General Regulation | Academic Year, Semester, Class Days, and Off Days | Admission and Readmission | Registration and Changes in Student Register | Class and Credits | Requirements, Reward, and Punishment | Dual Degree Program | Revision

CHAPTER 1 : General Regulation

Article 1 (Objective)

As a leading research oriented Academy in science and technology, International R&D Academy(hereinafter referred to as IRDA) aims to provide real research and development experience to those students from overseas countries through intensive graduate level education, and to bring them up as competent engineers and scientists. Article 2 (Program) IRDA offers programs for leading to M.S.(Master of Science) degrees(referred to as the M.S. Program) and Ph.D. degrees(referred to as the Ph.D. Program), and an integrative program leading directly to Ph.D. Degree(referred to as the Integrative program). Article 3 (Awarding of Degrees) Details on awarding M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are stipulated in separated articles. Article 4 (Divisions and quotas)
  1. The educational fields of IRDA are from the research fields of KIST.
  2. The quota of each program for each Division is determined by the Dean of Academy after deliberation by the Academic Affairs Committee.

Article 5 (Administrative Body)

IRDA can have administrative bodies for administrative works of IRDA such as admission, awarding of degrees, scheduling of classes, and processing and maintaining academic records. Article 6 (Academic Affairs Committee)
  1. The Academic Affairs Committee is made up for the deliberation of the detailed matters for the Graduate Committee in advance.
  2. The Academic Affairs Committee is composed of up to twelve members assigned by the Dean, including the Chairman.
  3. The term of a committee member appointed by the Dean is two years, and members can be reappointed. But, those newly appointed to fill vacancies serve the remaining term of their predecessor.
  4. The Academic Affairs Committee is convened by more than half of members' attendance, and resolutions are made when voted for by more than half of the attended members.
  5. The Academic Affairs Committee deliberates and resolves the following:
    1. Issues related with appraisal of applicants.
    2. Issues related with credits to be taken by the students.
    3. Issues related with courses to be attended by the students.
    4. Issues related with examination and grading.
    5. Issues related with the research of the students.
    6. Issues related with examination of theses and dissertations.
    7. Other issues related with academic affairs and the issues for Graduate Committee deliberation.

CHAPTER 2 : Academic Year, Semester, Class Days, and Off Days

Article 7 Academic Year, Semester

  1. The academic year starts March 1st and ends on the last day of the following February.
  2. The academic year is divided into two semesters and if necessary, seasonal terms will be offered as follows:
    1. Spring Semester: March 1st ~ August 31th
    2. Fall Semester: September 1st ~ February 28th, the following year
    3. Seasonal Terms:
      (a) Summer and Winter Terms
      (b) Period : 4~8 weeks
      (c) Obtainable Credits: not more than 6 credit hours

Article 8 (Number of Class Days)

  1. The number of class days per academic year is 30 weeks or more(15 weeks or more per semester).
  2. When the above number of class days is not completed under emergent situations such as natural calamities and unexpected academic concerns, the time period can be reduced.
  3. The above time period will be notified before starting each semester.

Article 9 (Off days)

  1. Regular off days are as follows.
    1. Summer Vacation
    2. Winter Vacation
    3. Sundays, officially designated Saturday and national holidays
  2. Summer and winter vacation period are stipulated separately.
  3. As occasion demands, temporary off days can be enacted by the Dean.
  4. When deemed necessary, classes can be provided on off days.

CHAPTER 3 : Admission and Readmission

Article 10 (Admission Notice)

The admission notice is made no later than 30 days before the start of each semester. Article 11 (Eligibility)
  1. Those applying for the M.S. or Integrative Programs should have a bachelor's degree or other qualifications equivalent to it.
  2. Those applying for the Ph.D. Program should have a M.S. degree or other qualifications equivalent to it.

Article 12 (Application)

Those applying for each degree program should submit the following documents required for each program to the Office of Academic and Research Affairs.
  1. Applicants for M.S. or Integrative Program
    : Application Form, University or College Graduation Certificate or Proof for Expected Graduation, Undergraduate Academic Record, Curriculum Vitae and research plan(Apply only for Integrative program).
  2. Applicants for Ph.D. Program
    : Application Form, M.S. Degree Award or Proof for Expected M.S. Degree Award, Undergraduate & Graduate Academic Records, Curriculum Vitae and research plan.
  3. In addition to the documents listed in categories 1 and 2, Recommendation letters from at least two professors of the current or graduating university and TOEFL Score(=550) for non-English speaking students, should be submitted.
Article 13 (Admission Appraisal) Admission is appraised by the Academic Affairs Committee. Article 14 (Final Decision on Admission) Admission for the applicants for each degree program is determined by the Dean after considering the appraisal results by the Academic Affairs Committee and the deliberation by the Graduate Committee. Article 15 (Readmission)
  1. When those who have voluntarily resigned or have been dismissed want to be readmitted, they can be readmitted within the admission quota of the year concerned after being accepted by the Graduate Committee, However, those failing in one of the following categories cannot be readmitted.
    1. Those whose total terms of study has exceeded that stipulated in Article 23.
    2. Those who were suspended as stipulated in 1 of Article 20.
  2. Credits earned previously by those readmitted are reappraised in consideration of the contents of courses.

CHAPTER 4 : Registration and Changes in Student Register

Article 16 (Registration)

Registration should be completed not later than the specified due date of each semester. Article 17 (Leave of Absence)
  1. When students cannot take classes over 1/4 of class days due to unavoidable reasons such as illness, they can take a leave of absence by submitting a Request for Leave of Absence to be approved by the Supervising Professor.
  2. The period of absence cannot exceed two semesters in a row and cannot exceed a total of three semesters in the case of the M.S. Degree Program and a total of four semesters in the case of the Ph.D. Program.

Article 18(Returning to School)

Those whose leave of absence period is expired and whose reason for absence no longer exists should submit an Application for Returning Students, which must be approved by the Dean, during the registration period of the relevant semester. Article 19 (Voluntary Resignation) Those who want to resign should submit a Voluntary Resignation form and be approved by the Supervising Professor. Article 20 (Dismissal)
  1. Those falling in one of the following categories will be dismissed after deliberation by the Graduate Committee.
    1. Those who have not returned in the semester subsequent to the expiration of a leave of absence.
    2. Those who have not completed the required registration during the registration period in each semester.
    3. Those who have not completed the required courses within the total term of study allowed.
    4. Those who have been punished with dismissal.
    5. Those who have been failed to pass comprehensive examination.
    6. Those who have violated Korean Law.
  2. Those who oppose to the dismissal decision by Graduate Committee can file for re-deliberation no later than two weeks after dismissal notification.

Article 21 (Divisional Transfer)

When students currently in the M.S. Program want to transfer to other Divisions, they can apply for divisional transfer within two semesters after admission.

CHAPTER 5 : Class and Credits

Article 22 (Curriculum)

Details on the composition and operation of the curriculum required for students are stipulated by the Dean separately. Article 23 (Terms of Study and Total Terms of Study Limit)
  1. The total maximum terms of study for the M.S. and Ph.D. Programs are limited to three and six years, respectively, while that for the Integrative program is limited to eight years.
  2. When those currently under the M.S. Program want to be admitted to the Integrative Program, the total terms of study years include the semesters taken under the M.S. Program
  3. The Leave of absence period under each program is not counted into the total terms of study limit.
Article 24 (Course Credits & Research Credits)
  1. Course credits refer to those earned by taking courses from the curriculum.
  2. Research credits refer to those earned from such research activities as thesis studies, seminar, colloquiums, experiments, etc.

Article 25 (Completion of Program)

  1. Completion of the Ph.D. Program can be acknowledged in special circumstances for those who have registered for more than four semesters in the Ph.D. Program and have completed the required credits with GPA of B (3.0) or above.
  2. Completion times for each program are at the end of each semester.

Article 26 (Credits Completed)

The minimum number of overall credits to be completed for the awarding of the degree is 36 for the M.S. program, 36 for the Ph.D. program, and 72 for the Integrative Program. But the minimum number of course credits to be completed is 18 for the M.S. Program, 18 for the Ph.D. program, and 36 for the Integrative Program. Article 27 (Credits Earned per Semester) Depending on the Supervising professor's approval, students can earn six to fifteen credits each semester, including research credits. But the research credits in each semester cannot exceed more than seven including a colloquium credit. Article 28 (Credit Standard) Course credits are based on over 15 class hours a semester per credit, but research credits for thesis study, colloquiums, experiments, etc. are provided separately based on the above standard. Article 29 (Academic Performance Evaluation)
  1. Academic performance for the courses with credits is evaluated based on exam scores, assignments, attendance, etc, and recorded by classification as follows:
    Grade Equivalent Point
    A+ 4.5
    A 4.0
    B+ 3.5
    B 3.0
    C+ 2.5
    C 2.0
    D 1.0
    F 0.0
  2. Courses with research credits are evaluated as S(Satisfactory) or U(Unsatisfactory).
  3. When the materials for evaluation are not sufficient, an I(Incomplete) can be given temporarily.
  4. Students withdrawing from a course within nine weeks of enrollment are given a W(Withdrawal) for the course.

Article 30(Credit Acknowledgement & Calculation of Equivalent Points)

  1. Course credits evaluated as above D or S are acknowledged.
  2. Credits evaluated as "S" are not included in the calculation of average points.

Article 31 (Change of Course Enrollment)

Students can change their registered courses during the course correction period with the approval of the academic advisor. Article 32 (Course Withdrawal) Students can withdraw from the courses within the 4th to 9th week of each semester with the approval of the academic advisor, and such withdrawn courses are marked as "W" in academic records. But, if the withdrawal is made within three weeks, it is considered as a cancellation. Article 33 (Makeup Examination)
  1. When students cannot take examinations due to unavoidable reasons such as illness, they must submit the request for Makeup Examinations after approval by the supervising professor.
  2. Makeup examinations should take place before the start of following semester.

Article 34 (Class Days for Credit Acknowledgement)

Students who have unexcused absences over 1/4 of class days without due reasons will not be given credits. Article 35 (Course Reenrollment) Course re-enrollment is not allowed in principle, but exceptions are made when approved by the Academic Affairs Committee. Article 36 (Acknowledgement of Credits Earned in Other Graduate Schools) Credits earned in other graduate schools can be acknowledged after deliberation and approval by the Academic Affairs Committee. Article 37 (Special Lectures) Special lectures can be opened during vacations with the approval from the Graduate Committee, and credits can be allocated for these special lectures. Article 38 (Open Lecture) With the approval of the Academic Affairs Committee, open lectures can be provided for those wishing to gain the knowledge and techniques necessary for general education and academic research. Article 39 (Research Assistantship)
  1. Research assistantship can be awarded to all students enrolled to the IRDA.
  2. As a research assistant who is appointed as recipient of the research assistantship, he/she is required to work at the assigned laboratory at least 20 hours per week in addition to his/her academic work.

CHAPTER 6 : Requirements, Reward, and Punishment

Article 40 (Requirements for Students)

  1. Students should be faithful to his/her studies and research under the guidance of academic advisors and division heads.
  2. Students should observe IRDA rules and regulation, and follow all the measures for security, safety, and other relevant measures of KIST.
  3. Students should notify IRDA of principal changes in personal condition.

Article 41 (Reward)

  1. Students with good conduct, an excellent academic record can be rewarded.
  2. Details on the kind and subject of reward are stipulated separately.

Article 42 (Academic Warning)

  1. Those with a GPA for each semester below B(3.0) are given an academic warning
  2. Those who have received two academic warnings during their term of study can be dismissed after deliberation by the Graduate Committee.

Article 43 (Punishment)

Those guilty of misconduct, violating the basic obligation of student, can be put under disciplinary action as decided by the Graduate Committee.

CHAPTER 7 : Dual Degree Program

Article 44 (Objectives)

IRDA can offer Dual Degree Programs in collaboration with other graduate schools in order to enhance international and multi-cultural cooperation in various fields of higher education. Article 45 (Details of Dual Degree Programs) Details of the Dual Degree Programs should be stipulated on the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between IRDA and the respective graduate schools.

CHAPTER 8 : Revision

Article 46 (Revision Procedure)

Revision on this Regulation can be made with the approval by the Dean after deliberation of Graduate Committee. Additional Clause
  1. (The date of enforcement) This rules and regulations come into effect on and after 2002.
  2. (Interim measures) The matters put into effect before the enforcement of this rules and regulations are regarded as the matters enacted based on this rules and regulations

* * *