South Korea is well known for many things: K-pop and K-dramas, Samsung and Hyundai, Kimchi and K-barbeque, and of course BTS. But this isn’t all there is to South Korea. Along with its rich culture and delicious food, Korea offers one of the world’s best education. In fact, it was ranked one of the highest among the OECD countries for educational competitiveness.
Korea, being one of the world’s dynamically developed nations and the hub for innovation and technology, makes an exceptional study destination offering various programs from full-time undergraduate, graduate and doctorate studies to short term language courses.
If you are looking to study abroad and you are unsure of your destination, here are 5 reasons why Korea might just be the right place for you.
1. Korea is home to some of the highest ranking universities in the world
Korean universities are globally recognized and highly regarded for their top-notch education. With advanced and challenging academic programs, Korean universities rank among the best in the world. 5 of the top 20 universities in Asia (according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings) are located in Korea! And the country’s top university ‘Seoul National University’ ranks 29th internationally!
They have gained this reputation by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and high quality teaching. Whether you are in Korea for a semester abroad or for 4 years, these universities offer you a diverse range of academic programs from management, engineering, technology, economics, and so on.
2. Affordable tuition fees & cost of living
In most cases, the greatest obstacle to studying abroad is the overall cost. But thanks to reasonable tuition fees and fairly cheap campus dormitory options, students in Korea can receive world class education for a fraction of what it would cost in other parts of the world.
Although Korea’s cost of living is not entirely cheap, it is significantly less expensive when compared to other developed nations. Therefore, if you are looking to get a degree without having to swim in debt or go broke, Korea has the best opportunities for you.
3. Get to experience K-pop, K-food and Korean culture locally
If you are an eager consumer of Korean media or a foodie at heart, then Korea is heaven on Earth for you. You can get the chance to see your favorite artists perform in their native land or see locations where your favorite dramas were filmed. If you are lucky enough, you can even catch your next favorite drama in the action of filming!
You can also enjoy the distinctive and delicious cuisine of Korea that you can never get tired of which includes traditional dishes like banchan and kimchi as well as a vibrant street food scene in urban areas.
4. Generous scholarships and other support programs
Numerous scholarship programs provide an additional incentive to pursue higher education in Korea, in addition to the country’s comparably inexpensive living and tuition costs. These scholarships could include waiving off the entire tuition fee and even receiving monthly stipends for the living expenses.
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) offered by the Korean government is one of the most known scholarship programs. Besides this, you could also get private scholarships from your university or other institutions. This means that you could actually get paid to study in Korea!
5. Opportunities to explore and travel
Korea is safe and fun. From vibrant nightlife in Seoul to calming nature in Jeju, Korea has so much for you to explore. Being in Korea also opens up opportunities for you to travel to nearby Asian countries such as Japan, Taiwan, China, and so on.
And to top it off, Koreans are some of the nicest people and are very friendly towards foreigners. Therefore, you can fully immerse in your study abroad and travel experiences without much worries.
The reasons to study abroad in Korea are endless! Studying in Korea while traveling and experiencing a new culture is one of the greatest and most exciting approaches to advance in your academic and professional career.
