With its high living standards and significant investment in providing high-quality education and health services, the combination of these makes South Korea an ideal place to study nursing and practice as well.

To become a nurse in South Korea, you have a choice of obtaining an associate degree and becoming a registered nurse at the entry level, or you can study for a bachelor’s degree and go on to postgraduate study with a particular specialization as well.

South Korea is also a great destination for nursing studies as it will allow you to practice internationally and obtain your degree without speaking Korean, as most programs are taught in English.

Here is a guide to the best nursing schools in South Korea.

Can International Students Take a Nursing Program in South Korea?

Yes, international students can study nursing in South Korea since many nursing schools in South Korea receive international applicants from all over the world. To lessen your worries even further, many nursing programs taught by Korean universities are entirely in English, which means that you don’t have to learn a foreign language during your academic program.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Is it Expensive to Study Nursing in South Korea?

It is relatively cheaper to live and study in South Korea than in other developed countries. If the student gains admission to public nursing universities, the tuition fee is KRW 2 – 5 million. While private universities would cost around 5 – 10 million per year. To help reduce academic and living expenses,  the Korean government and most universities offer a handful of scholarship options to international students.

How Long Is the Nursing Program in South Korea?

To earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you need to spend four years to obtain an undergraduate degree. If you want to pursue a master’s degree on top of that, you need to spend an additional two years, and after earning a master’s, you can aim for a doctorate by spending two more years in graduate school.

Top Nursing Schools in South Korea

1. Yonsei University – College of Nursing

Studying nursing at South Korea’s oldest and most prestigious university means joining a group of just under 40,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students on the university campus in Seoul. Yonsei University‘s College of Nursing is the best nursing school in Korea based on rankings and student satisfaction.

The nursing college is considered an innovative and cutting-edge institution, wherein the Department of Clinical Nursing Science was established in September 2004. It offers three sub-divisions: Fundamentals of Nursing, Adult Nursing, and Basic Nursing.

All departments focus equally on theory and practice, supported by an impressive medical library, laboratories, and research centers.

2. Korea University – College of Nursing

The College of Nursing at Korea University has been functioning since 1942. It aims to educate students to be first-class professional nurses, able to deal with today’s complex and diverse needs in medical care, as well as to adapt to whatever the future may bring. Their philosophy revolves around being a global institution, disseminating knowledge based on nursing research, and nurturing professionals for the health care system.

The undergraduate program at this top nursing school in Korea lasts four years and culminates with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. It is highly focused on academic excellence, holistic care approaches, and a global mindset. It is a prerequisite of admissions to prove adequate command of the Korean language.

Korea University also offers postgraduate nursing programs – master’s or Ph.D. Moreover, there is a graduate program in Nursing Education.

3. Seoul National University – College of Nursing

The next best nursing school in Korea is Seoul National University‘s College of Nursing, which has been around since 1946 and welcomes around 30,000 students across its three campuses. The College of Nursing is based on the original campus in Jongno-gu, alongside the College of Medicine and the College of Dentistry.

SNU has a vision of global convergence for talent in all areas of expertise, along with an aim to build knowledge-based social values and an innovative knowledge ecosystem.

Their nursing department aims to develop world-class nursing leaders and combine knowledge with practical skills, and foster a sustainable and progressive attitude to health care. It is considered the core of the university as a whole.

4. Catholic University of Korea – College of Nursing

Based in Seoul, the Catholic University of Korea is a private institution established in 1855. Its medical school is one of the most respected in the country, running eight affiliated hospitals around South Korea.

The College of Nursing was ranked as Korea’s best university in 1997 and has since continued to provide excellent levels of education for future nurses of the country and beyond. It is also home to a Graduate School of Clinical Nursing Science, focused on hospice and home care, as well as infection control and oncology advanced practice.

The College functions under the Catholic spirit of truth, love, and service, adopting the philosophy of Florence Nightingale. It has various educational goals aligned to these values, including fostering life-respecting nurses, nurses of professional competence, and of global insight.

The Catholic University of Korea also houses the JONAS Center for Integrated Nursing Skills, where students can practice their practical skills. Finally, the START Center offers students the opportunity to practice intricate simulations for their future nursing careers.

5. Dankook University – College of Nursing

This private university has campuses in Yongin and Cheonan and was established in 1947. This top nursing school in Korea has its university hospital, where trained doctors and nurses can practice and hone their skills before being fully confirmed in their professional fields.

Alongside the undergraduate department of nursing, teaching courses towards the Bachelor of Nursing, Dankook University’s Department of Clinical Nursing offers a specialization in geriatric nursing at the postgraduate level.

To be considered for admission to Dankook University, students have to have a minimum level of Korean language proficiency.

6. Hanyang University – College of Nursing

Being one of the top-tier research schools in South Korea, Hanyang University is a private institution that is located in the heart of Seoul. Even though HYU is highly ranked for its engineering and architectural programs, it has consistently ranked among the leading nursing schools in South Korea.

The nursing programs at Hanyang University focus on the core ideas of a liberal arts education, which puts its emphasis on problem-solving skills along with the ability to think critically in any given situation. All the courses are comprised of lectures and clinical arts practices that will transform each student into a fully-fledged graduate.

7. Ewha Womans University –  College of Nursing

Established in 1886 by the ancient Korean dynasty, Ewha Womans University was originally a private women’s university that is situated in Seoul, South Korea. Nowadays, this institution accepts applications from males as well, so if you are an international student who is a man, you can still apply for the College of Nursing at Ewha Womans University.

Being the first university that was founded in the Korean Peninsula, this college has even established prestigious nursing schools that are open to international applicants, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity!

 

We hope that this article on nursing schools in South Korea was helpful! If you want to read more articles about studying in South Korea then do check out Programs Available for International Students and Study in Korea pages!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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