Studying in Korea, from the D-2 visa to graduation
Getting into a Korean university or language program as a foreign student means lining up a student visa, a TOPIK score, and often a scholarship, in the right order. Here is how each piece works and where they connect.
Guides
Start with the visa if you have an offer, TOPIK if you need the score, or a scholarship if funding is the question.
D-2 Student Visa
The student visa for degree programs: eligibility, financial proof, application, and what you can and cannot do on it.
Read guideTOPIK: The Korean Proficiency Test
What TOPIK is, the levels, how it gates admission and scholarships, and how to register and prepare.
Read guideGlobal Korea Scholarship (GKS)
The Korean government's flagship scholarship: who qualifies, what it covers, and how the application works.
Read guideUniversity Scholarships
The scholarships Korean universities offer foreign students directly, beyond GKS, and how to find them.
Read guideKorean Language Schools
University language institutes (어학당) and private schools: the D-4 path, costs, and what a term looks like.
Read guideKIIP Integration Program
The Social Integration Program (사회통합프로그램): how its stages and evaluations support visa points and residency.
Read guideThe pieces connect in a predictable order
Studying in Korea is a chain, and the links depend on each other:
- The D-2 student visa needs an admission offer and proof you can cover tuition and living costs.
- TOPIK gates a lot of it: admission to Korean-taught programs, many scholarships, and later the F-2 visa-points track.
- Scholarships (GKS and university-specific) often require a minimum TOPIK level and cover tuition plus a stipend.
Not sure where you sit? Start with the D-2 student visa guide if you have an offer, or the TOPIK guide if you need the score first.
TOPIK in depth
The proficiency test gates admission, scholarships, and visa points, so it is worth understanding in detail.
TOPIK for Visa Points
How your TOPIK level converts into points toward the F-2 residence visa and other points-based tracks.
Read guideTOPIK Registration
Step-by-step: how to register for TOPIK, the deadlines, the fee, and the test-day logistics.
Read guideTOPIK Levels Explained
What each TOPIK level actually means for admission, scholarships, jobs, and visa eligibility.
Read guide