South Korea at one time was more fortunate than her northern sister. Finding herself a beneficent United States, she managed to build a successful economic system fairly quickly, becoming one of the most successful countries not only in her region, but throughout the world. Also, this country is widely known for the quality of its higher education. Therefore, many foreigners go to study here. Let's find out about the features of studying in Korea and what it takes to become a university student in this country.
Features of attitudes towards studies in South Korea
Unlike its northern neighbor, today the Republic of Korea occupies the 15th place in the world in terms of GDP and is one of the most favorable places for living in the world.
In addition to the regularity of life and a high level of income among citizens, the state is famous for its qualified specialists. In many ways, this is the merit of the local education system.
Unlike our usual pace of study, in Korea it is much more intense. In fact, this is a constant state of children and youth. Almost from the cradle, the child's parents are confronted with the need to acquire new knowledge. And as teenagers, most are forced to pore over textbooks for days on end. There are many cases when teenagers committed suicide, unable to withstand such stress.
On the other hand, if they have a habit of working on themselves, studying at universities does not become a new stress for them, and they adapt quite easily. Not to mention job placement.
This increased demand in the education system often attracts foreigners. After all, studying in South Korea, they not only gain knowledge and skills, but also learn to learn for real.
Higher education system
In modern Korea, the education system has long been synchronized with the European one. Therefore, it consists of the same three links:
- Undergraduate (4 years).
- Master (2 years).
- Doctoral degree (3 years).
If you wish, diplomas of each level can be obtained at Korean universities or only part of them can be completed here, continuing your studies at other universities in the world.
It is worth noting that, as in other European universities, in Korea are more interested in providing scholarships to foreigners who already have a bachelor's level, and who enter a magistracy or doctoral program.
Studying for foreigners
Korean universities welcome students from other countries. Various grants have been developed for them. However, only the best of the best can claim them. Moreover, most of the universities in this country are private.
Especially for foreigners, almost all universities have developed English-language courses. Moreover, the level of teaching in them is similar to that in Korean. The same goes for requirements.
It is worth considering that studying in South Korea for Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Belarusians, immigrants from Kazakhstan and other countries is a competition with local students. And they need to be transcended. Indeed, when enrolling for studies at prestigious universities (medical, technological and others), preference is given to local natives, and only then to foreigners.
Price
The first thing, in addition to quality, education is of interest to any applicant and his parents is its cost. Unlike Europe, the cost of studying in Korea for Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks and other people from not very rich countries will be lower.
Depending on the university, its prestige, location city and faculty, it ranges from an average of 3 to 12 thousand dollars per semester. At the same time, the ceiling in European universities is about 20 thousand.
The above prices apply to study at all academic degrees. At the same time, undergraduate studies are always cheaper than graduate and doctoral studies.
Living expenses
Please note that in addition to studying you will have to pay for library services, public transport. And also pay for housing and food. By minimum estimates, all this will cost about $ 1,000 per month.
Local legislation allows students to work part-time on weekdays (4 hours a day, no more than 20 hours a week). In money, this will result in $ 1,000. However, with a busy study regime, it will be extremely difficult to do.
Therefore, the majority of "ours" in their reviews of studying in Korea honestly admit that without the help of their parents or grants they would not have been able to. Moreover, in the indicated expenses there is still no data on health insurance and travel expenses.
Grants
More than a quarter of the country's budget is spent annually on education needs in South Korea. This is one of the highest rates in the world. The lion's share of these funds goes to scholarships and grants for those talented Korean children whose parents do not have enough money for their education.
At the same time, foreigners can receive a grant to study in Korea. He is able to fully cover the costs of education and life, and only partially compensate for them.
Types of Special Grants
Today, there are three types of study grants in South Korea for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Uzbeks and other foreigners.
Special State Grant KGSP. Includes payment:
- learning;
- residence;
- one-time arrival / departure;
- medical insurance;
- language courses;
- monthly student support (about $ 800).
You can apply for a grant to study in Korea at your local embassy or through the website of your chosen university. The first option is preferable. However, it should be borne in mind that each year only two places are allocated for each country.
The second type of grant is the so-called internal. It is provided directly by the university itself. More like a scholarship and can compensate from 30 to 100% of the cost of education.
Unlike KGSP, it is given not for the entire period of study, but for a semester. That is, it must be constantly renewed. And in the case of a decrease in performance, you can completely lose.
Also, organizations can pay a foreigner to study in Korea. This is the third type of grant, called "organizational." What kind of expense items he will compensate depends on the sponsor. This role is usually played by local companies, although they may also be foreign ones. The rarest of all three species.
Do I need to know Korean?
Although Korea has an excellent system of English-language education at universities, you still have to learn the language of this country. Although you can not immediately.
It is useful not only for everyday life, but also for study. Indeed, the choice of subjects taught in Korean within the same specialty will be much more extensive. Yes, and if you want to get a job in this country or to cooperate with Korean companies - without knowing their language in any way.
There are six levels of ownership. Training each of them at the university costs about 1,5 thousand dollars. However, if you study under the KGSP grant, all this is paid by the state. Moreover, upon reaching the fifth level, the student is given a bonus of $ 100.
Is it possible to study in Korea after grade 11?
Despite the proximity of educational systems in Korea and other countries, they are not completely identical. Therefore, as in Germany, studying in Korea for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and representatives of other similar countries is impossible immediately after 11th grade.
Translated to our standards, in this country they spend at school not eleven, but twelve years. To compensate for the missing year, you need to unlearn the same amount in a similar specialty at a university in your state.
Exchange Studies in Korea
If you are not sure whether you want to be a student in this country, but are ready to test yourself, use the exchange program. Korea, like other states, participates in most of them, hosting foreigners and sending its own to other states.
What do you need to get into such a program?
- To be a student at a similar university in your home country.
- Have excellent academic performance, as well as participate in extracurricular activities.
- Do not have health problems.
- Know English at a sufficient level (TOEFL or IELTS).
Study, accommodation and other expenses are borne by the host. Therefore, to go on a semester or a year to study for an exchange to Korea from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc., you should be the best of the best at your university. And most importantly, be able to show it.
Please note: participating in the exchange program loses the opportunity to apply for a grant of the KGSP type in the future!
Admission Terms
There are a number of intermediary companies that take on all the burdens of paperwork for admission for certain commissions. Most foreign students in Korea do not recommend using their services, since the paper submission process is not so complicated as not to formalize them yourself. Moreover, each university has its own website with an English menu.
In addition, most of these companies are trying to attach their clients to less prestigious universities (with which they have agreements), which the Koreans are not particularly keen to enter.
You can apply immediately at your local Korean embassy. Especially if you are applying for a KGSP grant. Remember that in this case you can apply only to three universities.
Although the requirements may vary, such a package of papers is usually served at the embassy.
- Statement.
- A motivational essay letter where you need to tell about yourself in all its glory.
- One or two recommendations from teachers or the principal.
- Certificate.
- Report card for grades 10-11.
- Diplomas and diplomas (if any).
- Birth certificate.
- Copy of your passport and passports of parents (required to confirm citizenship).
- Medical certificate.
- Certificate confirming knowledge of English (TOEFL or IELTS) and Korean (TORIK) languages. The latter is optional.
- Academic plan.
Documents must be notarized and translated into English or Korean.
The period of their submission is September-October. Results are announced in January. If all is well and you are accepted, classes will start in February.
There is another way - to submit your documents through the site of the chosen Korean university. Each of them has an English menu. Having found the admission tab, there you can see the video presentation. It is updated annually. It indicates the necessary package of documents and the timing of their submission.
When the papers are collected, translated and certified - you should register on the same site in the admission tab. After registration, you will have to pay a fee of $ 150. Only after that the registration will be completed and the corresponding form will be issued. It must be printed out and, together with all documents, sent to the selected university.
The last action is payment. As soon as an applicant receives an invitation and an account number and puts the necessary amount on it, he enters the first year.
Reviews about studying at Korean universities
Universities in this country are widely spoken in various forums. Mostly the reviews are pretty positive. However, there are many nuances.
First of all, money. To get a grant in Korea, you need this state to be interested in an applicant. So, he must prove himself to be almost a genius.
Ordinary mortals need seed capital to pay for administrative and transportation expenses. In addition, although laws allow for the combination of study and work, in Korea it is much more difficult to do than in any other state. Therefore, the student must have a passive monthly source of income of at least $ 1,500-2,000 (excluding education fees).
Do not forget about the initial mandatory contribution of about $ 1,000. Each freshman pays it only once.
In addition to financial, there are other difficulties. In their reviews of studying in this country, students write that making friends with locals is very difficult. First of all, because of the language. They speak English moderately, and therefore are often shy about communicating with foreigners.
In addition, during study there is no concept of a group in the understanding familiar to domestic students. Therefore, usually foreigners are more likely to make friends with the same visitors. So to get the necessary connections with potential employers in this way is hardly possible.
The main advice that students give to all those aspiring to study in Korea is to rely on themselves, to show diligence and perseverance. And then everything will surely work out, even if not from the first, then at least from the second, or even the third time.