KAIST

Program Details

The regular program consists of one academic semester, Spring Semester 2024. Students should plan on arriving in Columbus no later than January 2nd, 2024, so they can get settled in before the first day of class.

It is also important that students avoid arriving over the Christmas holiday (December 24th and 25th) as the airport will be very busy, and many forms of transportation will be limited. Students may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the start of the program, and must return to Korea within 60 days of the program's completion.

Program Orientation

During the first week of Spring Semester there will be a program orientation in which students will be introduced to the American style of education and provided with details about the program. Students will meet program administrators and receive a variety of information about the program, the university, and Columbus.

Extended Study

It is possible for students to extend their study for up to two additional semesters beyond the end of Spring Semester in order to work on their thesis. If a student requests an extension, he or she is expected to remain in residence in Columbus for the duration of the extension. The first period of extended study is Summer Semester (which includes May). The Second period of extended study is Autumn Semester. Students need to inform the Program Administrator prior to arrival in the United States if they intend to stay for Summer and Autumn sessions. We are unable to add the extended study sessions after the program starts due to visa restrictions (unless there is a documented emergency).

Any student choosing to extend their study must adhere to the following guidelines during their extension:

• Stay in regular contact with their assigned Program Administrator.
• Enroll in a maximum of 3 credit hours of independent study and at least 2 finance courses (minimum of 6 credit hours of finance courses).
• Continue to make regular progress on their thesis and hand in a completed thesis paper to their faculty advisor by the end of the last week of extended study.

Facilities

Students will be provided with access to computers, libraries, and Ohio State University e-mail. Since program participants are enrolled as official Ohio State graduate students, they will have automatic access to parking passes and bus passes.

Tuition and Scholarships

The tuition fee per student for the 2022 KAIST program at the Fisher College of Business will be $15,500. Tuition funds cover all costs related to instruction, including textbooks, which will be ordered for each student by program administrators.

The Department of Finance has $5,000 total to give in scholarships to self-sponsored students. The scholarship money can be awarded to a minimum of 2 students, at $2,500 each, or it can be divided among a number of students. The Department of Finance will distribute scholarships based on the recommendation of KAIST.

Students who extend their stays in order to work on their thesis will be charged an additional fee per semester. The university fee table for Summer and Autumn Semester 2024 has not been released, and tuition will be based on the university fee table for graduate students.

Arrival in the United States

It is recommended that each student arrives in the U.S. with at least $150 in American currency and a major credit card to cover their initial expenses, including transportation from the Columbus airport to their hotel or local residence.

Visas

We will provide the required paperwork so students can apply for F-1 visas for the period of their studies at Ohio State. Students must provide photocopies of the photo and information page of their passport prior to arriving in the U.S., and present their original passport and visa to KAIST program administration once they arrive in the U.S. More detailed information about visas can be found at Office of International Affairs.

Medical Insurance

Every student participating in the KAIST program at Fisher must have a health insurance plan that meets the minimum requirements in place for students holding F-1 visas. As official Ohio State students, participants in the program must hold Student Health Insurance. F-1 Students are required to have health insurance to study at Ohio State. You will be required to purchase health insurance for all F-2 dependents (spouse / eligible children).

For more detailed information about international student health insurance, visit the Student Health Insurance (SHI) website, or the Office of International Affairs website.  Students are required by the university to purchase OSU Student Health Insurance.

Communication During the Program

In order to allow for prompt and effective communication between KAIST students and program administrators, it is required that each student check their OSU e-mail account at least once a day for the duration of the program. It is crucial that all students check their e-mail and maintain contact with program administrators, as they often e-mail very important information to all KAIST students about a variety of issues, such as visa requirements, registration information, course schedules, and course cancellations.