1. About the Graduate School of Korean Studies
2. Key Attributes
3. Program Overview
4. Financial Aid 
5. Majors Offered
6. Number of Students to be Admitted 
7. Eligibility
8. Selection Process
9. Application Procedure and Schedule
10. Required Documents
11. Important Notes for Applicants 
12. Research(Non-Degree) Program
13. Facilities 
14. Transportation 
15. Contact Information  

1. About the Graduate School of Korean Studies

   The Graduate School of Korean Studies (GKS) is a subsidiary of the Academy of Korean Studies, dedicated to research related to humanities and social sciences in the field of Korean Studies. The Graduate School's mission is to explore the essence of Korean culture and its impact on the future of Korea while cultivating superior scholars who will contribute to the development and globalization of Korean Studies. 
     Since its establishment in March, 1980, GKS has provided research-oriented education via mentoring system. As a result, graduates of GKS are recognized for their academic excellence, playing pivotal roles among educational and research institutions of Korean Studies around the world today. Currently, approximately 200 students, including about 80 students from 17 foreign countries, study at GKS.
     As the world's leading graduate school of Korean Studies, the Graduate School of Korean Studies has raised the global profile and reputation of Korean Studies by leading the way in the promotion of Korean Studies both nationally and internationally. 

2. Key Attributes
▣ The only research-oriented graduate school specializing in Korean Studies in the world 
▣ A highly selective student body with a 3:1 student-faculty ratio
▣ Collaborative lectures to promote interdisciplinary research 
▣ One-on-one, individualized learning between students and professors
▣ Students' publication of articles in an accredited academic journal or participation in research projects may count as credits for their course works.
▣ Fieldwork courses: Great opportunity for understanding Korean society 
▣ The Program of International Korean Studies offers lectures in English.
▣ Intensive Korean language courses available for international students
▣ Student exchange programs with overseas universities 
▣ Full-time study
▣ Affordable tuition and various financial aids 
▣ On-campus housing for every international student  

3. Program Overview
The Graduate School of Korean Studies offers 16 majors for M.A. and 14 majors for Ph.D. programs.

▣ Number of years required to complete coursework 
  (1) M.A. Program: 2 years 
  (2) Ph.D. Program: 3 years 
▣ Each year consists of two semesters. 
  (1) First (Spring) semester: March 1 to August 31 
  (2) Second (Fall) semester: September 1 to the last day of February of the following year. 
▣ Each semester is 15 weeks long. 
▣ Most lectures are conducted in Korean, but several lectures a semester are offered in English. 
▣ M.A. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation must be written in Korean. In special cases, the Graduate School Committee may allow writing them in English.  
▣ In order to improve their research skill, international students are expected to improve their Korean language proficiency. All newly admitted foreign students must take the Korean language test on the scheduled date, and according to its results, they may have to take different number of Korean language classes offered by GKS, in order to complete their coursework.  


4. Financial Aid 
▣ Full Tuition Waiver: All international students are provided with a full tuition waiver. However, violation of the university code will cause withdrawal of this tuition waiver. 
▣ Government Grant: The Government Grant provides selected students with a monthly stipend of KRW 750,000 and one round-trip airfare.
  ※ After enrollment the grant recipient must maintain average grade point of 3.7/4.3. (For the first two semesters, the recipient must maintain GPA of 3.3/4.3 instead of 3.7/4.3.) Failure in doing so will result in cancelation of the grant. 
▣ Other financial aid opportunities: Limited number of RA/TA positions is available.

5. Majors Offered
 

6. Number of Students to be Admitted 
▣ Number of international students to be admitted each semester is not fixed. 


7. Eligibility
▣ All applicants must meet one of the two conditions below. 
1. Neither the applicant nor his or her parents possess Korean nationality.  
2. The applicant has completed more than 16 years of education outside of Korea that is compatible with Korea's elementary, middle, high school and college education. 

▣ Master's Program 
  Applicants for the Master's program must have a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) or be expected to receive a Bachelor's degree before enrollment at GKS. 
  ※ An applicant's undergraduate major does not necessarily have to be related to the major that he or she is applying for at GKS. 

▣ Doctoral Program 
  Applicants for the Doctoral program must have an M.A. degree (or equivalent) or be expected to receive an M.A. degree before enrollment at GKS. 
※ An applicant's major in M.A. degree must be same or closely related to the major that he or she is applying for at GKS. 
※ If the applicant already holds a doctoral degree, he or she cannot apply for the doctoral program in the similar field. 


8. Selection Process
▣ Applicants who have submitted all required documents will have a phone interview, and the interview result will be considered at the application documents review. 
▣ At the application documents review, the Graduate Admission Committee makes a comprehensive evaluation of the application form, statement of purpose, personal statement, recommendation letters, language proficiency, previous academic achievement, academic willingness, etc. 


9. Application Procedure and Schedule
 

10. Required Documents
▣ Application Form (Download) 
▣ Personal Statement 
▣ Statement of Purpose 
▣ Degree Certificate & Graduation Certificate of Bachelor's and/or M.A. Degree in original copy  
※ Applicants for the doctoral program must submit certificates of both M.A. and B.A. degree. 
※ Applicants who have graduated from universities in the People's Republic of China must also submit an English academic degree certificate accreditation from the China Academic Degree & Graduate Education Development Center (http://www.cdgdc.edu.cn/). 
▣ Official Transcripts of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in original copy 
※ Applicants for Doctoral program must attach the abstract of their M.A. thesis. 
▣ Two Letters of Recommendation (Download) 
※ One of the letters should be written by a professor of the applicant's undergraduate/graduate school.  
※ Recommendation letters must be sent directly by the recommenders.  
▣ Certificate of Korean Language Proficiency (Download) 
※ Applicants for the International Korean Studies are exempt. 
▣ Korean (S-TOPIK) and English (TOEFL, IELTS or TEPS) language proficiency test transcript, if available 
※ Applicants for the International Korean Studies whose first language is not English are required to submit English language proficiency test transcript. 
▣ Three passport-sized photos  
▣ Application Fee: US $50 or KRW 50,000 
  *KRW: account no. 270937-04-000487 (Kookmin Bank) 
  *USD: account no. 270968-08-100314 (Kookmin Bank) 
  (Account holder: Academy of Korean Studies) 
   Kookmin Bank swift code: CZNBKRSEXXX 


11. Important Notes for Applicants 
▣ Application form, letters of recommendation, certificate of Korean language proficiency must be in the format downloadable at GKS website.
▣ Application form, personal statement, and statement of purpose may be submitted by online applications at GKS application website (http://portal.aks.ac.kr/Entrance/login.jsp). Other required documents must be submitted by registered mail.
▣ Personal statement and statement of purpose must be written in Korean.  (Applicants for the International Korean Studies may write in English.)
▣ Any certificates that are not written in Korean or English must be translated and notarized in Korean or English before being submitted. 
▣ Applications with any missing document would not be accepted and reviewed.
▣ Submitted documents and the application fee will not be returned. 
▣ All statements in the application must be true. If any false statement in the documents are discovered, admission may be revoked. 
▣ Language test scores must be less than 2 years old on the date of application.

12. Research(Non-Degree) Program
A. Eligibility
  The applicant must possess a Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent. 

B. Program Overview 
  ▣ Researchers must pay the tuition, and the research period can not be longer than a year.  
  ▣ Research program certificate will be issued to the researchers who have successfully completed the program.  
  ▣ Researchers must register for at least one course each semester and must research under the guidance of an academic adviser at GKS. 
  ▣ Researchers have access to GKS facilities including library and dormitory. 

C. Application Procedure and Required Documents  
  Application timetable, required documents, and ways of application for the Research (Non-degree) program are same as those for the Degree Program. 


13. Facilities 
▣ Graduate School building 
  ◦ GKS building has lecture rooms, graduate students study rooms (open 24 hours), an Internet PC room, and a language lab. 

▣ Jangseogak Library 
  ◦ Janseogak library, specialized in Korean Studies, has some 350,000 books and rare materials related to Korean Studies, antiquarian books (some 100,000 books and 500,000 antique documents), and the Master's theses and doctoral dissertations. 

▣ Siseupjae 
  ◦ Siseupjae includes the Guesthouse for Korean Studies scholars (from home and abroad) and a dormitory for graduate students. The dormitary has only double rooms (2 students in a room), and the residential fee is KRW 463,500 per semester.) Siseupjae also has meeting rooms, a communal kitchen, a laundry room, and a fitness center. 

▣ Others
  ◦ Cafeteria, convenient store, soccer field, and a table tennis room are available to students. 

14. Transportation 
▣ Indeogwon Station of 4(blue) line→At the Exit #2, take bus #303 or #1550-3. 
▣ Seohyeon Station of Bundang line→At the Exit #2, take the bus #220 (toward Unjungdong)→Final stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Sunae Station of Bundang line→From the Exit #2 or 3, walk about 60 meters toward the South→Take the bus #220 (toward Unjungdong) in front of the Bundang Downdown BD→Final stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Seoul Station→Bus #9003 (toward Unjungdong)→ Final stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Jamshil Station→Bus #9005 (toward Unjungdong) → Final stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Gangnam Station→Bus #9004 (toward Unjungdong) → Final stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Moran Station of Bundang line→Bus #340→Final Stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Yatap Station of Bundang line→Bus #350→Final Stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 
▣ Ori Station of Bundang line→Bus #370 or #380→Final Stop (Academy of Korean Studies) 

15. Contact Information  
Address : THE ACADEMY OF KOREAN STUDIES 
The Graduate School of Korean Studies 
110 Haogogaegil(Unjung-dong), Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, 
Gyeonggi-do, 463-791, Republic of Korea 
Tel : +82-31-709-8111(Ex 213～214), +82-31-708-5310 
Fax : +82-31-709-9946 
E-mail : gradaks@aks.ac.kr 
Website : http://www.aks.ac.kr