Study in South Korea: Education in South Korea
South Korea's education system has undergone many changes but has held up well. Find out more about it below!
Once as rigidly designed like Chinese higher education, South Korea's system has softened over the last twenty years. It's still as robust and detailed as ever, but it prioritizes independent learning now.
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South Korea, like the US, uses a credit system. You earn your overall qualification by taking courses with a certain number of credits. You can take 3-year associate degrees in subjects like mechanics and nursing. However, these types of programs are normally only taught in Korean.ย
Full Bachelor's degrees take a minimum of 4 years to complete, Master's degrees take 2 years, and a PhD, like a Bachelor's, takes a minimum of 4 years to complete. PhD candidates don't normally teach during their studies, but it's becoming more common to do so now. The 3 levels of higher education are Haksa, Suksa, and Paksa.ย
South Korean schools are continuing to make a name for themselves, not just in Eastern Asia but on the world stage. The most prestigious schools are the Seoul National University, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Sungkyunkwan University. With a rigorous program of study under your belt, a South Korean degree is increasingly worth having.
Most universities in South Korea use one of the following grading metrics:
| Letter grade | Percentage |
| A+ | 95-100% |
| A | 90-95% |
| B+ | 85-90% |
| B | 80-85% |
| C+ | 75-80% |
| C | 70-75% |
| D+ | 65-70% |
| D | 60-65% |
| F | <60% |
| Letter grade | Grade point |
| A+ | 4.5 |
| A | 4.0 |
| B+ | 3.5 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C+ | 2.5 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D+ | 1.5 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| P | Not counted (pass) |
| S | Counted (No grade but credit is acquired) |
| I | Not counted (Incomplete) |
| Letter grade | Grade point |
| A+ | 4.3 |
| A0 | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B0 | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C0 | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D0 | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
| S | Satisfactory (No grade but credit is acquired) |
| U | Unsatisfactory (No grade and no credit) |
Learn more about studying in South Korea:
Study in South Korea - Overview
Want an overview of this remarkable country? This section examines South Korean culture, the landscape, the unique language, and the main sectors. This section also summarises why a South Korean degree can give you a competitive edge.
Student Visas
Learn more about the student visa process and what you need to enter the country, depending on your citizenship.
Housing & Living Costs
No matter where you study abroad, it's important to create a budget in advance to be prepared. Therefore, we've detailed average living and housing costs so that you can better understand what you would be paying as a student in South Korea.
Tuition Fees & Scholarships
Both international and domestic students are expected to pay tuition fees in South Korea, but these fees can vary greatly. Find out more!
Language & Culture
In this section, learn more about the country's language, culture, and more! We also discuss how to stay safe in South Korea.
Application Process
Learn more about the standard application process in South Korea. There's no national application portal, so this section covers what you'll generally need to do when applying to individual schools in South Korea.
Programs
Ready to look at education in Asia? Use our search engine to find and compare top programs in Asia today!
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