© Copyright, IAU, World Higher Education Database (WHED)
Korea (Republic of) - Education system
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Dae Hak Gy (Universities and Colleges)
San Up Dae Hak Gyo (Industrial University)
Kyo Yuk Dae Hak Gyo (Teacher Training Colleges)
Jeon Moon Dae-Hak (Vocational Junior Colleges)
School leaving and higher education credentials:
High School Diploma
Certificate
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctor's Degree
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Primary
Type of school providing this education: Elementary
Length of program in years: 6
Age level from: 6 to: 12
Lower Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Middle School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 12 to: 15
Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma
Upper Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Academic (General) High School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: High School Diploma
Higher Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Special Purpose High School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: High School Diploma
Vocational
Type of school providing this education: Vocational High School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: High School Diploma
School education:
Korea has a 6-3-3 system. Primary education lasts for six years. Middle school lasts for three years. On successful completion of the course students receive a Diploma. Schooling years for High school is three years. It is not compulsory and is provided in three different types of high schools: academic (general); vocational; and special purpose high schools. In academic high schools, during the final two years, students may choose to specialize in Humanities or Sciences. Studies are organized according to the credit system (204-216 units for graduation). Vocational high schools are divided into several categories, offering students at least 82 units (around 40 per cent is required for graduation) of specialized subjects, as well as general academic subjects, which should occupy another 40 per cent of the whole curriculum.
Higher education:
There are seven types of institutions: colleges and universities (national, public and private); industrial universities; universities of education (national); junior colleges (national, public and private); Korea National Open University (national); technical colleges; and other types of institutions (private) such as seminaries. Under the Education Act, all institutions of higher education, whether public or private, come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. It exercises control over requirements of teaching staff, academic requirements, regulation for the founding of institutions, etc. With regard to other matters, universities should comply with the guidelines of the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE).
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Education Act Year: 1949
Decree: Education Reform Year: 1995
Decree: Local Autonomy Act Year: 1991
Academic year:
Classes from: Mar to: Feb
Languages of instruction: Korean
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
Junior colleges offer a variety of two to three-year programmes leading to Associate Degrees. For those who take up Fisheries/Marine colleges, students should study an additional six-month course for navigation practice. As for nursing programme, schooling takes three years. The purpose of junior college education is to produce intermediate-level technicians in technical, agricultural, nursing, commercial and business fields, as well as home economics, arts and physical education,etc. In general, courses for these programmes last for two to three years and lead to a Diploma. Polytechnics offer industrial workers two-year courses leading to a Diploma and four-year courses leading to a Bachelor's degree.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Certificate, Bachelor's degree:
A Certificate is conferred to those who complete short-term programmes. The Bachelor's Degree is awarded after four years. Students must have completed between 140 and 150 credit hours. In Medicine, studies last for six years and students must have completed 180 credit hours. In Engineering, candidates for the Bachelor's Degree in the relevant field, those who have completed a junior college programme and have more than two years' field experience and junior college degree candidates (Associate Degree) are eligible to apply for the First Degree Engineering License Examination. Applicants must pass both written and field tests.
University level second stage: Master's degree:
Two or more years of further study beyond the Bachelor's Degree are required in the same major in order to obtain a Master's Degree. Students must also submit a thesis. In Medicine, those who have completed all the requirements in the School of Medicine must take a national examination. Those who wish to specialize must complete clinical practice and training in a clinical setting. The internship lasts for one year and the residency for four years. In the case of internship, candidates must pass the examination set by the hospital to which they have applied. As for law majors, graduates who wish to be a judge, a public prosecutor or a lawyer must pass the National Examination for Practising Law. Those who have passed the national examination must train for two years in the Legal Training Institute before practicing, one year at the legal research and training institute and at the government legal agency for the second year.
University level third stage: Doctor's degree:
The doctoral degree is conferred after a minimum of three years after the Master's degree. Candidates must submit a doctoral dissertation and pass an oral or equivalent examination.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Elementary school teachers are trained at eleven universities of education and the departments of elementary education at Korea National University of Education and Ewha Woman's University, Korea National Open University, graduate schools, and graduate schools of education. They offer four-year courses leading to a Bachelor's degree.
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers are trained at the universities' colleges of education, Korea National University of Education, the departments of education and general colleges and universities that confer teaching licenses, as well as at graduate schools of education.
Training of higher education teachers
Most higher education teachers are trained at the graduate schools of local and foreign universities. A Master's degree is the minimum qualification for a higher education teacher, but a Doctor's degree has begun to be recognized as a minimum qualification for a faculty member of a university or 4-year college.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Distance education is provided by the Korea National Open University at the national level. It offers courses for Bachelor's degrees. There are also 16 private distance universities across the country.Industrial universities (formely called open universities, renamed in 1998) also provide degrees programmes. The admission requirements are the same as for regular universities. However, priority is given to persons from industrial setting, holders of national technical qualifications and graduates from vocational courses, in general High Schools. Many universities and colleges offer continuing education
Lifelong higher education
Many universities and colleges offer continuing education programmes for adult students. Recently, several cable television stations including the Educational Boradcasting System (EBS) began to offer services in lifelong education.
Higher education training in industry
Since 1997, business firms have been entitled to establish their own universities with a view to training highly skilled workers. They offer two-year or four-year Bachelor's Degree programmes to those with an Associate Degree. Eligibility for admission is limited to those employees of the business firms.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministry of Education and Human Resources
Head: Kim Jin-pyo, Minister
77-6,
Sejong-Ro, 1-Ga
Chongro-ku
Seoul 110-760
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 2100 6495
Fax: +82(2) 2100 6504
WWW: http://www.moe.go.kr
Role of governing body: Formulates policies related to higher education, oversees academic affairs of higher education institutions both public and private, and promotes research.
Korean Council for University Education - KCUE
27-2 Youido-dong
Youngdungpo-gu
Seoul 150-742
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 783 3066
Fax: +82(2) 784 6463
EMail: jchoi@kcue.or.kr
WWW: http://www.kcue.or.kr
Role of governing body: The Council is responsible for professional research in the management of colleges and universities; for professional research on the college entrance system and admission information; for policies to provide financial aid to colleges and universities; for the development of college curricula and teaching methods; for conducting evaluation; for recommendation to the government on matters related to college education; and for the implementation of projects commissioned by the Government.
Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations
Head: Yoon Jong-Gun, President
International relations: Kim Soo-Hong, Director, External Affairs
142
Woomyon-dong
Seocho-ku
Seoul 137-715
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 576 5892 to 7
Fax: +82(2) 577 7487
EMail: ben@kfta.or.kr
WWW: http://www.kfta.or.kr
Role of governing body: Pursuing the educational progress and the equality of educational opportunity; establishing the independence in education and improving the teachers' professional status; promoting the public welfare, especially the educational environment for all the young and students; improving the socio-economic status of teachers in unison and valuing education most in policy decision, actively participating in decision-making process.
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: High School Diploma
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: High School Diploma
Alternatives to credentials: Credit Bank System : people can accumulate credits to earn the degree equivalent.
Other admission requirements: Access to higher education is based on the composite score of the CSAT, high-school academic records, an essay test and an interview.
Foreign students admission
Definition of foreign student: Students from foreign countries or overseas Koreans with foreign nationality taking up courses, doing research or language studies in an accredited university or graduate school (including industrial universities, universities of education and junior colleges). However, students enrolled in distance education or evening schools are not included.
Quotas: No.
Admission requirements: Foreign students must hold qualifications equivalent to full secondary or Senior High School Certificate or its equivalent for graduate studies. The requirements are : application form, certificate of graduation, grade points average (records), two references, proof of Korean Language Proficiency, study plan, curriculum vitae and portfolio (for applicants in Arts/Physical education).
Entry regulations: Foreign students must secure standard admission issued by the president or the dean of the university where they intend to study and submit the documents to the Ministry of Justice or to overseas Korean diplomatic missions. Applicants should secure a D-2 visa for degree programmes and D-4 for language studies.
Health requirements: No.
Language requirements: Students are advised to have good knowledge of Korean.
Application procedures:
Apply to individual institution for entry to: Universities
Application closing dates:
For non-university level (technical/vocational type) studies: Dec
For university level studies: Dec
For advanced/doctoral studies: Sep
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): The Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) reviews institutions of higher education and their programmes (http://www.kcue.or.kr)
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Higher Education Policy Division and Private Education Division, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
77-6 Sejong-Ro, 1 Ga
Chongro-ku
Seoul 110-760
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 2100-6495/6525
WWW: http://www.moe.go.kr
Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University
Services provided & students dealt with: For more information after contacting the Human Ressources Development Bureau.
Human Resources Development Bureau, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
Head: Byung-Byung Ahn, Minister
Administrative officer: Jong-Gap Lee, Director General of Human Ressources Development
International relations: Young-Soon Kang, Director of International Education Cooperation
77-6
Sejong-Ro, 1 Ga
Chongro-ku
Seoul 110-760
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 2100-6570
Fax: +82(2) 2100-6579
WWW: http://www.moe.go.kr
Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University
Services provided & students dealt with: Development policies related to the promotion of student exchanges, production of information ressources, recognition of degrees, diplomas and certificates of higher education, foreign students in higher education institutions.
Korean Council for University Education (KCUE)
Head: Young Shik Park, Chair
Administrative officer: Hyun-Chong Lee, Secretary-General
International relations: Yeonhee Kim, International Relations Officer
27-2 Youido-dong
Youngdungpo-ku
Seoul 150-742
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 783-3065
Fax: +82(2) 780-8311
EMail: leech@kcue.or.kr
WWW: http://www.kcue.or.kr
Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession
Services provided & students dealt with: Provides information on the recognition of studies, degrees and diplomas; post-secondary studies (technical/vocational types); non-university level: Associate Degrees; university-level studies: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree & Doctor's Degree
Other information sources on recognition of foreign studies: Foreign degrees are registered by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (with Korea Research Foundation acting as the executive agency) but recognition of foreign qualifications is carried out by the institutions concerned.
Special provisions for recognition:
For access to non-university post-secondary studies: No
For access to university level studies: No
For access to advanced studies and research: No
For the exercise of a profession: No
Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Regional Convention On the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific
Year of signature: 1983
References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies
Title: Education in Korea
Publisher: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
Title: Handbook on Diplomas, Degrees and other Certificates in Higher Education In Asia and the Pacific
Publisher: UNESCO PROAP
Year of publication: 1998
STUDENT LIFE
Main student services at national level
Korea Research Foundation (International Exchange Division)
304 Yomgok-dong,
Seocho-gu
Seoul 137-748
Korea (Republic of)
National Institute for International Education Development (Overseas Study and Training Division)
181 Dongsung-dong,
Chongro-gu
Seoul 110-510
Korea (Republic of)
Health/social provisions
Social security for home students: Yes
Social security for foreign students: Yes
Foreign student social security provisions: Foreign students are eligible to receive medical treatment from the university health service
Special student travel fares:
By road: Yes
By rail: Yes
By air: Yes
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 2711000 (South Korean Won)
Maximum: 5553000 (South Korean Won)
Bodies providing information on student financial aid:
National Institute for International Education Development (NIIED)
181 Dongsung-dong,
Chongro-gu
Seoul 110-510
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 3668-1395
Fax: +82(2) 741-7408
WWW: http://www.ied.go.kr
Publications on student services and financial aid:
Title: Information on Korean Government Scholarships for Foreign Students
Author: International Education Cooperation Division
Publisher: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
Year of publication: 2003
Title: Study in Korea
Author: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
Publisher: National Institute for International Education Development
Year of publication: 2003
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Educational Cooperation Division, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
77 Sejon-Ro 1 Go,
Chongro-ku
Seoul
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82(2) 720-3400
Fax: +82(2) 733-2300
Cable: 24758 munkyo k
WWW: http://www.moe.go.kr
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: There are no uniform grades in Korean secondary schools. The marking system may be lettered or numerical (1-100 maximum).
Highest on scale: A pass
Pass/fail level: B,C,D pass
Lowest on scale: F fail
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: A-D. A indicates distinguished levels of mastery of the course; B indicates good mastery; C indicates acceptable mastery; and D indicates minimum acceptable achievement. A student's grade point average is determined by the ratio of quality points earned in semester hours. A = 4 points; B = 3 points; C = 2 points; and D = 1 point
Highest on scale: A
Pass/fail level: C
Lowest on scale: D
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2004-2005
Source: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, 2004 (except for governing bodies, updated 2005)