South Korea is a country situated in East Asia and is a country known for technology, innovation and culture. It is home to world-leading conglomerates such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG. South Korea is rapidly transforming into one of the premier study destinations for international students. That offers high-tech learning environment, world ranked universities, safe urban centers and rich cultural heritage. South Korea provides exceptional academic quality along with affordable tuition fees compared to other study locations.

Study in South Korea

Why South Korea is one of the best destinations for Nepalese students

• World Class Universities: It is home to top ranked institutions like KAIST, Seoul National University and Yonsei University which also offer top class research Laboratories.
• Study Rights: Students holding the D-2-degree visa are allowed to work 20 to 35 hours per week (depends upon their course level and TOPIK Korean proficiency level).
• Scholarships: Global Korea Scholarship covers the full tuition, living stipends and language training.
• PostGraduation Career opportunities: The graduates can transition to D-10 job seeker visa which is valid up to 2 years and then to a E-7 Professional Employment Visa.
• Safety and Quality of Life: One of the safest countries globally, which also features modern public transport, digital infrastructure and a welcoming international community.

Popular Courses for Nepalese Students

• Information Technology and Engineering: Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Electrical, Electronic and Automotive Engineering.
• Business and Management: International Business Administration, Global Supply Chain Management, Finance and International Trade.
• Hospitality and Tourism: Hotel Management, Culinary, Korean Language and Cultural Studies, Entertainment Industry and Communications.
• Healthcare and Applied Sciences: Biotechnology, Biomedical Science and Renewable Energy.

Popular and Affordable Universities for Nepalese Students

• Keimyung University: A private university that offers comprehensive Korean language and undergraduate programs along with accessible scholarship options for Nepalese applicants.
• Kyungpook National University: It is one of South Korea’s national universities which is renowned for its affordable tuition, research grants and engineering programs.
• Hanyang University: Highly respected for STEM, engineering and business degrees with high graduate employment rate.
• Sun Moon University: It is known for its diverse international student body and courses that are taught specifically in Korean and also fee waivers.

Top 5 Popular Cities in South Korea for Nepalese Students

1. Seoul: Capital city of South Korea that offers top universities, major multinational companies and extensive student life.
2. Busan: South Korea’s second largest city which is known for ocean views, port industries and moderate living costs.
3. Daejeon: It is known as the Silicon Valley of Korea which hosts leading research institutes and tech universities like the KAIST.
4. Daegu: A major industrial and educational hub which features lower living expenses and large international student communities.
5. Incheon: Located near Seoul, home to international university campuses and manufacturing sectors.

Types of Courses

• D-4Visa(LanguageTraining):It is for students attending intensive Korean language programs prior to entering a degree program.
• D-2-1 Visa (Associate Degree): A 2-year technical and vocational programs at junior colleges.
• D-2-2 Visa (Bachelor’s Degree): A 4-year undergraduate degree program.
• D-2-3 Visa (Master’s Degree): A 2-year postgraduate academic degree program.
• D-2-4 Visa (Doctorate or PhD): A 3 to 4-year doctoral research program.

Academic Requirements

Level of Course	Academic Requirement (NEB)	English Language or Korean Requirement
General Trainee (D-4)	Class 12/+2 minimum GPA 2.4+	Not required
Bachelor’s (D-2-2)	Class 12/+2 minimum GPA 2.8+	IELTS: 5.5-6.0 overall, TOPIK: Level 3 or 4
Master’s (D-2-3)	3 or 4-year bachelor’s degree with GPA 2.8+	IELTS: 6.0-6.5 overall, TOPIK: Level 4+
Doctorate or PhD	Master’s degree with GPA 3.0+	IELTS: 6.5+ overall, TOPIK: Level 4-5

South Korea University Application Process

1. Course and University Selection: Choose your desired course and university.
2. Document Legalization and Translation: Translate your academic documents into English or Korean and complete notarization and MoFA consular legalization apostille in Kathmandu.
3. Online Application for University: Apply at the university online, including Statement of Purpose (SOP) and academic records.
4. Interview and Admission offer: Institutional video interview (as needed) and conditional admission offer or invoice.
5. Tuition Payment and Certificate of Admission (COA): Make the first tuition payment to obtain the official Standard Admission Letter / Certificate of Admission (COA).

Types of Scholarships

• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Scholarship program for 100% tuition, monthly stipend (KRW 1,000,000 per month), trip flight, language course offered by the federal government.
• Merit Scholarships: Partial to complete tuition waivers (30% – 100%) granted automatically, because of a high placement on the initial TOPIK score or IELTS examination.
• Assistantships: Monthly stipends for graduate STEM students that are awarded directly by grants from the university labs of professors.

Cost Breakdown from Nepal to Study in South Korea

1. Pre-Departure and Administrative Expenses

Items	Cost in KRW	Cost in NPR
Korean Embassy Visa Fee	KRW 60,000	NPR 6,500
Alien Registration Card (ARC) Fee	KRW 30,000	NPR 3,250
National Health Insurance	KRW 40,000-60,000 per month	NPR 4,300-6,500 per month
TB Medical Examination	Nil	NPR 6,000-8,000
Document Notarization	Nil	NPR 10,000-18,000
No Objection Certificate (NOC)	Nil	NPR 2,000
Flight Ticket	Varies	NPR 130,000-217,000

2. Living Costs and Maintenance Funds

• Monthly Living Expenses: Approximately KRW 700,000-1,200,000 per month (75,000-130,000) which covers rent, food and public transportation.
• Korean Embassy Financial Proof requirement: The applicants must show the proof of funds which is around KRW 20,000,000 or NPR 20-22 lakhs in the bank account registered under the student or sponsor.

South Korea Visa Application Process and Documents Checklist

Visa Application Process

1. Get NOC: Request for No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Nepal.
2. Medical Check-Up: Mandatory Tuberculosis (TB) health screening at panel clinics in Nepal (e.g., at Patan Hospital).
3. Bank Balance Certificate and Proof of Funds: Obtain a bank balance certificate with the minimum required balance (which varies according to university and visa category and is held for 1-3 months).
4. Visa Application Submission: Hand over the filled physical visa file to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Kathmandu (Maharajgunj).
5. Visa Collection and ARC Registration: Pick up the Visa at the Embassy and ARC Registration. Apply for Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of arrival at local immigration in Korea.

Documents Checklist

1. Original Passport (at least 12 months valid).
2. South Korea visa application form with white background.
3. Certificate of Admission (COA) from Korean University issued by IEQAS.
4. Original Bank Balance Certificate and Bank Statement with minimum USD 15,000 – 20,000 (NPR 20+ Lakhs).
5. Official Income Verification and Property Valuation Certificates of listed sponsors.
6. Relationship Proof Certificates (in English) with family sponsors (notarized).
7. Academic Certificates (+2, Bachelor’s or Master’s) attested and legalized.
8. English Proficiency Scorecard (IELTS) or TOPIK score certificate.
9. Official Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Report from TB designated medical center.
10. No Objection Certificate (NOC).
11. Detailed Statement of Purpose (SOP).