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Cost of Studying in Korea 2026: Tuition per Semester, Living Costs and a First-Year Budget

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Academy Info data put the average bachelor's tuition in Korea at $4,995 (KRW 6.82 million) a year: $3,124 (KRW 4.27 million) at national and public universities and $5,585 (KRW 7.63 million) at private ones. International students at leading private universities in Seoul pay more: under Yonsei's 2026 schedule an international freshman's first year costs $10,665 (KRW 14,562,000); from the second year a humanities semester costs $3,337 (KRW 4,556,000) and an engineering one $4,397 (KRW 6,004,000). Study in Korea suggests budgeting $549–732 (KRW 750,000–1,000,000) a month for living costs. A realistic first year with tuition and housing ranges from about $7,800 at a regional national university with a dormitory to $20,000 or more in Seoul with a rented studio, before the rental deposit.

Below: official averages, real 2026 fees at five universities, living costs, one-off payments, three sample budgets and ways to cut the bill. Amounts are in US dollars with the original won amount in brackets, converted at the ECB rate of 23 September 2026 (USD 1 ≈ KRW 1,365).

University library lounge with a curved blue sofa, grey seats and small round tables
The MASIL lounge on the second floor of the Dongguk University Central Library, South Korea. Photo: 바벨도서관 / source, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Average tuition: the official statistics

Korea's Ministry of Education publishes every university's tuition on the Academy Info portal. Study in Korea summarises these data but does not say which academic year they cover, so treat them as a benchmark rather than 2026 fees:

Bachelor's tuition per year Amount
National average $4,995 (KRW 6,820,244)
National and public universities $3,124 (KRW 4,265,842)
Private universities $5,585 (KRW 7,625,336)
Seoul metropolitan area $5,606 (KRW 7,654,030)
Outside the metropolitan area $4,627 (KRW 6,316,885)
Field (bachelor's, per year) Amount
Humanities and social sciences $4,397 (KRW 6,003,000)
Natural sciences $5,035 (KRW 6,875,000)
Engineering $5,330 (KRW 7,277,200)
Arts and physical education $5,733 (KRW 7,828,200)
Medicine $7,209 (KRW 9,843,400)

Two takeaways. The gap between public and private universities is almost twofold, bigger than any saving on rent. And these are averages across all students: private universities in Seoul often charge international students a separate, higher rate.

What specific universities charge in 2026

Korean universities bill per semester, two semesters a year. An admission fee is often added to the first bill.

University and programme Per semester Per year
Yonsei, international freshman year (Global Basic Education Division, Global Leaders College) $5,411 (KRW 7,388,000) first semester, $5,254 (KRW 7,174,000) second $10,665 (KRW 14,562,000)
Yonsei, humanities and social sciences, from year 2 $3,337 (KRW 4,556,000) $6,674 (KRW 9,112,000)
Yonsei, engineering and computing, from year 2 $4,397 (KRW 6,004,000) $8,795 (KRW 12,008,000)
Yonsei, Underwood International College (English-taught) $6,007 (KRW 8,202,000); first semester $6,164 (KRW 8,416,000) First year $12,171 (KRW 16,618,000)
Yonsei, medicine (regular course) $5,710 (KRW 7,796,000) $11,420 (KRW 15,592,000)
Korea University, humanities and social sciences (international) About $4,248 (about KRW 5,800,000) About $8,496
Korea University, natural sciences About $4,907 (about KRW 6,700,000) About $9,814
Korea University, engineering About $5,640 (about KRW 7,700,000) About $11,279
Korea University, art About $5,713 (about KRW 7,800,000) About $11,426
Pusan National University, humanities $1,230 (KRW 1,680,000) $2,461 (KRW 3,360,000)
Pusan National University, engineering $1,731 (KRW 2,364,000) $3,463 (KRW 4,728,000)
Pusan National University, pre-medicine $2,239 (KRW 3,057,000) $4,478 (KRW 6,114,000)
KAIST, master's and PhD (Electrical Engineering) Standard $7,001 (KRW 9,559,000); KAIST scholars pay $549 (KRW 750,000) $1,099 to $14,002 depending on scholarship

Notes:

  • Yonsei publishes a separate undergraduate rate for international students. The same table states that international freshmen spend their first year in the Global Basic Education Division of Global Leaders College, so we use that division's rate for year one; the college rate applies from year two. The first semester of any programme is $157 (KRW 214,000) higher: that is the admission fee. Underwood International College admits students separately and charges its own rate from the first semester.
  • Korea University gives approximate 2026 figures that may change. Engineering, interdisciplinary programmes and the Global Open Major all cost about KRW 7,700,000 per semester.
  • Pusan National University illustrates a national university in a major city; the table shows its general 2026 fee schedule. Check international admission terms and scholarships in its admission guide.
  • KAIST graduate programmes work differently: according to the Electrical Engineering department's table, a KAIST scholar pays KRW 750,000 instead of 9,559,000, and a master's teaching assistant receives KRW 265,000 ($194) a month. See our KAIST profile.

University profiles: Seoul National University, Yonsei, Korea University, Pusan National University. For Seoul comparisons, see universities in Seoul.

The language year

Without Korean, many students first take a university language programme. At Yonsei's Korean Language Institute in 2026, one 10-week term (200 hours) costs $1,362 (KRW 1,860,000) plus a $88 (KRW 120,000) application fee, with four terms a year: about $5,537 (KRW 7,560,000) for a full year, excluding housing. See Korean language programmes in Korea.

Living costs

Study in Korea's monthly guide:

Item Per month
Housing $366–513 (KRW 500,000–700,000)
Food $146–220 (KRW 200,000–300,000); a campus cafeteria meal costs $4–11 (KRW 5,000–15,000)
Transport $37–73 (KRW 50,000–100,000)
Other, including phone and health insurance $73–146 (KRW 100,000–200,000)
Total $549–732 (KRW 750,000–1,000,000)

Real 2026 prices:

  • Seoul dormitory. Hanyang University's first residence hall: $221 (KRW 302,000) a month for a double room, $296 (KRW 404,000) for a single.
  • Busan dormitory. Pusan National University: a double room with three meals a day, seven days a week, costs $1,503 (KRW 2,051,820) per semester.
  • Seoul studio. Dabang data for July 2026: a studio of up to 33 m² near ten major Seoul universities averaged $458 (KRW 625,000) a month plus $62 (KRW 84,000) in maintenance fees, with a $7,324 (KRW 10,000,000) deposit.
  • Health insurance. Compulsory for students: $58 (KRW 79,320) a month in 2026 for most students; more if income or assets exceed the NHIS thresholds.

Housing types, deposits and contracts are covered in student housing in Korea.

One-off first-year costs

Payment Amount When
Application fee Set by the university; $88 (KRW 120,000) at Yonsei's language institute On application
Admission fee Usually in the first bill; $157 (KRW 214,000) at Yonsei First semester
TOPIK $29–70 in Korea; $24–30 (RUB 2,000–2,500) at St Petersburg State University in 2026; set locally elsewhere Before applying
Visa fee $80 for Russian citizens, $60 for Kazakh citizens Visa application
Tuberculosis test, translations, apostille Provider rates Before the visa
Alien Registration Card $26 (KRW 35,000) Within 90 days
Rental deposit Typically $7,324 (KRW 10,000,000) for a studio near Seoul universities; dormitories usually require none Before moving in
Flights Airline fares Before the semester

The deposit is refundable, but you need it on day one; part-time earnings in the first months will not cover it.

Sample first-year budgets

Our calculation using real 2026 fees and Study in Korea's guidelines; an illustration, not a university invoice.

Item per year A. Busan, national university, engineering, dormitory B. Seoul, Yonsei, humanities, rented studio C. Seoul, Yonsei language year, goshiwon
Tuition $3,463 $10,665 (first year at the GLC rate) $5,537
Housing $3,006 for two semesters with meals $6,231 incl. maintenance $1,758–7,031
Food Included in dormitory $1,758–2,637 $1,758–2,637
Transport $439–879 $439–879 $439–879
Other, incl. insurance and phone $879–1,758 $879–1,758 $879–1,758
Total $7,787–9,105 $19,972–22,170 $10,371–17,842
Extra cash needed Housing for 3–4 vacation months $7,324 deposit before moving in Goshiwon deposit, usually up to $732

Scenario C uses goshiwon prices near Sinchon universities reported by Yonhap in August 2026: $146–586 (KRW 200,000–800,000) a month with a $73–732 (KRW 100,000–1,000,000) deposit. From the second year, scenario B gets about $4,000 cheaper, since Yonsei's humanities rate is $6,674 a year. The range is wide because a windowless room and a renovated room with a window differ fourfold in price.

Proof of funds for the visa

The visa figure is not your budget. For a D-2, Korea's Ministry of Justice requires proof of one year of tuition and living costs, and embassies set the amounts: in Kazakhstan $20,000 for Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon, $18,000 elsewhere and $9,000 for language courses; in Uzbekistan from $15,500 (capital region) or $12,500 (other regions) in a KDB account; in Russia no statement for accredited universities. Details: Korea D-2 student visa.

Paying tuition

  • Bills come each semester with short payment windows; Pusan National University issued autumn 2026 bills to international admits in July with a payment window of a few days.
  • Pay only into the university's official account. The Korean Embassy in Uzbekistan has warned about fraudsters asking for tuition and visa payments to personal accounts.
  • From Russia, use legal routes only; see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Ways to spend less

  1. GKS government scholarship. Covers tuition, airfare, the language year and a monthly allowance; one competition a year via an embassy or a university. See GKS scholarship.
  2. University scholarships. Many universities reduce tuition for international students with strong TOPIK or English scores at entry and for good GPAs each semester; terms change yearly.
  3. A national university outside Seoul. Pusan National University charges two to three times less than a private Seoul university, and a dormitory with meals costs less than a rented studio.
  4. Lab funding for graduate students. In science and engineering, a professor may fund you through a research project; arrange it before applying.
  5. Part-time work. Allowed with an immigration permit and hours tied to your TOPIK level. It will not cover tuition, and future earnings are not counted at the visa stage. See working while studying in Korea.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing universities by the national average instead of your programme's international rate.
  • Budgeting for eight months of term and forgetting the vacations, when dorms close or cost extra.
  • Not setting aside the rental deposit.
  • Counting on a scholarship before the written decision arrives.
  • Treating the visa funds figure as your real budget.

FAQ

Academy Info data, as summarised by Study in Korea, put the average bachelor's year at $4,995: $3,124 at public and $5,585 at private universities. Private Seoul universities charge international students more: at Yonsei an international freshman's first year costs $10,665 under the 2026 schedule, humanities from the second year $6,674 a year, and Underwood International College or medicine over $11,000.

Only with a GKS scholarship or a full university scholarship. There is no tuition-free higher education for international students, although KAIST offers graduate scholarships that cover almost all tuition.

Study in Korea suggests $549–732 a month. With your own studio in Seoul it will be more: rent near a university averages about $520 a month with maintenance, plus a deposit of about $7,300.

Yes. Average tuition outside the capital region is 17% lower, regional national universities cost two to three times less than private Seoul universities, and housing is cheaper. See universities in Korea for international students.

It depends on the university and field. At Pusan National University the first semester of an engineering master's costs $2,640 (KRW 3,604,000, including the admission fee); KAIST's standard fee is $7,001 per semester, but KAIST scholars pay $549. See master's in Korea.

Tuition is paid per semester, so twice a year. Some universities also allow a semester bill to be split; this is stated in the payment notice.

Under a service agreement we match programmes to your budget, calculate the full first-year cost and check scholarship terms. Universities set tuition; scholarships are awarded by the university or NIIED. See studying in South Korea.

Sources

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