About South Korea
South Korea is a high-tech economy and home to Samsung, Hyundai, LG and SK. It is a world leader in semiconductors, electronics and K-culture. It offers well-funded universities, generous government scholarships (GKS) and a growing number of English-taught programs. Main intakes are March (spring) and September (fall). The currency is the Korean won (KRW).
Why study in South Korea
- Top universities in engineering and technology (KAIST, SNU, POSTECH)
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) covers tuition, living costs and flights
- Affordable tuition compared to the US and UK
- Strong industries: semiconductors, cars, electronics and gaming
- Safe, modern and exciting culture
Popular fields of study
Electrical and electronic engineering, semiconductors, computer science and AI, mechanical and automotive engineering, business, media and K-culture studies, and Korean language. Top universities include Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei, Korea University and POSTECH.
Student visa, step by step
Student visa: D-2.
- Get admission and a Certificate of Admission from a Korean university.
- Show funds of about ₩20 million (around USD 15,000), or more depending on the university.
- Gather apostilled academic documents, and a TB test where required.
- Apply for the D-2 visa at the Korean Embassy / KVAC in India.
- Wait for the decision, usually 1–4 weeks.
After you get your visa
- Register for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of arrival.
- Join the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which is compulsory.
- No work in the first 6 months. After that you need a free part-time work permit. Undergraduates can work up to 25 hours a week with TOPIK 3–4 (10 hours without it). Graduate students can work up to 30 hours a week with TOPIK 4 (15 hours without it).
Work and staying on
- Working while you study
- No work in the first 6 months. After that you need a free part-time work permit. Undergraduates can work up to 25 hours a week with TOPIK 3–4 (10 hours without it). Graduate students can work up to 30 hours a week with TOPIK 4 (15 hours without it).
- After you graduate
- D-10 job-seeking visa, up to 2–3 years The D-10 job-seeking visa lets you stay to look for work, usually granted for 6 months at a time and renewable up to about 2–3 years in total.
- Settling long term
- E-7 professional work visa: with a job offer. The minimum salary is ₩31.12 million a year in 2026 for E-7-1. F-2-7 points-based residence visa: points for age, degree, Korean language and income. F-5 permanent residence: possible after several years of residence and work.
Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.
Visa expenses
| D-2 visa fee | about USD 60 (approximate, paid in INR) |
| ARC registration | about ₩30,000 |
| Funds to show | about ₩20 million |
| Health insurance (NHIS) | about ₩70,000–₩80,000 a month |
Average salary
Graduates typically start at about ₩30–₩40 million a year (approximate). Large companies like Samsung and Hyundai pay more.
Good to know
- Korean (TOPIK 4+) greatly improves your job chances, since only about a third of foreign graduates found jobs in Korea in 2024.
- Apply for GKS early. Applications open around February–March for the September intake.
General information for Indian students, not immigration advice. Fees, funds and post-study rules change often; figures marked approximate are estimates. Check the official sources before you apply:
Universities in South Korea
See all programs →| Woosong University Daejeon · 16 programs |