Question 1

Which country has the best universities, Korea or Japan?

Accepted Answer

On the QS World University Rankings 2027, Seoul National University sits at 38 and the University of Tokyo at 39 — effectively level. Korea then has Yonsei at 42, Korea University at 52 and KAIST at 65, giving Seoul four institutions inside the global top 100. But rankings and reputation are different things: a University of Tokyo degree still carries more recognition with Western employers than its rank alone suggests, and that gap matters if you plan to take the degree home.

Question 2

Is it cheaper to study in Korea or Japan?

Accepted Answer

Japan, at national universities. Japanese national universities charge a standard ¥535,800 per year, about USD 3,600. Korean national universities charge roughly ₩2–5 million per semester, which annualises to about USD 3,000–7,400 — so Korea is competitive at the bottom of its range and more expensive at the top. Private universities in both countries cost more. Living costs are a separate question, and there Seoul's rent index is actually lower than Tokyo's.

Question 3

How many hours can international students work in Korea versus Japan?

Accepted Answer

Korea ties it to language ability. On a D-2 visa, undergraduates may work 10 hours a week without meeting the Korean-proficiency requirement, or 25 hours with it — TOPIK level 3 in years one and two, level 4 in years three and four. Graduate students go from 15 to 30 hours with TOPIK 4, and hour caps lift entirely during official semester breaks. Japan sets a flat 28 hours a week during term across all jobs combined, with up to 8 hours a day during designated vacations, regardless of Japanese ability.

Question 4

How long can you stay after graduating to look for a job?

Accepted Answer

Korea's D-10 job-seeker visa is granted for one year and can be extended to a maximum of two with evidence of continued job-seeking. Japan's Designated Activities job-hunting status typically runs six months and extends to a maximum of one year. Korea's route is also more accessible at the start: general D-10 applicants need 60 of 190 points, but recent graduates of Korean universities changing status for the first time are usually exempt from the points test for their first year.

Question 5

Which country has more international students?

Accepted Answer

Japan, and by a clear margin — 435,200 as of 2026, up 8.2% year on year, against Korea's 314,397. Korea reached its government 'Study Korea 300K' target two years early, so the direction of travel is fast, but Japan remains the larger destination and has a longer-established international student infrastructure.

Question 6

Can you get a degree taught entirely in English?

Accepted Answer

In Singapore, yes by default — English is the medium of instruction. Japan built its English-medium provision deliberately through policy: the Global 30 programme funded 13 universities from 2009 and the Top Global University Project extended it to 37, taking English-taught programmes from roughly 33 to over 150. Korea offers substantial English-taught provision at its major Seoul universities. In every case outside Singapore, verify programme by programme rather than trusting a university-level claim.

Question 7

What scholarships are available?

Accepted Answer

Korea's flagship is the Global Korea Scholarship. For 2026 it offers 280 undergraduate places across 71 countries plus a planned 2,000 graduate places, roughly 2,280 in total, and it is generously funded — covering tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare and a Korean language year. Japan's equivalent is the MEXT scholarship, though MEXT undergraduate awards normally require study in Japanese, which is a meaningful constraint if you do not already have the language.

Question 8

Will the degree be recognised back home?

Accepted Answer

All four countries award degrees recognised by Western employers and graduate schools, but brand recognition varies more than quality does. Singapore's NUS and NTU, at 10th and 12th globally, are the most immediately legible on a CV anywhere in the world. The University of Tokyo carries strong name recognition in the West. Korean universities are less familiar to non-specialist recruiters outside Asia despite comparable rankings, which is a real consideration if you intend to leave after graduating.

Question 9

Where should I live as a student in Seoul?

Accepted Answer

University dormitories are the cheapest option but are usually limited to first-year or exchange students and often close between semesters. Beyond that, most international students choose between a one-room studio, a goshiwon, or a share house. Share houses tend to suit students arriving without a guarantor or a Korean bank account, since a standard Korean lease requires a large lump-sum deposit that most students cannot produce.

大学	国家/地区	QS 世界 2027	上一期
新加坡国立大学	新加坡	10	8
南洋理工大学	新加坡	12	12
首尔大学	韩国	38	38
东京大学	日本	39	—
延世大学	韩国	42	50
高丽大学	韩国	52	61
台湾大学	台湾	54	63
韩国科学技术院 KAIST	韩国	65	53

	国立/公立	私立	备注
日本	约 ¥535,800/年（约 3,600 美元）	¥800,000–1,500,000/年	国立统一价
韩国	₩2,000,000–5,000,000/学期（约 3,000–7,400 美元/年）	₩4,000,000–8,000,000/学期	按学校和专业浮动
台湾	约 NT$50,000–70,000/学期	更高	四地里最便宜
新加坡	S$36,350–45,600/年	—	申请 MOE 助学金后约 S$21,400，附带 3 年工作义务

	学期内打工	假期打工	毕业后求职
韩国	本科 10 小时/周，TOPIK 3–4 级可到 25 小时；研究生 15 或 30 小时	不限时	D-10，最长 2 年
日本	28 小时/周（所有工作合计）	每天最多 8 小时	特定活动签证，最长 1 年

国家	国际学生人数	趋势
日本	435,200	同比增长 8.2%
韩国	314,397	提前两年完成"Study Korea 300K"政府目标

韩国、日本、台湾、新加坡，到底去哪留学？排名、学费、打工政策一次说清楚

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常见问题

韩国、日本、台湾、新加坡，到底去哪留学？排名、学费、打工政策一次说清楚

各大学的真实排名

学费到底多少钱？

在读期间能打多少工？毕业后能留多久？

哪个国家接收的国际学生最多？

奖学金呢？

那你到底该去哪？

大家在这个决定上最常踩的坑

到了首尔，留学生到底住哪儿？

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常见问题