Gyeonggi · SeongnamNational universityEnglish-taught options

The Academy of Korean Studies

한국학중앙연구원 한국학대학원

Humanities · Social Science · Arts & Sports · Education

25

Departments

Yes

English-taught

4+

Lowest TOPIK

Gyeonggi

Region

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.

Official site ↗International admissions ↗

At a glance

1980

Founded

~200

Students

Costs and housing

On-campus housing

Available

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.

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.

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

When to apply

Fall intake

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.

Spring intake

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.

Intakes and windows recur each year, but exact dates shift. Confirm on the official admissions site.

Known for

Strong programs

Korean Cultural Studies (taught in English)Korean HistoryPhilosophyAnthropology·FolklorePolitical Science

What it costs to study here

Tuition (international undergrad)

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 →

Departments and majors

Programs open to international undergraduates for the 2026 GKS-U cycle. Sort or filter to find your field.

		Taught in		Starts
Arts & Sports	Art HistoryMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Arts & Sports	Art HistoryPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Arts & Sports	MusicologyMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Arts & Sports	MusicologyPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Education	EducationMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Education	EducationPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Diplomatics and BibliographyMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Diplomatics and BibliographyPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Korean Cultural StudiesMaster's	English-taught	Not TOPIK-based	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Korean HistoryMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Korean HistoryPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Korean Linguistics·Korean LiteratureMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Korean Linguistics·Korean LiteraturePhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	PhilosophyMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	PhilosophyPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Religious StudiesMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Humanities	Religious StudiesPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Anthropology·FolkloreMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Anthropology·FolklorePhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Cultural Informatics·Human GeographyMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Cultural Informatics·Human GeographyPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Political ScienceMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	Political SciencePhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	SociologyMaster's	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep
Social Science	SociologyPhD	Korean-taught	TOPIK 4+	Mar / Sep

25 of 25 departments

University scholarships

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 ↗

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 →

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Admissions contact

International Student Advisor, The Graduate School of Korean Studies

Phone: +82-31-730-8183
Email: admission_intl@aks.ac.kr
Send applications to: 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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