South Korea has recently
emerged as one of the most vibrant and dynamic countries in the East
Asian region. Despite enduring decades of conflict and imperialism, the economy
has emerged as one of the most developed in the world.
More recently, South Korea has undergone rapid industrialization and has become
the most wired countries in the world. Amidst
this rapid industrialization and technological innovation, South Korea manages
to retain much of its culture, language and traditions. As
a result, the country presents a stunning contrast. Between the towering
metropolis of Seoul and the Neolithic remains of ancient empires scattered
throughout the country. For those of you interested in history, culture and natural
wonders, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention has chosen 9 cultural sites and one natural
site in South Korea. These 10 sites
are currently protected on the World Heritage List. A further 14 sites in South
Korea have also been proposed.
This month, the always astute
Tim Viney, freelance journalist, shares his thoughts on why South Korea should
be the top study destination on your ESE wish-list.
For more information for your specific degree or program please use the scholarships / study search tools on each of these links provided. More links can be found here.
WHY STUDY IN SOUTH KOREA?
South Korea is emerging as a significant regional player
within Asia, not only because of its strong economic growth, but also in terms
of its growing cultural influence within Asia.
IMD’s 2011 National Competitiveness Report ranked Korea’s
education competitiveness 4th in Asia, ahead of countries like China
and Japan. In other rankings Korea has scored especially well in the area of
technological education, a fact that should not be too surprising considering
tech giant Samsung accounts for a massive 20% of the country’s economy.
Their IT and engineering sectors in particular are
unparalleled in the region, making Korea a great place to study for people
interested in gaining the best possible education in these areas.
While in the past the country had a range of laws
restricting employment opportunities for those studying as well as graduates,
Korea has in recent years opened its doors to the world, making life for
foreign students much more feasible.
For those living in Asia the spread of Korean pop music and
television through the cultural diffusion of the so-called ‘Hallyu
wave’ may have provided you with more familiarity with Korean culture and
customs. In any case this has demonstrated the increasing relevance of the
country within Asia, meaning that besides their impressive educational
institutions, Korea has never been a more culturally relevant place to study
than it is now.
EDUCATION IN
SOUTH KOREA
Run by the Korean Government, the Study in Korea website
provides many useful resources for prospective international students.
The site has a list of government-run scholarships for international students.
These are fully funded scholarships, including air fares, medical insurance and
living allowance, and are offered in all academic disciplines. These
scholarships also have varying application dates, so it’s best to check the
full listings to know when to apply. Some examples of these scholarships are
listed below.
Korean Government
Scholarship for Graduate Students
Eligibility: Countries under diplomatic relations with Korea
Fields supported: All
Length: 2 years for Masters, 3 years for Ph. D, 6 months to
1 year for research
Support provided: Round trip air fare, Tuition fees, living costs
of 900,000 Won per month, research expenses of 420,000 Won per year for
humanities fields and 480,000 Won per year for science fields and medical
insurance.
Application dates: November to February
Art Major
Asian Scholarship
Eligibility: Excellent artists from Asian countries
Fields supported: Arts fields (music, dance, fine arts, film,
drama, traditional arts)
Length: 4 years undergraduate, 2-3 years postgraduate
Support provided: 18 million won per year for undergraduate, 18
million won per year for postgraduate
Quota: 20 people
Application dates: June to July
The International Scholar
Exchange Fellowship
Eligibility: Researchers from Asian countries
Fields supported: Humanities/Social Sciences, Energy,
Telecommunications
Length: Approximately 1 year
Support provided: 2.2 million Won research expenses, entry
expenses, return airfare and insurance
Quota: Approximately 50 people
Application dates: Deadline is February 15
USEFUL
LINKS FROM STUDY
IN KOREA
This organization is run by the Korean Ministry of
Education, and aims to provide information to those interested in studying and
working in the country. They have a more in-depth listing of information about
scholarships, including eligibility, course structure and allowance figures,
which can be found here.
In an effort to
develop mutual cooperation with developing countries the Korean Government has
established this scholarship. It aims to provide software-oriented development
assistance in education.
It is open to those wishing to study a Ph. D (4 years),
Masters (3 years) and undergraduate degrees (5 years), and covers all travel,
living and study costs. An additional year of study is granted in order to
allow students to spend their first year focussing on learning Korean language.
The program focusses on human resource management and engineering, with a strong
emphasis on foreign development.
In order to be eligible for the program students must have
achieved an 80% grade average during their bachelor’s degree, be under the age
of 40, and be in good physical and mental health. It is worth noting that students
can only apply to one Korean university, so it would be best to have a look at
the institutions within the country before applying. Applications open on the
28th of January and close on the 18th of March 2014. More
information regarding the program can be found online,
as can their undergraduate selection outline form.
Similar
to the aforementioned Study in Korea website, The Korean Tourism Organisation
runs this website to provide foreigners with information about the country. They have a page dedicated
to those wishing to study there, with important information on admission
procedures and visa procedures. The site also includes information on health
insurance, as well as providing a list of scholarships, some of which have
already been listed on this guide.
OTHER LINKS
Korea’s largest company
runs a fully funded scholarship for those interested in studying the Masters of
Science Degree majoring in Electronics and Computer Sciences at Korea’s top
university, Seoul National University. Eligibility
information as well as application forms
and deadlines are available on the program’s website.
Seoul National University (SNU)
Located in the bustling capital city of Seoul, the
prestigious university offers a range of graduate scholarships for
international students. Their international scholarships are targeted towards
people from Asian nations.
Korea
University
This
private research university, also located in Seoul, is regarded as one of the
country’s top educational institutions. They offer scholarships for
international students, with varying levels of financial support. These
programs are dependent on a maintained level of academic success throughout a
student’s studies. Please note that a level of Korean proficiency is listed as
a requirement for the scholarships.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
As the name would suggest, this Seoul-based university has
a global focus in its teachings on politics, economics and language.
Students coming from one of the 300 colleges who are
affiliated with ISEP-Exchange may also find some of their programs useful.
Students who are not affiliated with ISEP can still find
useful information about some of the other universities in South Korea:
For ESE students hoping to learn Korean language, Lexis Korea
offers a range of high
quality Korean language programs to suit all levels.
For more information for your specific degree or program please use the scholarships / study search tools on each of these links provided. More links can be found here.
If you are interested in searching for other scholarships, study opportunities and student experiences in other countries, don’t forget to join and follow our ESE blog.
Good luck!
