Applying to study in Korea as an international student? What to know for Fall 2024

A batch of Korean universities will soon open applications for international students to their undergraduate programs for the fall 2024 semester, with some changes to Korean proficiency requirements.

Students line up to take photos during Korea University's matriculation ceremony held in March last year. [YONHAP]

A batch of Korean universities will soon open applications for international students to their undergraduate programs for the fall 2024 semester, making some changes to language proficiency requirements and admissions tracks.

Applications for the fall 2024 semester typically open in February and close in May. Schools like Korea University, Hanyang University and Sungkyunkwan University are some early starters and will open applications to prospective students in a few weeks.

Admissions guidelines haven't changed drastically compared to the previous semester, but some universities are changing their language requirements and others have stopped offering certain majors.

Korea University

Students participate in Korea University's International Student Festival in November last year. [NEWS1]

Korea University will accept applications from Feb. 26 until March 22. Hard copy documents will be accepted starting Feb. 26 and can be submitted until March 29.

The university now accepts Topik IBT scores as proof of language proficiency for students applying to the Korean track. Before the fall 2024 semester, the university only accepted the paper-based Topik test.

The university does not have a set minimum Topik level for Korean track applicants, although higher scores will likely increase a student's chance of getting accepted.

Required documents have also become simplified.

Applicants are no longer required to submit their high school attendance records, beginning with the fall 2024 semester. A high school profile — which includes information about the school's student demographic, location and grading scales — is now also optional.

Sungkyunkwan University

Students participate in Sungkyunkwan University's matriculation ceremony in February last year. [YONHAP]

The first round of applications for international undergraduate students opens Feb. 26 and closes March 8. Required documents must be submitted to the university by March 11.

The second round will be open between May 20 and 31, with hard-copy documents required by June 3.

Students applying through the international admissions track will no longer be eligible to apply for the School of Convergence beginning with the fall 2024 semester. Choosing majors in the School of Convergence after matriculating will also no longer be an option.

The school offers interdisciplinary majors in data science convergence, artificial intelligence convergence and culture and technology convergence.

Sungkyunkwan University will also accept Topik IBT scores from students applying to its Korean track as proof of language proficiency.

Before the fall 2024 semester, students could only submit scores for the paper-based Topik test.

Topik IBT scores will also be accepted for students advancing from one year to the next. The university requires Topik level 4 or above for students in their sophomore year and Topik level 5 for graduation.

Hanyang University

Hanyang University students take photos on campus on their graduation day in August last year [YONHAP]

Hanyang University will open applications on March 4 and close them on April 5. Required documents must be submitted by April 12.

Applicants to its Korean track are required to have scores of Topik level 4 or above.

The school will no longer accept Topik Speaking scores for the fall 2024 semester. Students are required to submit scores from either the paper-Topik or Topik IBT, or a level 4 or above certification from the Hanyang Institute of International Education.

The university is raising its fall admissions fee to 142,000 won ($107), compared to 137,000 won for the spring.

Prospective students can keep an eye out for applications to the new HY Inter-college, which will open for the 2025 academic year.

The HY Inter-college will accept undecided majors, and students will select majors in their sophomore year.

The college will admit around 250 students while keeping another 80 spots for students in special admissions tracks, including international students, North Korean defectors and students from rural areas.

Kyung Hee University

Students partcipate in a booth that lets them try making makgeolli, or Korean traditional liquor, at the Kyung Hee University's spring festival in May last year. [NEWS1]

Kyung Hee University will open the first round of international undergraduate applications from Feb. 26 through March 8.

Hard-copy documents must be submitted or have arrived via mail at the university between March 7 and 9.

The second round will be open between April 22 and May 10, with documents required between May 9 and 11.

The university is opening a new Global SDGs admissions track for foreigners with refugee status in Korea beginning with the fall 2024 semester. Prospective students can apply during the second admissions round.

Foreigners who have refugee status in Korea and whose parents are foreign nationals are eligible to apply.

Refugee-status students would previously apply in the general international student pool but were exempt from the 20-million-won bank balance requirement if they submitted a refugee status certificate.

The Global SDGs track will operate in the same manner, requiring a refugee status certificate while exempting applicants from the bank balance requirement.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]