[Graduate School] Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application and Alternative Language Course Information for Thesis Submission Eligibility, Spring Semester 2026 (Important)

In accordance with Article 38, Chapter 4 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Graduate School Academic Regulations, applications for exemption from the Foreign Language Examination required for thesis submission eligibility will be accepted as outlined below. Students seeking exemption must submit their applications within the designated period.

※ Students may check whether they have satisfied the foreign language examination requirement through KUPID:
KUPID → Academic Records/Graduation → Thesis Submission Eligibility Requirements

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

※ International students in the following departments must take Korean:

• Interdisciplinary Program in Classical Translation

• Interdisciplinary Program in Cultural Heritage Studies

• Korean Language and Literature

• History

• Interdisciplinary Program in Public Health

• Media Studies (applicable to students admitted from the second semester of 2025 onward)

※ Domestic doctoral students (Korean nationals) must satisfy the English requirement only, except for students in the following departments who must also satisfy a second foreign language requirement:

• Law

• Korean Language and Literature

• English Language and Literature

• Chinese and Japanese Languages 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 Culture

• Interdisciplinary Program in Visual Culture Studies

• Interdisciplinary Program in Cultural Heritage Studies

• Department of Archaeology and Art History

※ Students from the following countries, where English is considered a native language, may not select English as either 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, and Zimbabwe.

Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application

※ No exceptions will be granted for missed deadlines. Please ensure that you submit your application within the designated period. ※

1. Eligible Applicants

• Master's, Doctoral, and Integrated Master's–Doctoral students in the Graduate School

2. Application Period

March 11 (Wed), 2026, 10:00 AM – March 27 (Fri), 2026, 11:59 PM

(For portal submissions only. Applications requiring direct document submission must be completed by March 27 (Fri), 2026, 5:00 PM.)

• Applications may be submitted for all languages listed in the exemption criteria, including Korean.

※ Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
※ Failure to apply within the designated period may affect eligibility for thesis review applications scheduled in April 2026.

3. Application Procedure

A. Official Language Test Scores

KUPID → Academic Records/Graduation → Examination Application/Confirmation → Foreign Language Examination Waiver Application

Upload a scanned copy of a valid official language test score report that has not expired as of the application date.

B. Applicants Using Overseas Degree Credentials for Exemption

• Students who submitted their overseas degree certificate at the time of admission do not need to submit the original diploma again.

• Please refer to the attached application example when applying for exemption based on an overseas degree.

※ Newly admitted students for the current semester must still bring the original diploma to the Graduate School Administration Team for verification after submitting the waiver application.

※ Students who did not submit their overseas degree certificate during admission must complete original document verification within the application period.

Original Verification Location:
Graduate School Administration Team, Room 127, Central Library

Verification Hours:
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Lunch Break: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

C. Alternative Language Course and Institutional English Examination

Students who have:

• Earned a grade of B or higher in an approved alternative language course, or

• Passed the university's Graduation Qualification English Examination

do not need to submit a separate waiver application.

Verification:
KUPID → Academic Records/Graduation → Examination Application/Confirmation → Examination Results 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 Sejong International Education Center must upload a scanned transcript.

4. Confirmation of Waiver Approval

Date:
April 17 (Fri), 2026, 3:00 PM (tentative)

Check through:
KUPID → Academic Records/Graduation → Examination Application/Confirmation → Examination Results Inquiry

5. Important Notes

A. Since the second semester of 2023, the validity periods of official language test scores may vary by testing organization. Please refer to the exemption criteria table.

B. The validity period for each language test score is specified in the attached exemption criteria.

C. If a score report expires during the application period, applicants must upload it before expiration and notify the Foreign Language Examination Coordinator by both phone and email.

Email:
graduate2@korea.ac.kr

D. Students who did not submit an overseas degree certificate during admission must complete original document verification at the Graduate School Administration Team.

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

F. The university's Graduation Qualification English Examination administered by the Foreign Language Center will recognize TOEIC examinations taken up to April 4, 2026.

Alternative Language Courses

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 considered to have passed the foreign language examination.

• Spring and Summer courses: Applicable to thesis review applications for the second semester

• Fall and Winter courses: Applicable to thesis review applications for the first semester

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

B. Course Registration

Korea University Portal → Campus Life → Institute of International Education Courses → Language Courses

For detailed information, please contact the Foreign Language Center.

Foreign Language Center
International Studies Hall, Room 208A
Tel: 02-3290-1457, 1453

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

February 2026

Graduate School Administration Team