IEQAS-certified and visa-restricted universities in Korea
Which universities in Korea are visa-restricted?
Degree programmes (16) new students, 2026 second semester and 2027 first semester
Universities (4)
- Geumgang University 금강대학교 · Chungnam · no data submitted
- Hyupsung University 협성대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Joong-Ang Sangha University 중앙승가대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Suwon Catholic University 수원가톨릭대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
Junior colleges (3)
- Busan Arts College 부산예술대학교 · Busan · no data submitted
- Busan KyungSang College 부산경상대학교 · Busan · no data submitted
- Hanyeong University 한영대학교 · Jeonnam · not 서울한영대학교
Graduate universities (9)
- Bible Baptist Theological Seminary 성서침례대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Ezra Bible Institute for Graduate Studies 에스라성경대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Hapdong Theological Seminary 합동신학대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Healing & Counseling Graduate University 치유상담대학원대학교 · Seoul · no data submitted
- Korea Counseling Graduate University 한국상담대학원대학교 · Seoul · no data submitted
- Nungin University 능인대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- The Salvation Army Graduate University for Officer Training 구세군사관대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi · no data submitted
- Sunbokeum Theological Seminary 순복음대학원대학교 · Seoul · no data submitted
- Transnational Law & Business University 국제법률경영대학원대학교 · Gyeonggi
Korean language programmes (4) new students on courses starting July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Universities (3)
- Daegu Haany University 대구한의대학교 · Gyeongbuk · its degree programmes are certified
- Howon University 호원대학교 · Jeonbuk
- Sangji University 상지대학교 · Gangwon · no data submitted
Junior colleges (1)
- Mokpo Science University 목포과학대학교 · Jeonnam · its degree programmes are certified
20 institutions are visa-restricted for new students in the February 12, 2026 release of Korea's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education.
What does the restriction mean?
- New students
- Visa issuance is prohibited in principle. The visa manual's 2019 table lists one route: a visa issuance certificate for doctoral, research and exchange students (D-2-4, D-2-5, D-2-6).
- Already enrolled (degree)
- Average of D (1.0) or lower: one extension of up to 6 months on a written explanation; the next is restricted if it stays there.
- No data submitted
- An institution that sent no data for the 2025 survey is classified as visa-restricted: 14 of 16 for degree programmes, 1 of 4 for language.
What IEQAS status means for a student visa
IEQAS, the International Education Quality Assurance System, is the yearly review by Korea's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education. Certified universities are also called accredited.
| Status | Institutions | Visa screening |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent certified 우수 인증대학 | 39 in the release, 43 on the Study in Korea list | Screened on the standard admission letter alone |
| Certified 인증대학 | 181 | Screened on the standard admission letter; some nationalities also prove funds |
| General (not certified) 일반대학 | 134 | The university's management and the student's academic qualifications and funds are examined |
| Reinforced screening: consulting 비자심사 강화대학(컨설팅대학) | 13 | Close screening by interview or on-site check |
| Reinforced screening: visa-restricted 비자심사 강화대학(비자정밀 심사대학) | 16 | Visa issuance prohibited in principle |
Counts are for degree programmes. The 181 certified institutions include the excellent ones.
Is your university on neither list?
A university on neither list is a general or consulting university, or was not surveyed. The 147 general and consulting universities are not named, so it may still be under reinforced screening.
IEQAS-certified (accredited) universities: the full list
The 2025 IEQAS review, released on February 12, 2026, certified 181 institutions for degree programmes, 123 of them also for Korean language programmes. These lists follow that release.
Universities (132)
Degree and Korean language programmes (101)
Ajou – Daejeon
- Ajou University 아주대학교 · Excellent
- Baekseok University 백석대학교
- Busan University of Foreign Studies 부산외국어대학교 · Excellent
- The Catholic University of Korea 가톨릭대학교
- Changshin University 창신대학교
- Changwon National University 국립창원대학교
- Cheongju University 청주대학교
- Chonnam National University 전남대학교
- Chosun University 조선대학교
- Chung-Ang University 중앙대학교 · Excellent
- Chungbuk National University 충북대학교
- Chungnam National University 충남대학교 · Excellent
- Daegu Catholic University 대구가톨릭대학교
- Daegu University 대구대학교
- Daejeon University 대전대학교
Daeshin – Hannam
- Daeshin University 대신대학교
- Dankook University 단국대학교 · Excellent (Study in Korea list, not the release)
- Dong-A University 동아대학교
- Dongguk University 동국대학교 · Excellent
- Dongguk University WISE Campus 동국대학교(WISE)
- Dongseo University 동서대학교
- Duksung Women's University 덕성여자대학교 · Excellent
- Ewha Womans University 이화여자대학교 · Excellent
- Gachon University 가천대학교
- Gwangju University 광주대학교
- Gyeongkuk National University 국립경국대학교
- Gyeongsang National University 경상국립대학교
- Hanbat National University 국립한밭대학교
- Hankuk University of Foreign Studies 한국외국어대학교
- Hannam University 한남대학교
Hanseo – Kongju
- Hanseo University 한서대학교
- Hansung University 한성대학교 · Excellent
- Hanyang University 한양대학교 · Excellent
- Hanyang University ERICA 한양대학교(ERICA)
- Hongik University 홍익대학교 · Excellent
- Hoseo University 호서대학교
- Incheon National University 인천대학교
- Inha University 인하대학교 · Excellent
- Inje University 인제대학교
- Jeju National University 제주대학교 · Excellent
- Jeonbuk National University 전북대학교
- Joongbu University 중부대학교 · Excellent
- Kangwon National University 강원대학교
- Keimyung University 계명대학교 · Excellent
- Kongju National University 국립공주대학교
Konkuk – Kyungil
- Konkuk University 건국대학교 · Excellent
- Konyang University 건양대학교 · Excellent
- Kookmin University 국민대학교
- Korea National University of Transportation 국립한국교통대학교
- Korea Nazarene University 나사렛대학교
- Korea University 고려대학교 · Excellent
- Korea University of Technology and Education 한국기술교육대학교
- Korea University Sejong Campus 고려대학교(세종)
- Korean Bible University 한국성서대학교
- Kunsan National University 국립군산대학교
- Kwangwoon University 광운대학교
- Kyonggi University 경기대학교
- Kyung Hee University 경희대학교 · Excellent
- Kyungdong University 경동대학교
- Kyungil University 경일대학교
Kyungnam – Seokyeong
- Kyungnam University 경남대학교
- Kyungpook National University 경북대학교 · Excellent
- Kyungsung University 경성대학교 · Excellent
- Kyungwoon University 경운대학교
- Mokwon University 목원대학교
- Myongji University 명지대학교
- Namseoul University 남서울대학교
- Pai Chai University 배재대학교
- Pukyong National University 국립부경대학교
- Pusan National University 부산대학교 · Excellent
- Pyeongtaek University 평택대학교
- Sahmyook University 삼육대학교
- Sejong University 세종대학교 · Excellent
- Semyung University 세명대학교
- Seokyeong University 서경대학교 · Excellent (Study in Korea list, not the release)
Seoul – Sungshin
- Seoul National University 서울대학교
- Seoul National University of Science and Technology 서울과학기술대학교
- Seoul Theological University 서울신학대학교 · Excellent
- Seoul Women's University 서울여자대학교 · Excellent (Study in Korea list, not the release)
- Shinhan University 신한대학교
- Silla University 신라대학교
- Sogang University 서강대학교
- Sookmyung Women's University 숙명여자대학교 · Excellent
- Soonchunhyang University 순천향대학교
- Soongsil University 숭실대학교
- Sun Moon University 선문대학교 · Excellent
- Sunchon National University 국립순천대학교
- Sungkyul University 성결대학교 · Excellent
- Sungkyunkwan University 성균관대학교 · Excellent
- Sungshin Women's University 성신여자대학교 · Excellent
Tongmyong – Youngsan
- Tongmyong University 동명대학교
- Uiduk University 위덕대학교
- University of Seoul 서울시립대학교 · Excellent
- University of Ulsan 울산대학교
- Wonkwang University 원광대학교
- Woosong University 우송대학교
- Yeungnam University 영남대학교
- Yonsei University 연세대학교
- Yonsei University MIRAE Campus 연세대학교(미래)
- Youngsan University 영산대학교
- 국립강릉원주대학교
Degree programmes only (31)
Anyang – Kangnam
- Anyang University 안양대학교
- CHA University 차의과학대학교
- Daegu Haany University 대구한의대학교 · Korean language course: visa-restricted for new students
- Daejin University 대진대학교
- Dong-eui University 동의대학교
- Dongduk Women's University 동덕여자대학교
- Eulji University 을지대학교
- Gangseo University 강서대학교
- Gimcheon University 김천대학교
- Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology 광주과학기술원
- Hallym University 한림대학교
- Handong Global University 한동대학교
- Hansei University 한세대학교
- Jeonju University 전주대학교
- Jungwon University 중원대학교
- Kangnam University 강남대학교
Konkuk – Woosuk
- Konkuk University Glocal Campus 건국대학교(글로컬)
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology 한국과학기술원
- Korea Aerospace University 한국항공대학교 · Excellent
- Korea Maritime & Ocean University 국립한국해양대학교
- Korea National University of Education 한국교원대학교
- Kosin University 고신대학교
- Kumoh National Institute of Technology 국립금오공과대학교
- Kwangju Women's University 광주여자대학교
- Mokpo National University 국립목포대학교
- Pohang University of Science and Technology 포항공과대학교 · Excellent
- Sangmyung University 상명대학교
- Seoul Christian University 서울기독대학교
- Sungkonghoe University 성공회대학교
- Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology 울산과학기술원 · Excellent
- Woosuk University 우석대학교
Junior colleges (33)
Degree and Korean language programmes (20)
Ansan – Kyung-In
- Ansan University 안산대학교
- Bucheon University 부천대학교
- Busan Institute of Science and Technology 부산과학기술대학교
- Cheju Halla University 제주한라대학교
- Dong-Eui Institute of Technology 동의과학대학교
- Hanyang Women's University 한양여자대학교
- Induk University 인덕대학교
- Jeonbuk Science College 전북과학대학교 · not on the Study in Korea list
- Korea University of Media Arts 한국영상대학교
- Kyung-In Women's University 경인여자대학교
Kyungbok – Yong-In
- Kyungbok University 경복대학교 · Excellent (Study in Korea list, not the release)
- Kyungnam College of Information & Technology 경남정보대학교
- Myongji College 명지전문대학
- Osan University 오산대학교
- Tongwon University 동원대학교
- Ulsan College 울산과학대학교 · Excellent
- Wonkwang Health Science University 원광보건대학교
- Yeungjin University 영진전문대학교
- Yeungnam University College 영남이공대학교
- Yong-In Arts & Science University 용인예술과학대학교
Degree programmes only (13)
- Changwon National University Geochang Campus 경남도립거창대학
- Changwon National University Namhae Campus 경남도립남해대학
- Daelim University 대림대학교
- Dongwon Institute of Science and Technology 동원과학기술대학교
- Inha Technical College 인하공업전문대학 · Excellent
- Jangan University 장안대학교
- Jeju Tourism University 제주관광대학교
- Keimyung College University 계명문화대학교
- Kunjang University College 군장대학교
- Mokpo Science University 목포과학대학교 · Korean language course: visa-restricted for new students
- Seojeong University 서정대학교
- Seoul Institute of the Arts 서울예술대학교
- Vision College of Jeonju 전주비전대학교
Graduate universities (16)
Degree and Korean language programmes (2)
- International Graduate School of Language Education 국제언어대학원대학교
- SunHak UP Graduate University 선학유피대학원대학교
Degree programmes only (14)
- aSSIST University 서울과학종합대학원대학교
- Dongbang Culture University 동방문화대학원대학교
- Graduate School of Korean Studies 한국학대학원
- KDI School of Public Policy and Management 한국개발연구원국제정책대학원대학교 · Excellent
- KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School 한국전력국제원자력대학원대학교 · Excellent
- National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy 국립암센터국제암대학원대학교 · Excellent
- Onseok University 온석대학원대학교
- Reformed Graduate University 개신대학원대학교 · Excellent
- Seoul Media Institute of Technology 서울미디어대학원대학교
- Seoul University of Foreign Studies 서울외국어대학원대학교
- Sudo International University 수도국제대학원대학교
- Torch Trinity Graduate University 횃불트리니티신학대학원대학교
- University of Science and Technology 과학기술연합대학원대학교 · Excellent
- Yemyung Graduate University 예명대학원대학교
English names are the universities' own, not our translations.
Where later lists differ from the release
- Excellent universities
- 4 more on the Study in Korea list and in the National Research Foundation's reports of April 9, 2026: Dankook University, Seokyeong University, Seoul Women's University, Kyungbok University.
- Dongshin University 동신대학교
- On the Study in Korea list (page last modified March 3, 2026) for degree and language programmes; not in the release.
- Jeonbuk Science College 전북과학대학교
- In the release for degree and language programmes; not on the Study in Korea list.
- Merged schools
- Three schools in the release have merged: 국립강릉원주대학교 is now part of Kangwon National University; 경남도립거창대학 and 경남도립남해대학 are campuses of Changwon National University.
What does a certified university in Korea change for you?
- Visa documents
- Screened on the standard admission letter; nationals of 21 notified and 5 key-management countries also prove funds. GKS scholar visa
- E-visa
- For master's and doctoral entrants at certified universities, and for every D-2 course at excellent ones. Some nationalities are excluded.
- Part-time work
- With the required Korean level, studying at a certified university is one of the ways to get 5 more weekday hours of part-time work. Part-time work calculator
- Extending your stay
- With a C average or better, degree students extend without proof of funds, except nationals of the notified and key-management countries. Residence Card and extension
- GKS
- Certified universities can be selected to host GKS scholars; reinforced-screening universities are excluded from selection. GKS universities
How the lists are decided
- Certified and excellent
- This round's certification runs to February 2030, checked yearly. Excellent status is designated yearly and needs 3 or more years of certification.
- Reinforced screening
- An illegal-stay rate of 5–8% or more (degree) or 20% or more (language), or failed core indicators. A committee decides which become visa-restricted.
- When it changes
- A new list has come each February. This restricted list runs to the 2027 first semester (degree) and to courses starting by June 30, 2027 (language).
Sources: MOJ–MOE release, February 12, 2026; NRF handbook, June 25, 2025; NRF excellent-university reports, April 9, 2026; Study in Korea list, March 3, 2026; MOJ manuals, September 2026Independent summary. The ministries' own notices prevail.