Republic of Korea

Elementary and Secondary Education 

The school system follows a 6+3+3 model. It consists of six years of primary education (elementary school, age 6–12), three years of lower secondary education (middle school, age 12–15), and three years of upper secondary education (high school, age 15–18). The first nine years of schooling (elementary and lower secondary school) is compulsory. A school should meet the establishment standards prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as facilities and equipment and obtain authorization from the Superintendent of an Office of Education which belongs to a City, a Do, or a Province.

Schools are classified into national schools, public schools, or private schools according to the founding entities. The Minister of Education determines basic matters on standards and details of the curricula, and the Superintendent of an Office of Education may determine the standards and details thereof according to actual circumstances of a region within the scope of the curricula determined by the Minister of Education.

Korea has four types of high schools: general high schools, special-purpose high schools, specialized high schools, and autonomous high schools. Despite the different school types, all high school graduates receive the same level qualification. In addition, a person who has not graduated high school but has passed a high school equivalency examination is deemed to have an academic background equivalent to that of a high school graduate in entering a school of higher grade.

KSCED-ISCED

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the official statistical agency of UNESCO, developed the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) in the 1970s to collect and analyze internationally comparable educational statistics and revised it in 1997 and in 2011.

As UNESCO has recommended the use of ISCED to each country, the Statistics Korea enacted the Korean Standard Classification of Education (KSCED) in 2009. After revision in 2014, it was publicly notified.

Higher Education

Higher education institutions in Korea consist of junior colleges (2~3-year courses), universities (4-year courses) and graduate schools. A Junior college confers an associate degree. If a person who was admitted to an advanced major program or a 4-year course designed to train medical personnel and has completed the courses determined by school regulations, junior college could award a bachelor’s degree. In recent years, with the development of information and communication technologies, cyber colleges that deliver education via of e-learning have also increased in number. Graduate-level courses (master’s and doctor‘s degree courses) are generally provided at 4-year universities. However, graduate school universities have established to exclusively offer graduate programs with no affiliations to universities.

Legal Basis

Overall responsibility for education in the Republic of Korea lies with the Ministry of Education. Korean higher education has its legal basis in the Higher Education Act and other related laws.

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Higher Education Act
• Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act
• Lifelong Education Act
• Workers Vocational Skills Development Act
• Act on Recognition of Credits, Etc.

For further information, refer to:

• National Law Information Centre
• Korea Legislation Research Institute
• Ministry of Education

Access to Higher Education

Admission Qualifications for Higher Education Courses

Admission to higher education institutions  is of two types; general and special admission. General admission is designed to select students according to universal educational standards for ordinary students. Special admission is designed to select students based on standards presented by universities, such as special experience or aptitude, or those who need to be selected based on differential educational compensation standards. Overseas Koreans and foreigners are subject to special admission.

Students may enter courses under early admission or regular admission. For early admission, students are evaluated based on their school records and other extra-curricular activities from high school. For regular admission, students are evaluated based on the results of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Most universities and colleges implement regular admissions on the basis of a combination of student records (School Activities Record) and CSAT scores. Some universities also use essays, interviews or in-house entrance examinations for additional screening purposes.

• College Admission Information Portal
  
  

CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test)

The CSAT is run and administered by the Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE). The CSAT is taken once a year, normally in mid-November, and lasts a full day. The CSAT consists of tests in Language Arts, Mathematics, English, Korean History, Social Studies/Science/Vocational Education, and second foreign languages/Chinese characters & classics. Students may select all or some of the five tests, as well as specific subjects.

The CSAT is not mandatory, but most high school students in Korea choose to take the test to meet the requirements of universities.

Credit and Grading System

Credit System

Under Article 21 of the Higher Education Act, the completion of a course of study is based on the grade and credit system. Under Article 14 of the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act, Credit hours are determined by schools for each class subject, based on the characteristics of the relevant curriculum, but should be at least 15 hours each semester. Mostly, 1 credit is given when taking a course over more than 15 hours in a semester and a student is able to take approximately 17–20 credits per semester under school regulations.

Two or more semesters constitute each school year, and the number of school days must exceed 30 weeks per year.

Grading System

The grade for each subject is given as a Grade Point Average (GPA). The grading method follows school rules. The completion of a subject is accepted as a credit if the grade is above a certain level. A failed subject will be excluded from one’s earned credits. Some schools allow students to take additional credits if their average score in the previous semester is higher than a certain standard, and restrict students to register for the maximum number of credits if they are placed under academic probation. The minimum credits required to obtain a degree are subject to the school regulations of individual universities.

Most Korean higher education systems follow the grading system below.

Recognition of Credits

Under Article 7 of the Act on Recognition of Credits, etc., any of the following categories of students may be deemed to have earned credits at relevant schools.

• Where a student has earned credits in any other domestic or foreign school
• Where a student earned credits at lifelong education centres that offer education courses and degrees that are deemed equivalent to those offered by junior college or university graduates
• Where a student has completed a curriculum equivalent to university courses in any domestic or foreign high school and in any domestic school
• Where any person who takes a leave of absence to enlist in the military or to complete mandatory military service has earned credits after taking distance learning courses
• Where credits are recognized by the Minister of Education
• Where the fact that a student studied, conducted research or practiced at other schools, research institutions, industrial enterprises, etc. or worked for any industrial enterprises is recognized (limited to industrial colleges and junior colleges)
• 
  Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act
• Act on Recognition of Credits, etc.

Academic Credit Bank System (ACBS)

The Academic Credit Bank System  is an open educational system which offers lifelong learning opportunities. It recognizes diverse learning experiences both within and outside of school. A person who earns 80 credits can obtain an associate degree and a person who earns 140 credits can obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Source: National Institute for Lifelong Education

Associate Degrees [전문학사, jʌnmunhaksa]

Admission Qualifications

Those who have graduated from high schools or are recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under the relevant statutes.

Conferment of Degrees

• Those who were admitted to associate degree courses and have completed the courses determined by school regulations
• Those who have completed courses of study assessed and certified and whose credit points are recognized by the Minister of Education (2-year: over 80 credit points, 3-year: over 120 credit points)
• Those who have received credit points recognized by the Minister of Education (2-year: over 80 credit points, 3-year: over 120 credit points)

Duration

• 2 years
• 3 years: Nursing, Radiology, Clinical Pathology, Physical Therapy, Prosthodontia, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Fishery, Engine, etc.

Awarding Institutions

Junior College, Cyber College, Technical College, Various Kinds of School, Major College, In-House College, Distance College, Polytechnic College, Special-Purpose School, Academic Credit Bank System (ACBS).

Bachelor’s Degrees [학사, haksa]

Admission Qualifications

Those who have graduated from high schools or are recognized as having an equivalent or higher academic background under the relevant statutes.

Conferment of Degrees

• Those who were admitted to bachelor’s degree courses and have completed the courses determined by school regulations
• Those who have completed 4-year courses in junior colleges for medical personnel determined by school regulations
• Those who were admitted to advanced major programmes in junior college and have completed the courses determined by school regulations
• Those who were admitted to advanced major courses with a degree in a Polytechnic College and have completed the courses determined by school regulations
• Those who have completed courses of study assessed and certified and whose credit points are recognized by the Minister of Education (over 140 credit points)
• Those who have received credit points recognized by the Minister of Education (over 140 credit points)

Term of Study

• 4 years
• 5 years: Architecture
• 6 years: Medical College, College of Oriental Medicine, Dental College, Veterinary College, Pharmacy College
• Reduction of Duration: Not more than 1 year

Awarding Institutions

University and College, Industrial College, Teacher’s College, Junior College (Advanced Major Courses), Cyber College, (online) and Correspondence College, Technical College, Various Kinds of School, In-House College, Distance College, Polytechnic College (Advanced Major Courses with Degree), Special-Purpose School, Academic Credit Bank System.

Master’s Degrees [석사, sʌksa]

Admission Qualifications

Those who hold a bachelor’s degree or those who have been recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under the relevant statutes.

Conferment of Degrees

Those who acquire required credits, pass certain examinations and then present a dissertation for a degree as determined by school regulations (other methods may be applied as determined by school regulations).

Duration

• Not less than 2 years
• Reduction of Duration: Not more than 1 year

Degree Types

• Academic Degree: General Graduate School, Specialized Graduate School (excluding graduate schools of medical science, dentistry, and oriental medical science).
• Technical Degree: Specialized Graduate School, Special Graduate School

Awarding Institutions

• General Graduate School of University and College
• Specialized Graduate School of University and College, Industrial College, Teacher’s College, Graduate School University
• Special Graduate School of University and College, Industrial College, Teacher’s College, Cyber College, Graduate School University

Doctor’s Degrees [박사, baksa]

Admission Qualifications

Those who hold a master’s degree or those who have been recognized as having equivalent or higher academic background under the relevant statutes.

Conferment of Degrees

Those who acquire required credits, pass certain examinations and then present a dissertation for a degree as determined by school regulations.

Duration

• Not less than 2 years
• Reduction of Duration: Not more than 6 months.

Degree Types

• Academic Degree: General Graduate School, Specialized Graduate School
• Technical Degree: Specialized Graduate School, Special Graduate School

Awarding Institutions

• General Graduate School of University and College
• Specialized Graduate School of University and College, Industrial College, Teacher’s College, Graduate School University