IEQAS-Accredited Universities and Universities Under Intensive Visa Screening: 2026 Applicants Must Check by Program
International applicants first distinguish D-2 degree programs from D-4-1 Korean-language training, then check the official IEQAS category, visa-screening implications and period, and finalize documents through university admissions guidelines and instructions from the competent Korean mission.
Key Points
- IEQAS provides information based on the results of government reviews of international-student recruitment and management capacity and the level of internationalization, showing **visa-screening methods and administrative checks by program of application**.
- International applicants should first distinguish a D-2 degree program from D-4-1 Korean-language training at a university-affiliated institute, then check the official category, visa-screening implications, and applicable period for that program, and finally determine the required documents from the university’s admissions guidelines and instructions from the competent Republic of Korea diplomatic mission.
IEQAS provides information based on the results of government reviews of international-student recruitment and management capacity and the level of internationalization, showing visa-screening methods and administrative checks by program of application. International applicants should first distinguish a D-2 degree program from D-4-1 Korean-language training at a university-affiliated institute, then check the official category, visa-screening implications, and applicable period for that program, and finally determine the required documents from the university’s admissions guidelines and instructions from the competent Republic of Korea diplomatic mission.
School selection requires two sets of information. In IEQAS, check the accreditation or intensive-screening status and visa-screening method for each program; in official university materials, compare the major, tuition, scholarships, language of instruction, dormitory, region, and employment support.
Prepare your application in four steps
| Step | What to check | Completion criterion |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify the program | Decide whether the program is a D-2 degree program or D-4-1 Korean-language training at a university-affiliated institute. | Use the same program category when reading all subsequent lists and guidance. |
| 2. Check official status | Find the latest status by university name and program in the Study in Korea system. | Confirm the D-2 or D-4-1 status together with the university name. |
| 3. Check category and period | Use the table below to check the visa-screening implications of each official category and the accreditation or restriction period. | Use that information to prepare screening documents and plan the application schedule. |
| 4. Finalize submission requirements | Check the university’s latest admissions guidelines and instructions from the competent Republic of Korea diplomatic mission for documents that apply to your nationality and program. | Finalize the actual documents to submit and the application procedure. |
For D-2 degree programs, check what the five categories mean for visa screening
The university counts and relationship to visa screening below come from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice’s 2025 review results and apply to degree programs.
| Category | Number of universities | Relationship to visa screening |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent Accredited Universities | 39 universities | Screening uses only the standard Certificate of Admission. |
| Accredited Universities | 181 universities | Screening centers on the standard Certificate of Admission. However, students from countries designated by the Minister of Justice and countries under priority management submit documents proving financial ability. |
| Non-accredited General Universities | 134 universities | Screening examines the university’s management capacity and the student’s academic requirements and financial ability, among other factors. |
| Consulting Universities | 13 universities | Intensive screening examines academic background and financial ability together with the possibility of illegal employment through interviews or fact-finding, among other measures. |
| Universities Under Intensive Visa Screening | 16 universities | The effect stated in the official announcement is that visa issuance is prohibited in principle; this is distinct from a legal prohibition on submitting an application itself. |
The five categories represent different visa-screening methods. The Excellent Accredited University and Accredited University categories identify the screening route, while an applicant’s academic background, finances, document authenticity, and purpose of stay are examined in the individual review.
Check Non-accredited General Universities and Consulting Universities within the published scope
The names of the 134 Non-accredited General Universities and 13 Consulting Universities were not disclosed. Do not infer that a university whose name is absent from the publicly released lists belongs to one of these two categories; check the university’s latest admissions guidelines and official notices for the actual visa and document procedures.
Check D-4-1 Korean-language training on a separate program track
Results for university-affiliated Korean-language training are separate from the degree-program table.
| Korean-language training category | Number of universities | What applicants should check |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Universities | 123 universities | Confirm the current D-4-1 accreditation status together with the university name. |
| Universities Under Intensive Visa Screening | 4 universities | Distinguish this from intensive visa screening for degree programs and confirm whether the D-4-1 program is covered. |
At the same university, the status of a D-2 degree program and a D-4-1 Korean-language training program may differ. In the Study in Korea search results, confirm not only the university name but also the program type before applying the meaning of the relevant table.
After checking IEQAS, compare major, costs, and living conditions
After checking program-specific visa screening and administrative information through IEQAS, compare the following factors needed for university selection in official university materials.
| Comparison area | What to check by university |
|---|---|
| Major | Academic level of the major and personal fit |
| Costs and scholarships | Tuition, scholarships |
| Classes and housing | Language of instruction, dormitory conditions |
| Location and career | Life in the region, employment support, and the individual’s employment prospects after graduation |
Treat Excellent Accredited status as information about visa screening and international-student management, while assessing major fit, costs, and living conditions using the comparison table above. Admission results and individual visa results are determined respectively through the university admissions process and the individual screening process, which examines academic background, finances, document authenticity, and purpose of stay.
Check the accreditation period and restriction period separately
| Category | Period | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation period | March 2026 through February 2030, 4 years | Annual monitoring results are reflected, and accreditation may be revoked if the standards are not met, so confirm the current status at the time of application. |
| 2025 restriction for Universities Under Intensive Visa Screening | For 1 year starting in the second semester of 2026 | This is the actual visa-issuance restriction period stated in this announcement. |
| Possible sanction range | Up to 3 years | This is the maximum range that may apply to universities with deficient international-student recruitment or management and should be distinguished from the 1-year restriction in this announcement. |
This article reflects information verified as of September 1, 2026. Because annual monitoring results or subsequent announcements may be incorporated later, use the official status and admissions guidelines current at the time of application.
Official verification channels
- Announcement of Results for International Education Quality Assurance Accreditation and the Survey of International-Student Recruitment and Management｜Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice
- Accredited University Lookup｜Study in Korea
The official list attached to the Ministry of Education press release is the basis for checking the categories and their applicable meaning at the time of announcement, while the Study in Korea system is the official channel for finding the latest program-specific status at the time of application. After checking both, finalize the documents that apply to your nationality and program using the university’s latest admissions guidelines and instructions from the competent Republic of Korea diplomatic mission.
※ Sources are credited in accordance with the Korea Open Government License 출처표시 condition shown on the Ministry of Education post.
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