Academics

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1. Eligibility Requirements for both BK Fellows and BK Participants (BK Participants hereafter)

1) Full-time MA students within semesters 1-4 or PhD students within semesters 1-8.

A full-time student is defined as one who must be able to spend 40 hrs or more per week on study, and who is not enrolled in any workplace or business under the four major social insurance programs, and whose total weekly teaching hours, if engaged in teaching, do not exceed six hours per week.

To be eligible as a BK fellow or participant, individuals must submit documentation to the BK office each semester by the beginning of the second month of each semester certifying that they are not enrolled in the four major social insurance programs.

2) Regulations on Employment in General

(1) Students may not lend or lease professional licenses or their name.

(2) Students may not be employed as administrative assistants.

(3) Unless approved by the director of the BK Project Team, students may not engage in any type of part-time employment or participate in other projects.

(4) If, during the BK participation/fellowship period (including vacation periods), a student becomes employed or starts a business and thereby becomes enrolled in one of the four major social insurance programs (including employment insurance) or obtains a business registration, the student must immediately notify the BK office.

3) Regulations on Teaching

All students who teach courses must submit a “Teaching Hours Approval Form” to the BK Office by the first Friday of March/September, with the approval signature of the director of the BK Project, prior to the start of the semester. In addition, students must obtain and submit to the BK Office by the end of March/September an official teaching certificate issued by the relevant institution that specifies the weekly teaching hours (this must be a certificate limited to the relevant semester, not a general employment or career certificate). If issuance during the semester is not possible, students must submit a written explanation by the above deadline, and the teaching certificate may be submitted at the end of the semester. If a student is found to no longer meet the eligibility requirements for full-time student status as stated above, all scholarships previously disbursed shall be subject to recovery.'

2. BK Fellow Selection Process

Graduate students who meet the above eligibility requirements shall be selected as BK fellows in accordance with the selection procedures outlined below, and shall receive financial support. However, as a general rule, students who receive full scholarships from the Graduate School for combined bachelor’s–master’s programs or full special scholarships for international students are not eligible for this support. Any exceptions shall be determined by the BK Planning Committee.

1)     Conference Presentation (Applicable to both MA and PhD)

Both master’s and doctoral students must present at least at one academic conference per year, either domestic or international. When applying for BK fellowship for the final funded semester (the 4th semester for master’s students and the 8th semester for doctoral students), master’s students must have fulfilled the presentation requirement by the 3rd semester, and doctoral students by the 7th semester, with at least one presentation.

Academic conferences include graduate-student sessions organized by scholarly associations (for example, summer graduate student sessions hosted by the Graduate Student Committee of the English Language and Literature Association, as well as graduate-student sessions included in the same Association’s international conferences). Submission of documentation verifying a scheduled conference presentation shall be recognized as meeting the requirement.

2)   Academic Performance and Other Criteria (Applicable to both MA & PhD)

 To be considered for fellowship selection, a student’s GPA from the most recent semester must be at least 3.3. (For students on a leave of absence, the GPA from the semester immediately preceding the leave shall be considered.) If a student has received even one grade of F by the end of the previous semester, or two or more grades of C+ or lower, the student shall permanently lose eligibility to apply for and participate in the BK program. For courses graded on a Pass/Non-Pass basis, grades may be converted to letter grades for evaluation purposes.

 In addition, participation in BK-hosted academic events, the quality of academic papers prepared in submission-ready format (including an abstract, keywords, works cited, etc.), performance in assistantship duties, and commitment to the students’ declared major fields (the number and major field relevance of courses taken each semester) shall be evaluated and taken into consideration.

3)   Academic Publication (Applicable to PhD only)

Doctoral students are required to publish at KCI-listed or renowned overseas journals 1 paper during the first year, 1.5 papers during the 3–4 semesters, and one paper per semester during the 5–8 semesters.

If review of a manuscript submitted to a leading international journal is delayed, the publication-obligation period may be extended upon submission of the manuscript and proof of submission to the BK Team, subject to the BK Team’s evaluation of the manuscript. 

Selection criteria by semester are as follows: students in the 1st semester are selected based on admission records; 2nd-semester students are selected based on publication during the 1st semester or submission of a nearly publishable paper; 3rd-semester students are selected based on publication in the preceding semester or year; 4th-semester students are selected based on the publication of at least 0.5 (co-authored) paper in the immediately preceding semester or submission of a nearly publishable paper; and 5th–8th semester students are selected based on publication in the immediately preceding semester.

If the publication requirement is not fulfilled, eligibility for support in the following semester is forfeited. Eligibility may be regained once the required publication is completed.

1-2 semesters & 3-4 semesters:

– 1-2 semester students must fulfill 100%, equivalent to one paper per year, including either a single-authored or co-authored paper, published in a KCI-listed journal or a reputable international journal. For example, a paper co-authored by two authors counts as 50%, so two such papers (totaling 100%) are required.

– 3-4 semester students must fulfill 150% per year. This requirement applies to students entering the third semester of the doctoral program beginning in Spring 2024.

5-8 semesters: 100% each semester

– Eighth-semester students are selected on publication in the immediately previous semester; however, they must submit proof of publication (or proof of forthcoming publication) by the end of the eighth semester. If this requirement is not met, the scholarship shall be reclaimed except for the portion equivalent to the general graduate school scholarship.

4) Media and Data Literacy Fulfillments 

BK Fellows and BK Participants are required to produce one major-related video of at least five minutes in length per year, post it online, and notify the BK Team of the YouTube link. The BK Team will review the submissions and select outstanding videos for awards. Unless there is a compelling reason, the posted video must remain publicly available for a minimum of two years.

 BK Fellows and BK Participants must also complete at least one data/AI workshop offered by the BK Team within their first to third semesters.

5)Other Obligations

BK Fellows and BK Participants must prepare and submit documents proving their full-time student status to the BK Office by early April and early October. In addition, they must submit, by the designated deadlines, all documents or information requested in connection with the activities of the BK Team to the BK Office or the relevant committee. Any changes to personal information (e.g., email address, residential address, mobile phone number) must be reported to the BK Office without delay. The BK Team shall not be held responsible for any disadvantages that result from the student’s failure to submit requested documents and update personal information.

If a BK Fellow stays abroad continuously for more than one month, the scholarship amount shall be reduced on a daily basis in accordance with National Research Foundation regulations. Overseas stays of up to 29 days are not subject to reduction. All BK Fellows planning overseas travel or residence of 29 days or longer must report their travel schedule to the BK office prior to departure and submit official proof of entry and exit upon completion of travel. This regulation also applies to international BK Fellows who plan to return to their home countries during academic breaks.

If BK Fellows’ academic status changes due to a leave of absence or withdrawal from the university during the semester, they must immediately notify the BK office, and scholarship payments will be suspended from that point onward.  

BK Fellows must faithfully participate in research activities organized by the BK Team, including special lectures and workshops. If a student is deemed to have failed to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations of a fellowship recipient, eligibility for support may be suspended for one subsequent semester. BK Participants are not obligated to attend BK events but their attendance will be factored into decisions regarding funding for academic activities and the awarding of incentives. 

If a BK Fellow or BK Participant is unable (or expected to be unable) to attend BK-sponsored events such as workshops or special lectures, the student must submit a written explanation to the BK Office in advance. Recipients of other university scholarships are, in principle, also required to attend mandatory academic events, and must submit a written explanation in cases of absence. 

Submission of Proof of Publication (or Scheduled Publication):

Proof of publication (or submission) must be submitted to the BK Office no later than the end of January and the end of July for the purposes of fellowship selection and incentive awards.

Suspension and Reimbursement of Fellowships:

The BK Team may suspend fellowship payments or require reimbursement of fellowships already paid if a BK Fellow seriously violates standards of academic honesty and diligence or otherwise fails to fulfill other important obligations as a BK fellow.

BK Fellows must obtain prior approval from the BK Team when applying for other on-campus or off-campus scholarships.

3. BK Benefits

1) Fellowship (Applicable to BK Fellows only):

A minimum of KRW 6,000,000 for MA students, a minimum of KRW 9,600,000 for PhD students, KRW 7,800,000 for Ph.D. candidates per semester (all amounts are approximate and are paid in 4-5 installments during the semester)

The fellowship amount may be awarded differentially depending on students’ publication and other academic records. The specific fellowship amounts are determined by the BK Planning Committee each semester.

2) Incentives (Applicable to both BK Fellows and Participants)

(1)   Publication Incentives

If a master’s student publishes a paper (including co-authored papers) or submits proof of forthcoming publication during the participation period within semesters 1–4, an incentive may be awarded in accordance with the internal regulations. Doctoral students may also receive an incentive if they publish additional papers beyond the required number. As of 2025, the incentive amount for a KCI-journal publication is KRW 2,000,000 (for detailed amounts, see the table at the end of this document).

The publication of a single-authored article in an A&HCI journal or an equivalent international journal qualifies for an incentive equivalent to that awarded for two articles published in KCI-listed journals (KRW 4,000,000). So does a single-authored monograph publication by a Korean press. The publication of an international academic monograph qualifies for an incentive equivalent to that awarded for three articles published in KCI-listed journals (KRW 6,000,000). In cases where two or more authors participate in a publication, incentives shall be calculated in accordance with Yonsei University’s research evaluation criteria.

(2)   Excellent Academic Activities and Output Incentives

If a graduate student demonstrates outstanding performance in academic tasks organized by the BK Team (including YouTube content production and conference/workshop participation), a certain number of participants may be selected to receive differentiated incentives of a maximum of KRW 1,000,000. In addition, special incentives of up to KRW 1,000,000 may be awarded to students who enhance the academic standing of the BK Team, for example, by publishing papers in internationally renowned journals or by publishing multiple outstanding research articles. Special incentives may be awarded to those whose teaching or administrative assistantship performance is exceptionally exemplary. For other types of incentives, please refer to Table 2 of the Education and Research Group’s internal regulations.

(3) Support for Enrollment in Short-Term Data/AI Courses

BK Fellows or BK Participants who wish to enroll in short-term data- or AI-related courses offered either within the university or by external institutions may be selected as beneficiaries, and course fees may be subsidized within an appropriate range, subject to selection and approval.

(4) Certification Incentive

Students who successfully fulfill any of the certification programs administered by the BK Team, such as the Digital Humanities Certification, Cultural Studies Certification, or Critical Theory Certification, may receive an incentive of up to KRW one million.

3) Overseas Training Support (For both BK Fellows and Participants)

(1) Selection Criteria & Support for Participation in Academic Conference

Participant selection for international conferences chosen or organized by the BK team shall be based on a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the presentation paper, the applicant’s past conference presentation and publication records, academic performance (GPA), and participation in academic events. For participation in other overseas conferences, prior evaluation and approval of both the conference and the presentation paper are required. Failure to comply with this procedure may result in ineligibility for financial support. For both domestic and international conferences, actual expenses (airfare, accommodation, travel insurance and per diem) shall be supported. In the case of a co-authored paper presented at an overseas conference, participation expenses for one representative author shall be supported in accordance with the above regulations. The same regulations apply to domestic conferences.

 Overseas stay is limited strictly to the official schedule of the academic event. If a student fails to return on time without authorization, they must repay the overseas training expenses and will permanently lose eligibility for BK support/participation. (2024)

Prior to departure, graduate students must submit a written pledge acknowledging that any accidents or health-related issues occurring during the trip are their own responsibility. 

If graduate students present at an international conference with BK support, they must submit or publish, depending on the terms declared in the BK Team’s CFP, a paper to a KCI-listed (or KCI candidate) journal within six months of the presentation date. Students whose obligation is “journal submission only” must submit both the completed paper and proof of journal submission to the BK Office. Once the journal’s evaluation is available, it must also be submitted to the BK office. Failure to fulfill this obligation will result in reimbursement of the conference support funds. If the submitted paper is subsequently published, it may be eligible for incentive or counted toward the publication requirement for the relevant publication period.

(2) Support for Participation in Overseas Workshops, Summer Schools, etc.

 If a graduate student is selected to participate in international events—such as workshops, seminars and summer schools—hosted by prestigious overseas institutions or jointly organized by the BK Team, the BK Team will pay actual travel expenses (registration fees, airfare, accommodation, travel insurance and per diem).

 In such cases, the selected students are, in principle, required to submit an article to an academic journal to or publish it within six months of participation. Whether the obligation is submission or publication will be determined in advance by the BK Team, taking into account the nature of the event and the scale of travel expenses, and will be announced to students beforehand. The same obligations to submit to the BK office the completed paper, proof of journal submission and the journal’s evaluation apply to students whose obligation is journal submission only.

Selection of participants for overseas academic events shall follow the same criteria as those applied to academic conference participation described above. Obligations regarding return within one day after the event, submission of a personal responsibility pledge, and sanctions for violations are identical to those stated in the conference participation regulations above.

 (3) Support for Faculty–Student Joint Participation in International Conferences

If a participating faculty member attends an international conference together with their supervised graduate students and presents a paper, the BK Team will fully cover the total expenses (airfare, accommodation, per diem and etc.). Publication of the presented paper in a domestic or international academic journal within 12 months is encouraged; however, if the paper is submitted to an international journal, the publication deadline may be extended. In addition, if there are publication records of other papers or a book published in the same year, substitution may be allowed.

Furthermore, if a participating faculty member attends an overseas conference or other academic event jointly organized with an overseas institution in the role of supervising or accompanying students, the BK Team will fully support participation expenses even if no paper presentation is made.

4. Co-Authoring Regulations

All members affiliated with the BK Team of the Department of English Language and Literature at Yonsei University, including professors, full-time faculty, lecturers, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and other Yonsei University–affiliated co-authors, must comply with the following regulations regarding the writing, editing, submission, and publication of co-authored papers.

(1) Co-authored papers must clearly demonstrate each author’s participation and contribution to the writing and editing of the manuscript.

(2) Prior to manuscript submission, the authors of a co-authored paper must complete a “Statement on Co-authored Paper Writing” and submit it for approval to the BK Team.

(3) When BK fellows and participants co-author a paper with professors or other members, they must submit both the initial draft and the final revised version of the paper to the BK Team for approval of the co-authorship. The revised manuscript must clearly specify the respective contributions of the two authors, and at least one author must have contributed no less than 30% of the work. Mere editorial assistance by a professor or other co-author shall not be regarded as a substantive contribution. 

(4) The “Statement on Co-authored Paper Writing” must be written in either Korean or English and must include a detailed description of each author’s contribution of at least 100 words. Even if a paper has been approved by the BK Team and subsequently submitted or published, any ethical issues arising later in connection with the authorship of the paper shall be the sole ethical responsibility of the relevant professor(s) and the author(s) concerned.

(5) In principle, each BK participating professor is limited to publishing no more than two co-authored papers per year with participating graduate students.