KDI School of Public Policy and Management

Application Guideline forInternational Students

1.      Admissions Schedule

-          Application Period: 10 August – 23 October, 2015 (tentative)

-          Offered Programs (Majors)

Master’s Programs: Public Policy (MPP), Development Policy (MDP), Public Management (MPM)

Ph.D. Programs: Public Policy (PP), Development Policy (DP)

-          Admissions Procedure: the deadline for each procedure to be announced (by Korean Standard Time)

Online Application: Submission of online application must be completed by midnight of the deadline. The online application system will be closed after midnight.

Document Submission: All required documents must arrive in one envelope at the admissions office by 6 p.m. on the deadline. Late or incomplete documents are not accepted. Arrival of the documents will be indicated on the online application system.

Document Review: If the online application and all the required documents are submitted on time, they will be reviewed by the admissions committee.The result of the document review will be posted on the online application system.

Interview: Those who pass the document review will be contacted for the interview arrangement and a pre-call prior to the actual interview. The interview will be conducted in English either by Skype or phone.

Final Result: The final result will be announced through email and posted on the online application system.

Registration: The admissions package will be sent to each admitted student by email and postal mail.

Program Entrance: Classes will be held at KDI School’s new campus in Sejong City, which is an administrative district created by the Korean government.

2.      Program Information

-          Master of Public Policy: The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program is designed to provide global perspective and professional expertise in public policy areas. Students must take at least one concentration from his/her MPP concentration and they may choose a 2nd concentration from 9 concentrations.

Core Courses: Analysis of Market and Public Policy, Quantitative Methods,Korean Economic Development (for G20 and KOICA students)

First Concentration: Finance and Macroeconomic Policy, Trade and IndustryPolicy, Public Finance and Social Policy, Regional Development and Environment

Second Concentration: Finance and Macroeconomic Policy, Trade and Industry Policy, Public Finance and Social Policy, Regional Development and Environment, Sustainable Development, International Development, Public Administration and Leadership, Strategic Management, Global Governance and Political Economy

-          Master of Development Policy: The Master of Development Policy (MDP) programspecifically targets international professionals, including government officials, development consultants and regional specialists who wish to contribute to development policymaking.Students must take at least one concentration from his/her MDP concentration and they may choose a 2nd concentration from 9 concentrations.

Core Courses:Analysis of Market and Public Policy, Introduction to Development Policy, Introduction to Research Methods, Korean Economic Development (for G20 and KOICA students)

 First Concentration:Sustainable Development, International Development 

Second Concentration: Sustainable Development, International Development, Finance and Macroeconomic Policy, Trade and Industry Policy, Public Finance and Social Policy, Regional Development and Environment, Public Administration and Leadership, Strategic Management, Global Governance and Political Economy

-          Master of Public Management: The Master of Public Management (MPM) program seeks to fulfill policy management needs in today’s global environment through an integrative educational program that covers various facets of management and leadership in both the public and private sectors. Students must take at least one concentration from his/her MPM concentration and they may choose a 2nd concentration from 9 concentrations.

Core Courses: Public Organization and Management, Strategic Management and Leadership, Political Economy in the Globalization Era

First Concentration: Public Administration and Leadership, Strategic Management, Global Governance and Political Economy

Second Concentration: Public Administration and Leadership, Strategic Management, Global Governance and Political Economy, Finance and Macroeconomic Policy, Trade and Industry Policy, Public Finance and Social Policy, Regional Development and Environment, Sustainable Development, International Development

-          Ph.D. Programs in Public Policy and Development Policy: The Ph.D. program is targeted to prepare qualified candidates to produce cutting-edge research in their chosen field and to equip them with skills they need to ascend to leadership positions in the public or private sector. Students take the initiative in shaping their own course of study, once they complete the required courses during the first 1 ~ 2 years.

Common Requirements: EconometricsⅠ&EconometricsⅡ, MicroeconomicsⅠ, Foundations of Public Policy

Major Requirements for Public Policy: MicroeconomicsⅡ, Advanced Macroeconomic Policy

Major Requirements for Development Policy: Development Economics, Advanced Topics in Development Policy

3.      Application Qualification

-          Applicant Qualification: International Applicants must meet one of the following;

I.       A foreign national whose parents are both foreign nationals (If you are an applicant of Korean origin and want to qualify as an international applicant, you must provide (1) a certified copy of birth certificate proving your relationship with both your parents and (2) a copy of both parents’ passports demonstrating their foreign nationalities.)

II.    An applicant who has completed at least 16 years of education (elementary, middle, high school, and undergraduate) in a foreign country (If you are an applicant of Korean origin and want to qualify as an international applicant, you must provide certified copies of academic transcripts or graduation certificates of your entire education.)

-          Degree Qualification

Applicants for Master’s degree program must meet one of the following;

I.       A bachelor’s degree holder from an accredited college or university (minimum 3 years)or certificate of expected graduation

II.    Educational attainment equivalent to bachelor’s degreeapproved by law

Applicants for Ph.D. degree program must meet one of the following;

I.        A master’s degree from an accredited college or university (or expected tograduate before the program entrance period)

II.     Educational attainment equivalent to master’s degree approved by law

4.      Application Requirement: All required documents must arrive at the admissions office of KDI School by the deadline.

-          Online Application (required)

-          Statement of Purpose in the official form (required): Please use this portion of the application to explain your motivation and qualifications for pursuing your education at KDI School

-          Certified Copy of Academic Transcripts (required)

Academic transcripts must provide a record of all the courses you have taken throughout the years of studying.

Applicants must submit transcripts from undergraduate institutions.

Copies must be certified.

-          Certified Copy of Degree Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Certificate of Expected Graduation (required)

Certificate of Expected Graduation must indicate anticipated graduation date and degree type.

Applicants must submit certificates from undergraduate institutions.

The certificate must indicate the degree awarded is ‘Bachelor’s Degree’ or ‘Equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree’.

Copies must be certified.

-          Two Recommendation Letters (required): Recommendation letters should provide information about your performance in academic or professional settings.

-          Certified Copy of TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, TEPS, OPIc Score Report or Certificate of Medium of Instruction (not required but strongly recommended)

The tests must have been taken within 2 years of the proposed date of admission.

If you have received your university degree from an English-speaking country, you may submit a certificate of medium of instruction instead.

Copies must be certified or original.

-          Employment Verification (required if currently employed and for Seoul G20 Applicants)

The dates/term of employment or position/title must be specified.

The verification should specify that the issuing organization is in the ‘public sector’.

HR officer or supervisor of the applicant should complete the form and include information of the writer as well as the issuing date.

-          Copy of Passport (required): The copy must show your photo, name, and expiration date.

-          Two Photos (3cm x 4cm) or Photo File Upload (required): If you have uploaded your photo on your online application, you do not have to send your photos again.

-          Certified Copy of Birth Certificate & Copy of Both Parents’ Passports or Certified Copy of Academic Transcripts or Graduate Certificates of 16 Years of Education in a Foreign Country (applicants of Korean origin only)

Birth certificate should prove your relationship with both your parents.

Copy of both parents’ passports should prove their nationality.

5.      Financial Information

-          Tuition: Students may choose to pay by semester or by credits. Regardless of the payment method, students will pay the same amount of 28,000,000 Korean won (app. 28,000 USD) to complete a Master’s program.

-          Scholarship: Most international students enrolled in a full-time Master’s program will become potential candidates for full or partial scholarships.

Global Ambassador Scholarship

Benefits: Full tuition and monthly stipend (app. 1,000 USD) for most recipients

Eligibility: Admitted international students      

How to Apply: Applicants must complete and submit an online application as an international student and post all the required documents.

Seoul G20 Global Leaders Fellowship

Benefits: Full tuition, monthly stipend (app. 1,200 USD), and round-trip airfare

Eligibility: Currently employed in the public sector and meet one of the following requirements below

(1) Division head or higher level in the public sector

(2) Minimum 6 years of working experience in the public sector

How to Apply: Applicants must complete and submit an online application for Seoul G20 Global Leaders Fellowship and post all the required documents including an employment verification letter demonstrating the eligibility.