught program, your English-taught program has a Korean graduation requirement, or you take a funded route like GKS that asks for TOPIK Level 3 after its language year. For a standard English-taught admission, you usually do not need TOPIK at all.
Here is the part that gets buried: for a Korean-taught program, you need that Korean score before you apply, not later. Most departments ask for TOPIK Level 3, and competitive ones ask for Level 4. For an English-taught program you need no Korean to get in, but many universities still require TOPIK Level 4 to graduate. It varies by university and department, so confirm both the admission and the graduation rule with your target school.
| Your track | Korean at admission | Korean to graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Korean-taught program | TOPIK Level 3, sometimes 4 | Often TOPIK Level 4 |
| English-taught program | None, an English score instead | Often TOPIK Level 4, varies by school |
| GKS or similar funded route | None to apply | A funded year of Korean first, then reach TOPIK Level 3 to start your degree |
Which English tests do Korean universities accept?
Instead of TOPIK, English-taught programs ask for proof of English. Exact cutoffs vary by university and program, but the common baseline looks like this:
| Test | Common minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 80 and up | Most widely accepted |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 and up | Widely accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | Accepted at some schools | Check the specific program |
| Native or prior English-medium study | Sometimes a waiver | Often needs documentation |
Always confirm the exact threshold on the program page, since competitive programs ask for higher scores.
Which universities teach in English?
English-taught options have expanded a lot, but they are not evenly spread. A few anchors:
- KAIST and POSTECH. Korea's two leading science and technology institutes conduct nearly all instruction in English and require only English proficiency. They are a natural fit if you do not speak Korean and want STEM.
- Seoul National University, Yonsei, and Korea University. The largest research universities offer many English-taught tracks across business, social sciences, engineering, and the humanities.
- Dedicated international colleges, such as Yonsei's Underwood International College, are built around English-medium study.
To see which schools offer English-taught programs in your field, filter the universities directory.
What if you do not have the score yet?
Many universities offer conditional admission. You are accepted on the condition that you reach the required score, or you enroll first in the university's Korean Language Institute for one to four semesters of intensive study before starting your degree. This is also how the GKS language year works.
Funded scholarships often bundle this in. GKS pays for a full year of Korean before your degree, and you must reach TOPIK Level 3 to move on to it. In other words, a scholarship can be how you learn the Korean you need, paid for, rather than a reason you cannot apply.
Daily life without Korean
In Seoul and other big cities you can manage day to day with English, translation apps, and a little effort. Campus offices that serve international students operate in English, and younger Koreans often speak some. That said, learning the Korean alphabet, Hangul, takes only a few days and instantly makes signs, menus, and transit readable. A few hundred words of Korean changes your daily experience more than almost anything else.
What to do next
- Run the KoreaAdmit quiz to find English-taught programs and scholarships that fit your profile.
- Filter the universities directory for English-taught programs in your field.
- If you want full funding, the GKS guide explains the Korean language year.
- Once you are admitted, plan your D-2 student visa.
- For the full process end to end, read How to Study in Korea.