South Korea: All you need to know about studying and living in the paradise of Asia
Given the quality of education in it, the cost of studying and living in South Korea is reasonable and reasonable, compared to other study destinations that have a somewhat similar quality of education, such as the United States or Europe and even Germany, for example, studying in South Korea means for the international student finding A job opportunity after graduation, unlike in many countries where it is often difficult for an international student to find a job, because South Korea has a lot of elderly people compared to young people, so its government works to provide opportunities for international students to stay and work in it.
Read also: The Best universities in South Korea for international students:
What are the advantages of studying in South Korea?
South Korea: All you need to know about studying and living in the paradise of Asia
1- High quality education and low cost of study in South Korea
South Korean universities rank the highest in academic achievement and educational competitiveness in the OECD countries list and include some of the most prestigious universities around the world, such as Seoul University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology.
Despite the fame of its universities, and the value of its high degrees in the labor market after graduation, the costs are rather low, as the cost of studying in South Korea per semester ranges between 5800 and 6500 US dollars.
2- A country with a promising future
What you do not know about South Korea, perhaps, is that it was a poor country in 1960, to turn today into one of the world’s largest economic countries, as it was ranked eleventh in the world in economic strength in the International Monetary Fund’s 2015 statistic, and it was also deleted from the list of countries Consumers determined by the World Bank itself, to become among the list of exporting countries, which is something that you must realize its value as you roam the markets in search of a technical product that says: Korean-made.
In addition to the above, South Korea ranks first in the field of communications and information technology, outperforming 152 other competing countries, and it also possesses many technologies and factories to build cars and ships, and it is globally expected that by 2025 South Korea will become one of the largest sources of economic power. In Asia, and accordingly, the income of individuals is expected to double in the same year.
3- safe country
In international rankings, South Korea is considered one of the safest countries in the world, especially for international students, whose number increases every year due to the great educational popularity it enjoys among the countries of the world.
4- Allow students to work
One of the most prominent advantages of studying in South Korea is allowing international students to work in it, and it is somewhat similar to Malaysia at this point, as the international student is allowed to work part-time for 20 hours per week, and it differs from Malaysia in a very important point, which is that many Korean universities It secures job opportunities for international students within the same university campus, and the student only has to ask the specialists at the university in which he studies to guide him.
5- The possibility of studying for free
International students have many chances to study for free in South Korea, and graduate from its famous universities without any financial cost, through many scholarships, most notably:
- Korean government scholarships
The Korean government wants to attract international students to the country, for several reasons, the most prominent of which is that the Korean society consists of the majority of the elderly, and the presence of international students means a young society, especially if they decide to stay and work there after graduation, and the Korean government grants bachelors, doctorates and graduate studies.
The Korean government grants finance students from 30 to 100% of the tuition fees, and the student wishing to apply for these grants only has to visit the South Korean embassy in his country, apply there, and in turn, they will transfer it to the competent ministry, and the application for these grants starts from September until September. October.
- kyungsoo university scholarships
Keung University grants many university scholarships to first-year students, and they can be renewed automatically, or the student needs to re-apply for them during subsequent years, depending on their type, and the scholarship covers tuition and university admission fees.
- South Korean universities in world rankings
South Korean universities have great fame around the world, and the QS International Ranking of the Best Universities in the World for the upcoming 2022 included 39 universities from South Korea, and the following are the most prominent:
- Seoul National University
It was ranked 36th in the QS International Ranking of the Best Universities in the World, ranked first in the country locally, and 14th in Asia. It is a public university based in the Korean capital, Seoul, with 1,914 international students, founded in 1946.
Seoul National University has 16 colleges that offer 83 bachelor’s degree programs, while in master’s and doctoral programs, there is a graduate school with 99 programs in five different fields of study.
- Korean advanced institute of science and technology
It ranked 41 globally, second locally, 12th in Asia, and 16th in the fields of engineering and technology. It was established in 1971 and is considered the first scientific, engineering, and research institution in the country.
The institute has 869 international students, is unique in teaching science, engineering, and technology, and is also an internationally accredited business education institute.
- Korea University
It ranked 74th in the world for the best universities, third locally, 11th in Asia, and 38th globally in the field of engineering and technology teaching. It is a private university, founded in 1905.
The number of international students at Korea University is 3,325, and it includes many faculties and departments of all degrees. It also owns the East Asian Research Center and the Korean Cultural Research Center. It grants prestigious degrees in various fields, such as law, engineering, medicine, and business administration, and has a very good educational hospital. It provides excellent medical care, and medical and nursing students are trained in it.
- Yonsei University
It ranked 79 globally in the ranking of the best universities for 2022, ranked fourth locally, ranked 21 in Asia, and ranked 44 globally for teaching engineering and technology. It is a private university founded in 1885, noting that it is the first Western institution of education in South Korea.
Today, Yonsei University has 4,274 international students studying various disciplines and programs, whether master’s, postgraduate or doctoral, knowing that the university provides extensive research and medical facilities.
- Pohang University of Science and Technology
It ranked 81st globally, 5th locally, 26th in Asia, and 37th globally in the field of Materials Science. It is a private university interested in teaching engineering and science.
Pohang University of Science and Technology has only 87 international students, and it is considered one of the most important and best universities for teaching engineering and science, and its graduates were able to obtain an international degree recognized in all countries of the world.
South Korea: All you need to know about studying and living in the paradise of Asia
Difficulties of studying in South Korea
Like any new country, you will face some difficulties in it, which requires you to be very flexible to keep pace with changes on the one hand, as well as diligent to learn new things, a large number of international students faced some difficulties studying and living in South Korea, which can be summarized as follows:
- Language
One of the biggest difficulties that a student can face, most South Korean universities teach their curricula in the mother tongue Korean, and the dependence on the English language remains little, especially for some courses, which means that the student must learn the Korean language so that it is easier for him to communicate with his Korean colleagues or shops and places to visit in the country.
- Absence is forbidden
As an international student, you cannot miss a class that you have fully registered for just because you do not want to attend, and you are also only allowed to be absent for specific days in each semester, and if you exceed the number of days you are allowed to miss, you can expect to be expelled immediately.
- Bali culture Bali
It means quickly, and it is one of the most important challenges that you can face. The Korean people are known for hurrying with work and study, and respecting time and appointments is more than important to Koreans, and you do not expect to be forgiven if you are late even for only five minutes from the appointed time.
Health insurance
Registration for health insurance and medical care for international students in South Korea has been mandatory since 2019, and any international student who plans to stay more than 6 months of study is not allowed to stay without obtaining the national health insurance, which costs the international student about 610 US dollars annually.
Currently, there are many claims to exempt the international student from the national health insurance and to give him the freedom to choose between health insurance companies spread in South Korea, according to their financial ability.
Living costs in South Korea
According to statistics, the international student needs about $1,000 per month to live in South Korea, an amount that suffices all his needs, including entertainment. It costs a student about $650 per month to live.
Living
The student should expect to spend about $440 per month, in rent for a private room in a shared apartment, which is a rather large amount for a group of international students, in which case they have to choose to live in “goshion” which is a Japanese word for a small and stacked housing unit, and the rent is Accommodation is about $175 per month.
As for the least expensive place to stay, it is in the dormitories, and the cost of accommodation there for the student is estimated at 300 in the case of a shared room, to 1000 US dollars per semester if it is single, noting that house rents are exceeding 18 thousand US dollars per month, and as we said previously, the student’s budget determined the type of housing.
South Korea: All you need to know about studying and living in the paradise of Asia
Food and clothes
The cost of the total food, according to a monthly basis, is about 300 to 400 dollars, for example, the price of one liter of milk is 2.20 dollars, a kilogram of cheese 14 dollars, one kilogram of meat is 29 dollars, and the price of half a kilo of bread is 2.5 $1, a kilo of potatoes $3.5, and a can of Pepsi $0.85.
As for the price of meals, for example, a quick meal in a McDonald’s branch will cost you $5.50, while the price of a cheeseburger is $1.60, and the price of a meal in any cafeteria or popular restaurant starts at $3.2.
As for clothes, the quality of the store you choose to shop determines the price, for example, the price of a women’s dress from famous brands such as Zara is $ 30, the price of jeans from Levi’s or a similar brand is $ 65, and the price of sports shoes from Nike or Adidas It is about $85, which means that clothes may be a little expensive in general, so make your calculations, even if they are cheaper in your home country, it is better to buy them and take them with you without having to buy from the South Korean markets.
Transportation and the Internet
There are many types of transportation in South Korea’s cities and regions, the most expensive is renting a private car and the cheapest is the bus.
- Subway: One of the most important and fastest means of transportation in South Korea, and it is the safest and easiest way to use. Ticket prices vary according to stations, but in general the fare ranges from $1.2 to $2.5. The metro operates for 12 hours a day, and often it passes through the station every day. 12 min.
- Buses: They are considered one of the cheapest means of transportation in South Korea, and cover all cities and regions, and the fees range from one dollar to 1.2 US dollars.
- Renting a car: The most expensive cost of transportation in South Korea, as you need $53 per day to rent a car, the price can go up depending on the type of car of course, knowing that driving in South Korea can be stressful sometimes, especially in major cities such as the capital, Seoul, due to traffic congestion The big one, which can sometimes make you wait for an hour or more.
As for the Internet, it is generally considered cheap and will not cost you more than 20 dollars per month, and through it, you can communicate with your family and friends, whether inside or outside South Korea, without having to use local phone networks.
The weather
Temperatures drop significantly in South Korea in the winter, while it becomes moderate and cold in the spring. In general, if the international student is an Arab, he will feel cold and the weather varies, because the temperature is dominant in most Arab countries.
Spring season
The tourism season in South Korea, and starts from the end of March and continues until the end of May, during which temperatures range from 5 degrees to 17 degrees, and this season has many advantages, the most important of which are the festivals that take place in it, the most famous of which is the Cherry Blossom Festival in the first two weeks of April The Tulip Festival in Everland, and the Spring Flower Festival in Jeju Island.
Summer season
It starts from the beginning of June until the beginning of September, and the summer in South Korea is characterized by high temperatures and humidity, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 34 degrees, and it is famous for the Boryeong Mud Festival and the Beach Festival.
Autumn season
It starts from the end of September until the beginning of November, and it is considered the best period to visit South Korea for tourists, due to the mild weather, with temperatures ranging between 14 to 23 degrees, and it includes several festivals, including the Colorful Foliage Festival, the Autumn Flower Festival, and the Shrimp Festival.
Winter season
It starts from the end of November until the beginning of March, and becomes very cold with temperatures up to 10 degrees below zero, and is characterized by the snow and skiing festival, and the fishing festival on the frozen river ice.
Social life
South Korea is described as the paradise of Asia, with its historical and cultural landmarks, in addition, that, its people, in general, are very friendly people who do not deal with strangers racist, and are famous for being practical and quick people with all the tasks they perform, in South Korea often social relations are not tyrannical, the society It is dominated by the nature of a practical society, everyone is busy either studying or working.
Nightlife in South Korea is another world, as most Korean cities do not sleep, especially the capital, Seoul, which is also characterized as the most expensive city in South Korea in terms of prices and living conditions.
The Korean people, in general, are an open people, and they do not suffer from the fanaticism of any kind, but it is a little strange that showing the shoulder for women is considered undesirable, and it is something that goes back to the traditions of the Koreans, while there is no objection to wearing a short dress, but the important thing is that it covers the shoulders.
Koreans hate tips very much, so be careful not to leave the restaurant worker any extra money and just the bill, and you will have to take off your shoes at the door if you visit the family of your Korean friend, most of them walk barefoot in the house and sit on the floor even when eating.
In trains and transportation, avoid sitting in the seats designated for the elderly so as not to be exposed to any embarrassing situation, as well as beware of sending a greeting card written in red, as this color for them symbolizes death.
Dealing with respect, especially with the elderly, is imperative to you in South Korea, even forbidding you to eat before the elderly if it is on the table, or even finish your food before them. Do not use or talk to your cell phone unless necessary.
Korean people like to respect punctuality very much, and here what is meant here is the appointment by the minute, they also like to hear thanks and praise so much, that you should be careful not to thank the seller when completing the purchase.
Finally, South Korea may be an ideal country for you to study and work after graduation, but you should be aware that living may sometimes be expensive in it, so control your expenses well, and never compromise with the issue of the Korean lifestyle. Adapting to them and getting used to their lifestyle will be inevitable if you don’t want to live alone in your room.
South Korea: All you need to know about studying and living in the paradise of Asia
