2025 Fall Semester Graduate School Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application and Alternative Language Course Information

In accordance with Article 38, Chapter 4 of the Detailed Enforcement Regulations for the General Graduate School under the Graduate School Regulations, applications for exemption from the foreign language examination requirement for thesis submission eligibility will be accepted as follows. Students are advised to submit their exemption applications within the designated application period.

※ You can check whether you have met the foreign language examination waiver requirements through the portal (KUPID).
KUPID → Academic Affairs/Graduation → Thesis Submission Qualification Requirements

※ International students may take examinations only in languages other than their nationality’s native language.
※ Foreign language examinations may be administered differently according to departmental regulations.
※ Classical Chinese (Hanja) is recognized only for students who have passed the Graduate School Foreign Language Examination.

※ International students in the following departments must take the Korean language examination:
Classical Translation Interdisciplinary Program, Cultural Heritage Studies Interdisciplinary Program, Korean Language and Literature, History, Interdisciplinary Program in Public Health, Law (Doctoral Program), and Media Studies (applicable to students admitted from the Fall Semester of 2025).

※ Domestic students (Korean nationality) in doctoral programs are required to satisfy the English language requirement only, except for students in the following departments, who must also satisfy the second foreign language requirement:
Law, Korean Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, Chinese and Japanese Language and Literature, Russian Language and Literature, French Language and Literature, German Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, History, Sociology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Program in Comparative Literature and Comparative Culture, Interdisciplinary Program in Visual Culture Studies, Cultural Heritage Studies Interdisciplinary Program, and Archaeology and Art History.

※ Students from the countries listed below are considered native English speakers and therefore may not select English as their first or second foreign language:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Commonwealth of Dominica, Fiji, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe

[Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application]

※ No exceptions or additional relief procedures will be provided regarding the application period. Please strictly observe the deadline. ※

1. Eligible Applicants: Master's, Doctoral, and Integrated Master's-Doctoral students of the General Graduate School
2. Application Period: September 8, 2025 (Mon) 10:00 AM – September 24, 2025 (Wed) 5:00 PM
   (Includes both portal submissions and in-person submissions)
   • Applications may be submitted for all foreign languages listed in the waiver criteria table, including Korean.

• Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. Please be sure to submit within the designated period.
  ※ No exceptions or additional relief procedures will be provided. ※

◆ Important Note:
Failure to apply within the designated period may affect eligibility for the thesis examination application scheduled for October 2025. No separate relief procedures will be available.

3. Application Method

   A. Official Language Test Scores
   KUPID → Academic Affairs/Graduation → Application/Confirmation of Various Examinations → Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application

   Upload a scanned copy of an official language test score report that remains valid as of the application submission date.

   B. Overseas Degree Holders

   If you submitted your overseas degree certificate at the time of admission, you do not need to submit the original degree certificate again.

   For overseas degree-based waiver applications, please refer to the attached example for entering waiver application information.

   ※ If the overseas degree certificate was not submitted at the time of admission, the original degree certificate must be presented for verification during the waiver application period.

   • Verification Location: Graduate School Administration Team, Room 127, Graduate School Library Building
   • Verification Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Lunch Break: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

   C. Alternative Language Course and Internal English Qualification Test

   Students who have earned a grade of B or higher in an approved alternative language course or passed the university's Graduation Qualification English Test are not required to submit a separate waiver application.

   (Check results through KUPID → Academic Affairs/Graduation → Application/Confirmation of Various Examinations → Examination Result Inquiry)

   D. Korean Language Regular Program

   Students who have earned a grade of B or higher in a Korean Language Regular Program (Level 2 or above) offered by the Korea University Institute of International Education or the Sejong Institute for International Exchange and Education must upload a scanned copy of their transcript.

4. Confirmation Date for Fall 2025 Waiver Applications

   October 17, 2025 (Fri), 3:00 PM (tentative)

   KUPID → Academic Affairs/Graduation → Application/Confirmation of Various Examinations → Examination Result Inquiry

5. Important Notes

   A. Since the validity period of official language test scores has changed depending on the testing organization from the Fall Semester of 2023, applicants must review the waiver criteria table carefully.

   B. Please refer to the attached criteria table for score validity periods.

   C. If a score expires during the application period, upload it before expiration and notify the foreign language examination officer by both phone and email.
   Email: graduate2@korea.ac.kr

   D. Students who did not submit an overseas degree certificate at the time of admission must bring the original document to the Graduate School Administration Team for verification.

   E. Students who completed a Korean Language Regular Program must upload a scanned transcript.

   F. The internal Graduation Qualification English Test administered by the Foreign Language Center reflects TOEIC examinations taken through October 4, 2025.

[Alternative Language Course Information]

A. Students who complete an approved alternative language course and earn a grade of B or higher (requirements may vary by graduate school) will be regarded as having passed the foreign language examination.

** Spring and Summer alternative language courses → Reflected in thesis examination applications for the Fall Semester
** Fall and Winter alternative language courses → Reflected in thesis examination applications for the Spring Semester

※ Eligibility requirements for course registration vary by graduate school. Please contact your affiliated graduate school administrative office.

B. Application Method

Korea University Portal → Information Services → Institute of International Education Courses → Language Courses

※ For detailed information, please contact the Foreign Language Center.

• Alternative Language Course Coordinator
  Room 208A, International Building
  Tel: 02-3290-1457, 1453

Foreign Language Center Website:
https://langtopia.korea.ac.kr/langtopia/index.do

August 2025

Graduate School Administration Team

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