Why study Korean?

Korea has a unique cultural tradition, developed through its interactions with its two neighbours - China and Japan.

Korea plays an important role as the hub of Northeast Asia. South Korea is one of the world's major trading nations, and is one of New Zealand's major trade partners. There are other links between our countries - more than 30,000 Korean immigrants live in  New Zealand, and several hundred New Zealanders work in South Korea as English teachers.

Korean and your career

Graduates in Korean have careers in international organisations, NGOs, the 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. 

Study options in Korean

Korean is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and is taught by the School of Asian Studies.

What can you study in Korean?

Language courses will give you communication skills and enable you to read simple modern Korean texts. In later years you are able to undertake more in-depth study of Korean society, literature and culture.

If you have a Korean language background, there is a course for heritage speakers (KOREAN 250).

Undergraduate programmes in Korean

You can study Korean as:

• a BA major or minor subject
• elective courses in the BA
• a subject within the Certificate in Arts.

You can also study Korean for the Diploma in Languages or Certificate in Languages.

Find out more about these undergraduate programmes.

Enrolling in Stage I Korean courses

You must enrol in language courses appropriate for your level. Please complete the online language competency form. You will also need to follow the instructions for enrolling in wait-listed courses.