You may register for up to 9 credits per semester. Designated prerequisite courses may be taken in addition to the 9-credit limit.

Yes, within one-half of the credits required for coursework completion in your degree program (Master’s: 12 credits · Doctoral: 18 credits · Integrated Master’s–Doctoral: 27 credits).

Courses offered by another department within the Graduate School may be registered for directly through the course registration system. For courses offered by another graduate school at Kookmin University, you must print the “Other Course Registration” form, obtain the course instructor’s approval, and submit it to the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team. This is available only during the pre-semester course registration period.

Prerequisite courses may be assigned when your previous major—undergraduate for Master’s entrants or Master’s for doctoral entrants—differs from the department to which you were admitted. Completion is mandatory for coursework completion, but prerequisite credits are not included in your GPA or in the credits counted toward coursework completion.

As a rule, prerequisite courses should be taken early, preferably in the first or second semester. Check in advance when the required courses are offered.

A course is cancelled if fewer than three students remain enrolled after the registration period. Students in a cancelled course must change to another course during the course-change/withdrawal period.

Yes. Credit exchange is allowed within one-half of the credits required for coursework completion, and is limited to one course at one university per semester. Submit the credit-exchange application to the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team after obtaining approval from your thesis advisor, department chair, and course instructor.

Credit exchange may be restricted in the final semester or an additional semester because of coursework-completion and graduation review requirements.

Check your grade during the official grade-review period and request a correction directly from the instructor. If the correction is accepted, be sure to verify the final grade afterward.

You must complete the end-of-semester course evaluation before you can view your grade.

Applications are generally accepted in January and July each year. Apply personally through the ON국민 Portal and, after submitting the application, be sure to confirm approval in your academic-status record.

An ordinary leave of absence may be taken for up to three consecutive semesters and six semesters in total. After reaching either three consecutive semesters or six semesters in total, you must return to study for at least one semester.

Leave for pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare may be taken for up to four additional semesters in total.

No. You must submit a new leave application during the designated application period before the current leave expires. Failure to do so results in dismissal upon expiration of the leave period.

Likewise, if you do not return to study within three weeks after the leave period has ended, you will be dismissed.

As a rule, no. Exceptions are allowed only for reasons specified in the regulations, such as military service, illness, pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare.

Tuition is refunded according to the University’s refund schedule.

• Up to the day before the semester begins: full refund
• From the first day through day 30: 5/6 of tuition
• From day 31 through day 60: 2/3 of tuition
• From day 61 through day 90: 1/2 of tuition
• After day 90: no refund

You must register and pay tuition again in the semester in which you return.

Even when the amount due is KRW 0, you must complete the registration confirmation process at a Woori Bank branch or through internet banking. If you do not complete this step, you will be dismissed for non-registration.

Internet-banking path: Personal Banking → Public Payments → Tuition → Tuition Inquiry/Payment → enter university name, virtual account, and student ID.

If you were dismissed because your leave expired or because you failed to register, you may apply for readmission. Dismissal for disciplinary reasons is excluded.

Readmission is announced before each semester begins, usually around January and July. The process is: obtain confirmation from your thesis advisor and department chair on the readmission application → submit it to the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team → review by the Department Academic Affairs Committee → announcement of the result.

A readmission fee equal to one-half of the admission fee for the relevant year is charged. Previously completed semesters, credits, and qualifying examinations may be recognized.

Tuition is assessed according to the number of credits for which you register. Up to 3 credits: one-half of the regular tuition; 4 credits or more: full tuition.

Students admitted in 2024 or earlier · Master’s students pay 1/50 of the semester tuition and doctoral students 1/10, only in the semester in which they undergo the Final Thesis Examination.

Students admitted in 2025 or later · Master’s students pay 6% of tuition and doctoral students 12%. Research registration is mandatory from the semester after coursework completion until degree conferral, up to two times for Master’s students and four times for doctoral students. Any unpaid amount carries forward and must be paid in full in the semester of the degree-thesis examination.

For students admitted in 2024 or earlier, research registration is not required in a semester devoted to the Preliminary Thesis Review or thesis-supervision evaluation; it is required only in the later semester of the Final Thesis Examination. For students admitted in 2025 or later, research registration is mandatory from the semester after coursework completion regardless of whether a review is being conducted that semester.

Because the rule differs by admission year, confirm the requirement for your own cohort with the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team (02-910-4313).

Yes, but only if you have already earned the credits required for coursework completion. The Master’s program may be shortened by up to six months, and the Integrated Master’s–Doctoral program by up to one year.

Meeting another eligibility condition does not permit a reduction if the required-credit condition has not been satisfied.

There are four basic application types. The Integrated Master’s–Doctoral program is also subject to a separate expanded reduction scheme.

• Students with approved pre-enrollment graduate coursework · Master’s students in their third semester who earned at least 6 graduate credits at Kookmin University during their undergraduate program, with grades of B or higher. Students admitted in September 2026 or later may not use this category.
• Students with publications in recognized international journals · Master’s students in their third semester or doctoral students in their fourth semester with 100% recognized publication credit in SCI, SSCI, SCIE, A&HCI, or SCOPUS journals. Doctoral students admitted in 2025 or later are excluded.
• Students selected for the Bachelor’s–Master’s linked program · Master’s students in their third semester who earned at least 6 graduate credits with grades of B or higher.
• Students selected for the reserved admission system for the Master’s program · Students who entered the Graduate School immediately after graduation and are recognized for 6 graduate credits completed as undergraduates.

For six-month or one-year reductions in the Integrated Master’s–Doctoral program, also review the separate expanded eligibility requirements below.

Credit for co-authored research is weighted by the number of authors.

• Sole author 100% / 2 authors 70% / 3 authors 50% / 4 authors 30% / 5 authors 20% / 6 or more authors 1⁄(n+1)
• A first author receives 70% credit even when there are three or more authors.

Because a total of 100% is required, eligibility may be met through one sole-authored paper or by combining recognized first-author publication credit.

Only publications published from the date of the student’s admission through the designated deadline for the relevant semester are recognized (for 2026 Fall: December 18, 2026).

If publication has been formally accepted but the article has not yet appeared, you may apply with a certificate of forthcoming publication. The final published output must then be submitted by the same deadline.

This applies to students newly admitted in Spring 2025 or later and to students promoted to the doctoral phase of the integrated program from that point onward. One qualifying condition permits a six-month reduction; two qualifying conditions permit a one-year reduction.

The recognized conditions are: ① coursework-completion GPA of at least 4.0 ② publication in an SCI-level journal ③ 6 credits of graduate coursework completed in advance.

To receive recognition for two conditions, each condition must be submitted separately in the system. However, the current guidance does not identify which of the four system application types corresponds directly to the coursework-completion GPA of at least 4.0 condition. Confirm the application method with the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team before applying.

Master’s students apply at the beginning of the third semester. Integrated Master’s–Doctoral students apply while enrolled in the sixth semester for a one-year reduction, or in the seventh semester for a six-month reduction.

2026 Fall submission period: September 1, 2026 (Tue) – September 11, 2026 (Fri), 17:00.

No in-person submission is required. In the ON국민 Portal, go to Academic Services (학사서비스) → Academic Status (학적정보) → Reduction of Required Study Period Application (수업연한단축신청(원)). Click [Add/추가], verify the application information, select the reduction type under the detailed application information, and upload the required files.

One application form for reduction of the required period of study is required for every category, together with the following documents.

• Reduction based on publication: one copy of the published paper (or one certificate of forthcoming publication if publication is pending)
• Pre-enrollment coursework · Bachelor’s–Master’s linked program · reserved Master’s admission system: one Graduate School transcript

On the transcript, clearly mark the relevant pre-enrollment graduate courses, for example with a highlighter.

For the pre-enrollment coursework, Bachelor’s–Master’s linked program, and reserved Master’s admission categories, the transcript attachment may be omitted if you search for and save the relevant courses directly in the system. In that case, two courses are added and saved in the application.

The applicant, thesis advisor, and department chair must all sign or affix their seals. Scan the fully signed application and upload it as an attachment.

The sequence is: ① thesis advisor assignment (at the beginning of the second semester) → ② Foreign Language Examination → ③ Comprehensive Examination → ④ thesis-supervision evaluation or Preliminary Thesis Review → ⑤ Final Thesis Examination → ⑥ submission of examination results and final thesis (Library dCollection + Graduate School Academic Affairs Team).

The Preliminary Thesis Review must be passed in a semester before the Final Thesis Examination. The Foreign Language and Comprehensive Examinations may, according to the academic calendar, be taken in the same semester in which the Final Thesis Examination is requested; however, failure in either examination invalidates the degree-thesis examination request for that semester.

You must satisfy all four thesis-submission eligibility requirements under Article 62 of the Academic Regulations.

1. You have completed, or are expected to complete, the coursework requirements of the Master’s or doctoral program.
2. You have earned the prescribed credits, including any prerequisite courses, with a GPA of B or higher. A GPA below B requires review and recommendation by the Department Academic Affairs Committee.
3. You have passed both the Foreign Language Examination and the Comprehensive Examination.
4. You have received thesis supervision for at least one semester in the Master’s program or two semesters in the doctoral program and have passed the required evaluation (thesis-supervision evaluation or Preliminary Thesis Review).

For examination eligibility, passing standards, and exemptions, see 04. Program Completion · Graduation · Degree.

Yes. The Foreign Language and Comprehensive Examinations and the request for the degree-thesis examination may be processed in the same semester. However, if you fail either examination, the degree-thesis examination request for that semester will not be recognized.

Because this carries significant risk, completing the examinations by the preceding semester is recommended.

Research registration comes first. During the research-registration period at the beginning of the semester (2026 Fall: Aug. 31–Sep. 4), use ON국민 Portal → Academic Services (학사서비스) → Graduation Information (졸업정보) → print the research-registration fee notice → pay online.

Currently enrolled students do not need a separate research-registration application; this requirement applies to students who have completed coursework. Without research registration, you will not be able to complete the thesis-examination request stage.

For the amount of the research-registration fee and rules by admission year, see 02. Academic Status · Registration · Leave & Return.

The advisor is assigned at the beginning of the second semester. Taking account of the student’s major, research area, and stated preference, the department chair makes the appointment through review by the Department Academic Affairs Committee.

As a rule, changing an advisor during thesis supervision is not permitted. An exception may be made for circumstances such as the advisor’s research leave, illness, long-term overseas assignment, leave of absence, or another reason recognized by the Department Academic Affairs Committee. In such cases, a Thesis Advisor Change Form must be submitted and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Measured from the beginning of the semester in which the thesis will be submitted, the change must be made at least one semester earlier for Master’s students and two semesters earlier for doctoral students. If supervision continues under another professor in the same field, the previous supervision period is recognized.

A late change may require you to complete additional semesters of thesis supervision.

One advisor is the rule, but up to two may be appointed when the thesis topic is interdisciplinary or when dual supervision is considered necessary for effective guidance.

For strongly interdisciplinary projects, consult the department chair in advance.

A Professor Emeritus cannot be newly appointed as a thesis advisor. However, if an existing advisor becomes Professor Emeritus while supervision is already underway, the advisor may continue in that role.

Both procedures verify that the student has received thesis supervision and passed the required evaluation. A Preliminary Thesis Review is mandatory for doctoral students. For Master’s students, the department determines through the Department Academic Affairs Committee whether to use a thesis-supervision evaluation or a Preliminary Thesis Review. A thesis-supervision evaluation is decided by the advisor; a Preliminary Thesis Review is decided by a review committee.

The Department of X-Cultural Studies does not use the thesis-supervision evaluation; both Master’s and doctoral students undergo a Preliminary Thesis Review.

It is conducted in the semester immediately preceding the Final Thesis Examination. The Preliminary Thesis Review and Final Thesis Examination cannot be conducted in the same semester.

For example, students undergoing the Preliminary Thesis Review in 2026 Fall are those planning to submit the degree thesis for Final Thesis Examination in 2027 Spring.

1. Submit the Preliminary Review (Thesis-Supervision Evaluation) Application + Research Ethics Compliance Pledge to the department office (2026 Fall: Oct. 1–Oct. 7).
2. Submit the Preliminary Review Plan; the department organizes and recommends the review committee (Oct. 12–Oct. 16).
3. The department submits the list of eligible students to the Graduate School (by Oct. 23).
4. Submit one copy of the thesis manuscript directly to each reviewer (Oct. 27–Nov. 2).
5. Conduct the Preliminary Thesis Review (Nov. 3, 2026–Jan. 15, 2027).
6. Submit the result report (by Jan. 22, 2027).

Three, including the thesis advisor. The Department Academic Affairs Committee appoints the reviewers. Minutes of the Committee meeting concerning the reviewer selection must be attached; the department prepares those minutes.

Yes. A public presentation is mandatory and must be held in the presence of the review committee and graduate students from the department.

The average score awarded by the reviewers must be at least 70.

The Graduate School does not prescribe a fixed page length. Detailed procedures and requirements are determined by the Department Academic Affairs Committee. In general, students submit a manuscript that presents the full table of contents and makes the central argument sufficiently clear. Follow the department’s instructions.

No. Students who fail to submit the required documents are treated as unsuccessful, and they are still included in the Preliminary Review result report as non-submitters.

It remains valid until the end of the thesis-submission time limit. If that time limit has expired—i.e., you are in permanent coursework-completion status—you must again pass a thesis-supervision evaluation or Preliminary Thesis Review in the semester immediately before the Final Thesis Examination.

During the application period (2026 Fall: Oct. 1–Oct. 7), you must complete both requirements in ON국민 Portal → Academic Services (학사서비스) → Graduation Information (졸업정보) → Degree Thesis Examination Request (청구논문심사요청).

1. Submit the examination request and Research Ethics Compliance Pledge online.
2. In the same menu, print the examination-fee notice and pay the thesis-supervision fee and examination fee online.

Every semester, applications are delayed because students submit the forms but overlook the payment step.

After review by the Department Academic Affairs Committee, the department chair recommends the examiners and the Dean of the Graduate School formally appoints them. Unless there is a special reason, the Preliminary Thesis Review committee members should be included.

The department enters the committee information in the system by the designated deadline (2026 Fall: by Oct. 16).

Three for a Master’s thesis and five for a doctoral dissertation. For a doctoral dissertation, at least two of the five examiners must be external members who are not full-time faculty members of Kookmin University.

No. The committee chair is selected from among the examiners other than the thesis advisor. The chair presides over the examination but has the same voting right as the other examiners.

As a rule, no. After the examination has begun, an examiner may be replaced only when unavoidable circumstances such as illness or departure from Korea make continued participation impossible, and only with approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.

The student submits the manuscript directly to each examiner, one copy per examiner. For 2026 Fall, the submission period is Oct. 26–Oct. 28. The regulations require three copies for a Master’s thesis and five copies for a doctoral dissertation.

In the Portal’s Degree Thesis Examination Request (청구논문심사요청) menu, print the [Manuscript Submission Confirmation / 원고제출확인서], obtain the examiners’ seals or signatures, and upload it again through [Upload Confirmation File / 확인서파일 업로드] in the same menu.

Failure to upload this confirmation is one of the most common reasons an examination file is returned for correction.

As a rule, a Master’s thesis is examined at least once and a doctoral dissertation at least twice. The review committee determines the detailed procedure and method.

For 2026 Fall, the examination period is Oct. 29–Dec. 18. All examination sessions and revisions must be completed within this period.

An individual examiner’s score of at least 70 out of 100 is considered a passing score. Final passage requires approval from at least two-thirds of the Master’s committee and at least four of the five doctoral examiners.

Yes. Before one-half of the examination period has elapsed, the committee chair must submit a Thesis Examination Deferral Application to the Dean of the Graduate School. In that case, the thesis examination fee already paid is refunded.

For 2026 Fall, the deadline is Nov. 23. After that date, a deferral application cannot be accepted.

Download the deferral application and the research-registration fee refund form from the Graduate School forms page and submit them online to the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team.

When revision or supplementation of the degree thesis makes an extension unavoidable, the examination period may be extended once, for up to six months, with approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.

You may revise or rewrite the thesis and submit it again after at least one semester has elapsed. The thesis-supervision fee and examination fee must be paid again.

The committee chair submits the Final Examination Result Report, Examination Summary, and Plagiarism Check Confirmation through the department office to the Graduate School (2026 Fall: by Dec. 18). Submission of the Examination Summary is completed when the department processes “Submission Confirmed” in the ON국민 Portal.

No. Once the final examination result report has been submitted, the thesis manuscript may no longer be revised or supplemented, and neither the title nor the content may be changed.

Complete the final proofreading before the report is submitted.

The title may be adjusted during the examination process if the examination committee agrees, but it cannot be changed after the final examination result report has been submitted.

The title is carried directly into the approval page, degree certificate, and dCollection bibliographic record. Finalize both the Korean and English titles before the examination process ends.

Yes. It must be conducted at least once during the degree-thesis examination process. Submit both ① the University’s Degree Thesis Plagiarism Check Confirmation Form and ② the report generated by the plagiarism-detection program together with the examination result report.

For Korean-language theses, use CopyKiller (kookmin.copykiller.com) as the primary tool; for theses in foreign languages, use Turnitin as the primary tool. Cross-checking with both systems is also possible.

The standard is to keep the similarity index at 15% or below. If it exceeds 15%, the reason must be reviewed and explained in the result report.

A similarity percentage alone does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Technical terms and conventional phrases can increase the score; the thesis advisor and examiners review any questionable overlap in detail.

Submit it during the same period as the Final Thesis Examination or Preliminary Thesis Review application. For the Final Thesis Examination it is submitted online through the Portal; for the Preliminary Thesis Review it is collected by the department office.

Using your own prior research is common, but reusing it without appropriate citation may constitute self-plagiarism.

Use CopyKiller’s one-to-one comparison function to check overlap in advance, and agree with your thesis advisor beforehand on the extent and manner of reuse.

You must submit it separately to two destinations.

• Library (dCollection) · final thesis file + scanned copy of the signed/sealed thesis approval page printed from the ON국민 Portal (2026 Fall: Dec. 28, 2026–Jan. 12, 2027)
• Graduate School Academic Affairs Team (online) · one original approval page, one confirmation of electronic thesis-file submission, and one printed set of the thesis [inner title page · examination request page · approval page · table of contents] (2026 Fall: by Jan. 14, 2027)

1. Log in, upload the thesis file, and enter the bibliographic information.
2. Wait for submission approval.
3. Sungkok Library reviews and approves or returns the submission; the result is usually available within about 24 hours.
4. After approval, download the dCollection-stamped file from your submission record, create a PDF through the [inner title page · examination request page · approval page · table of contents], and upload that PDF to the ON국민 Portal.

If you upload the Portal file before dCollection approval, it may be returned. Follow the sequence above.

Use the form printed from the ON국민 Portal. Self-created forms are not accepted. Submit the original approval page bearing the examiners’ seals/signatures to the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team, and upload a scanned copy to dCollection.

In-person signing/sealing is the standard approach, but when an examiner is located far away, sending the document by registered mail or courier and receiving it back is common.

Do not wait until the deadline. The safest approach is to obtain the signature/seal at the final examination meeting whenever possible.

As a rule, the thesis must be written in Korean or English. Another language may be used only with prior approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.

Follow the forms and thesis-writing instructions on the Graduate School website and in dCollection.

At final submission, the printed [inner title page through table of contents] is used to verify the thesis format. Check in advance that the order and wording of the inner title page, examination request page, approval page, and table of contents comply with the required format.

For degree requirements, mandatory submission is electronic through dCollection. The number of bound copies follows department and advisor practice. For examination manuscripts, the regulations require three copies for a Master’s thesis and five copies for a doctoral dissertation.

Ask the department office how many bound copies, if any, are needed for library or departmental holdings.

Within three years after coursework completion for a Master’s degree and within five years for a doctoral degree.

Yes. If you apply within the designated period, obtain review by the Department Academic Affairs Committee, and receive approval from the Dean of the Graduate School, you may submit again within one year for a Master’s degree or two years for a doctoral degree, including the semester in which approval is granted. This additional opportunity is available only once.

• Application for an Additional Opportunity to Submit a Degree Thesis · enter degree program, department/major, student ID/name, coursework-completion date, semester of passing the Foreign Language Examination, semester of passing the Comprehensive Examination, reason for application, and research plan; sign/seal the form yourself.
• Thesis Advisor’s Opinion · completed and signed/sealed by the advisor.

Forms are available from the department office or the Graduate School forms page.

Yes. A passing thesis-supervision evaluation or Preliminary Thesis Review is valid only through the thesis-submission time limit. You must pass the required evaluation again by the semester immediately preceding the Final Thesis Examination.

Students whose thesis-submission period has expired require separate system processing. Before applying, call the relevant Graduate School Academic Affairs Team staff member at 02-910-4316.

Master’s: 4 semesters and 24 credits · Doctoral: 4 semesters and 36 credits · Integrated Master’s–Doctoral: 8 semesters and 54 credits. Both the required number of registered semesters and the credit requirement must be satisfied for coursework completion.

Even if a Master’s student earns all 24 credits within three semesters, registration for a fourth semester is still required. A required registration semester remains mandatory even if no courses are taken.

Coursework completion means that you have completed the required registered semesters and credits. Graduation/degree conferral additionally requires passing the Foreign Language and Comprehensive Examinations, passing the thesis examination, and completing final thesis submission.

A certificate of coursework completion is not evidence that a degree has been conferred.

No. Passing the two examinations satisfies eligibility requirements for submitting a degree thesis; it does not itself constitute graduation or degree conferral.

For students admitted in 2025 or later: Master’s 16 credits, Doctoral 18 credits, Integrated Master’s–Doctoral 36 credits or more. Students admitted before the 2025 academic year remain subject to the previous thresholds: Master’s 16 credits, Doctoral 24 credits, Integrated Master’s–Doctoral 40 credits or more.

Students on leave may not take the examination; currently enrolled students and students who have completed coursework may do so. Check the department regulations for any GPA requirement.

Master’s students take two subjects and doctoral students three. A score of at least 70 out of 100 is required in each subject. Passes are recognized by subject, so if you previously failed only one subject, you need to retake only that subject.

Examination subjects are determined under department regulations after review by the Department Academic Affairs Committee. Consult the department chair in advance.

You may cancel during the application period. After the period closes, cancellation is not permitted; failure to attend is recorded as an absence.

The requirement is satisfied by submitting an approved official English-language test score. The common thresholds are TOEIC 700 / TOEFL iBT 72 / New TEPS 326 / IELTS 5.0 / G-TELP Level 2: 64 or Level 3: 85 / TOEIC Speaking 110 / OPIc IL or higher.

For international students, the TOPIK threshold is Level 4 or higher in humanities/social sciences and Level 3 or higher in natural sciences, engineering, arts, and physical education.

Some departments set higher thresholds. Check the department-specific regulations in the Graduate School Bulletin ↗.

No. The score must have been issued within the two years preceding the submission deadline for the relevant semester’s Foreign Language Examination (2026 Fall reference date: Sep. 13, 2026).

It must be an official score report with an issuance/verification number. A viewing screen or screenshot is not accepted. A Government24 pre-registration confirmation for language-test scores is accepted only while the score remains valid.

Yes, for specified categories. Examples for Korean students include meeting the Graduate School’s designated mock-TOEIC standard, earning a degree in an English-speaking country, or entering as a transfer student after passing the foreign-language examination at a previous graduate school. Examples for international students include completing designated Korean-language liberal-arts credits (humanities/social sciences: 9 credits; natural sciences/engineering/arts/physical education: 6 credits) or completing Kookmin University’s Korean-language education program.

Exemptions based on journal publication or writing the degree thesis in English apply only when the department has separately established and requested such criteria. Checking the department-specific regulations in the Graduate School Bulletin is therefore essential.

ON국민 Portal → Academic Services (학사서비스) → Graduation Information (졸업정보) → Applications and Results for Examinations (각종시험 신청 및 결과조회) → [Exemption Application/면제신청] at the upper right → enter exemption reason and score → upload supporting documents → submit.

Examination registration, score submission, exemption applications, and pass/fail announcements are all handled in this menu. Do not accidentally use the separate “Graduation Examination Application/졸업시험 신청” menu.

The result is reflected after the official pass list is announced. If it still does not appear afterward, contact the Graduate School Academic Affairs Team at 02-910-4316.

Degrees are conferred in February for the first graduation cycle and in August for the second. Students undergoing thesis examination in 2026 Fall are scheduled for degree conferral in February 2027.

You may not select your native language as the foreign language. International students satisfy the requirement through Korean (TOPIK): Level 4 or higher for humanities/social sciences, and Level 3 or higher for natural sciences, engineering, arts, and physical education.

Yes. You may qualify through any one of the following.

1. Complete Kookmin University Korean-language liberal-arts courses: humanities/social sciences 9 credits; natural sciences/engineering/arts/physical education 6 credits — submit a transcript.
2. Have passed the foreign-language examination at a previous graduate school — submit the previous graduate school transcript.
3. Complete the regular Korean-language education program at Kookmin University’s Korean Language Center — submit a certificate of completion. A certificate of enrollment is not accepted; the certificate is issued at Global Center Room 205.

Required program hours may vary by semester. Check the Graduate School’s current notice before applying.

Late applications cannot be accepted. All applications related to the Foreign Language and Comprehensive Examinations are processed only during the period configured in the system, and scores submitted after the deadline are not recognized.

International students can easily miss notices issued in Korean, so check department announcements carefully and regularly.

As a rule, a degree thesis may be written in Korean or English. Writing in another language requires prior approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.

The recorded name is carried directly into the degree certificate, thesis approval page, and dCollection bibliographic record. Correct your personal information in the Portal and your official academic record before submitting the thesis.

Correcting the name after the documents have been issued can be very cumbersome.

Matters linked to immigration status—such as leave of absence or minimum registration requirements—fall under the Office of International Affairs rather than the department.

Consult the Office of International Affairs before deciding to take a leave of absence.

Yes. The University provides support for academic activities. Eligible activities include paper or poster presentations at domestic or international conferences and publication of academic articles. Applicants must be students registered in a regular semester; students who have completed coursework and research-registered students are excluded.

Apply within two months after the conference participation or publication through ON국민 Portal → Academic Services (학사서비스) → Academic Status (학적정보) → Academic Conference Participation Report (학술회의참가보고).

International students must provide a copy of a bank account in their own name.

Paper presentations · Domestic: KRW 50,000–110,000 depending on region; overseas: KRW 200,000 in Asia and KRW 300,000 outside Asia. Poster presentations: domestic KRW 30,000–70,000; overseas KRW 100,000 in Asia and KRW 200,000 outside Asia.

Journal publication · KCI-listed or KCI-candidate journals: KRW 150,000. SCI(E)-level journals are supported under a separate scheme according to the journal’s Impact Factor percentile: top 10% KRW 1,000,000 / top 25% KRW 700,000 / top 50% KRW 300,000.

Online academic activities are not supported. SCI-level publication support must be applied for within three months after publication.

Yes. For arts and physical-education fields, performances and exhibitions are included. The basic support is KRW 100,000 plus KRW 10,000 in refreshments per enrolled student, up to KRW 500,000 per department, once per year.

Selection is made after advance submission of an event plan. A result report and receipts must be submitted within 10 days after the event.

Applications are announced before each semester begins, usually in January or July. You must submit an Assistantship Interest Application (조교희망원) through the ON국민 Portal. If no interest application is registered, a department or administrative unit cannot recommend you for appointment.

Selected assistants serve for six months (March–August or September–February). If the appointment ends early, the scholarship corresponding to the remaining period must be repaid.

Certificates of grades, enrollment, leave of absence, coursework completion, student status, and expected degree conferral may be requested online, by mail, or in person at the General Service Center (Administration Building, 1st floor).

Mobile student ID · Install “Kookmin University Mobile Student ID” from the app store and log in with your Portal ID. The ON국민 app must also be installed to receive the authentication code.

Physical student ID card · Portal → KCARD → ID Card: print the application and submit it to the General Service Center (Administration Building, Room 105) for immediate issuance.

Authentication uses the phone number registered in the Portal. If that number differs from your current number, update it in the Portal first.

For Graduate School-wide rules, consult the Academic Regulations. For department-specific matters—including Comprehensive Examination subjects, exemption standards, and Preliminary Thesis Review procedures—consult the department regulations in the Graduate School Bulletin ↗.