Study In
Korea
An Academic Haven Down Under…
Academic Excellence
Research Opportunities
Global Recognition
Industry Connections
To study abroad in Korea, research and apply for programs, which can be through direct university enrollment, a third-party provider, or a university-led exchange program. Prepare for this by researching costs and admission requirements, securing an acceptance letter, obtaining the appropriate student visa (like the D-2), and potentially improving your Korean language skills before you go.
General Overview
77M
Population
Seoul
Capital
Korean
Language
1M +
Int. Student
1.7T
GDP
WON
Currency
+82
Dialing Code
40+
Universities
Admission & Documents
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Letter of Acceptance / Certificate of Admission from a recognised Korean university.
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Passport valid (typically at least 6 months).
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Academic transcripts and certificates (for previous degrees).
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Proof of financial ability: bank statements, funds to cover tuition + living expenses. For Nepali students, some sources mention needing around KRW 18,000,000–20,000,000 (~NPR 1.8-2.0 million) in bank account for a year.
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Language proficiency: For Korean-taught programs, a Korean test (e.g., TOPIK) may be required. For English-taught programs, IELTS/TOEFL may be asked.
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If applicable, health check / medical certificate (especially for certain countries: e.g., TB check for high-risk countries)
Financial & Other Criteria
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The university in Korea may need to send their business registration certificate (for visa processing) to the embassy
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Some intake criteria: e.g., for undergrad, GPA requirement around 3.0 or higher; for Master’s, minimum bachelor’s degree with certain grade.
Fees & Processing
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Visa fees apply; for example the embassy in Nepal lists general visa fee schedule.
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Processing time may be around 2-4 weeks in many cases, but applying well in advance is recommended.
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Choose your program/university in Korea and apply for admission.
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Once accepted, you’ll receive the admission letter / certificate of admission.
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Prepare all required documents (passport, photos, academic records, financial proof, language scores, etc).
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Submit visa application at the Korean Embassy in Nepal. The embassy specifies you must book an appointment online.
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Pay the visa application fee; attend any interview if required.
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Once approved, get the visa issued, travel to Korea. On arrival, you’ll typically register with immigration and obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC).
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If you are on a D-4 (language) visa and later proceed to degree program, you may need to convert to D-2 status.
Since you’re planning for a Master’s and are likely considering a full-study stay:
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Budget for living expenses separately from tuition.
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If you choose a moderate living style (shared housing or university dorm, moderate eating out, limited travel), you might aim for around ₩800,000-₩1,000,000/month as a safe ballpark in a reasonably sized city.
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If you plan to be in Seoul and want more privacy/higher comfort, you should plan for up to ₩1,200,000-₩1,500,000/month (or more) depending on rent and lifestyle.
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Convert into Nepali Rupees (NPR) for your planning: you’ll need to check current exchange rates, but this gives you a base for calculation.
1. Change from study-visa to job-seeking visa
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After you finish your studies on a student visa (such as D-2), you may apply for the D‑10 (Job‑Seeking) Visa.
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The D-10 visa allows you to stay in Korea and search for employment in fields corresponding to professional/work visas (E-1 to E-7 categories).
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Its duration: The D-10 typically starts as up to 6 months, and can be extended up to 2 years in some circumstances.
2. Switch to a full work visa once employed
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Once you secure a job that meets the criteria (employer, job duties, salary etc.), you should change to a relevant work visa (commonly the E‑7 (Special Occupation) Visa for many non-Korean specialists) or other appropriate category.
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Your student visa (D-2) cannot remain indefinitely if you are working full‐time; you must change status.