Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

Hey guys. I tried to use the search function for this because I'm sure that someone's asked it before, but I just can't seem to get it to work.

I'm working at a public school in Busan and, while I really love my job, I think I would most enjoy teaching at the university level at some point. In order to do that though, you need a master's, right?

My question is - how difficult is it to go to/get into grad school in Korea? I'm particularly interested in PNU because the campus and environment seem so amazing. Are there all-English programs, or should I wait until I'm basically fluent in Korean before applying?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

[sigmundsmith]

It all depends what you want to study.

If you want to do an MA in TESOL then zero level of Korean is required.

But then, if you want to get into something else along the lines of Business, accounting etc then you will have to look into the school itself to see what classes are offered in English.

If I am right I believe that the Graduate School of International Studies at universities in Korea are a special case and they are offered in English.

My advice, go into the website, have a look at what you want to study, see what their requirements are (academic background/Language needed) and then make your decision. Most good university english websites break that information down quite well that I am sure it will answer your questions.

[noraebang]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

Ohh that's great advice. The GSIS at PNU looks like everything I wanted. Thanks for your help!! ^^

[Sadebugo1]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

Well PNU is one of the top-tier schools in Korea - Korean students who go there are pretty much guaranteed jobs. Also Korea has one of the highest standards of education in the world. So I'm not sure why it should be a problem. It's an important thing to consider in choosing a school of course though.

Also if I get an International Relations-type MA in Korea, there's no way it could hurt me, as I see it! I think it would open up so many doors. I haven't decided for sure yet (still considering Germany, the US, etc.) but I've definitely added it to my list of possibilities.

[morrisonhotel]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

That's a great recommendation, morrisonhotel, thanks.

[Yaya]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

Yaya - your opinion is not upheld by the resources I've read.

PNU is one of the ten Flagship Korean National Universities, which were established by the government as the top educational institutions in the country: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship_Korean_National_Universities

According to an old survey by Asia Week (2007 or prior; I can't find the exact date), PNU is #13, while the others you mention are #3-6: http://www.teachingkimchi.com/346/top-15-universities-in-korea/

On the 2009 rankings, PNU jumped up to #8, ahead of Sogang at #10: http://www.topuniversities.com/country-guides/south-korea/

On this list, PNU is #8, while Sogang is only #28 (to be fair, I can't find the criteria for the list): http://www.4icu.org/kr/

And finally, Wikipedia claims PNU as "one of the leading national universities in South Korea": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusan_National_University



....just saying

[Sadebugo1]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

It's good advice Sadebugo1 and definitely something worth considering. Anyway grad school's still a couple of years away for me; I was just curious about my options!

Also I freaking love PNU campus and I like to daydream that maybe I'll get to go there someday...^^

[noraebang]

[SeoulFinn]

Exchange year at the SNU GSIS was like being back in the high school or worse. What made it worth my while were two awesome professors with whom I still keep in contact whenever I'm in Korea.

[coralreefer_1]

Korea has one of the highest standards of education as far as high school students! This is VERY different at the university level..believe it. Even at SNU with world famous professors you will be hard pressed to find anyone doing even half the amount of work or graded on with as strict measurment as Grad school in the west..sorry but that is just a fact.

While I wont disagree with your findings, I will say that Yaya is not really far off the mark. If you want to go to BNU there is nothing wrong with that, but being a top tier "national" university is not really saying much at all, because with the exception of SNU, all of the other top ranked school here in Korea are private. National basically means its cheap, so competiton is fierce to go there because it is subsidized by the governemnt. And although the competition to enter a national university is tough, having the label of a "National" university doesnt carry much weight as far as academics compared to a private university.

But as I have mentioned in thread similar to this one...what is more important is the accreditation of any degree you will receive, and what you hope to do with it afterward. Depending on what you want to study, the only accreditation most universities carry is the typical accreditation from the Korean Ministry of Education..which is the same accreditation that every 2-year tech school 40 km in the country carries. I have only heard of a handful of universities here that carry AACSB accreditation for business programs, but other than that, I have never heard of a Korean university having any outside or internationally recognized accreditation (not saying it doesn't exist, just that i haven't heard it)

However, seeing as how you live in Busan and not likely to move to Seoul to go to one of the more reputable universities, I say do what your heart tells you to do. BNU is a good school in Korea, and maybe even in Asia considered a good school..but wherever your future takes you, it may not be regarded as highly by an actual person(not a survey) who only has a university name to go on with no internationally recognized accreditation.

Again, not trying to rain on your plan. If I were in Busan I would likely do the same as you.

Good luck and let us know later what you do-