Studying at a Korean university language programme: terms, levels, D-4 visa and dorms

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A university language programme, called an eohakdang (어학당), is the classic way to study Korean full-time in Korea. You spend mornings or afternoons in small classes, live near a campus, and use Korean all day. This guide explains how the programmes work and how to apply.

How the programmes work

Most run four regular terms a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each term lasts about ten weeks.
Classes run on weekdays, typically four hours a day, morning or afternoon.
There are usually six levels, from absolute beginner to advanced, roughly lining up with TOPIK levels 1 to 6. You take a placement test on arrival unless you start from zero.
Each level takes one term. Pass the end-of-term exams and attendance requirement, and you move up.
Classes are taught in Korean from day one, even at level 1. It feels strange for a week and then works.
Many schools add cultural trips, optional afternoon classes and TOPIK preparation.

Some schools also run short summer or winter programmes of three or four weeks, which suit students on a university break.

Choosing a school

The best-known programmes are in Seoul: Seoul National University, Yonsei, Korea University, Sogang, Ewha, Sungkyunkwan, Kyung Hee and Hanyang among them. Each has a reputation:

Yonsei and SNU: thorough grammar and a lot of homework.
Sogang: known for a speaking-first method.
Korea University and Kyung Hee: balanced, with large international communities.

Do not choose on reputation alone. Consider:

Class size and nationality mix. If a class is mostly one nationality, the break-time language may not be Korean.
Location. Universities outside Seoul, in Busan, Daegu, Daejeon or Jeonju, are often cheaper, with lower rents and fewer English speakers around you.
Morning or afternoon classes, and whether you can choose.
Textbooks. Look at sample pages; they will be your life for months.

The D-4 visa

For a full-length course you normally need a D-4 (general trainee) visa, the D-4-1 for language study.

Apply to the school, usually two to three months before the term starts.
Submit the usual documents: application form, passport copy, photo, your highest education certificate, and proof of funds in the form of a bank balance certificate.
Pay tuition. The school then issues a certificate of admission.
Apply for the visa at a Korean embassy or consulate with that certificate.
After arrival, register for your residence card with Immigration within 90 days.

Requirements differ by country and school, so follow your school's checklist exactly. Part-time work on a D-4 is restricted: it generally needs permission from Immigration and is not allowed straight away. Do not plan to fund your studies with a job. Our guide to Korean visa types explains how the D-4 fits next to the D-2 for degree students. If you only want one term, some people study on a short-term visa or visa-free entry instead; check whether your school accepts this and how long you are allowed to stay.

Costs, in general terms

Expect to budget for:

an application fee and tuition per term
accommodation, either dorm or private
national health insurance, which long-staying students are enrolled in
textbooks, phone and transport

Tuition varies between schools, and rents vary even more by city. Schools publish current fees on their admissions pages.

Where to live

University dorms are convenient and simple, but places for language students are limited and usually go first-come, first-served. Apply for a room when you apply for the course.
Goshiwon (고시원) are tiny furnished rooms with short contracts, cheap and private but very small.
Share houses suit people who want company and a kitchen.
A one-room flat needs a deposit and usually a longer contract; see our renting guide before signing anything.

Getting the most out of it

Do the homework every day; levels move fast.
Speak Korean outside class: cafés, markets, language exchanges.
Sit TOPIK at the end if you plan to study or work in Korea later.

Did you study at an eohakdang, or are you choosing one now? Share your school and your questions in the comments.