Graduation is more than completing your final semester. You may also need to earn a specific number of credits, pass required courses, meet a language standard, or submit a thesis or project.
Requirements vary by university, department, degree program, and admission year. Korea’s official Study in Korea website also advises students to check the requirements set by their own university or department.
Use this guide to organize your requirements early and avoid last-minute surprises.
1. Check Your Total Credit Requirement
Your university may divide credits into several categories, such as:
- Major courses
- General education courses
- Electives
- Required courses for your department
- Prerequisite courses, if applicable
Check both your total credit target and the minimum required in each category. Having enough credits overall may not be sufficient if you are missing a required course or category.
| What to check | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Total credits | How many credits must I earn to graduate? |
| Major credits | Is there a minimum number of major credits? |
| General education | Are there required subjects or credit limits? |
| Required courses | Have I completed every compulsory course? |
| Transfer credits | Which credits from my previous institution were accepted? |
📷 Photo 1: Reviewing graduation requirements with an academic advisor
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2. Review Your Graduation Progress Report
Look for a graduation audit, degree progress report, or academic status page in your university’s student portal. It may show which requirements are complete, in progress, or still missing.
Do not rely only on your own calculation. If a course appears under an unexpected category or a transfer credit is missing, contact your department office or academic advisor before registration begins.
A simple progress check
- Download your transcript and degree progress report.
- Compare completed courses with your department’s curriculum.
- Mark every incomplete requirement.
- Ask whether currently enrolled courses will count toward graduation.
- Save the advisor’s response and any relevant notices.
3. Confirm Language Requirements
Some universities or departments require international students to meet a Korean or English proficiency requirement before graduation. The accepted tests, scores, exemptions, and submission deadlines can differ by program.
The Korean government’s Study in Korea website notes that language requirements are determined by each university or department.
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Required language | Korean, English, or another language |
| Accepted proof | Test score, university language course, or another approved option |
| Minimum level or score | The exact standard for your program |
| Validity period | Whether your score must still be valid when submitted |
| Submission process | Where and how to upload or submit the certificate |
Important: Do not assume that the language requirement for admission is the same as the requirement for graduation. Check the current rule for your own program.
📷 Photo 2: Checking a degree progress report and planning remaining courses
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4. Find Out Whether You Need a Thesis, Exam, or Final Project
Depending on your program, graduation may require more than coursework. Possible requirements include:
- A graduation thesis or research paper
- A comprehensive examination
- A capstone project or portfolio
- A recital, exhibition, or practical assessment
- A required internship or fieldwork
- A research ethics course
These requirements are especially important to check early because they may involve an advisor, project approval, or a submission period.
Ask your department:
- Is a thesis, exam, project, or portfolio required?
- When must I choose an advisor or topic?
- Are there proposal or presentation deadlines?
- Is an alternative to the thesis available?
- Are there department-specific forms or approval steps?
5. Check Special Rules for Your Program
Students in double majors, minors, transfer programs, exchange programs, or English-taught tracks may have additional rules. A second major may have its own credit or language requirements. Some departments may also require courses that do not appear in the general university checklist.
For example, the University of Seoul lists separate graduation qualifications, including requirements related to general education and double majors. This illustrates why students should check both university-wide rules and department-specific rules.
📷 Photo 3: International students celebrate on campus after completing their degree requirements
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6. Create a Personal Graduation Checklist
Make one list that includes every requirement and its deadline. Update it after each semester.
| Requirement | My status | Deadline or next step |
|---|---|---|
| Total credits | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| Major and required courses | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| General education requirements | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| Language certification | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| Thesis, exam, or final project | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| Internship, portfolio, or practical assessment | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing | |
| Graduation application and documents | ☐ Complete ☐ In progress ☐ Missing |
When Should You Start?
Begin checking your graduation status at least two or three semesters before your expected graduation. This gives you time to retake a course, complete a language test, arrange a thesis advisor, or resolve a credit issue.
Before registering for your final semester, ask your department or academic advisor to confirm your remaining requirements in writing.
Questions to Ask Your University
You can use these questions when contacting your department office:
- Could you confirm which graduation requirements I have not yet completed?
- Do my transfer or exchange credits count toward my major requirements?
- What language certificate is accepted for my program?
- Is a thesis, exam, capstone, or portfolio required?
- What is the deadline to apply for graduation?
- Where can I find the rules that apply to my admission year?
Final Reminder
Graduation requirements are not identical across Korean universities. Confirm the rules for your university, department, degree program, and admission year through your student portal, academic handbook, department office, or international student support center. For international students, check any immigration-related steps with the appropriate university office as well.
Official references
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