1. Eligibility: Enrolled or completed students in departments where thesis substitution is permitted. (Application is available starting from the first semester. Once submitted, the thesis substitution application remains valid until the graduation semester. Only one application is required.)

2. Application Period: March 9, 2026 (Mon) ~ March 18, 2026 (Fri)

3. Application Method: Apply through the EDWARD system (학사행정→ 졸업 → 졸업논문관리→논문발표(논문대체) 신청)

   * After applying, print out the Thesis Substitution Application Form and submit it to your department. The department will collect the forms, obtain signatures, and submit them to the Graduate School Administration Office (refer to the attached guide).

   * Students seeking to substitute their thesis by completing additional credits do not need to enter the course title. 

   * For substitution through journal publication: If the paper has already been published, please enter the title of the published paper. (If not yet published, enter it when submitting the Confirmation of Thesis Substitution Requirements.)

   * For substitution through literary debut: If the debut has been confirmed, please enter the title of the work. (If not yet confirmed, enter it when submitting the Confirmation of Thesis Substitution Requirements.)  

4. Thesis Advisor Assignment

  * Students applying for thesis substitution are not required to be assigned a thesis advisor. However, students substituting through journal publication or literary debut may choose to select a thesis advisor.

5. Deadline for Meeting Substitution Requirements

  a. Additional Credits (9 credits)

    1) Students must complete 9 credits beyond the required 24 credits for course completion. (Only credits earned from the semester in which the substitution application is submitted will be recognized.)

    2) Credits earned beyond the required 24 credits starting from the semester of application will be recognized as substitution credits.

    3) As students may not register for more that 9 credits per semester, a systematic academic plan within the maximum period of study is required.

    4) If enrolled students fail to complete the required 9 credits before graduation, they must complete the remaining credits after course completion through the "Completed Student Registration" process (registration fee required)

  b. Journal Publication

    1) The paper must be published in a journal indexed at least a KCI Candidate Journal, with the student listed as first author or corresponding author.

    2) Publication period: From admission until the regular examination period of the expected graduation semester, for students who have submitted the thesis substitution application. 

    3) The author affiliation in the published paper must be stated as "Keimyung University".

     4) The Confirmation of Thesis Substitution Requirements must be submitted by June 23, 2026 (Refer to the confirmation form for required supporting documents.)

  c. Literary Debut (Department of Creative Writing only)

    1) Debut through a national daily newspaper, New Year's literary contest (신춘문예), or a recognized central literary journal (for those already debuted: publication in a central literary journal). 

    2) Creative work equivalent to 50 research performance points (creative works category) under the faculty performance evaluation standards.

    3) "Central literary journals" refer to those recognized under faculty performance evaluation regulations.

     4) The Confirmation of Thesis Substitution Requirements must be submitted by June 23, 2026 (Refer to the confirmation form for required supporting documents.)

  6. Course registration for 졸업논문(공통): As of the revised thesis substitution guidelines dated March 1, 2026, course registration for the "Graduation Thesis" subject has been abolished for students applying for thesis substitution.

Attachments:

        1. Guide to Applying for Thesis Substitution in the EDWARD system (2026) - in Korean 

        2. Confirmation of Thesis Substitution Requirements (논문대체요건 확인서)