English-Taught Degree Programs at Korean Universities for Canadians

Why English-taught options exist in Korea

Korean universities compete for international students the same way schools elsewhere do, and English-taught programs form part of that push. A number of the country's top research universities run either a fully English college or specific English-taught majors, so you start and finish a degree in Korea without first reaching an advanced TOPIK level.

Korean does not disappear from your daily life because your major runs in English. Campus administration, part-time jobs, and life outside class still run mostly in Korean, so most English-taught programs recommend or require some Korean coursework alongside your major.

KAIST

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) teaches nearly all of its undergraduate and graduate coursework in English, across science, engineering, and business. It stands out among major Korean universities as a school where English is the default language of instruction campus-wide, not a separate track layered on top of a Korean-taught program.

POSTECH

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) runs a similar model to KAIST: a research-focused STEM university with English as the primary language of instruction across most programs. Class sizes stay small and the school leans heavily toward graduate research, so it suits students set on a science or engineering track more than a broad undergraduate experience.

Yonsei University: Underwood International College

Yonsei runs Underwood International College (UIC) as a fully English liberal arts college inside the wider university, covering fields from international studies to life science and engineering. UIC operates its own admissions track, separate from Yonsei's main Korean-taught colleges, so apply to UIC directly rather than to Yonsei generally if this is your target.

Korea University

Korea University offers English-taught majors within several of its colleges, including its business school, and runs an international studies track aimed at students who want a Korea-based degree without a Korean-language admission requirement. Check each department's page directly, since Korea University mixes English-taught and Korean-taught sections within the same college.

Seoul National University (SNU)

Seoul National University, Korea's top-ranked national university, offers a growing number of English-taught courses and some fully English-taught graduate programs, particularly in fields with strong international research links like business and international studies. Undergraduate admission at SNU still leans more heavily on Korean-taught tracks than schools like KAIST or Yonsei's UIC, so confirm exactly which of your target majors run in English before you apply.

Sungkyunkwan University and Ewha Womans University

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) runs English-taught majors and international programs alongside its main Korean-taught degrees, often concentrated in business and select engineering fields. Ewha Womans University runs Scranton College as its English-medium liberal arts program, open to international students who want an interdisciplinary degree taught in English at a university otherwise known for its Korean-taught programs. Apply to Scranton College as its own track rather than assuming general Ewha admission covers it.

Hanyang University and Sogang University

Hanyang University and Sogang University both run English-taught majors or international programs alongside their main Korean-taught degrees, with coverage concentrated in business, international studies, and select engineering fields. Depth of English instruction differs by department at both schools, so treat a university's general international reputation as a starting point, not a guarantee that your specific major runs in English.

How to check before you apply

Use the Study in Korea portal to search programs by language of instruction, then confirm on the specific department's own admissions page. A university-wide claim of English-taught programs still leaves gaps at the course level within a major. Most English-taught programs ask for a TOEFL or IELTS score in place of TOPIK, though some still want a basic Korean level for daily life and any Korean-language electives built into the curriculum.

Contact the international admissions office for each shortlisted program directly and ask for the current list of courses taught in English for the year you plan to start. Course offerings shift between semesters more than a program's general description suggests.

Scholarships tied to English-taught programs

Some Korean universities offer their own international student scholarships specifically for English-taught majors, on top of country-wide options like the Global Korea Scholarship. Check each university's international admissions office for scholarships tied to your specific college, since these often run separately from the main GKS process and carry their own application timeline.

Weighing English-taught against Korean-taught

An English-taught program removes the TOPIK barrier to admission, but it also narrows your day-to-day practice with Korean compared to a fully Korean-taught track. If building strong Korean fluency alongside your degree matters to you, look for an English-taught program that still requires Korean-language courses as part of its core curriculum, rather than one that treats Korean purely as an elective.