South Korea
Spouse after 6 months; work right unconfirmed
Verdict
Korea fails the two things that matter most to you as a couple. Your spouse cannot come at the start: you need 6 months of stay first, then a discretionary F-3 from Dhaka with an income test a self-funded student struggles to meet.
Spouse work rests on a temporary exception reported only by secondary sources that ends 29 March 2027, before your spouse could arrive. The costs need a family sponsor for the KRW 20 million show-money plus a tuition waiver, and PR needs strong Korean and 6+ years.
Keep Korea only as a scholarship play (GKS 2027 or a full waiver at a sound university for Fall 2027). The Wollongong offer and other English-speaking options are stronger.
checked 14 Nov 2026 · source money plan for this route compare
- Can the spouse come
- Conditional
- Conditions
Not at the same time. The Ministry of Justice "Visa Navigator" (Korean text, Ver 2022.12, p.13) says a person staying 6 months or more on D-2 in a bachelor's-or-higher course may invite a spouse and minor children on F-3.
Some D-2 holders with a stay period of 2 years or less are restricted from inviting family unless there is a humanitarian reason. Nationals of "illegal-stay-prone and focus-management countries" must apply for the visa at the overseas mission (others may change status inside Korea).
Fragomen (1 Jul 2025) reports that immigration no longer accepts in-country F-3 applications except humanitarian cases, so your spouse applies in Dhaka (or through a Visa Issuance Confirmation). A sponsor livelihood test has applied since July 2025 (agent blog). Realistic plan: you go alone.
Your spouse can file after you have 6 months of stay, so about 7-10 months after you land. Approval for a self-funded Bangladeshi master's student with no Korean income is discretionary. Whether the 6-month rule is unchanged in 2026 is not confirmed.
- Spouse work rights
- Unconfirmed
- Spouse work in detail
Official baseline (Visa Navigator 2022.12, p.31): F-3 allows no employment or profit-making activity. The only exceptions, with prior permission, are E-2 language instructor, foreign-school teacher or public-body proofreader roles.
Two secondary sources report a newer exception: adult spouses of D-2-3/D-2-4 (master's/PhD) students and E-1/E-3/E-4/E-5 holders may work in any field except restricted ones (karaoke/entertainment bars, gambling, businesses barred to youth, private tutoring).
This needs a "comprehensive permit" from immigration (online from 22 Apr 2026), then a report of each job start and end within 15 days, each workplace separately. The permit lasts up to 1 year. Only one of the two (K-Law Guru, 13 Aug 2026) gives the window: 30 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2027. Jobploy (14 Apr 2026) gives no end date.
Neither cites a Ministry of Justice notice number, and the official notice is not confirmed. No hour cap is stated. Your spouse cannot arrive before about autumn 2027, which is after the reported end date, so work rights at arrival are not confirmed. If the measure is not extended, the answer is "none".
- Student work hours
Master's students need a part-time permit per employer (university sign-off, then HiKorea). Korea JoongAng Daily (21 Oct 2026, updated 27 Oct): up to 30 hours/week on weekdays with TOPIK 4 or KIIP equivalent, 15 hours/week without it, and up to 35 with special permission. Weekends and vacations are uncapped for D-2 holders with TOPIK 3+.
You need at least a C average. Barred: delivery, construction, tutoring/teaching, driving, door-to-door sales and most logistics-centre work. Manufacturing is allowed only with TOPIK 4 (also in the official Visa Navigator). With no Korean you get 15 hours/week.
MOJ said on 7 Oct 2026 that the Korean requirement for part-time work will rise to KIIP level 3; the date is not set.
- First year for two
- about 34.9 lakh USD 28,000 before earnings inside the 35 lakh ceiling
- checked 14 Nov 2026 · source
- Tuition in detail
Not free. University fee pages are not confirmed; Ajou's schedule page says fees are sent separately. Third-party guide (study-abroad.org, updated 7 Nov 2026): national universities about KRW 2-3 million per semester (up to 5 million in some fields), private KRW 3-5 million per semester.
Business/MBA-type programmes at Seoul private schools are usually higher (KRW 6-8 million+ per semester is a working figure, not confirmed), plus a one-off entrance fee of roughly KRW 0.9-1.1 million (not confirmed). Working figure: KRW 8-10 million a year (about USD 6,000-7,500 at 1,336 KRW/USD).
Many universities give 30-100% tuition waivers to international graduate students. That is the only way Korea gets cheap.
- Money to show in detail
Student (D-2): no official Dhaka embassy figure is confirmed, and the VFS centre site shows no checklist. Third-party: KRW 20,000,000 bank balance held at least 28 days (study-abroad.org, 7 Nov 2026), which also warns that some embassies in high-risk countries ask KRW 30,000,000+.
A lower regional-university figure of KRW 16,000,000 is not confirmed.
A Bangladesh agency page (20 Sept 2026) says USD 16,000-20,000+, that a 6-month statement is safest, that a parent or sponsor account is accepted with relationship and source-of-funds papers, that a documented education loan is accepted, and that sudden large deposits raise suspicion. It is not a blocked account as of 14 Nov 2026.
Spouse (F-3): since July 2025 the sponsor must meet an income standard (agent blog; the amounts equal 50% of the standard median income): KRW 23,595,948 a year for a 2-person count, or KRW 1,196,007 a month (about 14.35 million a year) for a 1-person count.
D-2 students are "not counted in the household", so which line applies to a student sponsoring one spouse is unclear. The blog says deposits can only cover a shortfall of under 10% of the standard (deposit at least 5 times the shortfall, held 6+ months), so this is mainly an income test.
How a student with no Korean income passes it is not confirmed. MOJ announced on 7 Oct 2026 an expanded "study-expense security deposit" (locked living-cost deposit) for high illegal-stay-risk countries, and a financial-proof waiver for TOPIK 4 holders. No countries or dates were named.
- Budget note
Exchange rates on 14 Nov 2026 (open.er-api.com): 1 USD = 124.50 BDT = 1,336 KRW. Your show-money alone is KRW 20 million (about USD 14,970, or 18.6 lakh BDT). Your spouse's F-3 adds an income standard of KRW 14.35-23.6 million a year (USD 10,700-17,700) that deposits can only partly replace.
Show-money for both, worst case: KRW 43.6 million, about USD 32,600 (about 40.6 lakh BDT). Best case (regional university, 1-person line): about USD 22,700.
Real first-year spend for two is about USD 28,000 (about 34.9 lakh BDT) without a scholarship: tuition 7,000, entrance fee about 750, living 18,000 (an estimate, about KRW 2.0 million a month), visa/ARC/tests about 250, flights about 1,200, plus health cover and set-up.
Upfront cash is about USD 11,000 (first-semester fees, flights, housing deposit, two months' living). The show-money can sit in a family sponsor's account, and a 50-100% tuition waiver would cut the tuition. Earnings will not cover much early on: 15 hours/week at the 2027 minimum wage is about KRW 0.7 million (USD 520) a month.
- Realistic earnings
2027 minimum wage KRW 10,700/hour (Minimum Wage Commission vote 14 Jul 2026, up 3.7% from 10,320); full-time 209 hours is about KRW 2.24 million a month (about USD 1,670). You, without Korean: 15 hours/week is about KRW 0.70 million a month (about USD 520), and jobs open to non-Korean speakers are scarce.
With TOPIK 4: 30 hours/week is about KRW 1.39 million (about USD 1,040). Your spouse: only if the F-3 work exception still exists on arrival. Full-time minimum wage is about KRW 2.24 million before deductions, but hiring without Korean is hard. English-only professional jobs are rare outside IT and research.
Applying
checked 14 Nov 2026 · source- Visa
- D-2-3 (Study Abroad, master's); spouse: F-3 (Dependent Family)
- Lands
- October 2027 (estimate) An estimate, not a promise.
You alone: late February 2027, only if an application reaches Ajou by 25 Nov or Inje by 27 Nov 2026 (results 7 Jan, registration 18-20 Jan, visa in February, which is tight). Your spouse: about October-December 2027 at the earliest (6 months of your stay, then F-3 filing and processing in Dhaka).
Realistic plan for a decent university with a waiver: you in late August 2027, your spouse about April-June 2028.
- Next intakes
- Spring 2027 (classes start about 2 March 2027)Deadline: Official Study in Korea portal: Ajou University master's 7 Oct to 25 Nov 2026, 5:00 PM KST (Ajou's own page: interviews 14-18 Dec, results 7 Jan 2027, registration 18-20 Jan 2027); Inje University master's 2-27 Nov 2026. Listed as planned, not yet open as of 14 Nov 2026: CHA University 16-27 Nov; Daejin University 17-24 Nov; Kwangwoon University 2nd round 7-11 Dec 2026. Top Seoul universities' rounds are reported closed (SNU July; SKKU GSB 13 Nov), not confirmed.Still open: Yes, at a handful of mid-tier universities only. As of 14 Nov 2026, 11 days were left for Ajou and 13 for Inje. Whether they run an English-taught business analytics or MIS master's must be confirmed with the department.
- Fall 2027 (classes start about 1 September 2027)Deadline: Typically March-May 2027; the 2027 dates are not yet published.Still open: Not open yet. This is the realistic intake for a good university plus a tuition waiver.
- GKS government scholarship for graduate degrees, 2027 round (1 year Korean language + 2 years master's, starting about Sept 2027)Deadline: 2026 round (embassy notice 2 Feb 2026): online 12 Feb 8:00 AM to 25 Feb 2026 3:00 PM Bangladesh time. Bangladesh quota: 7 embassy-track + 20 university-track (3 general, 17 R-GKS). The 2027 round is expected about February 2027 and is not announced.Still open: Not open yet
- Typical length
- 24 months
- Where to apply from Bangladesh
In Dhaka; no travel abroad. Fill the e-Form on the Korea Visa Portal (mandatory for D-2/D-4 since 4 May 2025, embassy notice 28 Apr 2025) and print it with the barcode.
Then submit in person by appointment at the Korea Visa Application Center run by VFS (visaforkorea-bd.com; open Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Banani address, not confirmed). The Embassy (4 Madani Avenue, Baridhara) decides.
Holders of a Visa Issuance Confirmation can submit without an appointment with the 2-page VIC form, a TB test report and a criminal-record certificate, both within 3 months, and a photo. The visa fee and service charge are paid at the centre; the site still shows the amount as "to be declared".
After a refusal the centre advises reapplying at least 3 months later (earlier is allowed but unlikely to succeed). Interview practice is not stated.
Visa and passport risk
checked 14 Nov 2026 · source- Risk for a Bangladesh passport
- Medium
- Why
No published Korea D-2 approval or refusal rate for Bangladeshis was found.
Scrutiny signals: nationals of illegal-stay-prone / focus-management countries must apply for family visas at the overseas mission (official rule; whether Bangladesh is on that list is not confirmed, but in-country F-3 is closed to everyone since 2025 anyway); TB test and criminal-record certificate for VIC holders; appointment rationing; advice to wait 3 months after a refusal; a third-party warning that high-risk-country embassies may ask KRW 30 million+.
Embassy notice of 24 Jul 2026: Shin Gyeongju University suspended operations and is in bankruptcy, and some Bangladeshi applicants could not get admission certificates, visa confirmations or tuition refunds. The embassy says it cannot mediate.
Pay only against an official Certificate of Admission in the university's name, check the refund terms and the account, and do not rely on agents. MOJ plans (7 Oct 2026) a locked living-cost deposit for high-risk countries. No suspension of Bangladeshi student visas was found.
- Visa processing time
No official time is published for Dhaka (the visa centre site gives none). Third-party: 2-4 weeks, 3-6 weeks in peak season. Add time to win an appointment at the Korea Visa Application Center (slots released Mondays 9:00-10:00 AM for the following week; a missed appointment blocks rebooking for one month).
Where the university first obtains a Visa Issuance Confirmation from Korean immigration, add several more weeks. Plan 6-10 weeks from admission letter to visa.
- checked 14 Nov 2026 · source
- Hassle
- 8 out of 10 10 is the most hassle. This site's rating, not a checked fact.
After the degree and PR
checked 14 Nov 2026 · source- Work after the degree
D-10 job-seeker status after graduation. Official Visa Navigator (2022.12): graduates of Korean universities within 3 years of the degree are exempt from the points test with TOPIK 4 or KIIP level 4; otherwise the points test applies.
Length: MOJ announced on 7 Oct 2026 that D-10 will be granted for 1 to 3 years depending on Korean ability and job-readiness (start date not given). The current block length (6 months, renewable) is not confirmed. A D-10 holder can bring family on F-3 only with 80+ job-seeker points.
Then E-7 (professional work) with an employer; the salary threshold is not confirmed. Hiring without Korean is hard.
- checked 14 Nov 2026 · source
- PR route
D-2 master's (2 years; does not count toward PR), then D-10 job search or straight to a job, then F-2-7 points residence. Korean master's graduates qualify for F-2-7 as "study talent" if hired in an eligible job within 5 years of graduating and scoring 80+ of 170 points (age, education, Korean, income; secondary source).
Then F-5 permanent residence after 3 years on points-based F-2, or after 5 years on D-7 to D-10 / E-1 to E-7 / F-2 (official Visa Navigator 2022.12), plus good conduct, an income test and KIIP level 5.
The spouse of an F-2-7 holder gets F-2 (free to work) only if the principal earns at least GNI per capita (official); otherwise a lower dependent status. Citizenship by general naturalisation afterwards (5 years' residence, not confirmed).
- Language for PR
Korean is mandatory in practice. KIIP level 5 completion meets the basic-knowledge requirement for F-5 (official Visa Navigator). F-2-7 gives up to 20 points for TOPIK 5+/KIIP 5 and 15 for the next level (secondary source). The D-10 points exemption needs TOPIK 4 or KIIP 4. English alone does not reach PR.
Recent rule changes
checked 14 Nov 2026 · source- 2025 and 2026
Apr-Jul 2025: in-country F-3 applications closed except humanitarian cases (Fragomen 1 Jul 2025).
July 2025: income standard for F-3 family invitations (agent blog). 4 May 2025: e-Form mandatory for study visas in Dhaka. 30 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2027 (secondary sources only): work exception for F-3 spouses of master's/PhD students, comprehensive permit online from 22 Apr 2026. 2 Feb 2026: GKS graduate round for Bangladesh (7 embassy + 20 university-track seats). 14 Jul 2026: 2027 minimum wage set at KRW 10,700. 24 Jul 2026: Dhaka embassy warning after Shin Gyeongju University's bankruptcy.
Sept 2026: visa submission moved to the VFS-run Korea Visa Application Center. 7 Oct 2026: MOJ student-visa reform plan: no financial proof for TOPIK 4 / KIIP 4 holders, expanded locked-deposit system for high-risk countries, part-time work tied to KIIP level 3, D-10 of 1-3 years, easier E-7 for science/engineering graduates, D-2 to F-2 route for "professional technical master's".
Internal measures start from the second half of 2026, most dates unset; nothing on spouses.
- Corrected in this check
- The embassy notice of 24 Jul 2026 about Shin Gyeongju University contains no numbers. It only says the university suspended operations, is in bankruptcy, and some applicants could not get documents or refunds.
- After a refusal, the visa centre advises reapplying at least 3 months later, but earlier reapplication is possible.
- The rule to disclose visas held in the past two years applies to foreign nationals applying from Bangladesh, not to Bangladeshi applicants.
- Spouse work rights are rated 'unconfirmed': the official baseline is no work, the exception is reported only by two secondary sources, only one gives the 29 Mar 2027 end date, and it lapses before your spouse could arrive.
- The F-3 financial test from July 2025 is an income test (50% of median income). Deposits can only cover a shortfall under 10%, per the source. The 1-person line (KRW 1,196,007/month, about 14.35 million/year) is the possible figure when the student is excluded from the count.
- Currency figures use the 14 Nov 2026 rates (124.50 BDT/USD, 1,336 KRW/USD): KRW 20 million = USD 14,970 = 18.6 lakh BDT; couple show-money worst case KRW 43.6 million = USD 32,600; first-year spend USD 28,000 = 34.9 lakh BDT.
- The 2027 minimum wage of KRW 10,700 was set by the Minimum Wage Commission on 14 Jul 2026; 5 Aug is the ministerial announcement deadline. Monthly earnings: 15 hours/week = KRW 0.70 million, 30 hours/week = 1.39 million, full-time 2.24 million.
- Intakes: the CHA, Daejin and Kwangwoon windows are 'planned', not yet open. Only Ajou and Inje were open on 14 Nov 2026. Inha, SNU and SKKU closing dates are not confirmed.
- GKS: Bangladesh also has 20 university-track seats (3 general, 17 R-GKS).
- Visa centre hours are Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The visa fee is shown as 'to be declared' on the centre site, so the USD 80 figure is third-party only. The couple fee estimate of about USD 250 includes ARC, TB test and police certificate.
- Your spouse's earliest arrival is Oct-Dec 2027: 6 full months of your stay must pass before filing, then Dhaka processing.
- Third-party warning: embassies in high-risk countries may ask KRW 30 million+ for D-2. A missed appointment blocks rebooking for one month.
- From the official Visa Navigator: a D-10 holder can sponsor F-3 family only with 80+ job-seeker points.
Not verified
unverified- Official Ministry of Justice notice for the F-3 spouse work exception (30 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2027) and whether it will be extended.
- Whether the 6-month-stay rule and the 2-year restriction for D-2 students inviting an F-3 spouse are unchanged in 2026 (the official text is Ver 2022.12).
- Dhaka embassy's own D-2 checklist: bank amount (20 or 30 million KRW), holding period, visa fee and VFS service charge, processing time, interview practice.
- KRW 16 million regional-university figure and the exact F-3 amount a no-income student sponsor must show.
- Whether Bangladesh is on the MOJ illegal-stay-prone / focus-management country list, and any refusal rate for Bangladeshi students.
- Actual tuition and entrance fee for an English-taught business analytics / MIS master's. Couple living cost, housing deposit, NHIS for two and flights are estimates.
- Current D-10 block length, E-7 salary threshold, F-5 income threshold, and naturalisation years (citizenship_years is an estimate).
- Whether Ajou, Inje or Kwangwoon teach the relevant programme in English, their accreditation (IEQAS) status, and their waiver levels.
- VFS centre street address (Banani) and the SNU, Inha and SKKU closing dates.
Confidence in this page: Low.
Programmes
7 in the programme list-
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) · Daejeon (main campus); College of Business is in Seoul
- Tuition, whole programme
- about 0.0 lakh USD 0
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Fall 2027 (late Aug / Sept 2027)
- Deadline
- 7 Jan to 5 Feb 2027 (Spring 2027 closed 1 Sep 2026)Not yet open. Opens 7 Jan 2027.
- World rank (QS)
- QS 2026: 53 (from a Wikipedia table). QS 2027: not confirmed.
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Computer Science 32; Business & Economics 176-200. QS subject 2017 (old): CS & Information Systems 33.
- Scholarship
KAIST Scholarship: full tuition + national health cover + monthly stipend (amount depends on research involvement and college; not stated). KGPS: full tuition + KRW 1,000,000 per month for 4 semesters for top applicants recommended by the department head (no separate application).
GKS-G University Track via KAIST: the 2027 call is not yet published.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
Sticker KRW 19,118,000 per year (KAIST cost table dated 2023), about KRW 38,236,000 for 2 years. The KAIST Scholarship covers full tuition, so expected tuition is KRW 0 if you are admitted with it (the page says 94% of international students benefit). Professional MBA-type programmes may be excluded: not confirmed.
- Entry
You qualify on paper: 4-year bachelor's; IELTS Academic 6.5 (your IELTS 7.5; One Skill Retake not accepted). GRE/GMAT and a GPA minimum are not mentioned on the eligibility page. Selection is competitive and research-oriented.
- Why it fits
Best value in Korea if you get in: top-70 university, zero tuition and a stipend that offsets living costs. The start is September 2027, and admission is not assured.
-
Ajou University, Graduate School (general), Suwon · Suwon (Gyeonggi)
- Tuition, whole programme
- about 21.8 lakh USD 17,437
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Spring 2027 (March 2027)
- Deadline
- 25 Nov 2026, 5:00 PM KST. Both the online application and the printed documents must arrive by then. Interviews 14-18 Dec 2026, results 7 Jan 2027, registration 18-20 Jan 2027.Open, but only 11 days were left as of 14 Nov 2026 and paper documents must physically arrive. Realistically very tight from Dhaka.
- World rank (QS)
- not confirmed
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Business & Economics 801-1000; Computer Science 501-600
- Scholarship
Ajou Global Scholarship: 40% tuition waiver for master's (IELTS 5.5+ for non-English regions, chosen by committee on department recommendation), up to 4 semesters while GPA stays 3.5+ with no F. The entrance fee is not waived for you. No stipend. Engineering/Computer students must do TA work.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
Business/Humanities/Social Science: KRW 5,599,000 per semester + KRW 900,000 entrance fee (Engineering/AI: KRW 7,451,000). 4 semesters of business = KRW 23,296,000 full price; with the 40% Ajou Global Scholarship about KRW 14,337,600 (calculated). The table header says 2026 but a column label says 2022, so confirm.
- Entry
You qualify on paper: 4-year bachelor's; IELTS 5.5 minimum (some departments higher, 'language level A', which is not defined on the page). GMAT/GRE is not mentioned.
Hard extras: pre-contact with a professor is required for these departments; diploma and transcript must be apostilled or embassy-legalised; a bank statement of USD 20,000+ held for one month in your name, a parent's or your spouse's.
- Why it fits
Cheapest sticker price confirmed on an official page with a deadline still open. The 25 Nov paper deadline plus professor pre-contact makes this round a long shot. It is a real option for Fall 2027 (dates not yet posted).
-
Ajou University, Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Suwon · Suwon (Gyeonggi, 30 km south of Seoul)
- Tuition, whole programme
- about 25.8 lakh USD 20,677
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Spring 2027 (orientation 22 Feb to 5 Mar 2027, classes March 2027)
- Deadline
- 3rd round: 23 Nov to 18 Dec 2026 (the 2nd round, 2-20 Nov 2026, is also still open). Interviews run to 8 Jan 2027. The page heading has a '2021' typo, so confirm the dates with the GSIS admissions office.Open (2nd round closes 20 Nov 2026; 3rd round opens 23 Nov and closes 18 Dec 2026)
- World rank (QS)
- not confirmed
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Business & Economics 801-1000; Computer Science 501-600. QS subject rank not confirmed.
- Scholarship
New Student Scholarship: 50% tuition waiver in semester 1 for self-paying students with strong undergraduate grades (your CGPA 3.79 out of 4.00 should be competitive, but the school decides). Semesters 2-4: Scholarship A 100%, B 75% or C 50% by GPA rank each semester, not guaranteed. The entrance fee is never waived. No living stipend.
The scholarship page says its rules are 'based on 2014', so confirm.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
KRW 6,681,000 per semester (as of Jan 2026) x 4 + KRW 900,000 entrance fee = KRW 27,624,000 full price. With the 50% waiver every semester: about KRW 14,262,000 (calculated). Application fee KRW 100,000.
- Entry
You qualify on paper: bachelor's from an accredited institution; IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 (your IELTS 7.5). GMAT/GRE is not mentioned on the page. Work experience is not required. The language of instruction is not stated outright on the page (the English requirement implies English), so confirm it.
- Why it fits
Fastest realistic start: the only English business master's confirmed with a deadline still open and enough days left to assemble apostilled documents. Tuition after a 50% waiver is about USD 10,700 over two years, but living costs and the visa show-money still sit on top.
-
KDI School of Public Policy and Management · Sejong City
- Tuition, whole programme
- about 26.1 lakh USD 20,958
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Fall 2027 (Spring 2027 results were announced 19 Oct 2026)
- Deadline
- Fall 2027 dates are not posted (the admission calendar is empty for Nov 2026). The Spring 2027 online window was 5-14 Aug 2026. The fall window is usually early in the year: not confirmed.Closed for Spring 2027; Fall 2027 not yet open
- World rank (QS)
- Not ranked (specialist graduate school), not confirmed
- Subject rank
- None found
- Scholarship
Every admitted applicant is automatically considered (no separate application); 'majority of international students receive 100% scholarship benefits'. Stipend amounts are not stated on the page. Partner scholarships listed: KOICA, NIIED (GKS), IBK, POSCO TJ Park Foundation, Colombo Plan, Sejong City Hall and others.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
KRW 28,000,000 total (KRW 7,000,000 x 4 semesters, full-time). The school states that the majority of international students receive a 100% scholarship, decided by the admissions committee.
- Entry
All academic and professional backgrounds are accepted; classes are 100% in English. The specific IELTS minimum and GRE/GMAT rules sit in the downloadable guideline and are not confirmed. An employment verification form is part of the file, so your work experience helps.
- Why it fits
Highest odds of a full tuition waiver in Korea for a Bangladeshi applicant with work experience. It is not a business-analytics degree: it is policy/management, so it fits only if you accept that label on the diploma.
-
UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) · Ulsan (south-east, outside the capital region)
- Tuition, whole programme
- not known unverified
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Fall 2027 (1 Sept 2027)
- Deadline
- Fall 2027 dates are not yet posted. Pattern on the site: first-stage results late April and interview results late May, so the window is likely March-April 2027 (not confirmed). The Spring 2027 final round closed 15 Oct 2026.Closed for Spring 2027; Fall 2027 not yet open
- World rank (QS)
- QS 2026: =310 (from Wikipedia). QS 2027: not confirmed.
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Business & Economics 401-500; Computer Science 301-400
- Scholarship
University funding amounts are not confirmed. GKS-G University Track at UNIST lists Management Engineering, Industrial Engineering, AI and Computer Science as eligible majors (the 2026 call ran 16-30 March 2026 by post). The 2027 call is not yet published.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
Not confirmed. UNIST is a government science institute that normally funds graduate students. Confirm with the UNIST graduate admissions office before relying on it.
- Entry
Bachelor's degree; an English test report is mandatory (IELTS accepted, within 2 years; your score is valid until Dec 2027). The threshold is not shown on the page: not confirmed. GRE/GMAT is not mentioned. Wikipedia states all UNIST courses are taught in English.
- Why it fits
Second funded-institute option, with a business school that matches a business bachelor's plus analytics background, and less competitive than KAIST. Funding terms must be confirmed in writing first.
-
Pusan National University (PNU) · Busan
- Tuition, whole programme
- not known unverified
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Fall 2027 (September 2027)
- Deadline
- Fall cycle pattern on the PNU page: guide published late Feb 2027, online application early April 2027, documents early May, results late June (years inferred, not printed). The Spring 2027 guide was posted 1 Oct 2026 and that window has passed.Closed for Spring 2027; Fall 2027 opens about early April 2027
- World rank (QS)
- not confirmed
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Business & Economics 151-175 (as shown on the THE page; it looks high, so treat as not confirmed); Computer Science 301-400
- Scholarship
New international graduate students with IELTS 5.5+ get 50% of 'Tuition II' waived in the first semester automatically; later semesters 50% by GPA. TA about KRW 1,500,000 per semester (230+ hours), RA about KRW 1,000,000 (170+ hours).
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
Not confirmed. PNU's pages show no tuition table (it is in the semester guide PDF). National-university tuition is normally the lowest in Korea.
- Entry
You qualify on paper: bachelor's degree; one of TOPIK 3, TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 5.5 (your IELTS 7.5). No GMAT/GRE listed. Proof of finances is required; foreign documents need translation and notarisation.
- Why it fits
Likely the cheapest credible national university with a real business school and an automatic 50% first-semester waiver for your IELTS. The Fall 2027 guide is needed to confirm fees and which departments teach in English.
-
Seoul National University (SNU) · Seoul
- Tuition, whole programme
- not known unverified
- Length
- 24 months
- Next intake
- Fall 2027 (September 2027)
- Deadline
- The Fall 2027 guide is not yet posted (only the Spring 2027 guide, dated June 2026, is on the page): not confirmed.Closed for Spring 2027; Fall 2027 not yet open
- World rank (QS)
- QS 2026: 38 (from Wikipedia). QS 2027: not confirmed.
- Subject rank
- THE by subject 2026: Business & Economics 68; Computer Science 44
- Scholarship
Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS): full tuition up to 4 semesters + at least KRW 500,000 per month, about 20 awards per semester. Eligible countries and colleges change each semester (Bangladesh eligibility for 2027: not confirmed).
GKS via SNU: tuition for 4 semesters + KRW 1,400,000 per month + airfare, about 40-60 a year, February deadline. The page was last updated in 2023.
Fee detail, entry and fit
- Fee detail
Not confirmed. The GSFS scholarship, if won, covers full tuition for 4 semesters.
- Entry
Not confirmed in detail. SNU business is the most selective in Korea and usually expects strong research fit. Treat it as a reach.
- Why it fits
Top-ranked reach option for business and economics; only worth the application fee alongside KAIST, not instead of it.
Sources
20 official pagesD-2 student with 6+ months' stay may invite spouse on F-3; some D-2 with stay of 2 years or less restricted; high-risk-country nationals apply at overseas mission; F-3 no work in principle
www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration_eng/230/454086/download.doIn-country F-3 applications no longer accepted except humanitarian cases; apply via VICN or consulate
www.fragomen.com/insights/south-korea-update-on-in-country-dependent-visa-applications.htmlTemporary work exception for F-3 spouses of D-2-3/4, E-1/3/4/5 holders, 30 Mar 2026 - 29 Mar 2027; comprehensive permit, online from 22 Apr 2026; 15-day reporting
klawguru.com/2026/08/13/koreas-f-3-accompanying-visa-a-practical-guide/Spouses of D-2-3/D-2-4 holders may work in all but restricted fields; permit up to 1 year; no end date given
www.jobploy.kr/en/content/f3-dependent-visa-employment-2026F-3 sponsor income standard from July 2025: KRW 23,595,948/yr (2 persons), KRW 1,196,007/month (1 person); students not counted; deposits only for shortfall under 10%
inblog.ai/kvisa/2025년-7월부터-바뀌는-f3-가족초청-시-소득금액-기준-56070e-Form mandatory for D-2/D-4 applicants in Dhaka from 4 May 2025; embassy address and hours
bgd.mofa.go.kr/bd-en/brd/m_2124/view.do?seq=760059Embassy warning to Bangladeshi applicants after Shin Gyeongju University suspended operations / bankruptcy (no figures in notice)
www.mofa.go.kr/bd-en/brd/m_2124/view.do?seq=760100Korea Visa Application Center Dhaka: appointment rules, VIC holders need TB test and criminal certificate within 3 months, advice to wait 3 months after refusal
www.visaforkorea-bd.com/Visa fee and service charge paid at the centre; amount shown as 'to be declared'
www.visaforkorea-bd.com/apply-visa.htmlCentre open Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
www.visaforkorea-bd.com/attend-centre.htmlSpring 2027 graduate windows: Ajou 7 Oct - 25 Nov, Inje 2-27 Nov open; CHA 16-27 Nov, Daejin 17-24 Nov, Kwangwoon 7-11 Dec planned
www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/receipt/OnlineReceipt11.doAjou Graduate School Spring 2027: apply to 25 Nov 2026 5:00 PM, interviews 14-18 Dec, results 7 Jan 2027, registration 18-20 Jan
ajou.ac.kr/gs_eng/admission/schedule.doMaster's part-time work: 30 h/week with TOPIK 4, 15 h without, 35 with special permission; banned sectors; permit steps
www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/what-it-takes-to-work-parttime-in-korea-as-an-international-student/12929876MOJ 7 Oct 2026 reform: TOPIK 4 financial-proof waiver, expanded deposit system for high-risk countries, KIIP 3 for part-time work, D-10 1-3 years
view.asiae.co.kr/en/article/20261007104957961192027 minimum wage KRW 10,700/hour, up 3.7% from 10,320
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260714/hourly-minimum-wage-set-at-10700-won-for-2027-up-37-from-this-yearD-2 proof KRW 20 million held 28 days (30 million+ at some high-risk-country embassies); visa fee USD 80 single; ARC KRW 30,000; NHIS about KRW 40,000/month; tuition ranges; 2-4 week processing
www.study-abroad.org/blog/kr-student-visa-guideBangladesh agency guidance: USD 16,000-20,000+, 6-month statement safest, sponsor and documented education loan accepted
www.bksi.org/2026/09/south-korea-student-visa-bank-statement-financial-documents-bangladesh.htmlF-2-7: Korean master's graduates eligible if hired within 5 years, 80 of 170 points, Korean up to 20 points, F-5 after 3 years
www.visaskorea.com/blog/en/f2-7-points-visa-korea/GKS 2026 graduate round for Bangladesh: 12-25 Feb 2026; 7 embassy-track and 20 university-track seats
overseas.mofa.go.kr/bd-en/brd/m_2124/view.do?seq=7600901 USD = 124.50 BDT = 1,336.18 KRW
open.er-api.com/v6/latest/USD