Masters in South Korea for Indian Students

Masters in South Korea is an option for Indian students who want to pursue PG studies in Asia. A master's degree usually takes two years or more. This article covers courses, universities, eligibility, costs, scholarships, admission timelines, and visa requirements for the 2027 intake.

A master degree in South Korea is a 2-year postgraduate program (MS/MBA/MA). South Korean universities are globally ranked. Total cost to pursue Masters degree in South Korea is between KRW 4.2 million and KRW 12 million per year (~INR 2.9 Lakh to INR 8.4 Lakh INR).

• Top Universities: Seoul National University (SNU), KAIST, Yonsei University, Korea University, and POSTECH.
• Popular Specializations: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Robotics, Semiconductor Engineering, Data Science, and Global Business.
• Eligibility Criteria: Recognized Bachelor’s degree (10+2+4 or 10+2+3), minimum 70% aggregate (or CGPA 2.8/4.0), and IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5. TOPIK is optional for English-taught tracks.
• Scholarships: Full funding through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS Graduate) and professor-sponsored lab research assistantships (RA/TA).
• Post-Study Work Visa: Graduates qualify for the D-10 Job Seeker Visa, which allows up to 2 years to secure an E-7 professional work visa in South Korea.

Pursuing a masters in South Korea is one of the most cost-effective study abroad pathways for Indian graduates. South Korea pairs world-leading research labs with global industry giants like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. Most technical departments now provide 100% English-taught curriculum tracks for international scholars.

Masters in South Korea: Top Courses

Engineering and computational sciences lead Indian enrollments for an ms in Korea. Research universities align their graduate labs directly with South Korea’s national industrial projects, offering generous research funding for enrolled students. Below, we have listed the specialization and core focus areas:

Top Universities in South Korea for Masters

South Korean universities are globally reputed. Some of them are among the top 100 universities in the world. South Korean universities offer master's programmes in fields such as engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, business, data science, biotechnology, and social sciences. Check out the best South Korean universities for Masters studies, with their most updated QS World University Rankings 2027:

Eligibility Criteria for Masters in South Korea: 2027 Intake

To pursue a masters degree in Korea, Indian students must meet clear academic and linguistic standards set by the university and the Korean Ministry of Education:

• Undergraduate Degree: A recognized bachelor’s degree (10+2+4 years for B.Tech/B.E., or 10+2+3 years for B.Sc/BCA/B.Com/BA from a UGC/NAAC-accredited institution).
• Academic Record: Minimum aggregate of 70% to 75% (or a CGPA of 2.8+ on a 4.0 scale). Top universities prefer first-class degree holders.
• English Language Proficiency: Required for English-medium graduate programs: IELTS Academic: Minimum overall band of 6.0 to 6.5 (with no sub-score below 5.5). TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 5 to 6.
• Korean Language (TOPIK): Not mandatory for English-taught degrees. However, having TOPIK Level 3 or higher improves scholarship awards and post-study hiring.
• Academic Statement of Purpose & Study Plan: A focused research proposal detailing your target research area, thesis concept, and faculty lab alignment.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two academic references written by undergraduate professors or research guides.

Masters in South Korea Scholarships for Indians

The majority of Indian students pursuing an ms in korea receive financial aid. The condition is that they should be eligible for the scholarship. Funding comes from government scholarships, university tuition discounts, and professor-funded research assistantships.

• University Merit Scholarships: Institutions like KAIST and UNIST provide full tuition waivers. Also, basic monthly living stipends to admitted international graduate scholars.
• Professor Lab Research Assistantships (RA/TA): In STEM programs, supervising professors pay monthly research stipends of KRW 800,000 to KRW 1,500,000 (~INR 56,000 to INR 1.05 Lakh) directly from national research grants (BK21 project) to cover living expenses.
• POSCO Asia Fellowship: Fully funded master’s degree awards covering 100% of tuition and living expenses for students from Asian countries attending partner universities.

GKS Scholarship (Global Korea Scholarship): for Master Degree in Korea

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS Graduate) is the South Korean government’s premier fully funded scholarship for Master's and PhD degrees. It covers 100% of university tuition and living costs.

Action Checklist for Indian Master's Aspirants:

• Document Authentication: Degree certificates and academic transcripts must be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India before final rounds.
• Language Exemption: Candidates with a valid TOPIK Level 5 or 6 skip the 1-year language program and proceed directly to their 2-year Master’s degree.
• No Prior Degrees in Korea: Applicants who already hold a master’s degree from a Korean university cannot apply for another master’s under GKS.

Watch our latest video on GKS Scholarship 2027 to get latest information about the scholarship.

You can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. Candidates with queries can get in touch with us in the comments section below.