Guide
Master's in Korea for International Students
A master's in Korea can be taught in English, built around real research, and cost you little or nothing. Here is how the degree works, what the application needs, and how to pay for it.
A master's degree in Korea is a serious, fundable option that many international students overlook because they assume it needs fluent Korean and a lot of money. Neither is usually true. Korea invests heavily in research, a large share of graduate programs in science and engineering are taught in English, and between the government scholarship, university awards, and paid assistantships, most international graduate students pay far less than the sticker price. This guide walks through the whole thing: how the degree is structured, whether you need an advisor, what the application asks for, and how to fund it.
If you are still deciding between a master's and a PhD, or want the bird's-eye view of both, start with the graduate school in Korea overview. This guide is the master's-specific deep dive.
- A master's is more flexible than a PhD about the advisor. You usually apply to a program or department, and match with an advisor during or shortly after admission, rather than needing one locked in first.
- Many programs are taught in English, especially in STEM, so you can apply without fluent Korean. Always confirm the language of instruction per program.
- The research or study plan carries the application, alongside your degree and references. Test scores matter less than fit.
- Funding is realistic: GKS-G, university scholarships and tuition waivers, and teaching or research assistantships. A funded master's is normal, not rare.
- There are spring and fall intakes, but the fully funded GKS-G runs on its own earlier calendar, so the funding deadline often comes first.
How a Korean master's is structured
A master's in Korea typically runs two years and blends coursework with a research thesis. The balance depends on the field: a science or engineering master's is often lab-based, with you joining a research group early, while a humanities or social-science master's leans more on seminars and a written thesis. Either way, you graduate with a thesis, which is why the application asks about your research interests even for a coursework-heavy program.
The practical consequence is that a master's here is not just "more classes." It is your first real step into a research group, and for many students it becomes the on-ramp to a funded PhD, at the same lab or a stronger one. If a PhD is already your goal, read the PhD in Korea guide alongside this one, because the choices you make now shape that path.
Do you need an advisor first?
This is the biggest question people get wrong. For a master's, you generally apply to a department or program, and the advisor match happens during admission or in your first semester, so you do not always need a professor to agree to supervise you before you apply. For a PhD, the advisor usually comes first. That said, reaching out to potential advisors before you apply is almost always an advantage even at the master's level, especially in lab-based fields, because a professor who is interested in you can support your application and, often, your funding.
Will it be in English?
Many Korean master's programs, particularly in science, engineering, and business, are taught partly or fully in English, and labs often work in English day to day. Others are taught in Korean. There is no shortcut here: confirm the language of instruction for each specific program on its own department page before you invest. If studying in English is a hard requirement for you, the study in Korea in English guide explains how English-taught degrees work and when TOPIK still matters. Even in an English-taught program, some Korean makes daily life easier, which is one reason the fully funded scholarships include a language year.
What the application asks for
A Korean master's application is built around a small set of documents, and their weight is not equal.
| Component | What it is read for |
|---|---|
| Study or research plan | The core: your focus, command of the field, and fit with the program or an advisor |
| Statement of purpose | Why this program, this school, and this research direction |
| Transcripts and degree | Your bachelor's degree and marks, authenticated and translated |
| Recommendation letters | Usually two, ideally from people who can speak to your research potential |
| Language proof | An English test (IELTS or TOEFL) and/or TOPIK, per the program |
| CV | Your academic and any research or work history |
The study plan and statement of purpose do the heaviest lifting. For how to build them, use the statement of purpose guide and the full graduate documents guide, which has a dedicated section on the research plan. For references, see the recommendation letters guide. The slowest step is almost always document authentication: the apostille guide explains why to start it weeks ahead.
How to fund a master's
You rarely need to pay full tuition for a master's in Korea. The three realistic routes:
- GKS Graduate scholarship (GKS-G): the Korean government's fully funded route, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean. It is competitive and runs on an earlier calendar. See the GKS-G complete guide.
- University scholarships and tuition waivers: many universities reduce or waive tuition for strong international graduate students, sometimes with a stipend on top.
- Teaching and research assistantships: especially in funded labs, an advisor's grant or a TA role can cover tuition and pay a monthly stipend.
If you do not win a scholarship, a master's is still fundable and often affordable. The funding a degree without GKS guide covers waivers, assistantships, and the real self-funded numbers, and the cost of studying in Korea guide has the living-cost side.
The steps, in order
How to apply for a master's in Korea
Shortlist programs by fit, then language
Find departments whose research overlaps with your interests, then confirm which of their programs are taught in English. Fit with the work matters more than overall ranking.
Decide your funding route
If you want GKS-G, plan around its earlier spring calendar. Otherwise, note the regular spring and fall intake deadlines and look for university scholarships and assistantships.
Email potential advisors (optional but strong)
In lab-based fields, a specific email to a professor can strengthen your application and surface funding. Use the professor-outreach guide for how and when.
Draft the study plan and statement of purpose
These carry the application. Write the study plan around a focused question and clear fit; use the SOP guide for structure.
Authenticate documents early
Order transcripts and your degree certificate, then apostille and translate them. This is the slowest step, so start weeks ahead of the deadline.
Submit and track
Apply through the university portal (or the GKS portal for GKS-G), keep copies of everything, and track deadlines per program.
Mind the calendar
Korean universities generally run spring (March) and fall (September) intakes, with applications due a few months ahead. Funded scholarships run earlier: GKS-G closes in late winter and spring, well before regular admission. If funding is the goal, plan around the scholarship calendar, not the university intake date. And because document authentication is slow, work backward from the earliest deadline you are targeting.
What to do next
- Read the graduate school in Korea overview if you have not, for the master's-versus-PhD picture.
- If you want full funding, start the GKS Graduate scholarship guide.
- Build your research plan and documents, and use the universities directory to shortlist programs.