Medicine and dentistry studies in South Korea
We will discuss medical and dental studies in South Korea, the income of doctors in South Korea, and South Korean hospitals in this article. How to get a South Korean medical scholarship? How much does it cost to study medicine and dentistry at a South Korean university? What are the admission requirements for dentistry in South Korea? MIE Austria, with more than 15 years of experience in immigration, obtaining various types of residence, study visas, and investment, presents an up-to-date and accurate article on the medical and dental study in South Korea. If you have any ambiguities or questions about studying medicine and dentistry in South Korea, you can contact us and get a free consultation.
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General conditions for Medical admission in South Korea
Medical and dentistry studies in South Korea have many benefits. For example, it is cheaper to study in these fields at some universities in South Korea. Tuition fees in this country are moderate. The high quality of teaching at universities with years of experience allows students to deal with modern and advanced techniques and update their knowledge. Studying in this country is also available in English. The medical course in South Korea takes about six years. The first two years are for pre-clinical studies, the third and fourth years are dedicated to undergraduate programs, and the last two years are as clinical studies with practical training. Students must pass sat or act courses to enter medical studies. If they have not studied in English language schools, they must also take the TOEFL test. Then, students must pass the entrance exams of different universities to enter the medical fields.
Top medical and dental universities in South Korea
University credibility is one of the most vital issues for those interested in studying medicine and dentistry in South Korea. The table below shows the academic level and ranking of medical and dental universities in South Korea.
| City | South Korea Rank 2021 | World University Rank 2021 | University |
| Seoul | 1 | 60 | Seoul National University |
| Daejeon | 2 | 96 | Korea Advanced Institute |
| Seoul | 3 | =101 | Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) |
| Pohang | 4 | 151 | Pohang |
| Seoul | 5 | =167 | Korea University |
| Ulsan | 6 | =176 | Ulsan National Institute |
| Seoul | 7 | =187 | Yonsei University (Seoul campus) |
| Seoul | 8 | 251–300 | Kyung Hee University |
| Seoul | 9 | 301–350 | Sejong University |
| Seoul | 10 | 351–400 | Hanyang University |
| Gwangju | 11 | 501–600 | Gwangju Institute |
| Suwon | 12 | 601–800 | Ajou University |
Medical tuition in South Korea
One of the most critical issues for international medical and dentistry students in South Korea is its study expenses. There are many different universities in this country, and they have various tuition fees. As you can see in the table below, medical and dental studies in South Korea can cost between 6,000 and 15,000 euros per year.
| University | Tuition for each semester |
| Dong-A University | 5128 |
| Inha University | 7177 |
| Jeju National University | 4500 |
| Ajou University | 5500 |
| Gyeongsang National University | 3000 |
| Chonbuk National University | 6500 |
Students’ living expenses in South Korea
Living expenses are a vital part of student costs in South Korea. The living cost in South Korea varies from city to city. Of course, in big cities like Seoul, the living charge is higher than in small towns. But it varies between 800 and 1,000 euros per month. You can see the details of a student’s daily expenses in South Korea to get a better understanding of your expenses in the table below.
| Items | Expenses (won) |
| Meals, cheap restaurant | 7362.76 |
| Meals for two people, average restaurant, three courses | 40000 |
| McMeal at McDonald’s (or equivalent) | 6500 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 4517.85 |
| Coke / Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle) | 1676.52 |
| Water (0.33-liter bottle) | 879.48 |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 2443.49 |
| Fresh white bread loaves (500 g) | 2911.3 |
| Rice (white), (1 kg) | 4494.17 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 3199.49 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | 19448.78 |
| Chicken fillet (1 kg) | 10795.84 |
| Round beef (1 kg) (or red hind leg meat) | 33730.83 |
| Apples (1 kg) | 7947.22 |
| Banana (1 kg) | 4211.11 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | 5921.07 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | 7032.52 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | 4170.6 |
| Onion (1 kg) | 3020 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2586.52 |
| Water (1.5-liter bottle) | 1352.13 |
| Taxi 1 km (normal tariff) | 4200 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1534.13 |
| 1 minute. Credit mobile prepaid (without discount or plan) | 149.57 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable / ADSL) | 27503.62 |
| Fitness club, the monthly fee for an adult | 61622.22 |
| Tennis court rental (1 hour weekend) | 23109.38 |
| Cinema, International Screening, one seat | 11000 |
| One-bedroom apartment for rent in the city center | 642970.11 |
| One-bedroom apartment for rent outside the city center | 460872.2 |
| Three-bedroom apartment for rent in the city center | 1746528.82 |
| Three-bedroom apartment for rent outside the city center | 1015384 |
Eligibility for medical and dental scholarships in South Korea
Usually, students applying to study medicine and dentistry in South Korea want to know whether they can apply for scholarships in this country or not. Different universities always offer a variety of scholarships. If the students get good grades or cooperate in the universities’ research programs, they can use these universities’ scholarships. In South Korea, many universities and the government offer scholarships, which you can see in the table below. These scholarships can cover a part or all of the student’s study and living costs.
| Cost covering items | Degree | Scholarship |
| Part or full | Undergraduate | The Undergraduate Korean Government Scholarship |
| Part or full | Undergraduate and postgraduate | Seoul National University |
| Part or full | Undergraduate | Yonsei University |
| Part or full | Undergraduate and postgraduate | Korea University |
| Part or full | Undergraduate and postgraduate | KAIST |
Study in other fields of medical sciences
Students will not need to take an entrance exam to study in other medical disciplines, such as nursing. They can enter these programs easier than medical programs. The applicants must take an entrance exam to study pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry, which costs are the same. There is no need for an entrance exam in almost all health study subjects except medicine and pharmacy. Students can enter the mentioned fields if they meet the necessary prerequisites for admission, which are mentioned in the following:
- Admission application form
- Letter of recommendation
- Qualifications and proof of graduation
- Photocopy of passport
- Prove Korean or English language knowledge
- Passing the entrance exam
Conditions for obtaining a medical study visa in South Korea
There is no age limit for applicants who want to study medicine and dentistry in South Korea. If the applicant has the necessary documents, one can apply for a student visa in a country. The applicants must submit the following documents to obtain a student visa to the embassy of this country.
- Visa application form (completed by the student)
- Photocopy of passport
- A standard size photo
- Paid visa fee
- Letter of acceptance signed by the president of the relevant university
- A letter of financial viability that covers the living expenses for one year
Conditions for obtaining a companion permit by the medical and dental student visa in South Korea
Students applying to study medicine and dentistry in South Korea can obtain a companion permit for their spouse and children under 18 years old. Students will receive visas for the duration of their studies and can reside in this country. The companion must fill in the visa application form and submit the following documents to the embassy to join the central applicant.
| 1 | Marriage certificate (for spouse) or birth certificate (for young children) in English (original and copy) |
| 2 | Photocopy of Korean Spouse Visa or Foreigners Registration Card (ARC) |
| 3 | A copy of the entrance certificate |
| 4 | Health status report form |
| 5 | The doctor’s letter, which must be issued more than 48 hours before the visa application |
Working conditions after graduation from medicine and dentistry in South Korea
One of the most critical things that international students should consider when studying in their favorite country is the working conditions in the destination country. Students interested in medical and dental education in South Korea should know that they can work while studying for 25 to 30 hours a week. If they can find a job after graduation, they can apply for a visa and convert to a work visa. Another vital issue is its unemployment rate, which will reflect the employment situation in that country. South Korea’s unemployment rate in the last statistics was 3.6, which is a pretty low rate, so this country has quite good working conditions.
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