■ Application of Fall Semester, 2025
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 four fields of major for Fall semester, 2025.
All courses and academic activities are conducted in English and about 120 international students from 37 countries are studying at Sogang GSIS, as of March, 2025.
Ph.D. | All Majors | Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies |
M.A. | International Relations | Master of International Studies in International Relations |
International Trade | Master of International Studies in International Trade | |
International Finance | Master of International Studies in International Finance | |
Korea & East Asia Studies | Master of International Studies in Korean Studies | |
Master of International Studies in East Asian Studies |
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 2 months before entering. For example, for fall semester admission which starts from every September, you should receive diploma & degree until July. 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.
3. Important Dates
• Application Period: April 22 (Tue) ~ May 2 (Fri), 2025 "Application Link (Click Here)"
• Announcement of Documents Screening Results: 2pm on May 13 (Tue), 2025
• Interview for Admission: May 17 (Sat), 2025
- Interview will be conducted in English. The online (Zoom) interview is available only if you are not in Korea.
• Announcement of Final Screening Results: June 4 (Wed), 2025
4. Application Process
1) Online Application
Applicants must first complete the online application form. The online application link is available only during the application period on the Sogang GSIS website. During the application period, Applicants should fill out the online application form and upload the required files to the designated site.
2) Offline application
After complete the online application, ① students must send all required documents in physically by express postal mail (DHL, FedEx, etc.). In addition, ② students should submit the scan files (in PDF format) of the whole set of application documents (except recommendation letter) to Sogang GSIS email (gsisapply@sogang.ac.kr) during the application period. The application process will be completed ONLY after students complete the both submission as above.
All documents should be written in English. If the original documents are not in English, then notarized translations must also be submitted. All documents submitted will not be returned to the applicants.
5. Required Documents
No. | Notes |
1) | Application Checklist |
2) | Offline Application Form |
3) | One Sealed Recommendation Letter |
4) | Essay |
5) | Diploma or Certificate of (Expected) Graduation * Either Apostilled or Consular Authentication is required. |
6) | Official Academic Transcripts * An official English notarized translation is required if the transcripts are not printed in English. |
7) | English Test Score Report * TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or NEW TEPS within validity period - April 30, 2025 * There is no minimum score requirement on English test score * TOEFL My Best Score, Home Edition & IELTS Online test score reports are also accepted |
8) | Color Copy of Passport |
9) | Consent Form of Information Release for Degree Verification |
10) | Degree Verification Report from CHSI (CHESICC) or CDGDC (Only for applicants who graduated from universities in China) |
11) | Research Writing Sample (e.g. Master's degree thesis) (Only for Ph.D. applicants) |
Note) In case of a Korean descendant abroad, additional documents such as 'Birth Certificate', 'Hu 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 written by pencil on the top right corner (ex: 4. Essay). Stapler, clear file, tape, and paste are PROHIBITED when submitting documents. Your must file it with a clip and tongs.
2) Offline Application Form
It can be downloaded from our website. It should be typed. Handwriting is not allowed. Applicants can either attach a high resolution digital photo on the offline application form, photo register and registration form or attach 3 photos (3.5×4.5cm) in physically.
3) One Sealed Recommendation Letter
The recommendation letter form can be downloaded from our website.
Applicants should use designated Sogang GSIS recommendation form.
① The offline 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.
② The recommender is also able to send the email by attaching completed recommendation letter directly to Sogang GSIS office (gsisapply@sogang.ac.kr). In this case, the recommender should use his/her official affiliated institutional email account (e.g. : abc@harvard.edu) for the verification purposes.
③ 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 (or provisional degree certificate) including a date of graduation.
Such applicants should able to submit an official graduation certificate (or diploma) in original which has been apostilled or authenticated by consular, and make sure to arrive at Sogang GSIS office within July of 2025. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the acceptance.
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 previous institutions they attended.
If the CGPA is not indicated in one of the acknowledged GPA scales (4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0 or 100 point scale), submit a transcript converted into one of the GPA scales as a supplementary document.
A transcript converted with a conversion tool such as scholaro.com or wes.org is only acceptable when the relevant university officially confirms the document.
※ Application without converted transcript may be put a disadvantage during evaluation.
※ The transcript not printed in English should be translated in English and need to be notarized. However, it does not have to be apostilled.
■ Items to Note on Apostille (or Consular Confirmation)
- If your document, such as a diploma, cannot be reissued, please keep the original and obtain an apostille (or consular confirmation) on a notarized copy.
- Simple photocopies or notarized copies of the apostilled (or consular confirmed) documents will NOT be accepted. However, a certified true copy (등본 인증) issued by a Korean embassy or a government agency that initially issued the original apostille document are accepted.
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) 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.
10) 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.
11) Research Writing Sample
It is only for Ph.D. applicants who have graduated with thesis in previous degree program (e.g. Master's degree).
6. Application Fee
The applicant must transfer the application fee (KRW 90,000, USD 90, or the equivalent) to the bank account listed below. The applicant is responsible for any transaction commission fees. Please do not include cash or checks in the application package, as they may be lost. After transferring the fee, please email the GSIS office at gsisapply@sogang.ac.kr and provide a receipt of your payment. The receipt should include the payment date, receiver's account number, receiver's name, and the payment amount for accurate tracking purposes. If a friend or family member makes the payment on behalf of the applicant, the applicant must inform the GSIS office of the sender's name and account number.
It is strongly recommended to complete the payment at least two days before the application deadline. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
• Name of Bank: Woori Bank
• Account Number: 1005-001-589268
• Swift Code of Woori Bank: HVBKKRSEXXX
• Account Holder: Sogang University
• Bank Address: Woori Bank Sogang University branch, Sogang University,
17, World Cup buk-ro 60-gil, Mapu-gu, Seoul, 03921,
Republic of Korea.
7. Overseas Korean
Overseas Koreans can apply through the same process as international students as follows;
1) Those who have citizenship of foreign countries and both of whose parents have citizenship of foreign countries (non-existence parent is not considerable)
※ Required Documents: The copies of passports of both parents
2) Those who studied from elementary school up to university in foreign countries
※ Required Documents: The certificate of enrollment of all institutions
8. Sogang GSIS 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. Required Document for Accepted Students
■ Original Statement of Bank Balance
It should be at least KRW 20,000,000 or equivalent. The accepted applicants can submit the statement of bank balance under KRW 20,000,000. 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, ① please submit the ‘Statement of financial sponsorship’ [Download] with the account holder’s signature as well. It can be downloaded from our website. ② The applicant must submit additional documents that prove the relationship between the applicant and sponsor such as Certificate of Family Relationship, Birth Certificate, Hu Kou Ben, and so on.
The accepted applicants should be able to submit the original statement of bank balance and make sure to arrive at Sogang GSIS office after their Sogang GSIS tuition fees payment is completed.
※ The issuance date should be after the completion of Sogang GSIS tuition fees payment.
※ Failure to submit this document will result in the cancellation of the acceptance.
10. Information for Accepted Students
• Deadline for Paying Tuition: The first week of February, 2025
• Matriculation & Orientation day: February 26th (Wed), 2025
• First Day of Spring semester, 2025: March 3rd (Mon), 2025
▶ Link to the Information on tuition and housing
11. Contacts
• Website: https://gsis.sogang.ac.kr
• E-mail: gsisapply@sogang.ac.kr
• Tel: +82-2-705-8756
• Fax: +82-2-705-8755
• Mailing Address: #509 Kim Daegon Hall, GSIS, Sogang University, #35, Baekbeom-Ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea.