Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I'm considering applying for a program in Spring of 2013, but I think it only gives partial funding (about 50%).

How hard is it for foreign graduate students in Korea to find work while they complete their masters?

I think I can cover the leftover tuition for the duration of the program, but the living expenses in Seoul will definitely be tough.

I looked at the NIIED scholarship and unfortunately I don't think I qualify.

Is it hard to find jobs on or near campus?

[deizio]

You can find other threads about this (including from me asking the same question about 2 years ago, try searching for D2 visa related threads), but the basic rules are that if you can find someone who will hire you and get permission from your school then you can work up to 20 hrs/wk in term time and unlimited hours during vacations. You have to wait until you complete at least 1 semester to apply.

However, finding someone who will hire you and fitting the hours around your studies is the tricky part. If you have particular skills / experience and can get introduced to the right contacts that will help, but most people in your situation are restricted to trying to pick up some teaching hours. I have a spanking teaching resume but once i outlined what hours i was willing to work while doing my masters, and given employers apparent unfamiliarity with hiring someone on that kind of visa (i.e. not knowing what was legal, how much paperwork might be involved, whether you might need time off for exams etc.), I didn't get much interest.

In fairness I had the resources to do without a job for the duration of the course and just put out a couple of feelers in case anything too good to turn down was out there. I daresay I would have found something eventually, but then I'm a certified English teacher with 7+ yrs experience. I did end up going through the process above for an internship last summer.

Foreign (i.e. D2 visa, not on a Korean ancestry, marriage or other permanent resident visa) students I know who worked externally while doing their masters / MBA either kept on a job from before or were hooked up by the school, the former being much more common than the latter.

There might be other funding and income opportunities once you get here, e.g. all self-sponsored students on my course were at least guaranteed a TA spot for 300k per month if they wanted it, no paperwork required.

In terms of living costs, you can certainly manage on ~1.2m per month (excluding flights) if you are happy to live, eat and play on a fairly humble budget, and I know people who've managed on less than 1m and still had a social life. If you're coming from the States you'll be pleasantly surpised how reasonable textbooks and other school expenses are here, and campus areas tend to be very affordable for eating and drinking. However, if you're looking to cover all of that from working, you're looking for ballpark ~10hrs per week at 30k / hr, and like I say you can't work (at least according to the rules as explained to me) in semester 1.

[Hoost]

Try to work out a deal with the language center at your university you hope to get into. You may be able to work there part time.

Or if you're lucky, you can get a University teaching position (that's what I did). Teach for 3 days and go to school in your free time.

[alongway]

and you sure on funding? a lot of places offer up to 100% in scholarships and funding for foreigners, so you might also shop around. Find another school willing to fund you 100% and then go back to your original choice perhaps.

[shostahoosier]

Thanks everyone for the input. It has all been really helpful.

I thought about the language center route, my concern though is that there would be lots of other foreign grad students trying to get in on the same deal. We'll see.

I'm sure about the funding as the program is a fine arts degree that only gives out 50% to foreigners.

I'm worried about asking the department because I dont want them to ding me because they think I cant afford to cover my portion of the degree.

[Hoost]

FYI,

many universities require you to have at least 10mil won in your bank account to get into the program. This is to make sure you can pay for the tuition. You might want to check. I'm pretty sure you'll need this.

[coralreefer_1]

I think what was said above pretty much covers the bases. As a grad student myself there are not many opportunities while in school that will pay nearly as much as teaching English.

That said I would advise against trying to do so with the school. I say that mainly because it is likely they will pay you quite low (as compared to what you could make elsewhere) and justify that by the notion that you are a student. In short, they may look at it like they are doing you a favor and treat you accordingly.

As you may well know, you can legally teach English on a student visa so long as it is under 20 hours a week during the school semester, and also that you can meet all of the same requirements as an E2.

What makes this especially attractive to potential employers is that they do not need to provide housing/airfare/health or pension contribution, and even with all of that omitted you can still make WELL over what the standard E2 visa holder makes because you get paid per hour..and typically 35-40 per hour (maybe even more up in Seoul)

As far as paperwork you can simply show them the immigration website...the only paperwork they need to provide is their business info (on work permission application) and some type of employment contract. There is no paperwork involving visa issuance since you already have a visa, no need for them to arrange a leasing agreement...etc etc.

If you are looking to do something other than teach language, that may be alot more difficult to find, and likely wont pay nearly as much. That said if you are able to find something that is related to your degree, which will add dressing to your resume while you study the subject (perhaps even course credits for it) then that would be a plus...however those types of gigs are very hard to come by.

Best of luck~