Program Overview

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Korean Studies

About the course

Korean Studies is an interdisciplinary area of research and critical analysis of the culture, society, philosophical thought and language of the Korean peninsula and its diaspora. The course structure includes a strong element of Korean language studies, as well as social sciences study units which give students opportunities to pursue topics they find personally interesting, from literature and popular culture to politics and history. You will also have the choice of undertaking part of your major at a partner institution in Korea.

Quick details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1
• Weekly contact time: 12-15 contact hours, plus at least twice as much of your own study time
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-KOREB
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years (BA); 4 years (BPhil [Hons])
• Degrees course is available in: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), Bachelor of Modern Languages

Course structure

Level 1

• Core: Take all units (12 points):
  • KORE1401 Korean 1 (6)
  • KORE1402 Korean 2 (6)

Level 2

• Core: Take all units (18 points):
  • KORE2403 Korean 3 (6)
  • KORE2404 Korean 4 (6)
  • KORE2811 Korean Culture from Koryo to K-pop (6)

Level 3

• Core: Take all units (18 points):
  • ASIA3006 Contemporary Korean Society (6)
  • KORE3405 Korean 5 (6)
  • KORE3406 Korean 6 (6)

You'll learn to

• demonstrate a good written and spoken linguistic competence in the Korean language
• understand how culturally specific social structures affect interpersonal communication, and determine how to apply this knowledge to your own interactions in a culturally sensitive manner
• identify key ethical, philosophical and social characteristics of Korean culture, society and history
• engage effectively in a professional manner in the key debates on Korean history, society and culture, and produce coherent and well-argued written work
• demonstrate transferable skills such as digital literacy, information management, group working, research skills and critical thinking

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Korean Studies graduates are increasingly sought after in many professional and management careers in both business and public sectors, especially in positions requiring language and cultural expertise. Potential career paths may include roles in state and federal government departments, commercial enterprises investing in Korea, tourism, public sector and cultural organizations, NGOs, and the media industry.

Studying Korean Studies can open doors to a variety of career opportunities, such as:

• Cultural Interpreter
• Diplomat
• Teacher*

*Postgraduate study required

Further Study

This major lays the foundation for further study options at honours and postgraduate level.

You may be interested in the Master of Translation Studies.

Fees and scholarships

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

2025

$48,300.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Admission requirements

Minimum entry requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 9
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 68
• French Baccalaureate: 10
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 507
• GCE A-Levels: 8
• German Abitur: 3.6
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 14
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 45
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 75.5
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 24
• Malaysian STPM: 10
• Monash University Foundation Year: 254
• NCUK Foundation Program: 8
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.5
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 6.5
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 324
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 14.5
• Trinity College Foundation: 280
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 14
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 61
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 7
• US College Board SAT: 1130
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 56
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 75

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

How to apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Refer to the below regarding application processes for each of the pathways. More information regarding admission requirements and prerequisites for each pathway can be found on the 'Admission Requirements' tab.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC. Refer to TISC Online for current course codes and application deadlines.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.

Why study this course?

• South Korea is one of Australia’s most important trading partners, a cultural juggernaut of popular culture, and a world leader in innovation and research in engineering, technology and medical sciences, so graduates with good Korean linguistic and sociocultural skills are highly sought-after in the local and global job market
• Gain the linguistic skills to succeed in Korea-related careers after graduation, and a solid understanding of Korean society, culture, history and politics
• Have the option of studying at one of UWA’s partner institutions in South Korea

Why take a second major

• Expand your skills - Taking a second major either in a complementary area or in something like Economics or Business Law will show you have developed transferable skills such as, teamwork, critical thinking, digital literacy and presentation skills – which are highly sought after in the workforce.
• Add it to your resume – Employers are looking for graduates who have skills in a variety of areas. Two majors will expand your career prospects and help you stand out amongst the crowd.
• Study your passion alongside your interests – Do you love Marketing? Law? History of Art? Pursue a career while studying something else you love! Your second major can be from any other school across the university.
• No additional time – Choosing two majors instead of one won’t add any additional time to your undergraduate degree. A standard bachelor degree consists of the same amount of units either way.
• Discover what you want to do while you’re doing it – Not sure what career you want when you graduate? It’s very common for undergraduate students to be unsure. Choosing two majors in different areas will give you the opportunity to explore multiple interests and see what fits best. Majors can be switched until the end of your first year without adding any time onto your degree.

Check out the popular combinations for this major to get some inspiration on complementary areas to study.

Popular combinations

• Communication and Media Studies
• Political Science and International Relations
• Applied Human Geography

Your degree options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Philosophy
• Bachelor of Modern Languages

UWA is ranked in the top 8 universities in Australia for modern languages (QS 2024)