Yonsei Graduate School Department of International Relations
Bylaws for Global and Area Studies
Revision Date: September 11, 2024
Revision Date: March 1, 2024
▶ Title
- Korean: 글로벌지역학
- English: Global and Area Studies
- Department: Humanities and Social Sciences
▶ Degree Conferment
- Korean title: 글로벌지역학 석사 /글로벌지역학 박사
- English Title: M.A. in Global and Area Studies/Ph.D. in Global and Area Studies
▶ Required Credits
- Master's Program: 30 credits or more, following the course guideline provided by the Department.
- Ph.D. Program: 30 credits or more, following the course guideline provided by the Department.
- Joint Master's and Ph.D. Program: 54 credits or more, following the course guideline provided by the Department.
- All courses conducted in Korean
▶ Graduation Requirements
- 1. Language Requirement (TOPIK)
- Must achieve TOPIK level 4 or above in Korean or complete TOPIK level 4 or above in the Yonsei University's language institute or Korean training courses.
- TOPIK exam results or proof of completion of Korean courses must be submitted before graduation (if graduating in August, submit by the end of June; if graduating in February, submit by the end of December of the previous year). The date of taking the TOPIK exam or the completion date of Korean courses must be within five years after the document submission deadline.
* All new students who have not submitted an official score of TOPIK level 3 or higher must meet one of the following three requirements by the end of the third semester. If not met, you cannot take the comprehensive exam.
- Completion of more than 400 hours of Korean language classes at Yonsei foreign language school or Korean language training course.
- Completion of Korean language classes at TOPIK level 3 or higher at Yonsei foreign language school or Korean language training course.
- Submission of certified scores of TOPIK level 3 or higher.
- 2. Basic Korean Proficiency Test
- Eligibility: Those who have acquired 21 credits or more in the graduate program and completed three semesters of courses.
- Application Procedure: Students must have their academic transcripts approved by the Department Chair before applying for the comprehensive exam.
- Exam Schedule: Conducted annually in early July and early January.
- Exam Method:
- The spoken exam evaluating basic language proficiency related to the major is conducted under the supervision of one or more department professors.
- The spoken exam is considered passing with a score of 80 or above out of 100.
- 3. Comprehensive Exam
- Eligibility: Those who have acquired 21 credits or more in the graduate program and completed three semesters of courses. (However, passing a foreign language exam is not designated as a mandatory requirement for taking the comprehensive exam.)
- Application Procedure: Students wishing to take the comprehensive exam should submit one copy of their academic transcript to their advisor for approval before applying.
- Exam Schedule: Conducted annually in early July and early January.
- Exam Method:
- For master's degree programs, there are two or more subjects, and for joint master's and doctoral programs, doctoral programs, there are three or more subjects in the written exam set by at least two professors.
- The written exam in the comprehensive exam is considered passing with an average score of 70 or above out of 100 per each selected subject.
- 4. Paper Publication
- By the graduation assessment deadline, the student must publish or have a paper accepted for publication in one or more domestic/international academic journals as the first author or corresponding author.
- Proof of this must be submitted by the graduation assessment deadline. (For August graduation, submit by the end of June of the same year; for February graduation, submit by the end of December of the previous year.
▶ Thesis
- 1. Master's Degree Program
- After completing three semesters of the graduate program, submit a thesis proposal to the graduate school director. Receive guidance from the assigned professor after passing the comprehensive exam and the Korean Language Proficiency Test.
- Thesis Research Plan. The research plan for the thesis must be approved by the department committee by the semester just before graduation. Simultaneously, committee members will be assigned.
- In the early semester of the last semester before graduation, upload the thesis research plan under the advisor's approval and submit related documents to the department office.
- The thesis can be written in either Korean or English.
- 2. Joint Master’s and Doctoral studies and Doctoral degree
- After completing three semesters of the graduate program, submit a thesis proposal to the graduate school director. Receive guidance from the assigned professor after passing the comprehensive exam and the Korean Language Proficiency Test.
- Dissertation Research Plan. The research plan for the dissertation must be approved by the departmental committee before the start of the semester before the expected graduation. Simultaneously, committee members will be assigned.
- In the early semester of the last semester before graduation, upload the dissertation research plan under the advisor's approval and submit related documents to the department office.
- The dissertation can be written in either Korean or English.
▶ Eligibility to Apply for Global Area Studies
- Foreigners with both parents being non-Korean
- Holders of regular bachelor's and master's degrees with degree certificates
▶ Application Submission and Admission Schedule
- Application Submission: April, October (Submit after checking the general graduate school website for the schedule)
- Relevant Majors: Humanities and Social Sciences (No specific restrictions for each major)
- Admission Schedule: March, September (Separate guidance and website announcements from the general graduate school administration team)
*The interpretation of these terms shall be based on the provisions of the Korean version.