KR · Bachelor's
Korea University
BA in Korean Language and Literature
Korea University
Course Overview
Korea University (KU) is one of the SKY trinity (Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei) — South Korea's three most prestigious universities, consistently top 80 globally (QS 2025). Founded 1905, KU is the country's oldest private university and one of Asia's strongest humanities institutions. The College of Liberal Arts' Korean Language and Literature department is the senior Korean literature programme in the country, ranked #1 nationally and the originator of much of South Korean modern literary criticism. The 4-year BA covers classical Korean (Hangul history, classical court literature, premodern poetry), modern Korean literature (post-1945 fiction, the Min-jung tradition), modern Korean linguistics, K-content and cultural studies, and a senior-year thesis or capstone research project.
Sri Lankan applicants choose KU BA Korean Language and Literature for a very specific career trajectory: K-content (K-drama, K-pop, K-cinema) is one of the world's fastest-growing creative industries, and bilingual Korean-English graduates are scarce. The course is taught primarily in Korean — international applicants need TOPIK Level 4+ before starting Year 1, or complete KU's 1-year Korean Language Centre programme as a pathway. Korean government scholarships (Global Korea Scholarship — GKS) cover full tuition + KRW 900,000/month (LKR 207k/mo) stipend + airfare + Korean language training for top international undergraduates. KU has consistent GKS allocations from Sri Lanka.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: 3 A-Level passes minimum at grade C or higher.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes in Arts stream — minimum S or C in each subject.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 30 points minimum.
- check_circle Korean language proficiency: TOPIK Level 4 minimum for direct Year 1 entry; lower TOPIK or zero Korean accepted via KU's 1-year Korean Language Centre pathway.
- check_circle Personal Statement (Study Plan) — 800-1,200 words in Korean or English.
- check_circle Two academic references; high school transcripts attested by the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka and apostilled.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 5.5 Overall (English is a partial-medium subject only).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 71 Overall.
- check_circle TOPIK Level 4 (Korean) is the primary language requirement — English IELTS is secondary.
- check_circle Waived if you have completed full English-medium secondary education (most Sri Lankan Edexcel / Cambridge International / Royal / Trinity / St Joseph's applicants meet the English secondary requirement).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (KRW) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | KRW 7,000,000 | Rs. 1,610,000 |
| Living Expenses in Seoul (per year, dormitory + meals) | KRW 12,000,000 | Rs. 2,760,000 |
| Student Visa (D-2) & Application Fees | KRW 600,000 | Rs. 138,000 |
| Korean Language Centre Year (pathway, optional) | KRW 7,000,000 | Rs. 1,610,000 |
| Books, Insurance & Travel | KRW 1,800,000 | Rs. 414,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (4 years, no pathway) | KRW 80,400,000 | Rs. 18,492,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the D-10 Job Seeker Visa — 6 months (extendable to 2 years) of post-study work search rights after a Korean Bachelor's degree. E-7 Specialist Visa for sponsored employment. KU Korean Language and Literature graduates with strong Korean proficiency route into K-content companies (CJ ENM, JYP Entertainment, HYBE, SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, Studio Dragon, Netflix Korea originals team), Korean publishing (Munhakdongne, Changbi, Minumsa), translation work (literary and broadcast subtitling), Korean Tourism Organization, plus Korean government agencies (Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism, Korean Cultural Centres overseas). Median Korean starting salary KRW 35-45 million/year (LKR 8.05M-10.35M/yr); senior content roles KRW 70-100M/year. Sri Lankan returnees route into senior posts at the Korean Cultural Centre Sri Lanka, KOICA Sri Lanka country office, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Colombo, Korean-language teaching at the University of Kelaniya (Department of Modern Languages), and into translation work / interpretation for the growing Sri Lanka-Korea trade and labour-migration corridor. Strong route into the Sri Lankan EPS programme support office and Korean-language schools.
Related Programs
BA in Korean Language and Literature
Yonsei University
BA English Language and Literature
University of Oxford
Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literatures
The University of British Columbia
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