Students who took more than 15 credits without dropping any classes in the previous semester and received better than average scores can be scholarship students. In addition, the score of an authorized test of foreign language ability was added in September 2006 to improve students’ foreign language abilities. From the first semester 2008, such tests will be a selection requirement for scholarship students.

There are already departments which consider the score of an authorized test of foreign language ability. The College of Media and Visual Communication has operated this system since the second semester 2006, and the College of Business Administration has operated the Keimyung Accreditation of Business Education since this semester.

The revised scholarship system includes a variety of tests and ways of considering scores.

● An authorized test of foreign language ability
Each college or department decides which authorized tests to accept in line with their specific focuses. Basically, almost all departments recognize TOEIC and TOEFL. The College of Foreign Language and Literature accepts all applicable tests of foreign language.

Specific colleges and departments like the Department of Psychology and the College of Media and Visual Communication give additional points for authorized language tests. Some colleges recognize students just applying for examinations as a standard for scholarship students. In the Department of Psychology, students applying for academic support scholarships get preferential consideration if they achieve a minimum standard on an authorized language test.

● Keimyung mock TOEIC
The administration is discussing whether to include the Keimyung mock TOEIC in choosing scholarship students. The examination fee of authorized tests of foreign language ability is expensive. Therefore, many students hesitate to take these tests because of the examination fee.

● Problems & Solutions
The revision of scholarship regulations is for improving students’ foreign language ability. However, there is a matter of concern.

First of all, there is an examination fee for authorized tests of foreign language ability. Huge numbers of Korean students take TOEIC and TOEFL every year. Last year, Koreans spent 86 billion won on these tests. However, all this money goes to overseas testing agencies.

Second, there is the validity of authorized tests of foreign language ability. The validity is two years. However, at present, Keimyung University recognizes the score of an authorized language test for only one year. Kim Yong-il (Department of Philosophy), the head of the Student Affairs Office said, “The validity of an authorized test of foreign language ability is two years. If students apply for these examinations each year, the costs are pretty high. Therefore, Keimyung University plans to recognize test scores for two years.” In this way, the validity term problem will be solved.

The most important thing is that the university and students are well-aware of the revision of scholarship system.

Q & A
Q. Can more students get scholarships?
A. No. The Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development stipulates that the percentage of students who receive academic support and workstudy scholarships must remain similar
Q. What are authorized tests of foreign language ability and how are they evaluated?
A. You can inquire at your college because there are different standards in each college.
Q. When is the submission period for certificates of authorized tests of foreign language ability?
A. By final examinations. If you want to be a scholarship student in first semester 2008, you must present the certificate of an authorized test of foreign language ability from December 2006 by December this year.
Q. Does the university consider mock TOEIC?
A. Mock TOEIC is under review. At present, the university only recognizes authorized tests of foreign language ability.