University Of Auckland Korean Studies

Korea is an increasingly important trading partner with New Zealand and has a dynamic economy and vibrant culture. You can study Korean society and culture as well as the language. Language courses are available for both beginners and advanced learners.



Where can Korean take you?

Graduates in Korean have careers in international organisations, NGOs, the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other areas of government. You might also work for a multinational company or a New Zealand company in Asia, or within New Zealand’s Asian communities.

Career options with an Arts degree

Undergraduate study in Korean

What you can study in Korean

Language courses will give you communication skills and enable you to read simple modern Korean texts. You can also study Korean society, literature and culture.

Structuring your major in Korean

You can take a major in Korean as one of your two BA majors (a double major). You will need to pass at least 120 points (eight courses) towards each of your majors, including at least 45 points (three courses) at Stage III.

If you first enrolled in a BA prior to 2018

  • For a single major you must pass at least 135 points, including at least 60 points above Stage II.
  • For a double major you must pass at least 120 points in each of two majors, including at least 45 points above Stage II in each major.
  • For a BA minor you must pass at least 90 points, including at least 60 points above Stage I.

Taking a Module in Korean

If you would like to study Korean alongside your two BA majors, you can complete a Module.

A Module is an optional grouping of three courses on a particular theme which enables you to add extra value to your Bachelor of Arts.

Take a look at Modules

Courses

Explore the undergraduate courses you can take as part of a major in Korean. You would normally take Stage I courses in your first year, Stage II in your second and Stage III in your third.

Required courses

You must pass the following courses as part of the Korean major:

  • ASIAN 100, KOREAN 120 and 301
  • Two courses from ASIAN 204, KOREAN 205, 241
  • One course from ANTRHO 329, ASIAN 302, KOREAN
    305, 341

Enrolling in Korean language courses for the first time

If you have no or limited knowledge of Korean, please enrol in KOREAN 110 or KOREAN 110G. 

You will need to complete a Language Proficiency Declaration to ensure you are enrolling in the right course for your level. This will be provided to you through Student Services Online after you have enrolled.

Read more about first time language course enrolment.

Scholarships and awards

Help and advice

For help with planning your degree and enrolling in your courses, please contact the Arts Students’ Centre.

If you would like to find out more about studying Korean, you can contact our Undergraduate Adviser.

Doctoral study in Korean

Why study with us?

We are the only New Zealand university to offer a comprehensive programme in Korean language and culture.

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll benefit from: financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding; high-calibre supervision practices; and the networks and expertise of our world-class academic researchers.

Research opportunities

We welcome PhD research proposals in areas such as:



  • Teaching Korean as a second/foreign language
  • Heritage language education
  • Korean classics concerning the relationship between culture and environment
  • Nation-building, identity and language in Korea
  • Korean diasporas and identity issues

Our people

Our language teaching specialists work alongside researchers in traditional Korean geographical knowledge and on contemporary Korean society, including Korean migration world-wide.
Find a supervisor

Scholarships and awards

There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in Korean:

Find a scholarship

Help and advice

For help with enrolling in your PhD you can contact the Arts Students’ Centre.

If you would like to find out more about doctoral study in Korean, you can contact our PhD Adviser.

Apply for doctoral study



Apply now

Faculty of Arts

Courses in Korean

Bachelor of Arts – BA
Korean
CourseTitleAvailable in 2020
KOREAN 110Korean for Beginners 1Summer School, repeated Semester 1
KOREAN 111Korean for Beginners 2Semester 2
KOREAN 120Korean Society and CultureSemester 2
KOREAN 200Intermediate Korean 1Semester 1
KOREAN 201Intermediate Korean 2Semester 2
KOREAN 205Korea through TV Drama and FilmSemester 2
KOREAN 277Korean Study Abroad 2ASummer School
KOREAN 278Korean Study Abroad 2BSummer School
KOREAN 300Advanced Korean 1Semester 1
KOREAN 301Advanced Korean 2Semester 2
KOREAN 305Korea through TV Drama and FilmSemester 2
KOREAN 377Korean Study Abroad 3ASummer School
KOREAN 378Korean Study Abroad 3BSummer School
Asian Studies
CourseTitleAvailable in 2020
ASIAN 100Images of AsiaSemester 1
   
Bachelor of Arts – BA
Korean
CourseTitleNot taught 2020
KOREAN 203Special TopicNot taught in 2020
KOREAN 241Modern Korea: Resilience, Innovation and TransformationNot taught in 2020
KOREAN 250Korean for Heritage SpeakersNot taught in 2020
KOREAN 341Modern Korean History: Resilience, Innovation and TransformationNot taught in 2020
Anthropology
CourseTitleNot taught 2020
ANTHRO 329Music of East Asia:Tradition, Modernity and GlobalisationNot offered in 2020; planned for 2021
Asian Studies
CourseTitleNot taught 2020
ASIAN 204Asian DiasporasNot taught in 2020
ASIAN 302Asian DiasporasNot taught in 2020