All Levels
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Full tuition + living allowance + airfare
Korea University
Seoul, South Korea
"One of Korea's SKY universities, a top-60 world university in Seoul"
At a Glance
Accept Rate
—
Avg Salary/Yr
—
Ranking
#52 (QS)
PSW VISA
Up to 2 years (D-10 visa)
About Korea University
Korea University was founded in 1905 and was the first university in Korea funded and run solely by Koreans. It is one of the three SKY universities, along with Seoul National University and Yonsei University. Its wooded campus of over 182 acres is in the Anam area of Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It has 18 colleges and divisions and 18 graduate schools, with professional schools of law, medicine, engineering and business, and its own teaching hospital. It reached its highest-ever QS position in 2027.
Rankings & Recognition
#52
Ranked #=52 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (#61 in QS 2026).
Accreditations & Memberships
SKY universities
QS 2026 Performance Breakdown
Score out of 100 across each QS evaluation pillar, with Korea University's global standing for that metric.
Academic Reputation
75.00#
Employer Reputation
80.00#
Faculty Student Ratio
30.00#
Citations per Faculty
60.00#
International Faculty Ratio
25.00#
International Student Ratio
50.00#
#
Key Facts
1905
Founded
22,223
Total Students
6,193
International Students
3,106
Faculty
13%
International Staff
Popular Programs
Business
Law
Engineering
Medicine
International Studies
Political Science and International Relations
Application Details
Application Route
Online via KU admissions
Intakes
Spring and Fall
Spring 2027 UG
Opened Aug 2026
KU Korean Level Test
No longer offered
TOPIK (UG open major)
Level 5
IELTS (UG open major)
7.0
TOEFL iBT (UG open major)
100
TOPIK (Grad)
Level 3+
TOEFL iBT (Grad)
71
IELTS (Grad)
5.5
Standardized Test Requirements
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
TOPIK (UG, to be assigned a major)
|
Level 5 |
|
IELTS (UG, to be assigned a major)
|
7.0 |
|
TOEFL iBT (UG, to be assigned a major)
|
100 |
|
TOPIK (Graduate, 2026 guide)
|
Level 3+ |
|
TOEFL iBT (Graduate, 2026 guide)
|
71 |
|
IELTS (Graduate, 2026 guide)
|
5.5 |
Study Abroad & Visa Details
Visa Approval Rate
—
I-20 Processing
D-2 student visa
Post-Study Work
Up to 2 years (D-10 visa)
Green Card Pathway
F-2 residency (points-based)
Financials
Application Fee
N/A
Avg Scholarship
GKS full scholarship
Career Outcomes
Up to 2 years (D-10 visa)
Post-Study Work
Where Graduates Land
Faculty & Alumni
Academic Staff — 3,106
International Staff — 13%
—
Notable Alumni
Campus & Location
Korea University main campus is at 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It also has the Sejong campus.
Campus Details
Seoul
(Anam) + Sejong campuses
3106
faculty
13%
international staff
Campus Forecast
Four seasons. Hot
humid summers with July monsoon rain; cold
dry winters. Jan avg about -2C
Aug avg about 26C (approx.).
Student Life & Housing
Housing
On-campus dorms for students
Dining
Campus cafeterias and nearby restaurants
Health & Wellness
National Health Insurance covers students; campus health centre
Activities & Clubs
Student clubs
Sports teams
Cultural festivals
Diversity & Demographics
Total Students
22,223
International Students
6,193
Undergraduate
68.9%
Postgraduate
31.1%
Cost Deep-Dive
Accommodation (QS estimate)
approx. USD 5,080 / year
Food (QS estimate)
approx. USD 5,780 / year
Transport (QS estimate)
approx. USD 530 / year
Utilities (QS estimate)
approx. USD 3,310 / year
Intakes & Deadlines
KU admits international students in spring and fall. Spring 2027 undergraduate applications opened in August 2026. From Spring 2027 the KU online Korean level test is no longer offered, so all applicants must submit official language scores. Graduate admission follows its own schedule on the KU international admissions site.
Scholarships at Korea University
1 scholarship available
These are general eligibility guidelines. Always confirm exact requirements with the university's admissions office or your Sukhada counsellor.
Academic Requirements
Undergraduate
High-school diploma; TOPIK, TOEFL iBT or IELTS proof.
Postgraduate
Bachelor's/master's; TOPIK 3+ or TOEFL 71 / IELTS 5.5.
English Proficiency
TOPIK (UG, to be assigned a major)
IELTS (UG, to be assigned a major)
TOEFL iBT (UG, to be assigned a major)
TOPIK (Graduate, 2026 guide)
TOEFL iBT (Graduate, 2026 guide)
IELTS (Graduate, 2026 guide)
Required Documents
Passport copy
Application form
Highest degree certificate
Academic transcripts
Study plan / personal statement
Recommendation letters
Language certificate (TOPIK / IELTS / TOEFL)
Bank balance certificate
Photo
Application Process
1
Choose programme
Check the programme list and entry rules on the KU international admissions site.
2
Apply online
Register on the KU international admissions site and fill in the application form.
3
Upload & pay
Upload your documents and pay the application fee if one applies.
4
Review
The university reviews your file; some programmes hold an interview.
5
Admission letter
Receive the admission letter and Certificate of Admission (COA).
6
Visa & arrive
Apply for a D-2 student visa, then register with the university and the immigration office within 90 days of arrival.
Campus & Location
Korea University main campus is at 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It also has the Sejong campus.
Bachelor's
6
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Bachelor's
International Studies (English Track)
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Bachelor's
Business Administration
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Bachelor's
English Language and Literature
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Bachelor's
Computer Science and Engineering
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Bachelor's
Global Entertainment
Master's
3
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Master's
Business Administration (Master's)
Korea University
📍 Seoul
Master's
International Studies
Korea University
📍 Seoul
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