Two paths

Meet Aziz from Uzbekistan, and Mai from Vietnam.

Same dream, a degree in Korea. But two different roads.

Two roads? Which one is mine?

Let's find out. By the end of this module, you'll choose your own path.

Path A is Aziz's road.

He came to Korea with almost no Korean, and joined a language course on a D-4 visa.

After one to two years of study, he passed TOPIK, entered a degree program,

and switched to a D-2 visa.

So he learned Korean in Korea.

Right. That's Path A's biggest strength.

You live in Korean every day, so you learn fast, and you get used to life here

before your degree starts.

The downside: it takes longer, and it costs more at the start,

because you pay language course tuition and living costs for those extra terms.

Path B is Mai's road.

She studied Korean at home for about a year, passed TOPIK, and applied straight to a

degree program on a D-2 visa.

No language course at all?

Not in Korea. That saves her one to two years of tuition and living costs.

That's why Path B can cost much less at the start.

But remember, even on Path B, you still need proof of funds for your visa.

We'll cover that in Module 3.

And Path B only works if you're ready.

You need to study on your own, pass TOPIK on time, and meet your school's Korean

requirement.

So Path B isn't 'cheap'. It's 'prepared'.

Exactly. Path B is possible when you're prepared.

Path A is the safer start when you're not ready yet.

Either way, TOPIK is your key.

In 2027, there are fifteen test dates: six paper, six internet, and three speaking

tests.

Scores stay valid for two years.

Two years? So I shouldn't take it too early.

Good thinking. Plan your test date around your application.

And never let anyone take the test for you.

Cheating can ban you from TOPIK for years.

Quick check. Path B students save money. What do they need to prepare first?