Graduate

Admissions

For new and transfer students

Division		Application submission schedule for first-semester admission	Application submission schedule for second-semester admission
Korean nationals	New students	Online application (early October)	Online application (early April)
Korean nationals	Transfer students	Online application (early October)	Online application (early April)
Foreigners	New students	Online application (early September)	Online application (early March)

Program	Eligibility	Years of study	Admission quota
Master’s degree program	Graduates or graduands with a bachelor’s degree	Four semesters	Quota for master’s program
Master’s–doctoral program	Same as the above	Six semesters for a fast-track program	Quota for doctoral program
Doctoral degree program	Graduates or graduands with a master’s degree	Four semesters	Quota for doctoral program
University–research–industry collaboration program	Those who are eligible for the above programs and have been recommended for admission by the head of a research institute or an industry that has established a university–research–industry collaboration program with Korea University · A list of research institutes and industries: Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Korea Food Research Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Ministry of Food and Drug, National Institute of Environmental Research, National Institute of Forest Science, Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Samsung Electronics, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Korea Railroad Research Institute, LG Electronics, Korea Electronics Technology Institute, Korea Testing Laboratory, International Vaccine Institute, SK Hynix, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Korea Express Corporation Research Institute, Rural Development Administration, Korea Basic Science Institute, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology	Four or six semesters	Quota for master’s or doctoral program

· The School operates a regular daytime program for students at Korea University wishing to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering. Students can also be admitted to the university–research–industry collaboration program.

· The School offers master’s, master’s–doctoral, and doctoral programs, and domestic and foreign students are subject to different admission schedules. For Korean nationals, the admission process for new and transfer students is conducted in October and April, while the admission process for the bachelor’s–master’s program and the master’s–doctoral program (change from the master’s program to the master’s–doctoral program) is conducted in November and May.

· There is no written exam, and the School selects students based on document screening and a major-related oral exam.

· A student must complete a graduation thesis and conduct research in a graduate school lab under the supervision of a professor in order to earn a master's or doctoral degree. Consequently, prior to an oral examination, it is critical that degree seekers identify their area of interest and consult with a pertinent professor.

Admission for the bachelor’s–master’s program

- Eligibility

Active undergraduate students at Korea University who have registered for more than six semesters, completed at least 85 credits (including the semester they registered for at the time of application), and have a CGPA higher than 3.75 (up to the semester they completed prior to application).
No restrictions on colleges and majors.
An applicant must have at least one remaining semester after becoming a successful candidate for the program. Before entering the program, successful candidates must take at least six credits of prerequisite graduate courses (in excess of undergraduate graduation requirements) in their remaining semester with the approval of their academic advisor or department head professor.

- Years of study for the bachelor’s–master’s program

With a graduate CGPA of 4.0 or higher, students are allowed to complete their master’s program in three semesters, one semester earlier than the regular years of study.
Students eligible for early graduation can additionally reduce their years of study by one semester.
When satisfying the above conditions, students can complete the program in just five years.

Division	Application submission schedule (for first-semester admission)	Application submission schedule (for second-semester admission)
Bachelor’s–master’s program	Late November	Late May

- Scholarships applicable to students pursuing the bachelor’s–master’s program

	Students entering the program through early graduation		Students entering the program through regular graduation
Scholarship regulations on GPA	Graduation CGPA of 4.0 or higher
Scholarship amount	First semester	Second and third semesters	First–third semesters
Scholarship amount	Full admission and tuition fees	50% of tuition fees	50% of tuition fees (no financial support for admission fees)
Number of applicable semesters	Maximum of three semesters
Notes	1) Scholarship payments will be made to the recipient’s account registered on the portal after the semester begins (first semester: in May, second semester: in November). 2) Students must maintain a GPA of 4.0 or higher every semester. 3) For early graduation, the undergraduate graduation requirements will apply.

* The College of Engineering gives admission preference to active graduate students who change their master’s degree program to the master’s–doctoral program.

Admission for transition from the master’s program to the master’s–doctoral program

※ Only active students pursuing a master’s degree at Korea University's general graduate schools are eligible for this admission. Those who have completed their master’s program or who are in their fourth semester cannot apply to the master’s–doctoral program.

※ The admission of students depends on the availability of seats. Seats become available for various reasons, such as unfilled doctoral program quotas in the relevant year and dropouts.

※ The program’s admission schedule is the same as that of the bachelor’s–master’s program.

→ Please refer to the website of the Korea University Graduate School for further admission information.
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FAQ

Are professional and special graduate schools currently offering mechanical engineering programs?

Previously, the Special Graduate School of Engineering used to offer mechanical engineering courses. However, the general graduate school now exclusively offers the mechanical engineering program.

Can I apply to the master’s and master’s–doctoral programs simultaneously?

Yes, you can. For your information, the general graduate school operates on a total quota system, separating a master’s admission quota from a doctoral admission quota, while the quota for the master’s–doctoral program is included in the doctoral admission quota. Therefore, when you pursue the master’s program, you should consider applying to both programs when the competition rate is high for the master’s program in a given year. The same logic applies to your pursuit of the master’s–doctoral program.

Is admission for the university–research–industry collaboration program separately processed?

The same admission process applies to all programs, and there is no separate admission quota for the university–research–industry collaboration program.

Can you elaborate on the bachelor’s–master’s program? What are the advantages of the program?

The program allows students to obtain both degrees in an accelerated manner. For example, students can complete their graduate studies in three registered semesters, one semester earlier than the regular four semesters of study. This means that students who are eligible for early graduation can complete the program in just five years (seven semesters for a bachelor’s degree and three semesters for a master’s degree). Another advantage is the graduate school scholarships granted to students whose undergraduate CGPA is 4.0 or higher. Moreover, those who decide to pursue the master’s–doctoral program during their master’s studies will be given admission preference. Given that an applicant must have at least one remaining semester after becoming a successful candidate for this bachelor’s–master’s program, we recommend that you apply to the program during the second semester of your third year or during the first semester of your fourth year at the latest (during the second semester of your third year at the latest when you plan to graduate early). This is because students are required to proactively engage in research to accelerate their master’s program.

https://graduate.korea.ac.kr/matriculate/bachelor_master.html

Can I transfer to graduate school?

Yes, you can. However, considering the shorter time span for studies and research, you must consult with a relevant professor before submitting your application. We permit transfers on a limited basis.