Home / Language programs
Updated Oct 14, 2026
Study Korean at a Korean university
University language programs teach Korean full time in 10-week terms, four times a year, and sponsor your D-4 student visa. For many students they're the realistic first step to a Korean degree. Here's how they work, what they cost, and which ones accept students from your country.
Is a language program right for you?
A language program fits if…
You have little or no Korean, your English score is too low for English-taught degrees, you finished school a while ago, or you want to live in Korea before choosing a university.
Apply straight to a degree if…
You already have TOPIK 3–4, a good English score for an English track, or you've found a university that admits without a language score. See universities still open for March 2027.
The basics in one minute
- Who runs them
- University-affiliated institutes
- Visa
- D-4-1 (Korean language trainee)
- Terms
- 4 a year, 10 weeks each
- Starts
- March, June, September, December
- Hours
- About 4 a day, Mon–Fri
- Tuition
- KRW 1.4–1.96 million / term
- Apply
- 2–4 months before the start
- Bank balance
- KRW 8–10 million or USD 10,000
What this really means
Only programs run by a university can sponsor a D-4 visa. Private language academies and lifelong-education centers can't, even if they're near a campus. And the deadline that matters isn't the institute's: it's how long your documents take to certify and post. For March 2027, start now.
When can you start?
| Start | Usually applies | Status for overseas applicants |
|---|---|---|
| December 2026 (Winter) | Sep – Oct 2026 | Most deadlines have passed or close this month |
| March 2027 (Spring) | Nov 2026 – Jan 2027 | Open soon; the best target now |
| June 2027 (Summer) | Feb – Apr 2027 | Plan ahead |
| September 2027 (Fall) | May – Jul 2027 | Plan ahead |
Each institute sets its own dates. Some set earlier deadlines for countries where visas take longer, including Nepal.
Nine programs we've checked
| Institute | Where | Tuition / term | Spring 2027 | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonsei KLI | Sinchon, Seoul | KRW 1,960,000 | Mar 5 – May 20, 2027 | Korea's first university Korean school (1959) |
| Sogang KLEC | Sinchon, Seoul | KRW 1,860,000 (morning) | 2027 dates not confirmed | Speaking-first method; Korean guarantor for 23 countries |
| Korea University KLC | Anam, Seoul | KRW 1,800,000 | Mar 18 – May 31, 2027 | Tuition back (minus admission fee) if visa refused |
| SNU LEI | Gwanak, Seoul | KRW 1,800,000 (morning) | Mar 8 – May 14, 2027 | Cheapest dorm option; few country rules |
| SKKU SLI | Central Seoul & Suwon | KRW 1,780,000 (Seoul) | Mar 8 – May 17, 2027 | Level 4 can replace TOPIK for deferred SKKU admits |
| Ewha ELC | Sinchon, Seoul | KRW 1,850,000 | Mar 5 – May 18, 2027 | Two teachers per class; mornings only |
| Kyung Hee IIE | Hoegi, Seoul | KRW 1,850,000 | Mar 29 – Jun 9, 2027 | Latest Spring start; K-culture electives |
| Kyungpook KLP | Daegu | KRW 1,400,000 | 2027 dates not yet published | Over 90% continue to KNU degrees |
| Chungnam ILEC | Daejeon | KRW 1,400,000 | Mar 2 – May 7, 2027 | Dorm with two meals; lowest funds requirement |
Fees and dates from each institute's official pages, checked Oct 2026. Full comparison
The guide
How it works
Ten steps from choosing a program to your first class, and how long each takes.
Documents
What to prepare, how to certify it, and the extra papers for some countries.
Costs
Tuition, housing, the bank balance you need and what a first year really costs.
D-4 visa
Who qualifies, how to apply, part-time work, attendance and extensions.
Before you apply
The mistakes that cost students their visa or their money.
From language school to university
How a year of Korean leads into a degree, and which universities reward it.
Compare institutes
Nine university language institutes side by side, with 2027 dates and fees.
From Nepal
Consular confirmation, the NOC, and which institutes add extra rules.
From Uzbekistan
Apostille, the 3-month bank balance rule, and when you need a CCVI.
How K-Admission helps
We check which institutes accept students from your country, and which fit your budget and goal.
We review certification, translations and bank papers before anything is posted.
We help you apply online, track your documents' arrival and answer the institute's questions in Korean.
Airport pickup, housing, alien registration, bank and phone.
When your Korean is ready, we help you apply to a degree.
The first consultation is free. K-Admission doesn't guarantee admission or a visa.
Sources and verification
Institute details from each institute's official pages (see each institute page). Visa rules from Korea's Ministry of Justice guidelines for international students and the 2026 Study in Korea guidebook. Last verified Oct 14, 2026.
K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with any university or language institute. Rules change every term; always confirm in the institute's official guide before you apply.