Age and seniority still matter
How you address someone depends on their age and position. Getting it wrong is forgiven in a foreigner, but getting it right is noticed immediately.
π°π· Study in South Korea
Study in Korea, planned around the D-4 visa.
Korean language programmes run on a four term year, so there is a start date every few months. The D-4 student visa depends on a Certificate of Admission, and your university only issues that once your documents and your proof of funds are complete. Getting the paperwork right early is most of the work.
- First year: VND 285Mβ466M
- 20 hours a week in term
- 3 pathways
Why students choose Korea
Korea moves fast and expects you to keep up. Study is taken seriously, deadlines are firm, and people are direct once they know you. Learn some Korean before you land and the country opens up much quicker, because English is common in central Seoul and rare almost everywhere else.
A degree Korean employers know
Korean companies recruit graduates of Korean universities, and your student status can be changed to a work status without leaving the country.
Four intakes a year
Language programmes start in March, June, September and December, so you are rarely more than a few months from a start date.
Everything is close
Fast trains connect the whole country, and Seoul to Busan takes under three hours.
200,000+
international students
A large student community
International students are a normal part of campus life, and universities have offices set up to help them.
What it is actually like
The parts of living abroad nobody puts in a brochure, the customs that catch people out and the ones that make it worth it.
The pace is fast
Deliveries arrive the same day, cafes are open late, and study culture is intense. It energises some people and exhausts others.
Most students start in a goshiwon or dorm
Private renting needs a very large deposit, so nearly everyone starts in university housing or a small studio room and moves later.
Work needs permission first
You apply for permission before taking any job, and the hours are capped. Treat it as help with living costs, not as your funding.
Where you could live
Where you study changes what you pay and how quickly your language improves. These are the places we place students most often.
Seoul
Capital regionMost universities, most jobs and most of the nightlife. Also the most expensive place to live.
Known for: Universities, work, nightlife
Living cost / month
VND 13Mβ23Mβ KRW 700,000β1,200,000
Cheaper
Pricier
Busan
South coastThe second city, on the sea, noticeably cheaper and slower than Seoul.
Known for: Beaches, seafood, film festival
Living cost / month
VND 10Mβ17Mβ KRW 550,000β900,000
Cheaper
Pricier
Daegu
Inland southA large student city with lower costs and a strong local dialect.
Known for: Affordability, student life
Living cost / month
VND 9.1Mβ15Mβ KRW 480,000β800,000
Cheaper
Pricier
What nobody tells you before you go
The practical detail behind each stage, how school actually runs, where you will live, what work is really allowed and the admin that catches everyone out.
How Korean language school works
Ten week terms, four times a year, about twenty hours a week.
Where you will live
Dorm, goshiwon or a one room flat, and why the deposit matters so much.
Part-time work, honestly
Permission first, hours capped, and never your funding plan.
Everyday etiquette
Two hands, shoes off, and let the oldest person start.
Studying there
1
How Korean language school works
Ten week terms, four times a year, about twenty hours a week.
How Korean language school works
Ten week terms, four times a year, about twenty hours a week.
University language institutes run the main programmes. You are placed by a test when you arrive, not by what you say your level is. Attendance is recorded and reported, and it affects your visa renewal as well as your grades.
TOPIK level 3 is the usual bar for entering a Korean taught degree.
Living there
2
Where you will live
Dorm, goshiwon or a one room flat, and why the deposit matters so much.
Where you will live
Dorm, goshiwon or a one room flat, and why the deposit matters so much.
Korean private rentals use a deposit system where the up front sum can be very large. Student housing and goshiwon rooms avoid it entirely, which is why almost every new student starts there. Move once you understand the market and have a bank account.
Ask what the deposit is before anything else. It changes which options are even possible.
Getting around
A T-money card covers buses, subways and most taxis.
Getting around
A T-money card covers buses, subways and most taxis.
Public transport is cheap, frequent and runs late. Buy a T-money card in any convenience store and top it up as you go. Intercity trains are fast and worth booking ahead at holidays.
Working there
1
Part-time work, honestly
Permission first, hours capped, and never your funding plan.
Part-time work, honestly
Permission first, hours capped, and never your funding plan.
You must apply for permission before working, and the weekly limit is enforced. Most student jobs are in cafes, restaurants and tutoring, and nearly all of them need conversational Korean. Immigration expects your studies to be funded before you arrive.
Working over the cap is a visa problem, not a payroll one. Nobody tracks it for you.
Culture and etiquette
1
Everyday etiquette
Two hands, shoes off, and let the oldest person start.
Everyday etiquette
Two hands, shoes off, and let the oldest person start.
Hand and receive things with two hands, especially money and documents. Shoes come off indoors. At a meal, wait for the oldest person to lift their spoon. None of this will be explained to you, and all of it is noticed.
Practical matters
1
Your first two weeks
Alien registration card, then bank, then phone.
Your first two weeks
Alien registration card, then bank, then phone.
Apply for your alien registration card at immigration soon after you arrive. Almost nothing else works without it: a bank account needs it, a phone contract needs the bank account, and health insurance registration needs the card too.
Book the immigration appointment before you fly. Slots fill up in university cities.
Choose your pathway
Most students take more than one of these in sequence. Pick the one you would start with.
University language programme
Best if: Beginners planning to study in Korean
Ten-week terms at a university language institute. The standard route onto a degree.
- Typical duration
- 12 months
- Language requirement
- None for entry; TOPIK 3 to progress
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education required
- 12 years
Undergraduate degree
Best if: Students with TOPIK or an English-track offer
Four-year bachelor programmes. Korean-taught tracks usually require TOPIK 3 to 4.
- Typical duration
- 48 months
- Language requirement
- TOPIK 3-4, or IELTS for English-taught tracks
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education required
- 12 years
Graduate school
Best if: Graduates with a research direction
Masters and doctoral study, frequently taught in English in science and engineering.
- Typical duration
- 24 months
- Language requirement
- Degree, research proposal, TOPIK or IELTS
- Minimum age
- 21
- Education required
- 16 years
Where Sakura comes in
From your level today to a real intake date
Most delays are language delays. Tell us where you are and the pathway you want, and we show the courses that close the gap and the first intake you can realistically make.
Choose your level and pathway to see your route.
What we actually do for you
Korean from where you are now
Reach the level your school asks for, taught here before you go.
What this means in practice
Schools want evidence, not confidence. We teach to the level your chosen school actually requires and give you the certificate to prove it, on the timeline the intake needs.
Working out which route is yours
An honest talk about your goal, your budget and your timing.
What this means in practice
We would rather tell you now that a plan does not work than let you find out at the visa stage. That conversation changes which schools we shortlist and how much you need to save.
Choosing schools and applying
A shortlist you can realistically get into, then the application itself.
What this means in practice
We shortlist schools that will accept a student at your level, in a city you can afford. Then we prepare and submit everything with you, including the personal statement, which schools read closely.
The document and funding file
Every paper checked and formatted before it goes anywhere.
What this means in practice
Most refusals are about paperwork, not the student. Bank statements in the wrong name, a sponsor letter that does not explain the relationship, a translation nobody certified. We check the file against what the school and the authorities actually want.
Certificate of Admission and D-4 visa
We track the application and prepare you for the step that follows.
What this means in practice
This is the step everything else waits on, so we count backwards from your intake date rather than forwards from today. You always know what is outstanding and who is holding it.
Your first two weeks
Housing, registration, health cover, bank and phone, in the right order.
What this means in practice
Arrival admin unlocks in a sequence. Some things need an address, and the address needs a registration. Do it out of order and you lose weeks. We give you the order and stay reachable.
Sakura Academy, study-abroad plan Β· 15 Oct 2026
My study-abroad plan: South Korea
Pick your intake and every date is counted back from it. Tick documents as you get them; your progress stays on this device.
My target intake
Intake: May 2027
We do this
Eligibility confirmed
We check your education history and funding against the university requirements.
You
Service package started
Your case is opened and your document checklist is generated.
We do this
Document checklist issued
Apostille requirements are explained here - they take the longest.
You
Apostille process started
Korean universities generally require apostilled academic records. Allow several weeks.
You
All documents submitted
The deadline students most often miss. Reminders begin 30 days out.
We do this
Documents reviewed and approved
We check for inconsistent financial evidence, the most common cause of refusal.
We do this
Application sent to universities
The school
Certificate of Admission issued
The D-4 visa cannot be applied for without this.
You
Tuition paid to the university
Most universities issue the admission documents only after payment clears.
We do this
Visa file assembled
You
D-4 visa applied for
Processing commonly takes two to four weeks.
Immigration
Visa issued
You
Flight booked
We do this
Accommodation confirmed
University dormitories fill quickly and are usually the cheapest option.
We do this
Pre-departure briefing
Covers arrival steps, registration and the part-time work rules.
You
Arrival in Korea
You
Legal deadline
Alien registration card applied for
LEGAL DEADLINE: generally within 90 days of arrival, but apply early - appointment slots are limited.
We do this
30-day check-in
You
Bank account opened
Requires your registration card, so it comes after registration.
You
Phone / SIM activated
You
Legal deadline
National health insurance enrolled
Enrolment is mandatory for students staying six months or longer.
We do this
90-day check-in
We do this
TOPIK preparation planning
TOPIK level determines which degree programmes you can enter.
We do this
Visa extension reminder
0%ready
What you will need
0 of 8 ready
What it really costs, 2026
Every cost in Vietnamese dong, with the currency you actually pay in underneath. Always a range: the real figure depends on the school and the city.
Where will you live?
Total for your stay (12 months)
VND 285Mβ466M
β KRW 15,080,000β24,640,000
Per month
VND 15Mβ27M
β KRW 790,000β1,420,000
First year
VND 285Mβ466M
β KRW 15,080,000β24,640,000
Paid before you fly
VND 106Mβ144M
β KRW 5,600,000β7,600,000
| Item | For your stay |
|---|---|
| Language programme tuitionFour 10-week terms a year | VND 106Mβ144Mβ KRW 5,600,000β7,600,000 |
| University dormitoryPer month. Cheapest option, limited places. | VND 57Mβ102Mβ KRW 3,000,000β5,400,000 |
| Living costsPer month, excluding rent. Seoul is at the higher end. | VND 113Mβ204Mβ KRW 6,000,000β10,800,000 |
| National health insurancePer month. Mandatory for stays of six months or more. | VND 9.1Mβ16Mβ KRW 480,000β840,000 |
Estimates, not quotes. Excludes flights and visa fees (see the fee table below). Many agencies quote only the amount paid before you fly; the first-year figure includes a full year of living costs. Exchange rate used: 1 KRW = VND 18.90, updated 1 Oct 2026. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
The money you must show (financial proof)
Unclear financial evidence is the most common reason applications are refused. This is what is usually asked for, and how long the money must have been there.
Language programme (D-4-1)
Balance usually required
VND 263M
β USD 10,000
- Held in the account for
- at least 6 months
- Set by
- Korean Embassy in Vietnam and the receiving university
Whose name: Usually in the student's or a parent's name, supported by the parent's income proof.
Many universities and the embassy ask for a frozen (blocked) account at a Korean bank branch in Vietnam for 6 to 12 months. Ask before opening an ordinary savings book.
Degree study (D-2)
Balance usually required
VND 421Mβ526M
β USD 16,000β20,000
- Held in the account for
- at least 3 months
- Set by
- Receiving university and the Korean Embassy
Whose name: Usually the student or a parent, with income proof.
The amount usually covers one year of tuition plus living costs; the university states its own figure.
No separate figure for this pathway. Ask us and we will check with the school.
Requirements change and schools add their own. Always confirm the current figure with the embassy and the school before you open an account. Never use borrowed money or arranged documents: it is fraud and leads to refusal and bans. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
Part-time work: the honest numbers
What you can legally earn, against what a month costs. Families who plan on part-time income to pay fees are the ones who end up in debt.
- Legal limit in term
- 20 hours a week in term
- In school holidays
- Usually unlimited during official university vacations, with permission
- After graduation
- Graduates can apply for a job-seeking visa (D-10) and move to a professional work visa (E-7) once employed in a qualifying role.
Part-time work needs permission before you start. The cap depends on your visa, TOPIK level and year of study, commonly 10 to 25 hours a week. Language students (D-4) usually have to study for six months first. We use 20 hours as a conservative figure.
- Typical hourly pay
- KRW 10,320β12,000
- You could earn per month
- A month of living costs
- VND 18Mβ33M
- Your family still covers
Share of living costs covered by work:
Do not count on this money. Finding work takes weeks, hours are not guaranteed, and tuition must be paid before you arrive. Working over the legal limit can cost you your visa.
Every fee, written down
What you pay us, and what you pay everyone else. No "all-inclusive" packages that hide the split, and no new fees after a deposit.
Our service fee
Essentials
For confident students who mainly need structure and deadlines.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Full country guide in your language
- Eligibility assessment and pathway recommendation
- Application to 1 partner institution
- Document checklist with deadline reminders
- Document vault
- Email support (5 working day response)
- Pre-departure guide
Full Support
Everything in Essentials, plus the human document review that prevents most refusals.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Everything in Essentials
- Applications to up to 3 partner institutions
- Human document pre-review with correction rounds
- Financial documentation coaching
- Personal statement drafting support
- Named case manager (1 working day response)
- Application tracking with proactive updates
- Visa appointment preparation
- Accommodation placement request
- Arrival checklist with hard-deadline alerts
- Airport pickup coordination
- First 90 days check-ins
Premium Concierge
For families who want someone accountable at every step, including on arrival.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Everything in Full Support
- Unlimited applications with shortlisting consultation
- Parent portal with updates in the parent's language
- Physical arrival escort: airport, registration, bank, phone
- Bank account and SIM setup accompaniment
- Progression planning into degree study
- Priority messaging (4 hour response in business hours)
- Quarterly review call with student and sponsor
Paid to others, not to us
| Fee | Paid to | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| University application fee | The university | VND 945,000 β VND 2.8Mβ KRW 50,000β150,000 |
| Student visa fee Includes the visa centre service fee | Visa application centre | VND 1.6Mβ2.4Mβ USD 60β90 |
| Apostille or consular legalisation of records | Ministry of Foreign Affairs / embassy | VND 1Mβ3M |
| Certified translation of documents About 10 to 20 documents | Translation office | VND 1.5Mβ4M |
| TB health check | Approved hospital | VND 500,000 β VND 1M |
| One-way flight to Korea | Airline | VND 4Mβ10M |
Third-party fees are set by embassies, schools and airlines and change without notice. We show them so nothing is a surprise; we do not add a margin to them.
Scholarships worth knowing
Long-running programmes only. Deadlines move each round, so treat dates as a guide and check the official page.
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
NIIED, through the embassy or a university
Covers: Tuition, flights, a one-year Korean course and a monthly allowance
Graduate track usually opens early in the year; undergraduate track in the autumn.
Deadline: 15 Mar 2027 (expected)
Official page
University TOPIK merit scholarships
Each university
Covers: Usually 30% to 100% of a semester's tuition
Awarded by many universities for TOPIK level and grades; terms differ.
No fixed deadline
Protect your family
Warning signs, whoever you choose
Embassies regularly warn Vietnamese families about these. If you hear any of them, from us or anyone else, walk away.
- A guaranteed visa, or a "98 to 100% visa success" figure nobody can check. Only the embassy or immigration decides.
- Promises that part-time work will pay your tuition, or that you can earn back your costs quickly.
- Offers to "arrange" a savings book or financial documents for you. Fake documents are a crime and lead to bans.
- An all-inclusive price with no written breakdown, or new fees after you have paid a deposit.
- Pressure to sign or pay today, or a contract you cannot take home to read.
- No business licence, no real office address, or payment requested to a personal account.
Questions students ask
Do I need Korean before I go?
Not for a language course, which starts from zero. For a Korean taught degree you will usually need TOPIK level 3 or above.
What is a D-4 visa?
It is the student visa for language study. Your university issues a Certificate of Admission once your documents and funding proof are complete, and the visa follows from that.
Can I work while studying?
Yes, but only after applying for permission, and the hours are limited. Plan your funding without it.
When should I start?
About six to nine months before the term you want. Documents and the visa take most of that time.
Talk it through with us, free
Forty-five minutes with a counsellor, in person, by Zalo video or by phone. Bring your questions and your parents. You leave with a written plan and our fee in writing, whether or not you choose us.