TOPIK Score Requirements for Korean University Admission and Scholarships
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Study Abroad, Scholarships & Funding, Study in Southeast Asia
TOPIK is Korea's official Korean proficiency test, scored on levels 1 to 6. Most Korean-taught bachelor's programs ask for level 3 or 4, and Global Korea Scholarship recipients need level 3 to move from language training into their degree, with level 5 or 6 skipping the language year entirely.
🎓 TOPIK has two tracks: TOPIK I (levels 1-2) and TOPIK II (levels 3-6)
📩 Most Korean-medium bachelor's admissions ask for TOPIK level 3-4
💵 GKS scholars need TOPIK level 3 minimum to enter their degree program
⏱️ TOPIK level 5 or 6 within your first 6 months of GKS language training lets you start your degree early
🏠 English-medium programs often waive TOPIK and ask for IELTS or TOEFL instead
What TOPIK measures and how it is scored
The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is South Korea's official Korean language exam, run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) through topik.go.kr . It has two tracks. TOPIK I covers levels 1 and 2 for beginners, testing listening and reading only. TOPIK II covers levels 3 to 6 for intermediate through advanced learners and adds a writing section, where you compose short answers and structured essays in Korean.
| Level | General ability |
|---|---|
| 1 | Basic greetings and simple daily expressions |
| 2 | Everyday conversation and simple errands |
| 3 | Routine tasks at work, school, or in public |
| 4 | General topics, news, and structured writing |
| 5 | Professional and academic tasks with some specialized vocabulary |
| 6 | Near-native fluency across professional and academic contexts |
Universities and scholarship programs almost always ask for a TOPIK II result once you reach degree-level study. Test dates run several times a year at centers inside Korea, though overseas centers, including several across ASEAN countries, offer fewer sittings, so plan your test date around your application deadlines.
TOPIK levels for university admission
Requirements differ by university and by whether the program teaches in Korean or English. For Korean-medium bachelor's programs, most universities ask for TOPIK level 3 or 4 at minimum, and more selective universities, especially in Seoul, often set level 4 as the floor for direct admission. Graduate programs taught in Korean commonly expect level 4 or higher, since coursework, seminars, and thesis writing all demand stronger reading and writing ability than undergraduate classes.
If your program teaches in English, many universities waive the TOPIK requirement entirely and ask for IELTS or TOEFL instead. Requirements are not standardized across Korea, so check each university's international admissions page directly rather than assuming a single national rule.
TOPIK requirements for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
The Study in Korea portal and NIIED's GKS application guidelines set out a language pathway for most scholars. GKS undergraduate and graduate scholars who do not already hold a high TOPIK score typically complete a 1-year Korean language program before starting their degree. To move from that language year into the degree phase, GKS scholars need to reach TOPIK level 3.
Scholars who already hold TOPIK level 5 or 6 when they apply skip the 1-year language program entirely and start their degree directly. Scholars who reach level 5 or 6 within the first 6 months of the language program skip the remaining 6 months and start their degree early. Holding TOPIK level 3 or above at the application stage also earns extra points in GKS selection, since language ability is one of the scored criteria alongside academic record and study plan.
Where TOPIK requirements may loosen
As part of the Study Korea 300K project the Ministry of Education announced in August 2023, officials discussed lowering the standard TOPIK requirement for some programs from level 4 to level 3, aiming to widen access for international applicants. Universities pushed back over concerns about classroom readiness, so this change has not applied uniformly across schools. Confirm the current requirement directly with your target university rather than assuming a lower bar. ICEF Monitor covers the policy discussion in more detail.
TOPIK vs EPS-TOPIK: don't confuse the two
TOPIK, the academic test covered here, is different from EPS-TOPIK, a separate test tied to Korea's Employment Permit System for migrant workers. EPS-TOPIK scores do not count toward university admission or GKS scholarship requirements, even though both tests share "TOPIK" in the name. If you are applying to study in Korea, register for the standard TOPIK exam through topik.go.kr, not the EPS-TOPIK track.
Where to build your Korean before testing
Many ASEAN applicants prepare through a Sejong Institute branch in their home country, a university-run Korean language institute inside Korea on a D-4 visa, or self-study using textbooks and TOPIK past papers. A university language institute track doubles as preparation for direct admission later, since many D-4 language programs report your progress in a way Korean universities recognize during D-2 admission review.
Score validity and reporting
TOPIK certificates stay valid for 2 years from your test date for most application purposes, so time your attempt inside your application window rather than relying on an older score. You download your official certificate through topik.go.kr after results release, and most universities and GKS accept this digital certificate alongside a printed copy for your application file.
How to prepare
Register for TOPIK through topik.go.kr or your nearest overseas test center
Start with TOPIK I only if you are a true beginner. Sit TOPIK II directly once you have intermediate Korean
Results release about a month after the test date, so time your application around that gap
Aim for your target level with a buffer, since scholarships and universities score exact level thresholds without rounding up a near miss