Visiting Scholars Program

Each year, the UCLA Center for Korean Studies welcomes scholars from universities and institutions throughout the world, who are drawn to UCLA for its dynamic research environment.

These visitors include academics, scholars, and senior government officials, representing every discipline of Korean Studies. These visitors provide a valuable resource for the Center's faculty and graduate students, as well as the Los Angeles community as a whole, and enhance UCLA's coverage in Korean Studies. The Center for Korean Studies provides limited administrative assistance to visiting scholars and helps scholars with access to UCLA's library and research facilities. Because of severe space limitations throughout the university, the Center is unfortunately unable to provide private office space to visiting scholars.

The Center for Korean Studies charges an administrative fee to defray the costs of running its visiting scholar program. The current charge is $3,500 for academics* and $8,500 for non-academics per year. An application fee of $200, visa processing fee of  $340, and additional cost of $40 per each dependent, must be paid by credit card upon submission of the online application to cover the costs of processing the visiting-scholar application. (*For our Visiting Scholar program, an academic is a Ph.D. recipient with a full-time teaching position at a 4-year university.)

This application fee is non-refundable, even if the scholar is ultimately unable to visit UCLA, or if the Center is unable to accept or accommodate the applicant.

Qualifications

1. Ph.D. with minimum 2 years of experience in that professional field OR Bachelor's Degree/Master's Degree with minimum 5 years of experience in that field, by the time the appointment would begin.
2. Preference is given to scholars from institutions with which UCLA has signed academic-exchange agreements and to scholars who are personally recommended by UCLA faculty in Korean Studies.
3. All applicants must be affiliated with an established institution (i.e. Academic Institution, Government, Media Institutions and Companies)
4. All applicants must provide documentation certifying sufficient proficiency in the English Language with one of the following:
   • A recognized English language test - TOEFL or IELTS only. The exams must have been taken within the past 2 years. The IELTS overall band score must be 7 or higher and the TOEFL test score must be 560 (paper based) or 87 (internet based iBT). • Certification document from an academic institution the visiting scholar is affiliated with or has once attended. The document must verify the visitor possesses English proficiency high enough to function daily within the UCLA position and within the local U.S. community. It must explain the use of English at home academic institution, and the certification must be provided on letterhead and signed by school official within the past 6 months. • Certification by English language school where English training was completed within the past 2 years.
5. A UCLA faculty member's consent to serve as the university sponsor for the applicant during his or her stay at UCLA.
6. Due to space and administrative limitations, there is an annual quota on the number of visiting scholars who may be invited by the Center. The Center may not be able to accommodate all qualified candidates who apply in any one year.

Application Process/ Procedure

1. Send an email to koreanstudies@international.ucla.edu with your (1) research proposal, (2) your CV, and (3) proposed appointment begin date (choose January 1^st or September 1^st).
   This is only the preliminary application. Please do not complete the online application until you have been instructed to do so. A $500 non-refundable application fee is required to complete the online application. 
2. Faculty Advisory Committee will review your documents and determine whether or not to accept your application to our program.
3. You will hear back from the Program Assistant regarding the decision. Once you receive the invitation to apply to our program, you may then complete the online application and pay the $500 non-refundable application fee. A non-refundable application fee is to defray the administrative costs of processing and evaluating the application.
4. Once your application is received with all the supporting documents, you will receive a DS-2019 via email link.     
5. Payment information will be sent to you with the due date as the appointment begin date. 
6. You are required to attend the check-in and the orientation upon arrival, preferably before your appointment begin date. 

There are two appointment start dates each year: January 1^st and September 1^st and for the one-year program. There is a one month grace period for the check-ins. For example: if January 1^st is your appointment begin date, you can check in at anytime in December or early January. There is also an option to apply for a six-month program. 

Applicants will be required to submit information and supplementary materials as listed below in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF:

1. A curriculum vitae or professional resume.
2. A proposal that focuses on Korean Studies (no more than 2 pages double-spaced) describing the research plan that will be undertaken while in residence at the Center.
3. A scanned copy of passport clearly showing both pages (picture and signature).
4. A letter of recommendation from a scholar with expertise in the area of the applicant's intended research (required only for non-academic applicants).
5. A certified statement of financial support from the applicant's place of employment or financial institution. (Affidavit of Support)
6. Documentation certifying sufficient proficiency in the English Language:
   • A recognized English language test
   • Signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school

Insurance Requirements

Published: Tuesday, February 20, 2024