How the Korean University Year Works: Semesters, Registration and Breaks
Korean universities start the academic year in March. Here is how the two semesters, course registration, exams and breaks usually work, plus a few Korean words you will hear on campus.
By CampusDown Korea2 min readOn this page
If you are coming to Korea for a degree or an exchange semester, the academic calendar may look different from home. Here is how a typical Korean university year is organized. Exact dates differ by school, so always check your university's academic calendar.
Two semesters, starting in March
- Spring semester: starts in early March and runs to around mid or late June.
- Fall semester: starts in early September and runs to around mid or late December.
Each semester is usually about 15โ16 weeks long, with midterm exams around the middle and final exams in the last weeks. Between semesters there are summer and winter breaks, and many universities run shorter seasonal sessions during the breaks.
Course registration (์๊ฐ์ ์ฒญ)
You choose your classes online before the semester starts. At many schools registration opens at a fixed time and popular classes fill up within minutes, so prepare your list (and backups) in advance. There is usually a short add/drop period at the start of the semester, often around the first week, when you can still change classes.
Tuition and enrollment
Tuition is normally paid during a set period before each semester. Missing it can affect your enrollment status, which matters for your visa as well, so keep an eye on emails from your school.
Grades
Korean universities use letter grades converted to a GPA, commonly on a 4.5 scale (some schools use 4.3). Attendance is often part of the grade, and missing too many classes can mean failing a course.
Words you will hear on campus
- ์๊ฐ์ ์ฒญ (su-gang-sin-cheong) โ course registration
- ํ์ (hak-jeom) โ credits, or your GPA
- ํดํ / ๋ณตํ (hyu-hak / bok-hak) โ taking a leave of absence / returning from it
- ์ฅํ๊ธ (jang-hak-geum) โ scholarship
- ๊ณผ์ (gwa-je) โ assignment
Useful resources
The government's Study in Korea site has official information on admissions and scholarships. For coursework, CampusDown is a Korean marketplace of reports, presentations and study materials, and the CampusDown Wiki explains common Korean university terms.
โน๏ธ This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules and procedures can change โ check the official sources linked above for the latest details.