This is for overseas Koreans! This means that the information here may not be applicable to international students.
For International students wishing to apply to Korea, please refer to this information sheet. Information for International Students Applying to Korea

Admissions Track (3-year vs 12-year)

How do Koreans who lived abroad apply back to Korea?

There is a separate application track for Koreans who lived overseas. This category is divided further between how long they have been outside of Korea.

What is the eligibility criteria for the 12-year overseas education track?

Applicants must have completed elementary, middle, and high school entirely outside of Korea.

What is the eligibility criteria for the 3-year overseas education track?

Applicants must have resided overseas with both parents.
Must complete at least 3 years of middle and high school education abroad, including 1 year of overseas high school.

What are the residency requirements for the 3-year track?

Parents must reside in the host country for at least 2/3 of the year.

In addition, there are work day requirements — to be added later.

Students must reside there for at least 3/4 of the year.

In addition, there are study day requirements — to be added later.

Figuring this out boils down to exact days, and can be confusing. Counsellors should not advise students, but please inform students to consult with universities directly.

How does the competition for the 3-year track compare to the 12-year track?

3-year track is much more competitive because there is a quota system for the 3-year track.

2% of the total admissions quota can be allocated to this 3-year overseas Korean category.
If you look at the column on the right hand side of this document, you can see the quotas for each majors (document is in Korean).

A common strategy for the 3-year track is to check the overall quota allocated to a certain discipline or a major, and choose a major/discipline with a larger quota.
There is no quota limit for 12-year track, so the competition is much lighter.

What is the application timeline for the 12-year overseas education track?

Applicants can apply twice:

July for March (Semester 1) intake.
March for September (Semester 2) intake.

What is the application timeline for the 3-year overseas education track?

Applicants can apply once:

July for March (Semester 1) intake.

Additionally, applicants can apply in September, but they will be assessed alongside domestic Korean students.

How about students who don’t qualify for either of these tracks? (i.e. does not meet the criteria even for the 3-year track)

This can happen if they don’t meet the strict residency requirements which is calculated to the exact day.
They need to do document-based regular admissions with other domestic Korean students in September. This is called 수시 지원.

It’s document-based as opposed to exam-based (정시 지원). Overseas Koreans are also eligible to take the national exams (수능) but they will be severely disadvantaged competing with the domestic Koreans who have been preparing for their whole life for this exam.

The overseas Korean track is actually a smaller category within the whole 수시 지원 / document-based regular admissions track.

It’s a special category just for Koreans who have lived/live overseas.

What is the application number limit and strategy between the 3-year and 12-year tracks?

3-Year Track:

Applicants can apply to only 6 universities.
It is crucial to be careful with university choices due to higher competition.

12-Year Track:

Starting from 2025, applicants can apply to as many universities as they wish.
This flexibility allows for a huge range of options in their university selection.

How many courses can a student select within a university?

1 major per 1 university. You cannot select more than 1 major per 1 university.
And you cannot select 1 university more than 1 time.
So basically, when you are choosing a university, you are choosing a major.

6 universities / a major at each for 3-year track.

Admission Updates - for 2025/2026 cycle

Are there any notable changes for the 2025 & 2026 admissions?

Yes, two!
Application number - The limit on the number of applications (6) for the 12-year track will be removed. This is official and final.

This means the 12-year track is made even easier.
Very competitive programmes like medical and pharmacy programmes will see an influx of 12-year applications.
Because of the increase in applicant numbers, the yield rate is expected to decrease.

Personal statements - Personal statements have been introduced again for the 12-year track for Yonsei University. Other selective universities may follow suit – however, as this decision is on a university-by-university basis, we should not make a blanket conclusion.

Admissions Process (Waitlist, Securing & Cancelling Offers, Discipline vs Major-based Admissions)

What is the process for receiving offers off the waitlist (a.k.a. 추가 합격 / 추합) for the 3-year track?

For the 3-year track, there are waitlist offers in December as students decide whether to enroll, leading to available spaces.
(No waitlist offers for 12-year track).
The likelihood of receiving an offer varies:

For top-tier universities, it is difficult.
For mid- and lower-tier universities, it is more feasible. In fact, if a student applies to mid/lower-tier universities and they don’t get offers right away in the first round, they will be likely relying on waitlist offers.
For specific programs, there may be a slight difference.

Offers are communicated only by phone in mid-late December; advise students to pick up the phone, even from unknown numbers!

(i.e. There have been horror stories of students failing to pick up the phone and missing out on offers.)

How does one secure an offer / what are the deposit requirements?

Deposits do not involve monetary payments; instead, to secure an offer, documents must be uploaded by the deadline.

What does one do to cancel an existing offer?

Cancellations of existing offers can be made via phone call.

What is the difference between school/faculty- vs major-based admissions?

Faculty-based admissions: instead of applying to a certain major, the student applies to the faculty.
Major-based admissions: student applies to the specific major.
Whether a school does major- vs school-based admissions varies greatly depending on many factors (whether you are a 3-year or 12-year track, depending on the major, on the admissions year etc.). It is impossible to keep track of this from the get-go unless this is your full time job, but students will be made aware of this as they apply to universities.
What’s easier? TBC

Admissions Category - How students are assessed (Document vs Exams vs Interview)

What are the ways that students are assessed?

Majority of the schools go for document-based admissions.
Select schools conduct exams and/or interviews.
Some schools mix the two (e.g. interview & documents) and give different weights.

Which universities require exams, and how should students prepare for them?

Paper tests are required by universities such as Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University, Dongguk University, Sejong University, Sookmyung Women's University, Ajou University, Inha University, Korea Aerospace University, Hongik University. (Source: Hyuk’s IBGC 2025 Korean Deep Dive Session).
It can be considered by 3-year track students with less competitive IB scores as a possible alternative.
To prepare, they should attend a hagwon (private academy).

Which universities require interviews, and how should students prepare for them?

Interviews are mandatory for Gachon University, Myongji University, Kyonggi University, and Suwon University.
Common interview questions may vary by institution.
Hagwons again can help, but I’ve had students get accepted without external prep through this method.

General Admissions Requirements - What are universities looking for?

What are the main evaluation criteria for admission?

Korean universities typically evaluate applicants based on three main criteria: Academic Ability (학업 역량) , Career Potential (i.e. subject readiness) (진로 역량), and Community Engagement Potential (공동체 역량).
Source

How is academic ability assessed?

Academic ability encompasses the applicant's overall academic performance, study habits, and inquiry skills. This includes assessing grades, the rigor of the courses taken, and the applicant's motivation and attitude toward their studies.
This is always the most important category.

What does career potential refer to?

Career potential evaluates a student's commitment to exploring their chosen field of study.
This includes their efforts in relevant coursework, related experiences, and overall understanding of their intended major.
It’s basically subject readiness.

What does community engagement potential refer to?

Community engagement potential reflects a student's ability to work collaboratively, demonstrate leadership, and contribute positively to their community.
Universities assess this through participation in group activities, volunteer work, and adherence to community standards.
Non-subject relevant activities that still show leadership can contribute to this category.

Do different universities weigh these criteria differently?

Yes, each university has specific weightings for these criteria.
For example, some may prioritize career potential over academic ability, while others might emphasize community engagement more heavily.

What should students include in their application to strengthen their case?

Students should highlight not only their academic achievements but also their involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and any relevant work or volunteer experiences that showcase their commitment and skills.

What can counsellors do to support students’ applications?

The document (활동증빙자료) proving their extracurricular commitments within school should be as detailed as possible.
Sort of like a cross between a CV and a Personal Statement.
The CAS Report usually does not suffice. It’s advised to create documents from scratch, collaborating with the student.
More on this later.

Special Admissions Requirements - Specific universities (SNU & KAIST)

Which universities require letters of recommendation (LOR)?

Seoul National University (SNU) requires letters of recommendation, using their specific form.

Are there any schools other than KAIST that require short-answer or personal statements?

KAIST is the only university that requires short-answers.
However, 12-year track admissions may see the return of personal statements soon.

What is the admissions process for KAIST?

Apply in December, no difference between 3-year and 12-year tracks.
This makes KAIST one of the most competitive universities to get into.

Special Admissions Requirements - Personal Statements (12-year track only)

How should we approach the new Personal Statement requirement? What are the prompts?

Yonsei has reinstated the Personal Statement for the 2025 cycle, starting with March deadline (fall entry) for 12-year track. There are 4 prompts.
It is likely that many other selective schools will follow.
Here are the prompts for Yonsei (translated).

Describe your motivation for applying to Yonsei University and how you have worked to ensure that you have the competencies necessary to study in your chosen field of study (major/faculty), with specific examples.

(Required) [1,200 Korean characters or less including spaces]

Why Yonsei: similar to 'Why university' supplementaries of US universities.
Describe Subject-specific readiness: similar to UK Personal Statement.

Please select and describe three (3) extracurricular activities (exploratory, independent / autonomous, career, other) that you participated in while in high school. Choose one activity that was the most impactful and describe your motivation, how you got involved, your role and content of activities, and how the experience impacted yourself or others. Please be specific.

(Required) [800 characters - for the description of single activity]

For Yonsei, you are already listing 6 Extracurriculars & 6 Volunteer Work in the list.
Similar to UBC's Personal Profile, you need to select one and expound in great depth and detail.

Please provide an example of a time when you encountered a challenged, were frustrated, or experienced a failure. Describe how the experience influenced you and what you learned from the experience. Please be specific.

(Required) [800 characters]

Similar to 'Overcoming a challenge' type of essay in the US application (Common App prompt 2 or supplementary essays).

Please describe anything we need to understand you, or anything you would like to write on your own topic. (Optional) [800 characters]

Similar to 'Additional information' section on Common App
Anything the previous questions did not cover
Optional but due to the large number of Korean applicants, this space should be utilized wisely.

General things to note:

Length: 800-1200 characters is not a lot! 800 characters = ~ 20 lines
Specificity: All prompts explicitly contain the instruction to be specific as possible. Give examples.

Admissions Strategies

What are some admissions strategies?

Distinguishing between 3-year and 12-year track students (and those who belong to neither – the one who has to apply in September) is the basic start. The strategies look completely different for these tracks.

What are 12-year track strategies?

With the lack of the 6 application limit, advise students to apply to as many schools as possible, if Korea is their no. 1 country.
Keep in mind this results in exponentially more documents to stamp and prepare.

What are 3-year track strategies?

With the quota system, it is much more competitive. Pay attention to not only schools but schools/majors as well because schools/majors have very specific quotas.
Manage expectations. Think about when it would be more advantageous for exams or interviews if the student has a low score.

What is the application strategy for the July deadline for IB students?

For IB students, the July deadlines are right after their IB exam scores are released.
To prepare for surprises, students should be preparing for a wide variety of scenarios

(e.g. What universities should I apply to if I get an IB score of X? What universities should I apply to if I get an IB score of Y? Prepare for all scenarios with different university lists).

What are the strategies for non-3 year and 12-year track applicants?

What challenges do non-3 year and 12-year track applicants face?

According to Kyunghee University Admissions Team: Students applying to the document review track alongside domestic Koreans may be at a disadvantage, particularly in STEM subjects. Admissions officers often assume that domestic students have a stronger mathematics background, making it easier to standardize and compare their performance.
According to Chung-Ang University Admissions Team: They disagree and says int’l students are not necessarily disadvantaged in terms of STEM

How can non-3 year and 12-year track applicants leverage their strengths?

Kyunghee: These applicants may have an advantage when applying to international tracks or programs that emphasize a globally minded curriculum. Such areas often value diverse perspectives and experiences.

What strategies should students consider if they want to pursue STEM majors?

Kyunghee: For students interested in STEM fields, it is recommended to apply to a more competitive major initially. They can then consider transferring or pursuing a double major once enrolled, allowing them to navigate the competitive landscape more effectively.
Chung-Ang: Take the rigorous science subjects expected for STEM.

Are there specific subjects where non-3 year and 12-year track applicants can excel?

Non-3 year and 12-year track applicants may find greater success in international programs or majors that prioritize a global curriculum, where their unique backgrounds and perspectives can stand out.

UNIVERSITIES

Transfer or Double Major

Is it possible to transfer majors within a university or do a double major?

Previously, this wasn’t allowed in many universities, but it is becoming increasingly common.
Transfer tip:

Students can move from a science major to a humanities major (e.g., engineering to economics).
However, transferring from a humanities major to a science major is generally not possible due to the lack of mathematics background.

Societal Perceptions

What is the perceived ‘hierarchy’ / tiered system of Korean universities?

The hierarchy in common parlance is as follows (descending from top tier downwards):

서연고: SNU; Korea; Yonsei
서성한: Sogang; SKKU; Hanyang
중경외시: Chung-ang; Kyunghee; Hankuk U of Foreign Studies; University of Seoul
건동홍: Konkuk; Dongduk women’s university; Hongik University
국숭세단: Kookmin; Soongsil; Sejong; Danguk

You will see this hierarchy determining Korean students’ university choices.

Is there any other factor I should be aware of?

Koreans want to attend universities in Seoul (인서울 대학: literally, in-Seoul universities).
Exceptions to this are KAIST.
For Christian Koreans, Handong University is quite popular as it is a Christian university.

Public vs. Private Universities

What are the differences between Korean public and private universities?

National universities, such as SNU and Busan University, typically have lower tuition fees compared to private institutions.

International Colleges

Are there options to study in English at Korean universities?

Yes, there are international colleges available within many Korean universities.
International colleges tend to offer majors in the humanities.
International colleges are called 국제학부 and it’s chosen as a choice of course when applying in and of itself.

Eg. a student can choose ‘Underwood International College’ as a major at Yonsei, as they would choose engineering or psychology in Korean.

Some examples include:

Underwood International College at Yonsei University: UIC Website

This is a very popular option for overseas Koreans. In addition to being the most prestigious and largest international college, they offer a wide variety of majors, beyond the usual humanities options.
They also have a larger quota than the rest.

Loyola College at Sogang University: Loyola College
Scranton College at Ewha Womans University: Scranton College
(Not all International Colleges have fancy English names like the above mentioned – e.g. international colleges at Hanyang and Korea do not).

Most major universities typically have an international college, providing options for overseas Korean students to continue studying in English.
Seoul National University is an exception; it does not have an international college.

SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS

IB Requirements

Where can students find IB subject requirements for universities and programs?

These requirements are not displayed on university websites, but AO’s look for students who have taken an academically rigorous combination of subjects that is suitable for their major.
Taking harder classes and maintaining a higher score will make you more competitive compared to other students in the applicant pool.

What subjects are particularly important?

Admissions officers pay particular attention to mathematics.

Specific IB Subjects

What science subjects do universities want, and at what level?

Requirements depend on the major chosen.
As you would advise a student applying to another country, the same logic stands. Rigorous science classes for science majors and rigorous humanities courses for humanities majors.
Generally, students should aim for grades of 6 or 7, though a 5 may be acceptable for the 12-year track.

Is there a preference between IB English A and IB English B?

The distinction is not made; students can choose either A or B.
But for students who want to pursue humanities, English A indicates an advanced level of analytical skills in the humanities.

Which IB Math is recommended for Science and Engineering subjects?

It is advisable to take Mathematics at a Higher Level (HL).
For engineering, AOs will look for Mathematics AA HL.

For Specific University Majors

What are the IB subject requirements and grades for specific majors?

Business: Business or Economics HL; Math HL, with target grades of 6-7.
Economics: Business or Economics HL; Math HL.
Engineering: Mathematics AA HL; Physics HL.

AP Coursework

What is the impact of AP Calculus BC on competitiveness for Yonsei or KAIST engineering courses?

It’s a must.

What is the perception of AP course limits?

Students aiming for top universities should complete as many courses as possible at school and then supplement with self-study.
This is because many of the applicants will be applying with a huge breadth of AP exams, taking additional exams beyond what’s offered at school.

PROFILE BUILDING

Demonstration of Career Potential / Subject Readiness

How does one demonstrate subject readiness?

Primarily by the advanced subject choice (e.g. IB Higher-levels, A-levels) and scores in them.
Secondly by the choice of extracurriculars.

Extracurricular Activities (ECA)

How do in-school activities compare to beyond-school activities?

In-school activities are prioritized.
Most universities, except for Yonsei and Korea University, accept beyond-school extracurricular activities.
However, they prefer documentation from school-based activities.
Hyuk offers an amazing table in his IBGC 2025 presentation.

How does one document this?

Counsellors should collaborate with the student to create ‘활동증빙자료' Extracurricular proof documents that provide great detail into the student’s school life.

Language Proficiency

Are language tests necessary? Which tests are expected, and what scores are needed?

TOEFL and IELTS are generally not required if students already have an IB diploma and studied at an English-medium school. However, having these scores can be beneficial if they have a high score. Expected scores are typically around a minimum of 90 for TOEFL and 8 for IELTS.
For students who attend Korean schools that do not use English as the medium of instruction, a TOEFL test buttresses their English potential.
Many Korean students and parents feel ‘safe’ with a high TOEFL score, regardless of whether they attended an international or Korean school. Getting a high TOEFL score in advance can assuage their anxieties.

Is TOPIK (test of Korean language abilities) necessary?

TOPIK is not necessary for the 12-year track, except for medical schools, but may help in admissions for 12-year track to SNU.
Not necessary for 3-year track.

Summer Programs

Are there any universities in Korea that offer summer programs in English for high school students?

Currently, there are no such programs available.

How are summer programs perceived?

Summer programs do not hold significant value in the admissions process.

Competitions

How do within-school competitions compare to beyond-school competitions?

Within-school competitions are considered more substantial.
Beyond-school competitions need to be internationally recognized to be effective in enhancing a student's profile.

DOCUMENTATION

Document Preparation

How should we prepare documents for Korean admissions?

Refer to the Dulwich Suzhou reference document, shared in the IACAC FB page. Ask Yein if you don’t have access to the FB page.
Come up with processes and policies in collaboration with SLT, Admissions office, and Secondary office in advance; communicate this clearly to students and parents.

Reference

Why do some universities ask students to blank out the school name on references and transcripts?

This practice is present with the SNU reference procedure to maintain confidentiality and fairness.

Notarization

Which documents require embassy notarization?

Official transcripts, enrollment certificates, and graduation certificates typically require notarization.
Documents related to parental employment may also need clarification.

Responsibility of sending the documents

Who send the documents in? Counsellors or students/parents?

Students /parents. Unlike other country applications, counsellors cannot send documents to the university. They can call and ask about the status, but it’s all up to the student and parent really.

LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY

Career Outcomes

How competitive is the job market? Are there differences based on universities and subjects?

Job competitiveness varies significantly based on the university and major, particularly in trending fields such as science and engineering.
Humanities majors (other than business) are societally perceived to lead to poorer job outcomes. You may see students avoiding these majors because of this.

Finding a job abroad vs in Korea

How easy is it for domestic-educated students to find work abroad?

It is often quite challenging. There are certain companies that are better at sending students abroad.

What is the experience like for foreign-educated students returning to Korea?

Transitioning back can also be difficult.
Bottom line to these two questions are: it’s advised for students to make the university choice depending on where they’d like to live afterwards.

OTHERS

Scholarships

Are scholarships available?

Yes, scholarships on admissions do exist, but they are for domestic students.
Overseas Korean students can apply for scholarships after completing their first semester in university.

Reaching Korean universities

It’s difficult to reach them by email / they never get back! What do I do?

Korean universities respond best to phone calls, preferably in Korean. Have students and parents both email and call them.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

What are other resources I could turn to?

Yein’s slides at GUCC 2024 session: Studying in South Korea.

Philosophical perceptions of university education in South Korea, sample tuition, and tips for counsellors

EduInfo.co.kr = articles for overseas Koreans.

Detailed breakdown of universities’ document requirements.
(It’s all in Korean, but thankfully we live in the age where translation is easily available)

IB’s country-specific planning resources

There are details about calculating the 3 vs 12-year track, different types of institutions in Korea.

Hyuk Sang Son’s reference documents available on the IACAC FB group page

Document to keep track of documents.

Please address any feedback, questions or corrections to the content of the FAQ to Yein (yeinoh.ed@gmail.com), current College Counsellor at Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG).

This FAQ was made in collaboration with Mr Kim (junny0101@naver.com).