In principle, students need to take the FLEX exam. However, students who need to take a test in languages not offered
in the FLEX exam must submit the completed application form and pay test fees to the Graduate School office by the date
indicated. However, the exam is offered free of charge to students who take the test for the first time.
Examination Period
The foreign language exam other than FLEX is offered twice a year, once in March and again in September.
Eligibility
Both master’s students and doctoral students who have registered for at least one
(1) semester are eligible to take the examination.
Examination Subject
1) In principle, master’s students need to take the FLEX (English) exam. However, students in the departments of English
linguistics, English literatures, and TESOL have to take the exam on languages other than English. Also, students, who
need to take a test in languages not offered in the FLEX exam, must choose one foreign language offered at the
undergraduate level. International students need to avoid taking a foreign language test related to their concentrated area
or native languages, which allow them to take a Korean test.
2) Doctoral students must take two (2) foreign language exams as listed below. However, in selecting the second foreign
language, international students need to avoid taking a foreign language test related to their concentrated area or native
languages, which allow them to take a Korean test.
Department
Foreign Language 1
Foreign Language 2
Language
and
Literature
English Linguistics, English Literatures, TESOL
English
FLEX(영어 이외 외국어)
단, FLEX에 개설되지 않은 외국어의 경우는 학부에 개설된 학과의 전공 외국어,
제2한문, 컴퓨터프로그래밍언어 중 택 1
Korean Language and Literature
(Except students with major in classic)
Comparative Literature
FLEX (English)
Korean Language and Literature
(students with major in classic)
Chinese Character
FLEX (English)
Other Languages and Literatures
Respective Language
Other Departments
FLEX(English)
Not applicable
3) Students may replace the foreign language exam by taking a language program offered by the HUFS’s Global
Leadership Academy or a class instructed in English from the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation or
the Graduate School of International and Area Studies and achieving a score over 85 (B+). However, this replacement
of exam is not applicable for students in their final semester or in the stage of degree candidacy and students who
completed the course work.
4) The subject, General English, may be supplanted with an adequate TOEFL test scores. However, scores are valid
for only two years after the test date.
5) Subjects, General English or Foreign Language 2, may be replaced with an adequate TOEFL test scores.
However, scores are valid for only two years after the test date.
Exam Questions and Test Sessions
1. Questions:
The goal of the exam is that the student has adequate reading skills in languages including English in order
to successfully conduct research on the concentration area. Exam questions will differ between the exam
for Humanities and Social Science division and the exam for Natural Science and Engineering divisions.
2. Test Sessions: For each subject, the entire test session for master’s students and doctoral students is 60 minutes long
and 100 minutes long, respectively
Pass/Fail Standards
For every subject, a passing grade on the comprehensive exam is 70%. However, students, who applied for a test
on General English, can replace the test with an acceptable TOEFL score stated below. Also, students, who applied for
a test on General English or Foreign Language 2, can replace the test with an acceptable FLEX scores listed below.
1. Master’s degree program
i. Humanities and Social Science Division: Over a TOEFL score of 550 (CBT 213, IBT 79)
ii. Natural Science and Engineering Division: Over a TOEFL score of 500 (CBT 173, IBT 61)
iii. FLEX: Over a score of 300 out of 600 in the Reading section
2. Doctoral degree program
i. Humanities and Social Science Division: Over a TOEFL score of 580 (CBT 237, IBT 92)
ii. Natural Science and Engineering Division: Over a TOEFL score of 530 (CBT 197, IBT 71)
iii. FLEX: Over a score of 320 out of 600 in the Reading section
Pass/Fail Decision
A grade of Pass or Fail will be decided based on the result of the Foreign Language Exam.
Retake
If a student fails part of the comprehensive exam, the student has the opportunity to retake the exam.
> Academics > Foreign Language Exam 
