Studying in Korea: Visas, Money, Jobs

TOPIK explained → GKS scholarship 2027 → the D-2 student visa → part-time work rules → tuition and living costs → Korean language institutes → what to do after graduation. 7 parts.

Korea passed 300,000 international students in 2026, a year ahead of the government's target, and the rules that decide whether your years here work out — the TOPIK level that unlocks part-time hours, the bank balance the visa officer wants to see, the health-insurance bill that arrives in your first month, the D-10 clock after graduation — are scattered across university notices and immigration manuals in Korean. This course puts the 2026–2027 numbers in one place, with sources and dates, and a calculator wherever a number helps you plan.

  1. 1TOPIK Guide 2026TOPIK I/II explained: sections, cutoffs (PBT vs IBT vs Speaking), 2026 fees, 2-year validity, the last open 2026 date (IBT Nov 28) and what levels 3–6 unlock. · 8 min read
  2. 2GKS Scholarship 2027 GuideGKS-U 2027 is open Sep 15–30, 2026 (286 places, under 25, GPA 80%); GKS-G 2027 expected Feb–Mar. All-inclusive allowance ₩1.13M–1.74M a month plus tuition. · 8 min read
  3. 3D-2 Student Visa Korea Guide 2026D-2 and D-4-1 visas in 2026: bank balance ₩20M/₩16M for degrees, ₩10M/₩8M for language study, 181 certified universities, 20 restricted, ARC in 90 days. · 8 min read
  4. 4Part-Time Work on a D-2 or D-4 Visa in Korea 20262026 student work rules: D-4 10/20/25 h, undergraduate 10/25/30 h, graduate 15/30/35 h a week by Korean level; weekends uncapped only for D-2 with TOPIK. · 8 min read
  5. 5Tuition and Living Costs for Students in Korea 20262026 tuition: ₩7,270,300 average, private ₩8,231,500, national ₩4,250,000; 130 universities raised fees. Seoul one-room ₩625,000 + ₩84,000; dorms from ₩1.2M. · 8 min read
  6. 6Korean Language Institutes 2026University Korean programs cost ₩1,710,000–1,860,000 per 10-week term in Seoul (PNU ₩1,400,000) plus ₩120,000 to apply; 200 hours a term, 4 terms a year. · 7 min read
  7. 7After Graduation in Korea 2026Korea after graduation or between jobs: D-10 up to 3 years since Oct 2025, E-7-1 floor about ₩31.12M, the F-2-7 points card (80 of 170), K-STAR → F-2. · 12 min read