Korea University College of Informatics

Course Registration

1. Number of Credits

• A. Students cannot acquire more than 12 credits per semester.
  

  (Students taking advisor-designated courses can acquire to 15 credits.)

• B. Students can acquire up to 2 credits each semester for 4 semesters (8 credits in total) as research guidance (DKK500) credits, in addition to the credits they acquire from regular courses.
  * To graduate from the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program, students must register for at least 8 semesters and acquire at least 16 credits.

[ Q&A ]

• How many credits can I register for per semester?

  • You can register for up to 12 credits from regular courses, and research guidance credits may be acquired in addition to this. (For example, 3 courses of 3 credits.) However, you can register for up to 15 credits, if advisor-designated courses are included.
• What are advisor-designated courses?
  • Advisor-designated courses are additional but mandatory credits that must be taken in addition to regular courses. They are not part of the credits required for the completion of your major. Newly admitted students must discuss designated courses with their academic advisors before the beginning of classes. (Student transcripts are required for this meeting.)

2. Credit Acknowledgement

[ Q&A ]

• How can I apply for credit recognition?

  - You must submit your application to the department administration office, within 10 days after the semester begins. (It is advised to meet your advisor and the department’s head professor before you submit your application.)

Administration of Registration

1. Course Duration / Studentship Period

<Unit: years>

* (): The number in parenthesis applies to cases when the duration of coursework is shortened

• • - Course duration: Minimum period of registration for graduation

    - Leave of absence period: Maximum period for leave of absence within the studentship period

    - Studentship period: The number of terms within which a degree dissertation must be submitted

[ Q&A ]

• What is a studentship period?

  •  Also called a graduateship period, it refers to the period ranging from your enrollment to the time when your dissertation is submitted and graduation is approved. The studentship period includes periods of general leave of absence, but does not include periods of leave of absence due to military service, pregnancy/maternity/parental leave of absence, or other special leave of absence.

2. Withdrawal from the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program

• A. Students can apply for withdrawal during the registration modification period
• B. To withdraw, go to KUPID > Registration/Graduation > University Registration > Application.
•  * Students can withdraw from the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program if they do not wish to continue their academic career and complete their studies at the master’s level.

[ Q&A ]

• When can I apply for withdrawal from the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program?

  • During the registration modification period before the second or third semester, when you prepare for the thesis and the comprehensive exam to meet the requirements for completing the master’s course.

    * Note that withdrawing from the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program does not necessarily mean that you have completed the master’s degree, even if you meet the qualifications. You will be assessed based on your grades at the end of the semester from which you apply for withdrawal.

  •  For example, applying for withdrawal on August 1, 2018 does not guarantee you the completion of the master’s program by August 25, 2018. If your application is submitted on the first semester of 2018, the faculty spends the second semester to assess, and if you are qualified, your master’s program is completed on February 25, 2019.

  • You cannot apply to withdraw once you complete the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program.

3. Request for Shortening of Course Duration (Early Completion)

A. Students must be registered and submit their applications within 2 weeks after the semester begins.

B. To apply, go to KUPID > Registration/Graduation > University Registration > Application for course of study acceleration.

  * Students can apply to shorten 1 semester or 2 semesters (a year).

 - To apply to shorten 2 semesters, the application must be submitted during the registration modification period after the sixth semester begins.

 - To apply to shorten 1 semester, the application must be submitted during the registration modification period after the seventh semester begins.

  * Note that early graduation is granted only when the overall GPA is 4.0 or above after the end of sixth or seventh semester, after the grades for that semester have been finalized.

[ Q&A ]

• Can I apply for early graduation, if my GPA is still 3.98?

  - Your GPA does not matter at the time of application, but your application may be automatically canceled if your GPA is below 4.0 after your grades are finalized at the end of the semester or if you have not acquired enough credits.

4. Leave of Absence / Return

A. To apply, go to KUPID > Registration/Graduation > University Registration > Application for Leave of Absence/Return.

B. Types and Details of Leaves of Absence

• 휴학 종류 및 세부 사항

  Leave Types	Semester Units	Count as Studentship Period	Count as Leave period	Required Documents	Remarks
  Military service	6 semesters	x	x	Notice of Military Enlistment / Certificate of Discharge from Military	- Cannot apply without the required documents
  Pregnancy/ Maternity	1 to 2 semesters	x	x	Diagnosis of Pregnancy (issued within 45 days)	- Cannot apply without the required documents - Male students cannot apply - Up to one year is permitted
  Business startup	1 semester	x	x	Business Registration Certificate / Business Plan	- Cannot apply without the required documents - Up to 2 years are permitted (Students must get approval every semester.) - Cannot apply online (Visit the department administration office to submit the documents)
  Training for those who passed the national exams	1 semester	O	x	Letter of Acceptance or Training-related Documents	- Cannot apply without the required documents - Leave is permitted for the duration of training - Cannot apply online (Visit the department administration office to submit the documents.)
  General leave	1 to 2 semesters	O	O	None

  • 1) Leave of absence due to military service
    •  The period of leave of absence due to military service is excluded from the period of thesis submission. If the military enlistment is cancelled or postponed, the application for leave of absence must be withdrawn within 7 days.

    •  Required documents: A copy of one the following: Notice of military enlistment (with a specific date of enlistment), Confirmation of military service, or Certificate of military career. Also, attach the email sent by the Military Manpower Administration.

  • 2) Return after military service : Students must return within 1 year after military discharge

    • For example, if you are discharged from military duty as of April 30, 2017, you can apply for return in August 2017 or in February 2018. If you attempt to return in August 2018, you will be withdrawn, as your return exceeds 1 year from the date of discharge. Thus, if you cannot return by February 2018, you must submit the application for leave of absence in general (with a copy of the Certificate of Discharge from the Military) no later than February 2018. 

    • Required documents : A copy of one of the following: Certificate of Discharge from the Military (with a specific date of discharge) or Certificate of Military Service.

    • Students returning after military service must report the transfer of reserve forces through KUPID > Infor Depot > Reserve Force Transfer Report

  • 3) Leave of absence due to pregnancy and maternity

    • Required document: Diagnosis of pregnancy (issued within 45 days)

    • Up to 1 year of leave is permitted for each childbirth, and the period of leave due to pregnancy and maternity is excluded from the period of thesis submission.

  • 4) Leave of absence due to parenting

    • Required document: Certificate of Family Relations or Resident Registration Certificate

    • Up to 1 year of leave is permitted for each child under 8 years of age, and the period of leave due to parenting is excluded from the period of thesis submission.

  • 5) Leave of absence due to business startup

    • Required documents: Business Registration Certificate or Business Plan

    • Only applicable to the representative of a “venture company” as prescribed by the Act on Special Measures for the Promotion of Venture Businesses

  • 6) Leave of absence in general

    • Up to 2 years are permitted for master’s students, and up to 3 years are permitted for doctoral (and integrated master’s and doctoral degree) students. The application form must be submitted on a 6 month or a year basis in order to extend the period of leave.

    • To extend the period of leave after the previous leave period is over, you must re-submit the application.

    • You must apply for return in the semester you wish to receive thesis evaluation for degree

    • If you have completed your courses, you do not have to take leaves for reasons other than maternity, parenting, military service and business startup that are excluded from the period of thesis submission.

    • [ Q&A ]

    •  Can I apply for a leave of absence during the semester?

    •  No. According to the regulations of the general graduate school, leaves of absence are not allowed during the semester. Please contact the department administration office and submit the required documents if requested.

Qualifying Examination for Degree Dissertation

1. Comprehensive Exam

A. Notes for all

• B. Notes for each department

  - There are 3 subjects for the master’s program and 4 subjects for the doctoral and the integrated master’s and doctoral degree program. In order to pass, students must receive 70 or above for each subject (not 70 on average).

  - Students can apply for the comprehensive exam through KUPID.

[ Q&A ]

•  I passed 2 of the 3 subjects in the comprehensive exam. Is it possible to get a partial pass?

  - Please check the regulations of your department because the exam subjects and regulations differ for each department. For example, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Computer and Radio Communications Engineering allows the partial pass of the comprehensive exam. If you are a master’s student in one of these departments, you only have to pass the one remaining subject the following semester to pass the entire exam.

2. Foreign Language Examination

• Students can apply for exemption from the foreign language exam requirement, if they meet the criteria below:

• 1) Submitting official English test scores

  - Students can apply for an English exam waiver if the official English test score they have submitted at the time of enrollment is higher than the above standard, or if they pass one of the qualifications above.

  * Note that test scores over 2 years old cannot be accepted.

  - To apply, go to KUPID > Registration/Graduation > Application/Verification for exams > Apply for an English exam waiver

• [Standards for the English exam waiver]

  외국어 시험 합격 기준표

  Language	Program	Exam Name	Authority	Standards (for students enrolled before late 2014)	Standards (for students enrolled from early 2014 to late 2017)	Standards (for students enrolled after early 2018)
  English	Master’s, Doctoral	TOEFL, TOEIC	ETS	213 on TOEFL CBT 80 on IBT 800 on TOEIC	No changes	No changes
  		IELTS	IDP, The British Council	Level 6
  		TEPS	TEPS	660
  Korean (for international students beyond the quota)	Master’s, Doctoral		Level 4 on S-TOPIK		No changes	No changes

  2) Substitute for a test from the KU Foreign Language Center

  - Students can be exempted from English exams if they take English tests from the KU Foreign Language Center. (For details, go to http://langtopia.korea.ac.kr/)

  3) Substitute for a lecture from KU Foreign Language Center

  - Students can be exempted from English exams if they take Alternative Language Courses for Graduate School from KU Foreign Language Center.

  * Note that students must receive a score of B or above to pass.

[ Q&A ]

• By when do I have to apply for English exam waiver?

  - The English exam is a condition to apply for the thesis, so you must apply for the waiver before you apply for the thesis. If you have an official English test score, please apply online during the English exam waiver application period at the beginning of the semester.

3. Evaluation of Thesis

A. Application Period

 - Late April (for students graduating in the second semester)

 - Late October (for students graduating in the first semester)

  * Details to be announced each semester

B. To apply, go to KUPID > Registration/Graduation > Evaluation for Thesis > Evaluation of Thesis (Master & Doctor)

C. Students must be in a registered status to apply for evaluation of thesis. Thus, students on leave of absence must apply for a return and be registered in advance.

D. Documents for evaluation of thesis

 1) Print and submit the Application for Evaluation of Thesis and Submission Approval.

 2) To print the forms, go to KU Graduate School website (http://graduate2.korea.ac.kr) and click Academics > Templates.

 3) Students can apply for the evaluation of the thesis only when they pass the comprehensive and foreign language exams or are otherwise recognized as having equivalent qualities.

 4) For international students, a test score for Korean is required instead of English.