Degree Recognition Abroad: Apostille, WES, and Getting Your Korean Degree Recognized | Admissions.kr

Why Degree Recognition Matters

You spent years earning your degree in Korea. But when you return home, apply for jobs abroad, or pursue further education in another country, a simple question arises: "Is your Korean degree recognized here?"

The answer is almost always yes — Korean universities, especially accredited ones, are recognized worldwide. But "recognized" and "officially verified" are different things. Employers, licensing boards, immigration agencies, and universities in other countries often require formal credential evaluation and authentication before accepting your Korean degree as equivalent to a local qualification.

This guide walks you through every step of getting your Korean degree officially recognized, wherever you plan to use it.

Understanding the Process: Three Layers

Getting a Korean degree recognized abroad typically involves three layers:

Layer 1: Document Authentication (Apostille or Consular Legalization)

This proves your documents are genuine — issued by a real Korean institution and authenticated by Korean government authorities.

Layer 2: Credential Evaluation (WES, NACES, etc.)

This translates your Korean degree into terms the receiving country understands — confirming that your bachelor's from a Korean university equals a bachelor's in their system.

Layer 3: Professional Licensing (If Applicable)

For regulated professions (engineering, medicine, law, accounting, teaching), additional steps verify that your Korean education meets the receiving country's professional standards.

Layer 1: Apostille

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an international certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document. Under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille issued by one member country is recognized by all other member countries — currently 125 nations.

Korea is a member of the Hague Convention, which means Korean apostilles are recognized in the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and most other countries.

Which Documents Need Apostille?

For degree recognition, you typically need apostilles on:

Degree certificate (졸업증명서) — your diploma
Academic transcript (성적증명서) — detailed grades
Degree conferral confirmation (학위수여확인서) — confirms degree was officially conferred

Some countries or institutions may also request:

Certificate of enrollment
Course descriptions or syllabi
Faculty qualification certificates

How to Get an Apostille in Korea

Step 1: Obtain official documents from your university

Visit your university's registrar (학적과/교무처)
Request documents in both Korean and English
Request sealed/stamped originals (not copies)
Cost: ₩500-2,000 per document

Step 2: Get the apostille

Option A: In-person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Location: Seoul (Government Complex Sejong also available)
Address: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Apostille Team
Processing: Same day to 3 business days
Fee: ₩1,000 per document
Bring: original documents, passport, application form

Option B: Online through the Apostille e-Service

Website: apostille.go.kr
Upload scanned documents
Processing: 3-5 business days
Fee: ₩1,000 per document
e-Apostille (electronic) is accepted by many countries

Option C: By mail

Send documents to Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Include return envelope with tracking
Processing: 5-7 business days

For Non-Hague Convention Countries

If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention (some African and Middle Eastern countries), you need consular legalization instead:

Get documents notarized by a Korean notary public (공증인)
Have them authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Get them legalized at the embassy/consulate of your destination country in Korea

This process takes longer (2-4 weeks) and costs more (₩30,000-100,000+ depending on embassy fees).

Layer 2: Credential Evaluation

What Is Credential Evaluation?

A credential evaluation is a formal assessment by a recognized agency that compares your foreign degree to the educational standards of the receiving country. It produces a report stating that your Korean bachelor's degree is equivalent to, for example, a US bachelor's degree.

When You Need Credential Evaluation

Purpose	Typically Required?
Applying to graduate school abroad	Yes
Employment in regulated professions	Yes
Immigration (skilled worker visa)	Often
General employment	Sometimes
Government jobs	Usually
Professional licensing	Always

Major Credential Evaluation Services

For the United States:

Agency	Cost	Processing Time	Notes
WES (World Education Services)	$160-200	7-20 business days	Most widely accepted
ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)	$140-180	10-20 business days	Well-established
NACES member agencies	Varies	Varies	Any NACES member is acceptable

For Canada:

WES Canada ($200-250 CAD) — required for Express Entry immigration
IQAS (for Alberta)
WES is the most commonly used

For the United Kingdom:

UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) — the official UK credential evaluation service
Cost: approximately $60-150 depending on service level

For Australia:

VETASSESS — for skilled migration
CPA Australia or Engineers Australia — for professional registration
AEI-NOOSR — for general evaluation

For the EU:

Varies by country (each EU country has its own recognition agency)
Germany: Anabin database and KMK
France: ENIC-NARIC France
Netherlands: Nuffic

WES Evaluation: Step-by-Step (Most Common)

Create a WES account at wes.org
Select evaluation type:
- Document-by-Document: lists all degrees and grades (standard)
- Course-by-Course: evaluates individual courses and GPA equivalence (required for graduate school applications)
Order your Korean documents:
- Degree certificate (English) — sent directly from university to WES
- Academic transcript (English) — sent directly from university to WES
- Important: WES requires documents to be sent directly by your university, not by you personally
Request documents from your university:
- Visit registrar and request them to mail directly to WES
- WES address: provided on your WES account dashboard
- Some Korean universities use the electronic verification system
Pay WES fee: $160-200 USD + shipping
Wait for evaluation: 7-20 business days after WES receives all documents
Receive evaluation report: Sent to you and/or directly to designated institutions

Korean University Documents for WES

Request these from your university registrar (in English):

Document	Korean Name	Notes
Official transcript	영문 성적증명서	Must include all semesters
Degree certificate	영문 졸업증명서	Must state degree type and major
Degree conferral letter	영문 학위수여확인서	Confirms degree was officially awarded

Tip: Ask your university registrar to send documents via registered/tracked mail. Keep the tracking number.

Common Issues with Korean Credential Evaluation

GPA conversion: Korean 4.5 scale to US 4.0 scale can cause confusion. WES uses its own conversion methodology, which sometimes results in a slightly lower GPA than expected.
Degree nomenclature: Korean degree titles do not always translate directly. Your 학사 (haksa) is a bachelor's, 석사 (seoksa) is a master's, and 박사 (baksa) is a doctorate — but the specific field classification may need clarification.
Credits: Korean credit systems differ from US/European systems. WES recalculates credits based on contact hours.
Processing delays: If your university is slow to send documents, the entire process stalls. Start early.

Layer 3: Professional Licensing

Regulated Professions

Some professions require additional steps beyond degree recognition:

Profession	US Requirement	UK Requirement	Notes
Engineering	FE exam + PE license (state-specific)	IEng/CEng registration	Washington Accord helps
Medicine	USMLE (US)	PLAB (UK)	Korean medical degree may require additional exams
Nursing	CGFNS + NCLEX-RN	NMC registration	Additional training may be required
Architecture	NCARB evaluation	ARB registration	Canberra Accord helps
Accounting	CPA exam (state-specific)	ACCA/ACA	Credential evaluation first
Teaching	State certification	QTS	Varies significantly by state/country
Law	Bar exam (state-specific)	SQE (UK)	Korean law degree rarely directly transferable

International Agreements

Korea is a signatory to several international agreements that facilitate degree recognition:

Washington Accord (Engineering) — Korean engineering degrees from ABEEK-accredited programs are recognized by signatory countries (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, etc.)
Seoul Accord (IT/Computing) — similar to Washington Accord for computing programs
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Convention — general framework for academic recognition

What this means: If your Korean engineering program is ABEEK-accredited, getting your degree recognized for engineering practice abroad is significantly easier.

Timeline and Planning

Recommended Timeline

When	Action
6 months before graduation	Research destination country requirements
3 months before graduation	Request multiple certified copies of all documents
Graduation month	Apply for apostille immediately
1 month after graduation	Submit to WES or relevant evaluation agency
2-3 months after graduation	Receive evaluation report
As needed	Apply for professional licensing

Costs Summary

Item	Cost
University document copies (3-5 documents)	₩5,000-10,000
Apostille (per document)	₩1,000
Notarization (if needed)	₩30,000-50,000 per document
Shipping to WES (tracked international)	₩15,000-30,000
WES evaluation	$160-200 (~₩210,000-260,000)
Additional report copies	$30 each
Total estimate	₩300,000-500,000

Tips for a Smooth Process

Start early. Do not wait until you need the evaluation — begin the process while still in Korea when accessing university documents is easy.
Get multiple copies. Order 3-5 certified copies of your degree certificate and transcript in English. You will use them for years.
Keep originals safe. Never send your only original to any agency. Always send certified copies.
Verify your university's accreditation. WES and other agencies require that your university be recognized by the Korean Ministry of Education. All legitimate Korean universities are, but verify at academyinfo.go.kr.
Contact the receiving institution. Before starting the process, ask your target employer, university, or licensing board exactly which evaluation they accept and what documents they need. Requirements vary.
Use electronic services when available. Korean government e-apostille and WES electronic verification save time and reduce mail delays.

Country-Specific Guides

United States

WES or any NACES member for general evaluation
State-specific requirements for professional licensing
H-1B visa applications may require WES evaluation
Graduate school admissions: course-by-course evaluation recommended
Korean degree is well-recognized, especially from top universities (SNU, KAIST, Yonsei, Korea U)

Canada

WES Canada required for Express Entry immigration
ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) mandatory for skilled worker programs
Processing time: 4-8 weeks
Korean degrees are well-recognized for immigration purposes

United Kingdom

UK ENIC provides Statement of Comparability
Bologna Process alignment helps (Korea is not part of it, but UK recognizes Korean degrees)
Professional registration (engineering, medicine) requires additional steps
Graduate school applications: universities often have their own evaluation process

European Union

Each country has its own recognition agency (ENIC-NARIC network)
Bologna Process compatibility varies
Germany: check Anabin database for your university's recognition status
Professional recognition directive (2005/36/EC) governs regulated professions

Middle East and Asia

Apostille accepted in Hague Convention countries
Some countries require embassy attestation in addition to apostille
Korean degrees are highly regarded in Southeast Asia and the Middle East
Employment-based immigration may have specific evaluation requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is my Korean degree valid if my university is not in the global rankings? A: Yes. Recognition is based on accreditation by the Korean Ministry of Education, not rankings. All accredited Korean universities are recognized by WES and equivalent agencies.

Q: Can I get my degree recognized from abroad if I have already left Korea? A: Yes. You can request university documents by mail or through online portals. Apostilles can be requested by a representative in Korea. WES accepts documents mailed internationally.

Q: How long does the entire process take? A: Typically 6-12 weeks from start to finish, depending on university document processing speed and evaluation agency workload. Start early.

Q: Do I need to translate my documents? A: Most Korean universities issue official English versions of transcripts and degree certificates. If your destination requires translation into another language, use a certified translator.

For career planning in Korea and abroad, see our getting hired guide and D-10 job seeker visa information.