Excellent accredited university · Seoul Seongbuk-gu
5,422 international students at Korea University
As of 31 December 2025 · Korea Immigration Service study-abroad student records (data.go.kr)
Korea University hosts 5,422 international students as of 31 December 2025, which is 1.87% of the 290,511 international students in Korea. It ranks 2 of the 339 universities covered. The three largest groups are China 2,941 (54.2%), Mongolia 340 (6.3%), Other 230 (4.2%).
By nationality
International students by nationality (top 10)
By residence status
Residence status
- Bachelor's programme2,963 students · 54.6%
- University-affiliated Korean language training880 students · 16.2%
- Master's programme713 students · 13.2%
- Exchange student570 students · 10.5%
- Doctoral programme279 students · 5.1%
- Designated academic researcher17 students · 0.3%
Accreditation tier and visa application route
The maximum range permitted by the Ministry of Justice framework is a Korean-mission application, a domestic Certificate of Visa Eligibility and an e-visa. This does not mean the university operates every route; where several routes are permitted, a mission application is the principle. Confirm the route actually operated by the university.
The maximum permitted range is a Korean-mission application or a domestic Certificate of Visa Eligibility; D-4-1 is not eligible for the e-visa route. This does not mean the university operates both routes; where several routes are permitted, a mission application is the principle. Confirm the route actually operated by the university.
Korean Ministry of Education press release 2026-02-13 (Attachment 4) · 2025 assessment · effective 2026-03 to 2030-02 · subject to annual monitoring. Degree programmes and language courses are accredited separately, so one school can sit at different tiers.
By gender
Men 1,797 (33.1%) · Women 3,625 (66.9%)
Source and definitions
- Source data
- Korea Immigration Service, study-abroad student records (data.go.kr namespace 3069982)
- As of
- 31 December 2025
- Update cycle
- Twice a year (January and July)
- Scope
- Bachelor's, master's, doctoral, associate, exchange, Korean language (D-4), foreign language training, and designated researchers at academic institutes — every student status
- Licence
- KOGL Type 1 (attribution required) — quotation and reuse permitted
- View the source
- data.go.kr →
Frequently asked questions
How many international students are there at Korea University?
5,422 international students were enrolled at Korea University as of 31 December 2025. Source: Korea Immigration Service study-abroad student records (data.go.kr).
Where do Korea University's international students come from?
The three largest groups are China 2,941 (54.2%), Mongolia 340 (6.3%), Other 230 (4.2%).
How does Korea University split between degree, language and exchange students?
By residence status: Bachelor's programme 2,963, University-affiliated Korean language training 880, Master's programme 713, Exchange student 570.
Where does Korea University rank nationally for international students?
It ranks 2 of the 339 universities covered, holding 1.87% of the 290,511 international students in Korea.
Where does this data come from?
The Korea Immigration Service's study-abroad student records (data.go.kr namespace 3069982). Updated twice a year, in January and July, covering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, associate, exchange, Korean language, foreign language training and designated academic researchers.
Korea University official website →
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