Study in South Korea (Complete Guide - Step by Step)

Why South Korea? 

• There are a large number (1000+) of companies in South Korea. 
• The top companies in Korea are Samsung, LG, POSCO, Hyundai, Daewoo, Daelim, Lotte, Hynix etc. 
• These companies pay professors for the R&D section of the company. 
• So, here is the point. If you study in Korea, you will have the chances to work on projects offered by such big and small companies. 
• When you graduate with a degree from Korea, you will have chances to get a job in such big companies there due to collaborations with universities. Many Indians are working in these companies. 
• If you do not want to do a job after doing your masters from Korea. Then you will have many research publications in conferences/journals in your masters due to working on different projects of companies and publishing your results, which will enable you to get top PhD positions anywhere in the world of your choice. 
• Even after PhD from Korea, you will have a better profile than people who do PhD from other countries in the world due to good publications. So, going to Korea opens new Horizons for you. 

Who can Apply! 

• People who are interested in pursuing Bachelor*, MS/M.Phil, PhD, MS/MPhil leading to PhD. 
• Almost all programs especially Sciences and Engineering and Medicine (non-clinical) and Public Policy/Management etc. *Not every university but still, there are a lot. 

Deadlines

In South Korea, you can apply to both the Fall semester and Spring Semester. 

Deadlines	Round I  (Early Deadline)	Round II (Regular Deadline)
Fall Semester
Spring Semester

- There are 2 types of the deadline for every semester admission. You must apply for Round I (early deadline). In this deadline, your chances will be much more than the Round II deadline. 

- The purpose of the Round II deadline is to fulfil the remaining seats for the semester admission. So, plan well.

- The application deadline varies from university to university from August to December 2021. So, you must prepare all the documents till then. 

- For a specific deadline, you have to check your desired university and program websites.

Types of Scholarship 

1. Korean Government Scholarship - KGSP (Embassy & University Recommendation)* 

• I will post complete procedures for this scholarship in future. *If selected under this scholarship, you have to study a Korean language course in your first year of study like the Turkey Burslari Scholarship. (Only for Fall Admission of Bachelor, Master, PhD)

2. University Scholarship 

• The number of University scholarships are very few and very competitive but it is better than a professor scholarship because you will not be dependent on a professor for money/scholarships. 
• However, if you contact the professor through email before submitting the application, then you will have a better chance to get this scholarship. 
• University scholarships do not require professors recommendations but if you are successful to get one before applying, then it is a good chance for you to get that scholarship. If the professor doesn't reply, still you apply. Still, Good chances. 

3. Professor Scholarship: 

• For this scholarship, it is mandatory to contact the professor and receive a positive reply. 
• How does it work? Professors hire you in the lab and you work on company projects. Projects are based on the research and development of products of the companies. 
• You have to find and contact professors relevant to your field in universities. 
• Here you do not need acceptance letters like the Chinese Government Scholarship, CSC. 
• But, professors must have accepted you as his future MS or PhD student in his lab in emails and agreed to fund your studies fully. The professor must be happy with you and agreed to fund your studies fully. 
• This way, when you apply to a university for admission, you mention the professor's name in admission documents or online application. 
• If the application fee of universities is high, then apply only if the professor has given a positive reply to your email to accept you in his lab and cover your expenses as well. 
• If you can manage, apply even if the professor does not reply. Just apply to the university 

Benefits: The scholarship covers your tuition fee, monthly stipend to cover accommodation and daily expenses. The monthly stipend is around 1 Lakh INR. So, you can save money and send it home also. 

How to Apply! 

• Many professors have scholarships in almost every university. Find your relevant professors and contact them. 
• Search relevant professors using Google.com and search one by one with keywords such as University name + your major + South Korea (do not write full university name) 
• I have put the list of direct links of the university in the below link. you can find the required information by visiting there. 
• Open university websites, departments, using google translator and find your relevant departments and professors. 
• Some universities also publish a professor list. You can directly contact them according to your research interests. 
• Write a nice and perfect email to the professor. Don’t send a generic bakwas email. Attach your research CV (in pdf) and transcripts with email. 

If he replies positively and tells something about the lab or work. Apply for admissions to university. 

Required Documents

1. Degree for passed out OR Hope Certificate for final year students. (For MS, only Bachelor and for PhD, Bachelor and Master both)
2. Transcripts (MS - only Bachelor |  PhD - Bachelor and Master both).
3. Research Proposal (Most Important Document for MEXT Selection)  |  
• Strong Research Proposal Guidelines and Samples
  
4. English Proficiency Certificate OR IELTS/TOEFL
5. 2/3 Letter of Recommendation, LOR    |  
• LOR Guidelines & Samples
  
6. Statement of Purpose/Study Plan/Motivation Letter. (Preferably 800-1000 Words)  |  
• SOP Guidelines and Sample
7. How to write an email to a professor for Supervision?
• Email Writing Guidelines & Sample
  

Also, Get an insight into My Selected Documents for PhD Application in the USA. Don't copy-paste.

Key Points 

• Do NOT ask Korean Professor for any acceptance letter. If you ask Korean Professor for an acceptance letter, he may not understand and your chances of selection will be finished. Korean professors acceptance is like a consent of him in email, in which he says that he will cover your tuition fee and expenses. The University admission process does not need it. As you get an application for admission after the professor's consent in email. You will mention the professor's contacts in the admission process/documents. Which university will consider and give you admission on priority? If you get admission, then you will show it to professors who would have promised already to cover your expenses and then you will go to Korea on his money. 
• Korean professors like the students who want to go for MS/MPhil leading to a PhD degree. So if you have plans for PhD after your bachelors, then do go for an MS leading to the PhD degree there. 
• IELTS & TOEFL is a requirement of many universities. But you can try to apply with English proficiency certificates. If you are lucky, then they will accept you without an IELTS score. 
• But if deadlines are far, then you can try to do IELTS or TOEFL. If you have no time, then apply with a proficiency certificate and hope for the best. 

The application process is highly tedious and lengthy. I can provide you with the resources and guidance. So now it is your turn to work hard on it, so it is all your effort.

List of South Korean University with Deadlines: Click here!

Webinar: 

Watch the webinar on Study in South Korea BS/MS/PhD (Complete Guide) - YouTube.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best of Luck

Talib-e-Dua

Seerin Ahmad

AMUSO Team