Namseoul University

Undergraduate: TOPIK 6 — 60%, TOPIK 5 — 50%, TOPIK 4 — 40%, TOPIK 3 — 30%. Students from countries with GNI per capita of USD 10,000 or less qualify for a 40% tuition scholarship. Continuing students are funded on GPA and year ranking — up to 100% for first in year with GPA 4.00+, 70% second, 50% third, 35% for GPA 4.00+, 30% for GPA 3.5–3.99 and 25% for GPA 3.0–3.49. Separate one-off TOPIK awards pay 500,000 KRW (level 3) up to 2,000,000 KRW (level 6). Full dormitory fee support is available at GPA 3.0 with TOPIK 3 or higher. IGS: a 25% academic merit scholarship applies every semester, requiring GPA 3.0 to maintain, alongside the Seong-Am (2,500,000 KRW), Achievement and Research Assistant scholarships.

Undergraduate applicants apply through NSU's online application form and must submit an identification photo, passport, proof of graduation, financial evidence and a handwritten identity declaration. Language requirements are TOPIK 3+ or IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 59 / NEW TEPS 202 / CEFR 5.5. IGS master's applicants submit a 13-item document pack including an apostilled bachelor's diploma and transcript, a study plan, consent forms, and a bank certificate showing at least USD 13,000. English-track applicants need IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71, NEW TEPS 327 or CEFR B2 — waived for nationals of English-speaking countries or graduates of English-medium degrees.

NSU is one of the more accessible Korean universities for international students. Undergraduate scholarships are tied to TOPIK level (30% at TOPIK 3 rising to 60% at TOPIK 6), and students from developing countries qualify for a 40% tuition scholarship. Strong performers can reach 100% through GPA-based awards. At graduate level, every IGS student receives a 25% academic merit scholarship, and most programmes require no Korean at all — an IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 is enough.

The campus is in Seonghwan-eup, Cheonan — well connected to Seoul by rail. On-campus housing is provided by the two Elim dormitory buildings, offering two- and four-person rooms. Dormitory fees are charged per semester with a separate 20,000 KRW deposit, and students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 with certified TOPIK level 3 or above can have the full dormitory fee covered.

Namseoul suits students who want an English-taught Korean degree without a TOPIK requirement, and those who benefit from the developing-country scholarship. The IGS master's programmes are a strong, affordable route — roughly 10,550,000 KRW across four semesters after the 25% merit scholarship. Note that the bank balance requirement rises between application (USD 13,000) and the e-visa stage (16,000,000 KRW, freshly issued), so plan finances early.