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Nowadays, South Korea is well-known for its study abroad among Asian and European applicants. In official US News World rankings, the country ranked overall 18 in education and 14th in career opportunities. However, the expenses in South Korea are quite expensive, so some students may have financial difficulties.
The South Korean government offers a few scholarships for free education, which helps to reduce fund problems, for eligible Indian students. The scholarships are awarded based on applicants' academic performance, financial need, and extracurricular activities.
Can I study in South Korea for free? Getting free education in South Korea for the 2025 academic year is extremely difficult but achievable. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) are the most popular scholarships that cover education and living costs in South Korea.
The tuition fee in South Korea is approximately Rs 2.0 lakh to 10.0 lakh per annum, depending on the chosen program and university. South Korea is affordable compared to the USA, UK, Australia and Canada.
Read this article further to understand how you can getfree education in South Korea in a step-by-step process.
Also Read: Permanent Residency in South Korea After Study
You can get free education in South Korea just by following the these steps. now some five main tips are mentioned below:
Step 1: Indian or international students must search and apply for scholarships offered by the government in South Korea.
Step 2: Then, shortlist the cheapest universities in South Korea to cut down the expenses and apply to them to confirm your admission.
Step 3: While studying in South Korea, try to get part-time jobs to manage personal expenses. Indian students are permitted to work up to 25 hours per week.
Step 4: To avoid wasting money, stay in cost-effective cities like Ulsan, Daegu, Suwon, and Gwangju or outside Seoul.
Step 5: Some sources offer free online courses and materials to explore related to your study without fees.
Indian students are attracted to scholarships for various degree programs provided by the government of South Korea. Generally, scholarships in South Korea are offered based on nationality, merit, need and talent and require students to submit the necessary documents.
These are the popular South Korean scholarships for Indian students to get free education in Korea.
GKS Invitation Program for Students from Foreign Countries
Global Korea Scholarship Program (GKS)
Korean University Scholarships for international students
Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP)
GKS for ASEAN Countries
Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program
Hongik University Global Scholarship
You can enrol in the cheapest universities in South Korea for affordable education with top-notch practical training in every degree program. Here the rankings for cost-effective universities are provided:
University Name | QS World Rankings | US News World Rankings |
Seoul National University | 31 | 135 |
KAIST | 53 | 296 |
Yonsei University | 56 | 205 |
Korea University | 67 | 300 |
POSTECH | 98 | 385 |
Sungkyunkwan University | =123 | 275 |
Hanyang University | 162 | 445 |
UNIST | 280 | 391 |
DGIST | =326 | 1,369 |
Kyung Hee University | =328 | 516 |
Also Read: Introduction to South Korea
These are the mandatory documents that every student applying for admission in South Korea requires to submit.
Statement of purpose
2 - 4 passport-size photographs
Valid passport
Visa requirements
Language requirements for English (IELTS, TOEFL) or TOPIK for Korean
CV or Resume
Work experience (for masters if required)
Select the university you want to apply to and look for scholarships, eligibility, program availability and application deadlines on the official website.
Start your application, and provide the required details.
Submit and wait for admission confirmation. If you need free education, obtain South Korean scholarships from your university, government, or private organisation.
Apply for a Korean student visa to live, travel and study legally in South Korea.
The cost of Living in South Korea may vary depending on your lifestyle. Here we have enlisted how maximum people in South Korea spend their money.
Expenses | Cost in Rupees |
Rent | 30,000 - 40,000 |
Food | 8,000 - 10,000 |
Transportation | 4,500 |
Utilities | 15,000 |
Total living costs in South Korea (per month) | 62,000 - 65,000 |
No, education in South Korea is not completely free, some public universities or schools offer free or low-cost fees for eligible international students. To enhance the chance of getting free education in South Korea.
To pursue free education in South Korea, you must apply for a scholarship provided by the government or university. The most popular scholarships are the GKS Invitation Program for Students from Foreign Countries and the Global Korea Scholarship Program (GKS), the Korean Government Support Program for Foreign Exchange Students and more.
The cost of studying in South Korea for Indian students ranges from approximately Rs 2.0 lakhs to 10.0 lakhs per annum; this may fluctuate depending on degree and university.
South Korea is more expensive than India, the average cost of living in South Korea is between Rs 62,000 to 65,000, which is 199.3 per cent higher than Indian expenses.
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