Today more and more new graduates interested in obtaining a degree abroad look to the East and in particular to South Korea. With its wealth of culture, a strongly developing economy that offers many opportunities to foreigners and a school system considered among the best in Asia, Study visa South Korea is a valid choice for working and living.

But what are the benefits of studying in South Korea and how does university enrollment work?

Degree in South Korea

According to a study conducted in 2011, Korea ranked 29th out of 59 nations for the level of competitiveness of the school system and ranked 4th among Asian nations after Singapore , Taiwan and Hong Kong . It must be said, however, that not all universities are at the same level of excellence: the three best are Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University and obtaining a degree in one of these three universities automatically opens the door to the Korean world of work .

In particular one of the sectors in which Korea is among the first countries in the world is the technological one , therefore computer science and high-tech students can have many opportunities in this country. That Korea is in the vanguard can also be seen from the presence of high-speed internet connection in almost all homes, offices and commercial activities. We must also not forget the increasingly strategic role that Korea has assumed in recent years on the world political and economic scene . Despite being a country projected towards the future, Korea preserves its ancient traditions and a millenary culturethat permeates every aspect of society. Every form of art, from theater to music, does nothing but focus on Korean culture and language, but at the same time the country is very open to new trends from abroad. So modernity and tradition coexist in harmony creating a truly pleasant living, study and work environment for every student, who thus learns how to keep up with the frenzy of modern times without giving up fundamental values.

Another advantage is not just the costs : studying in Korea is cheaper than in other countries like Canada, the United States and Great Britain, both as a cost of living and as university fees. Annual taxes amount to 6.7 million won (about 5,500 euros), while for a campus accommodation you will spend about 700,000 won in a year (almost 580 euros). If in many countries international students find themselves paying much higher taxes than the local ones, Korea does not make this distinction and also offers several scholarships for foreigners. The government has also announced new support measures for foreign students, with more flexible laws also regarding part-time jobs during university and post-graduate employment.

Besides studying and working, don't forget that Korea is a fascinating country, full of unique sceneries, monuments and breathtaking landscapes just waiting to be explored! And the hospitality of the Korean people will make the study experience in Korea definitely unforgettable, allowing young people to grow not only professionally but also from a personal point of view.

How to enroll in university

In Korea there are many different universities and courses so the first thing to do is to understand what your aspirations are and what kind of path you want to take. Following your passions seems a foregone conclusion, but for Koreans it is not: think that Korean students, after passing the admission test, must take an aptitude test that determines which course of study is most suitable. This means that even if a boy is passionate about engineering but according to the test it appears that he is more suited to another field of study, he is not admitted to the engineering course.

I suggest you make a list of the faculties that interest you most and inform you about procedures and admission tests , which are usually in Korean even if today you are trying to translate everything into English to help foreign students. To help you choose the university, it is advisable to attend at least one of the open days organized annually by the Korean universities: on this occasion the study programs are presented in detail and you can take the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any doubts. In some cases you can proceed directly with the registration.

Keep in mind that many universities do the admission test only once a year , so don't delay but try to have everything ready before the application expires, otherwise you'll have to wait another year. Collect all the necessary documents, such as the diploma, references, etc. with related translations.

Much more important than knowledge of Korean are the letters of reference signed by teachers and / or employers that attest to your reliability and your qualities as a person and student.

How it is to study at university in Korea

Although you are required to know Korean, which can still be useful both at school and in everyday life, 25-30% of lessons are conducted in English by Korean teachers. If you hope to improve your English by studying abroad maybe you will be disappointed because we are not at the levels of the Anglo-Saxon countries anyway, so you will not feel the best English in the world. If you are not satisfied with your university and would like to move , it is good that you know that student transfers are very difficult for foreigners and that in any case you must attend at least two years of university before you can change.

Life in a Korean college is not just study, but also work : there are many university students who find a part-time job to pay for their expenses and university enrollment. The same institute also hires students to perform certain tasks on the campus. But in addition to study and work there is also space for fun : Korean students have an unbridled passion for parties!

Finally, also try to adapt and be mentally open: you have to understand that you are in contact with a different culture and that even all the possible preparation will not make you ready to come to terms with a reality that you are not used to, so bring respect and leave yourself " contaminate " to better enjoy your student life in Korea. Even relationships of love and friendship are undertaken in different ways; for example, if you want to approach a girl you like, it doesn't work simply by clicking on the button and leaving your number. Meetings in Korean colleges usually take place through friends; the simplest way to find love is to take part in the so-called meetings, that is, group outings between boys and girls during which we try to understand which couples might work. It also happens that friends organize blind dates for other friends.