Educational system of the ROK
Elementary, middle, and high school
- Term of school years
· The term of school years (number of years in school) varies depending on the level and purpose of schools, but it is generally six years for elementary school, three years for middle school, and three years for high school (Articles 39, 42, and main sentence of Article 46 of the 「Elementary and Secondary Education Act」).
- Qualifications for admission
· Those who have graduated from schools at the immediately preceding level or those whoare recognized as having equivalent or higher levels of academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter middle schools or higher schools including high schools.
· For instance, middle school enrollment is open only to those who have graduated from an elementary school, those who have passed a test determined as an equivalent level to an elementary school diploma pursuant to Article 27-2 (1) of the 「Elementary and Secondary Education Act」or those who are recognized as having an academic achievement level equivalent to or higher than an elementary school diploma pursuant to other laws and subordinate regulations (Article 43 (1) and Article 47(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act).
- Academic term
· The school year at elementary and secondary schools begins on March 1 every year, and continues until the end of February of the next year. At every school, each school year is divided into two semesters (Article 24 and of the 「Elementary and Secondary Education Act」 and Article 44(1) of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act」).
· The first semester begins on March 1 and ends on the day set by the head of school, taking into account the number of school days, the number of non-teaching days, and the curriculum of the school; and the second semester begins on the day immediately following the day on which the first semester ends and ends on the last day of February of the next year (Article 24(4) of the 「Elementary and Secondary Education Act」 and Article 44(1) of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act」).
Education programs at universities and colleges, and graduate schools
- Term of school years
· Institutions of higher education include universities and colleges, industrial colleges, teachers' colleges, junior colleges, air and correspondence colleges (air colleges, correspondence colleges, air and correspondence colleges, and cyber colleges), technical colleges, and various kinds of schools (Article 2 of the 「Higher Education Act」)
· The term of school years is as follows according to school types (Articles 31, 38, 42(2), 48(1), 53(2) & (3), and 56 of the 「Higher Education Act」, Articles 25 and 57 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」):
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School type
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Term of school years
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Applicable Acts and subordinate statutes
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Universities and colleges
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Four years [Six years for medical colleges, colleges of Oriental medicine, dental colleges, veterinary colleges, and pharmacy colleges (excluding departments of Oriental pharmacy)
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Article 31(1) of the 「Higher Education Act」 and Article 25 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」
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Industrial colleges
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No standard term
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Article 38 of the 「Higher Education Act」
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Teachers' colleges
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Four years
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Article 42(2) of the 「Higher Education Act」
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Junior colleges
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Bachelor’s degree program: two years [Three years for departments of nursing, radiation, clinical pathology, physical therapy, prosthodontia, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, fishery, and engines, and other departments designated by schools] ·Master’s Degree: two years or more
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Article 31(1) of the 「Higher Education Act」 and Article 57 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」
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Air and correspon-dence colleges
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·Air colleges, ·Correspon- dence colleges, ·Air and correspon- dence colleges
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·Junior bachelor's degree programs: Two years ·Bachelor's degree programs: Four years
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Article 53(2) of the 「Higher Education Act」
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Cyber colleges
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·Junior bachelor's degree programs: Two years or more ·Bachelor's degree programs: Four years or more
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Article 53(3) of the「Higher Education Act」
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Technical colleges
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·Junior bachelor's degree programs: Two years ·Bachelor's degree programs: Two years
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Article 56 of the 「Higher Education Act」
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Graduate schools
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·Master's degree programs: Not less than two years ·Doctoral degree programs: Not less than two years ·Combined master’s and doctoral degree programs: Not less than four years, which shall exceed the sum of years required for a master's degree program and a doctoral program
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Article 31 of the 「Higher Education Act」
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- Qualifications for admission
· Those who have graduated from high schools or those who are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter universities and colleges (Article 33(1) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
※ To enter junior bachelor's degree programs of technical colleges, one shall also have at least 6 months of industry work experience. Those with at least 6 months of industry work experience and who have graduated from junior colleges or those who are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter bachelor's degree programs (Article 57 of the 「Higher Education Act」 and Article 65 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」).
· Those who have graduated from high schools or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes or those who are enrolled in relevant universities or colleges and meet the qualification requirements prescribed by the regulations of said universities or colleges shall be qualified to enter combined bachelor's and master's degree programs (Article 33(2) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
· Those who hold a bachelor's degree or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter master's degree programs and combined master’s and doctoral degree programs (Article 33(3) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
· Those who hold master's degrees or those who are recognized as having the equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter doctoral degree programs (Article 33(4) of the 「Higher Education Act」).
- Academic term
· The academic year of higher education programs begins on March 1 and ends on the last day of February of the next year. The academic year is divided into two semesters or four quarters (Article 20 of the 「Higher Education Act」 and Article 10 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」).
- Each semester or quarter shall be set forth in the school regulations of universities, colleges, and graduate schools (Article 20(2) of the 「Higher Education Act」 and Article 10 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act」).
Education programs for foreign students
Regular programs
- Regular programs are those where foreign students complete the same curricula as Korean students in general. When fulfilling the aforementioned admission conditions (completing the immediately preceding education program or having equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes, and satisfying admission standards set by the school), foreign students may apply to be admitted to regular programs. For instance, those who have graduated from high schools or those who are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic achievement under Acts and subordinate statutes shall be qualified to enter universities and colleges.
- Nevertheless, foreign students may not enter all the regular programs. According to their establishment purpose, air colleges, correspondence colleges, air and correspondence colleges, and cyber colleges do not accept foreign students [Article 52 of the 「Higher Education Act」 and p.61 of the 2008 Case Collection of Consultations at e-Government for Foreigners (Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice)].
Short-term programs
- Short-term programs are those where part of regular programs is completed. They may continue for one or two semesters or be offered during regular academic breaks. Rather than directly applying to a school, most short-term programs are taken by exchange students at domestic schools that have academic exchange agreements with foreign schools (hereinafter 'sister schools'). As schools with academic exchange agreements often provide benefits in admission procedures, recognize credits, and provide scholarships, etc., students looking for a short-term program shall check the sister schools of their schools.
Korean language courses
- These courses are designed to allow foreign students to acquire skills to communicate in Korean. They are generally offered as long-term courses of not less than ten weeks and short-term courses of not more than four weeks. One can choose a course that best suits his needs.