KA
Gyeonggi · SeongnamNational universityEnglish-taught options

The Academy of Korean Studies

한국학중앙연구원 한국학대학원

Humanities · Social Science · Arts & Sports · Education

25
Graduate programs
Yes
Англиар
4+
Хамгийн бага TOPIK
Gyeonggi
Бүс нутаг
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Тойм

The Graduate School of Korean Studies is the graduate school of the Academy of Korean Studies, a research institution funded and administered by the Korean government. Established in 1980, it is research-oriented and teaches only the humanities and social sciences that relate to Korea.

Албан ёсны сайт ↗Олон улсын элсэлт ↗

Location

Region
Gyeonggi
City or campus
Seongnam

Where you study shapes your rent, your commute, and your daily life. Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi area are the busiest and priciest; regional cities cost less and move at a gentler pace.

Товчхон

1980
Байгуулагдсан
~200
Оюутнууд

Tuition and fees

Сургалтын төлбөр (олон улсын бакалавр)
Fully waived

Every admitted international student receives a full tuition waiver for the coursework period, 2 years for a master's and 3 years for a doctorate. Boarding and living costs are paid by the student. Research (non-degree) students pay the designated tuition fee.

How costs and financial proof work →

Living costs

Beyond tuition, budget for rent, food, transport, phone, and insurance. Costs vary most by city: living in Seoul runs noticeably higher than in a regional town.

To be issued the Certificate of Admission needed for a D-2 visa, applicants send an original bank balance certificate by post: 14,880,000 KRW for most applicants, or 5,280,000 KRW for Government Grant recipients. Students on a D-2 visa pay roughly 75,000 KRW a month for National Health Insurance. A Korean consulate may ask for a different amount for the visa itself, so confirm with yours.

Cost of living by city →A realistic monthly student budget →

Housing

Кампусын байр
Боломжтой

The campus has a dormitory. Residents must submit tuberculosis (chest X-ray) results alongside the general health check. Boarding fees are paid by the student.

Figures are approximate and change each year. Confirm on the official site before you rely on them.

Student housing in Korea, explained →

Их сургуулийн тэтгэлэг

University and department awards

Tuition-fee Exemption Scholarship

tuition waiver
Full tuition every semester, for 2 years (master's) or 3 years (doctoral).

All admitted international students, for the whole coursework period, unless the student is placed on academic probation or subject to disciplinary action. No separate application.

Details ↗

POSCO Global Scholarship

international grant
1,000,000 KRW per month living allowance, a 1,000,000 KRW initial settlement grant, a 100,000 KRW per month health insurance subsidy, and Korean language learning opportunities. 2 years (master's) or 3 years (doctoral).

Funded by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation. Approximately 3 students admitted in the spring semester. Open only to nationals of the countries the guideline designates; Korean nationals, including dual citizens, are not eligible. There is no separate application: the school's committee recommends candidates from among the final successful applicants, and the Foundation interviews and selects.

Details ↗

Government Grant

international grant
800,000 KRW per month living allowance, for 1 year, renewable annually on evaluation.

Up to 15 students per semester, with no nationality restriction. There is no separate application: the school's committee selects from among the final successful applicants. Students who are not selected can reapply each semester.

Details ↗
How the government scholarship (GKS) works →All Korea scholarships →

Campus life

We have not yet written a verified campus-life note for this university. In the meantime, here is what daily life in Korea is like for international students.

Life in Korea for international students →

Graduate programs (Master's and PhD)

Master's and doctoral programs open to international students for the 2026 GKS-G cycle. Filter by degree, field, or language to find yours.

ХэлЭхлэх
Arts & SportsArt HistoryMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Arts & SportsArt HistoryPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Arts & SportsMusicologyMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Arts & SportsMusicologyPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
EducationEducationMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
EducationEducationPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesDiplomatics and BibliographyMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesDiplomatics and BibliographyPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesKorean Cultural StudiesMaster'sEnglish-taughtTOPIK шаардахгүйMar / Sep
HumanitiesKorean HistoryMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesKorean HistoryPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesKorean Linguistics·Korean LiteratureMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesKorean Linguistics·Korean LiteraturePhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesPhilosophyMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesPhilosophyPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesReligious StudiesMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
HumanitiesReligious StudiesPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceAnthropology·FolkloreMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceAnthropology·FolklorePhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceCultural Informatics·Human GeographyMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceCultural Informatics·Human GeographyPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social SciencePolitical ScienceMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social SciencePolitical SciencePhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceSociologyMaster'sKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep
Social ScienceSociologyPhDKorean-taughtTOPIK 4+Mar / Sep

25 of 25 тэнхимүүд

English-taught programs

1 of 25 listed programs have English-taught options. Use the language filter on the programs table above to see exactly which programs run in English.

Fields with English-taught options
Humanities
How English-taught degrees in Korea work →

Admission requirements

The steps are much the same wherever you apply. Here is the shape of it, start to finish.

Do you need Korean to apply?TOPIK 4+ lowest

Whether you need Korean depends on your program.

The Academy of Korean Studies lists both English-taught and Korean-taught programs. The English-taught ones admit on an English test (IELTS or TOEFL), sometimes with no TOPIK required. The Korean-taught ones need a TOPIK score, the lowest here being TOPIK 4. Check the language and TOPIK columns for your major in the programs table above before you apply.

Either way, plan to keep learning Korean. Some programs still ask for a TOPIK level to graduate even when classes are in English, and daily life in Korea runs in Korean.

How the TOPIK test works →
  1. 01
    Pick one program

    You apply to a single university and department at a time. Choose the program whose language, field, and requirements match you, using the programs table above.

  2. 02
    Prepare and legalize documents

    Gather your transcripts, certificates, and forms, and get the required ones apostilled or consular-confirmed. This step takes the longest, so start early.

  3. 03
    Submit before the deadline

    Apply through the route that fits you: the Global Korea Scholarship (embassy or university track) or the university's own international admission. Watch the calendar below.

  4. 04
    Interview and results

    Shortlisted applicants may sit an interview. Final results arrive in rounds, so keep an eye on your email and the official portal.

Намрын элсэлт
Applications in March, the year you would start

Classes start 1 September. In the 2026 cycle the window was 9 to 20 March 2026, with interviews on 6 to 8 May and results on 29 May.

Хаврын элсэлт
Applications from late August to mid September, the year before

Classes start 1 March. For 2027 Spring entry the window is 31 August to 11 September 2026, with interviews on 4 to 6 November and results on 27 November.

The official admission guideline

How to apply to The Academy of Korean Studies

We read this school's own admission guideline end to end and wrote out the whole application: who can apply, the language you need, every document, the deadlines, and the interview.

Read the admissions guide →

Application documents

This list follows the Global Korea Scholarship requirements, the most common route international students take. A university you apply to directly may ask for a slightly different set, so always cross-check its own guideline.

Forms to complete
  • Form 1: Application Form
  • Form 2: Personal Statement
  • Form 3: Study Plan
  • Form 5: Letter of Recommendation

    One letter, signed and sealed by a recommender who can assess your academic ability (e.g. a supervising professor or department head).

  • Form 8: GKS Applicant Agreement
  • Form 9: Personal Medical Assessment
  • Form 10: Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information
Certificates to legalize
  • Form 4: Research Proposal

    Only for Research program applicants.

  • Form 6: Letter of Invitation

    Only for Research program applicants; issued by the host research university.

  • Form 7: Korean Language Program Exemption Application

    Optional; only for current academic professors seeking a language-year exemption.

  • Proof of citizenship and family relationshipApostille

    Proof of citizenship for you and both parents, plus an official document (birth certificate or family register) proving your family relationship.

  • Bachelor's graduation certificate (or diploma)Apostille

    Or a certificate of expected graduation that states the date.

  • Bachelor's degree transcriptApostille
  • Master's graduation certificate (or diploma)Apostille

    Required for doctoral and research program applicants.

  • Master's degree transcriptApostille

    Required for doctoral and research program applicants.

  • Doctoral graduation certificate and transcriptApostille

    Only for postdoctoral research program applicants.

  • Certificate of employmentApostille

    Only for professional applicants under the research program.

  • Proof of overseas-Korean or adoptee status

    Only for Overseas-Korean / Adoptee applicants. Supporting documents (family register or birth certificate) that prove the family relationship to your lineal ascendant.

  • Proof of Korean citizenship renunciation

    Only if you or a parent previously held Korean citizenship.

  • Proof of Korean War veteran's descendant

    Only for descendants of a foreign Korean War veteran. Adds evaluation points.

  • Certificate of employment or experience

    For International Organization program applicants (e.g. a faculty member of the international organization's partner university).

Optional, but they help
  • TOPIK score report

    Optional but adds points. TOPIK level 3 or above adds bonus points, and level 5 or 6 exempts the language year.

  • English proficiency score report (TOEFL or IELTS)

    Optional. A strong score can add language points and is preferred by some departments.

  • Copies of awards and other certificates

    Optional. Evidence that supports your personal statement and study plan.

  • Applicant's passport copy

    Submit if your proof of citizenship does not clearly indicate citizenship information.

The full application document checklist →

Application timeline

The cycle runs on roughly the same calendar every year. These are the milestones to plan around.

Next milestone
Embassy track application deadline
late February 2027 · About 7 months to go
  1. Embassy track application deadline
    late February 2027
  2. Embassy 1st round results
    mid-March 2027
  3. Embassy documents arrive at NIIED
    by early April 2027
  4. University track application deadline
    February to April 2027 (set by each university)
  5. University 1st round results
    by late April 2027
  6. University documents arrive at NIIED
    by early May 2027
  7. Embassy 2nd round results (NIIED)
    early May 2027
  8. Embassy 3rd round results (universities)
    by early June 2027
  9. University 2nd round results (NIIED)
    early June 2027
  10. Notify your final university choice
    by June 12, 2027
  11. Final successful candidates announced
    late June 2027

Dates for the upcoming cycle are estimates based on the last published calendar. Confirm each one on the official source when it is released.

The full application timeline →

Ask the admissions office

If this page has not answered something, you can send your question to The Academy of Korean Studies's international admissions office. We review each request before it is delivered, and the reply comes to your email.

Open the inquiry form ↓

Working part-time

On a D-2 study visa you may work part-time after your first semester, with permission from your university and the immigration office. Weekly hours are capped during term and expanded over vacations, and the work must meet your visa conditions and pay at least the national minimum wage.

Part-time work rules on a D-2 visa →What part-time jobs pay in Korea →

Is this university right for you?

Consider applying if
  • You want to study in English: this university lists English-taught programs.
  • You want lower fees: as a national university it charges less than most private ones.
  • Cost is your first concern: admitted students pay no tuition here.
  • You need funding help: it runs its own scholarships on top of the government one.
Look elsewhere if
  • You want a bachelor's degree: this institution lists only graduate programs.

This is guidance drawn from the facts on this page, not a prediction of your chances. Only the university decides who is admitted.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving apostilles to the last minute

    Legalizing documents can take weeks and depends on your home country's process. Start as soon as you have your transcripts.

  • Assuming everything is in English

    Many programs are Korean-taught. Confirm the language of your specific department, not just that the university offers some English options.

  • Missing the one-university rule

    For the government scholarship you may apply to only one university per round. Choose deliberately.

  • A generic study plan

    Your personal statement and study plan carry real weight. Write specifically about this university and program, not a generic love letter to Korea.

  • Ignoring the TOPIK requirement

    Even English-track students often need Korean eventually. Check the level your program asks for and plan your study around it.

Frequently asked questions

Does The Academy of Korean Studies teach programs in English?
Yes. The Academy of Korean Studies lists English-taught programs for international students, alongside Korean-taught ones. Use the language filter on the programs table above to see which.
What TOPIK level do I need for The Academy of Korean Studies?
The lowest Korean requirement across The Academy of Korean Studies's listed programs is TOPIK 4. Individual departments may ask for more, so check your major in the programs table above.
How much is tuition at The Academy of Korean Studies?
Admitted international students pay no tuition at The Academy of Korean Studies. Confirm the current terms on the official site.
Is The Academy of Korean Studies a public or private university?
The Academy of Korean Studies is a national (public) university, which usually means lower tuition than a private university.
When can I apply to The Academy of Korean Studies?
Approximate windows: fall intake, applications in march, the year you would start; spring intake, applications from late august to mid september, the year before. Exact dates shift each year, so confirm on the official admissions site.
How many programs does The Academy of Korean Studies offer international students?
The Academy of Korean Studies lists 25 graduate programs open to international students in the data we track. Browse them all in the programs table above.

Элсэлтийн холбоо барих

International Student Advisor, The Graduate School of Korean Studies
Бичиг баримтыг илгээх хаяг
International Student Advisor, The Graduate School of Korean Studies, The Academy of Korean Studies, Haogae-ro 323, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea (Postcode: 13455)

Last verified 2026-07-14

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