Should you study in Korea?
Korea works the way Japan does: a language year on a D-4 visa, then a degree on a D-2. What makes it different is the money: Korean universities and the Korean government fund international students at a scale the other destinations do not match.
Language school first- $4,000–5,500
- Language year
- TOPIK 1
- Language needed
- Work after 6 months
- Part-time work
- $600–950
- Living costs a month
Korea works well if…
- You are willing to give a year to Korean before your degree begins.
- You would compete for a scholarship. Government and university funding is real, and Myanmar students do win it.
- You want to work after graduating. Korea actively retains international graduates, and the shortage of young workers is in your favour.
Choose somewhere else if…
- You need to begin a degree this year. The language year is not optional for most programmes.
- Your family cannot fund the language year, which is rarely covered by scholarships.
- You want to study in English throughout. English-taught degrees exist, but they are limited and competitive.
If two of these apply to you, ask us about Malaysia or Thailand, where teaching is in English from the first day and there is no language year to fund.
From Yangon to a Korean degree
Four stages, typically four to five years in total including the language year.
- Before you go · 4–6 months
Reach TOPIK 1
Most language programmes want a basic level before they will issue the documents for your visa. You can reach this studying in Yangon.
- Year 1 · D-4 visa
University language institute
Four ten-week terms, aiming for TOPIK 3 or 4. Part-time work is permitted after six months with permission.
- Entrance · D-2 visa
Degree programme
Most degrees ask for TOPIK 3 or 4. You apply from inside Korea, which is considerably easier than applying from Yangon.
- After graduation
Work in Korea
Graduates can change to a work visa with a job offer. Employers recruit international graduates directly from the universities.
The language year is the part families forget
Scholarships are common for degrees and rare for language years. Budget the first year in full, then compete for funding on the second.
$9,000–10,000
For the D-4 language visa, held in your own or a sponsor’s account. A degree-level D-2 typically needs closer to $20,000. We prepare either file with you.
| Stage | Per year | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University language institute | $4,000–5,500 | 1 year |
| National university | $4,000–7,000 | 4 years |
| Private university | $7,000–13,000 | 4 years |
| Living costs | $600–950 / mo | Seoul is highest |
Indicative 2026 ranges. Part-time work is permitted after six months on a D-4, up to a weekly limit that depends on your TOPIK level.
Our Korea partners
Explore our current partner institutions and programmes. We can explain the application routes and support available for your chosen course.
Questions Myanmar families ask us
Short answers to what families ask most about Korea. We confirm the details for your own case on the call, because rules and figures change.
How much Korean do I need before I go?
Most language programmes want a basic level, around TOPIK 1, before they will issue the documents for your visa. You can reach it by studying in Yangon in about four to six months.
Are the scholarships real, and can Myanmar students get them?
Yes, government and university funding exists at a scale other destinations do not match, and Myanmar students do win it. It is competitive and goes mostly to degree students, rarely the language year. We check which awards you can realistically compete for.
Can I work during the language year?
Part-time work is permitted after six months on a D-4 visa, with permission, up to a weekly limit that depends on your TOPIK level. It is not allowed in the first six months.
What TOPIK level does a degree actually need?
Most degrees ask for TOPIK 3 or 4, and some English-taught degrees ask for IELTS instead. We confirm the exact level for each programme on your shortlist.
Is it easier to apply from inside Korea?
Yes. You apply for a degree from inside Korea, while on your language visa, which is considerably easier than applying from Yangon. You can sit exams and speak to the admissions office in person.
What happens if I do not reach the TOPIK level in time?
Most institutions let you continue the language programme for another term, at extra cost, and your visa depends on staying enrolled. We discuss the fallback with you before you go.
Talk to a counsellor about studying in Korea
David Dhakal and the Think Asia team have placed 3,000+ Myanmar students abroad across all our destinations. Thirty minutes, free, at the office or on Viber.
