Choose to study in South Korea or study in China?

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China and South Korea are two adjacent Asian countries. For many foreigners, when they want to study in an Asian country, they will choose between China and South Korea. You will definitely want to know which country is better to study abroad in. Then I will give an introduction to these two countries, I believe you will have the answer about choose to study in South Korea or study in China in your mind after reading.

Basic information

About China:

For a detailed introduction to China, you can click on our website “why China“.

About South Korea:

Republic of Korea (Korean: 대한민국; English: Republic of Korea, South Korea), referred to as “Korea”. South Korea is located in the south of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, with a total area of approximately 103,290 square kilometers (accounting for 45% of the area of the Korean Peninsula). It speaks Korean and has a total population of approximately 52 million. The capital is Seoul.

South Korea is surrounded by sea on three sides, the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait to the southeast, the Sea of Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north across the 38th parallel demilitarized zone.

South Korea is a developed capitalist country, a founding member of APEC, the World Trade Organization and the East Asia Summit, and a member of important international organizations such as the OECD, the G20 and the United Nations. After the Asian financial crisis in 1997, South Korea’s economy entered a period of moderate growth. The industry is dominated by manufacturing and service industries. The output of semiconductors, electronics, automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, chemicals, machinery, textiles, and cosmetics has all entered the top 10 in the world. South Korea’s IT industry has been a leader in the industry for many years. The manufacturing and technology industries are well-developed. In addition to high-speed Internet services, which are world-renowned, flat-panel display devices such as memory, liquid crystal displays and plasma displays, and mobile phones are leading the world status. Large conglomerates occupy a very important position in the Korean economy. Major conglomerates include Samsung, Hyundai Group, SK Group, LG, Pohang Steel, Hanwha Group, etc.

I will analyze the differences between studying in China and studying in Korea from several aspects:

Application conditions for studying abroad

South Korea

1. Educational requirements

To apply for an undergraduate study in South Korea, in terms of academic requirements, applicants must have a high school or equivalent, including vocational high school and technical secondary school graduation, and have completed 12 years of education in China. In South Korea, most prestigious schools in Seoul require students to provide high school diplomas, but local universities have relatively looser requirements for academic qualifications.

2. Language ability

In fact, applying to study in South Korea is the same as other English-speaking countries. Applicants must first meet certain language requirements. The applicant’s language proficiency level and application requirements shall be subject to the requirements of the official website of the applicant institution. For those students who do not have a foundation in Korean, they can choose to study Korean for a period of time in the country, or they can choose to study Korean in a Korean language school. After the language reaches the standard, they can formally enter the main course of study.

3. Economic conditions

With an annual family income of more than 120,000 yuan, you can basically choose all universities in South Korea; if you have an annual income of more than 80,000 yuan, you can choose around Seoul or prestigious schools established in local campuses, regional national universities, etc. These are all good choices. For families with an annual income of 50,000 yuan, you can choose a local national university.

China

1. Undergraduate:

With a degree equivalent to that of a senior high school in China, under the age of 25, you can enter a university for undergraduate study. The length of study is 4-6 years.

2. Postgraduate students:

Those who have passed the entrance examination of China’s master’s degree, or who have graduated with excellent results in China’s colleges and universities, and who have been recommended by the University for exemption from examination, and who are under 35 years old, can become master’s degree students. The length of study is 2-3 years.

3. Doctoral students:

Those under 40 years old who have been recommended by two or more associate professors and have passed the examination of relevant Chinese institutions of higher learning can become doctoral candidates. The length of study is 2-3 years.

4. Ordinary scholars:

With a university degree of more than 2 years, he has studied in China for his or her major. He is under 35 years old and can be arranged for general advanced students. The length of study is 1-2 years.

5. Senior scholars:

After graduating from a university and having obtained a degree equivalent to a master’s degree in China, or having obtained the qualification to study for a doctor’s degree, he or she will, under the guidance of a Chinese tutor, improve his or her studies on a certain topic. He or she is under the age of 45, and the length of study is generally one year.

Study abroad expenses

South Korea

1. Tuition

The tuition fee is divided into tuition fees for language schools, undergraduates, and graduate students (the main applicants). At the same time, the tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate students are different from national and private, and tuition fees are different according to different majors.

Language Institute:

8000-10000RMB/semester, generally 4 periods a year, of which Sungkyunkwan University and Yonsei University’s international campuses have 6 periods a year, and the overall tuition fee for a year is around 4w RMB.

Undergraduate

The undergraduate degree in South Korea is the same as that in China. It is two semesters a year, and one semester is about RMB 15,000-20,000. During the undergraduate period, scholarships are awarded based on the students’ academic performance, mainly in the form of tuition waivers. Generally, a 30% to 100% tuition waiver is applied for as a scholarship.

National:

20,000 – 30,000 RMB/year (humanities major)

30,000 – 40,000 RMB/year (science and engineering major)

Private:

3-5wRMB/year (humanities major)

5-7wRMB/year (science and engineering major)

Master

Graduate students in South Korea have a two-year system, with two semesters a year. The cost of graduate students is relatively higher. The tuition fee for one semester is around RMB 20,000-25,000. The difference is that the scholarships for graduate students will be relatively high. Generally, you can apply for a 50%-100% tuition waiver as a scholarship. Some schools even provide free dormitories as part of the scholarship.

National:

2-3wRMB/year (humanities major)

3-5wRMB/year (science and engineering major)

Private:

5-6wRMB/year (humanities major)

7-8wRMB/year (science and engineering major)

2. Living expenses

(1) Cost of clothing

Clothes, shoes and other daily necessities, the design and workmanship of Korean clothes are world-famous. Myeongdong and Dongdaemun are good places for shopping. And even non-brand clothes are meticulous in workmanship, coupled with the price advantage, they are students’ favorites. The price of big-brand cosmetics will be lower, especially the local Korean brands will be cheaper, which is why many people go to South Korea to buy on behalf of others.

(2) Food and beverage expenses

Food in South Korea is indeed more expensive than in China. South Korea has a small land area and has less land that can be cultivated. Therefore, the fruit will be more expensive. It will not be bought box by box like in China and will be sold individually.

(3) Accommodation fees

There are two options for living, living in a school dormitory or renting a house by yourself. The price difference between the two is not big, and it may be cheaper to rent a house by yourself. When renting a house, you will be asked to pay some security deposit, but the money will be returned to you when you check out. There will be many examination institutes and single rooms near the school. The prices vary. You can choose a house according to your financial situation.

(4) Transportation expenses

You can buy a bus card at every convenience store, and you can recharge it. You can take buses, subways, taxis, and charge by mileage.

3. Scholarship

Korean scholarships are mainly divided into three categories: Korean Foundation Scholarships, Korean Government Scholarships and Intramural Scholarships. The government scholarship awards outstanding international students with free tuition and accommodation fees every year. All universities in South Korea have internal scholarship systems, generally for those with excellent academic performance. The scholarship system for international students in many Korean universities is even more advantageous than that for domestic students. Generally speaking, it is 30%-50% of the tuition. Those with excellent academic performance can enjoy university scholarships. The amount depends on academic performance.

China

1. Tuition

The cost of each school is different. In China, public schools charge much lower than private schools. The general undergraduate majors run by the public are generally 10,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan per academic year, and the public college majors are 20,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan. The tuition fees of independent colleges and private universities are around 50,000 yuan, and the tuition fees of Sino-foreign cooperative education programs range from tens of thousands of yuan each year.

2.Accommodation fee

There are two options for living, living in a school dormitory or renting a house by yourself. The accommodation fee for public schools ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 yuan per year, while the accommodation fees for private schools are not much different. The environment in the dormitory for foreign students in Chinese schools is relatively good, with few people and complete facilities. The price of renting a house outside will be relatively high, especially in first-tier cities. If one person rents it, it may cost several thousand a month.

3.Living expenses

The cost of living is mainly determined by the price of the area where the school is located and the student’s own economic conditions. In first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, prices are naturally high. In other areas with low economic development, prices are relatively low. In addition, school cafeterias are cheaper because colleges and universities have government subsidies, and China’s Internet economy is very developed. You can buy everything you need online, and the price will be more affordable. China has vast land and abundant resources, and there are various kinds of fruits, and the price of fruits is much cheaper than in South Korea. In summary, the cost of living is about 800 to 1500 RMB per month.

4.Transportation expenses

You can scan the code on your mobile phone to take the bus. The subway, the bus generally costs one to two yuan a time, and the subway fare is higher three to five yuan for a short distance, and five to ten yuan for a longer time, and usually there is a discount. There will be the highest fare in China, and the highest fare is reached, no matter how long you sit, it is the same price.

5.Scholarship

There are many types of scholarships in China. National scholarships include national scholarships, government scholarships, Confucius Institute scholarships and school scholarships, among which are divided into full scholarships and partial scholarships. In China, full scholarships cover tuition, accommodation and living expenses. Doctoral advanced scholars can get up to about 100,000 yuan a year, and ordinary undergraduates can get about 60,000 yuan a year. The part of the scholarship is not so much, ranging from 2000 to 20000.

Traffic

First of all, South Korea’s transportation card is universal throughout the country, and can be used by subways, buses, and taxis, and it can also be used in convenience stores. In South Korea, you don’t need to check-in by train. Both manual and machine checks are not available. You can just enter the station and get on the train directly after you buy the ticket. But after boarding the bus, the flight attendant will randomly check the ticket. If it is found to be evasive, it will be fined ten times. Also, the ID card is not required to purchase train tickets.

In China, real-name verification is required. The purchase of train tickets and air tickets requires ID verification, and the ticket must be checked manually or by machine before boarding the train. China’s territory is very large, so it is very convenient to travel by plane, high-speed rail, and high-speed train. In China, different cities have different modes of transportation. In large cities, buses, subways, and taxis are all very convenient. In small cities, the subway may not be so convenient, and more often use buses. However, China’s electronic technology is developing very rapidly. You only need to carry a mobile phone when you go out. It is very convenient to take the bus, subway, WeChat or Alipay applet.

Diet

In terms of diet, everyone probably knows that Koreans love kimchi very much. There is even a song whose lyrics are that you can’t live without kimchi, you really can’t live. In fact, Koreans still love coffee very much. They get up in the morning for a cup, after class, a cup for lunch, and a cup for afternoon tea. Anyway, Koreans will drink a cup of coffee as long as they are free. Therefore, there are many coffee shops in the streets and alleys of Korea, and this also affects many international students who go to Korea and become coffee drinkers. Koreans are still used to drinking ice water. Whether it is winter or summer, the water provided in the restaurant is iced. Yes, the water dispenser is also directly cooled.

Speaking of Chinese food, it is really endless for three days and three nights. China’s food culture is extensive and profound and has a long history. Chinese people like to eat very much, so they are willing to study a variety of cuisines. What to eat in each season, and what to eat at every meal every day. Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Fujian cuisine, Hunan cuisine, and Anhui cuisine are known as the “eight major cuisines.” There are 14 main cooking methods, namely: simmering, braising, braising, boiling, steaming, deep-fried crispy, braised, braised, stewed, sautéed, stir-fried, casserole, and wire drawing. Chinese cuisine is very particular about knife skills and heat. Different places have different specialties, such as Beijing roast duck, Tianjin Goubuli steamed buns, Changsha stinky tofu, etc. If you are interested, you can click xxx. There are also traditional snacks on holidays, such as zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival, Qingming Festival, etc. Unlike the Koreans, the Chinese pay more attention to health preservation and are used to drinking hot water, especially when the body is unwell, drinking more hot water will be better.

The above is all about studying in Korea and China. I believe you have a general understanding of studying in these two countries. If you think this article is helpful to you, please share it on your social media.

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