■ Application of Fall Semester, 2023

1. Programs

Sogang GSIS recruits about OO students for Master degree program in the four specialty areas, International Relations, International Trade, International Finance, and Korea & East Asia Studies. Also, Sogang GSIS recruits about O students for Ph.D. program in the three fields of major mentioned above except Korea & East Asia Studies for Fall semester, 2023.

All courses and academic activities are conducted in English and about 130 international students from 38 countries are studying at Sogang GSIS, as of March, 2023.

2. Qualification 

An applicant must have graduated or be expected to graduate from an accredited four-year college, university or equivalent before the semester for which the applicant intends to enroll. It means that you should graduate and receive your diploma & degree at least 1 month before entering. For example, for fall (or spring) semester admission which starts from every September (March), you should receive diploma & degree until August (February). In short, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree (master's degree for Ph.D. Program) or evidence of equivalent. Students can apply for Sogang GSIS program regardless of their undergraduate majors.

5. Required Documents

  Note) In case of a Korean descendant abroad, additional documents such as 'Birth Certificate', 'Ho Kou Ben', etc. may be requested to clarify the nationality. 

1) Application Checklist

It can be downloaded from our website. The application documents must be submitted in the order of the checklist. Please put the checklist in the front. Each required document should be numbered and labeled on the top right corner. (ex: 4. Essay)

2) Offline Application Form

3) One Sealed Recommendation Letter

The recommendation letter form can be downloaded from our website. Applicants should use Sogang GSIS recommendation form. Recommendation letter should be sealed. Unsealed letter will not be accepted. Letter could be included in the application package or sent directly to Sogang GSIS office from the recommender.

Former professor from the university or supervisors from the workplace could be recommender.

4) Essay

The essay may be no longer than 2 pages and has no fixed form. It may include self-introduction, the reason why the applicant is interested in Sogang GSIS, and future career plan.

5) Diploma or Certificate of (Expected) Graduation

Certificate of graduation should be original. In terms of diploma, copy of diploma could be submitted. However, the applicant must make the Certificate of Graduation or Diploma apostilled or authenticated by consular.

Applicants who have not yet graduated during the application period can submit the certificate of expected graduation including the anticipated graduation day. In this case, once the applicants are admitted, they should bring the original diploma or the certificate of graduation officially sealed by the university to Korea for validation checking.

6) Official Academic Transcripts

Official academic transcripts must be original and issued by undergraduate school (and graduate school for Ph.D. applicants). Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all institutions they attended.

Statement of grading system from the school must be attached if the CGPA can’t be calculated on a 4.0/4.3/4.5 scale or in percentage (if not, it is possible for applicants to use a online service such as Scholaro.com, etc., and submit both the recalculated version and the original transcript.)

※ The transcript not printed in English should be translated in English and need to be notarized. However, it does not have to be apostilled. 

7) English Test Score Report (TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or NEW TEPS)

English test score report should be original within the validity period.

It could be included in the application package or sent directly to Sogang GSIS office from the test institutions.

It is exempted for ① native English speakers, ② graduates from universities in the English speaking countries, or ③ graduates from universities that the medium of instruction in all of the degree program was in English (an official supporting letter from home university is required).

8) Color Copy of Passport

It should be printed in color.

9) Original Statement of Bank Balance

It should be at least USD 20,000 or equivalent. The applicant can submit the statement of bank balance under USD 20,000. However, it could be a problem when the applicant applies for the visa depending on the embassy.

If the account holder is student’s parent or family, please submit the ‘Statement of financial sponsorship’ [Download] with the account holder’s signature, too. It can be downloaded from our website. 

10) Consent Form of Information Release for Degree Verification

It is for verifying your previous undergraduate or graduate degree. The applicant should fill in the information correctly and sign on the form. 

11) Degree Verification Report from CDGDC or CHSI

It is only for applicants who graduated from universities in China. If the document is written only in Chinese, applicants should submit the notarized translation. Online report from CHSI (CHESICC) is preferable.  

6. Application Fee

8. Scholarship

There are 4 types of scholarship supported by Sogang GSIS as follows;
- Scholarship A/B/C/D: 100%/75%/50%/25% reduction (waiver) of tuition fee
In the 1st semester, new students who meet the certain academic standards are entitled to receive the scholarship according to their performance in the admission process. The GSIS Admisstion Committee decides the type of scholarship for new students.
From the 2nd semester, the amount of scholarship will be determined according to the GPA of the previous semester to every student who acquires 9 credits or the above and has a GPA of 3.5 (4.0 for Ph.D.) on a scale of 4.3.
For GSIS scholarship, students are required to submit the official English test result such as TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or NEW TEPS with the certain required score during their first year at Sogang GSIS. Native speakers or students who graduated from universities in English speaking countries are exempted.
Students can apply for TA or RA from the 2nd semester for the additional scholarship.

*The scholarship rules may be applied differently for the Ph.D. students. 

9. Information for Accepted Students

• Deadline for Paying Tuition: The first week of August, 2023

• Matriculation & Orientation day: August 25 (Fri), 2023

• First Day of Fall semester, 2023: September 1 (Fri), 2023

  ▶ Link to the Information on tuition and housing 

10. Contacts

• Website: https://gsis.sogang.ac.kr

• E-mail: gsisapply@sogang.ac.kr

• Tel: +82-2-705-8756

• Fax: +82-2-705-8755