Korea National Open University is a public national university in South Korea with an open education model built for flexible study. It suits students who need undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree options without traditional entry restrictions and who can study through online and regional-center formats.
Students can study undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programmes. The university’s open education model supports self-directed study through online platforms and regional centers, but the current programme catalogue should be checked on the official website before applying.
KNOU offers access without traditional entry restrictions, but the exact entry requirements, document list, and application steps for international students should be confirmed on the official website. Applicants should also check programme-specific requirements, whether any previous qualifications are needed, and how to submit supporting documents from abroad.
The university does not publish a fee in the information available here; confirm the current tuition and any mandatory charges with its admissions office. Living costs in South Korea will depend on where you live and study, so you should budget separately for housing, transport, food, and personal expenses.
The language of instruction is not published, so confirm that before applying, along with whether your chosen programme has any language requirement. If you are moving from abroad, also check how classes are delivered, how exams are handled, what time-zone issues may affect online study, and whether you need to use a regional center.
Among South Korea’s 245 universities, KNOU stands out for open access and flexible delivery rather than a traditional on-campus model. It is a strong option for students who need distance study or non-traditional entry routes, while applicants looking for a conventional campus experience should compare it carefully with other institutions.
Written from this university's catalogue entry and its cited encyclopedia summary. Figures are only shown where the institution or a cited source publishes them — always confirm fees and entry requirements with the university itself before applying.
It is a public national university in South Korea.
It offers undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programmes.
No traditional entry restrictions are described for its open education model.
Study is available through online platforms and regional centers.
Korea National Open University is a national university of South Korea. KNOU is South Korea's leading institution for open education, providing accessible and flexible higher education to over 94,000 students and the largest educational institution in the country by enrollment. Established in 1972 and becoming an independent national university in 1982, KNOU removes barriers to learning by offering undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs without traditional entry restrictions. Its open education model enables students from diverse backgrounds to pursue accredited degrees through various formats, including online platforms and regional centers. With evolving technology and increased demand for remote learning, KNOU has expanded opportunities for self-directed education, making higher learning more inclusive and widely available. Korea National Open University ranked 151st among the top 1,000 major universities according to the Academic ranking of World Universities index of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2016) and 201st in the World University Rankings index published by Times Higher Education (2017).
Indicative annual tuition
On request
Indicative living cost
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Fees vary by programme and are indicative. Confirm exact fees with the university before applying.
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Last updated 29 Aug 2026. Information is provided for guidance — verify with official sources before applying.
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