Introduction

A dual-degree program (DD program) is a program that leads a student to receive two degrees: one from KAIST, and one from another university. Currently, the School of Computing has two such programs:

• Dual Degree Master in Computer Science with TU Berlin (TUB) in Germany.
• Dual Degree Master in Computer Science with Denmark Technical University (DTU) in Lyngby (a suburb of Copenhagen).

Basic information

The DD program is open to students at KAIST and at DTU/TUB. Students study two semesters at KAIST, and two semesters at the partner university (DTU/TUB). They write one master thesis, which is recognized by both institutions.

For KAIST students, there are two possible time lines (for DTU/TUB-students, the time lines are the reverse):

It is not uncommon for students to take one more semester to finish the program, to satisfy all requirements, or to write a larger master thesis (at KAIST, the master thesis often covers more than one semester of research).

Students continue to pay tuition in their home university, they do not need to pay tuition in the partner university.

KAIST students should apply for the DD program during their first semester in the master program. To apply, they should contact Tae Kyun Kim. If space permits, we may still accept an application in the second semester (if the student wants to go to DTU/TUB in their third and fourth semester).

DTU/TUB students need to apply in their own university.

• First semester at KAIST, second and third semester at DTU/TUB, fourth semester at KAIST. In this case the master thesis is written in the last semester at KAIST.
• First and second semester at KAIST, third and fourth semester at DTU/TUB. The master thesis is written at DTU/TUB.

Facts of Life

Denmark Technical University (DTU) is the best science and engineering university in Denmark. DTU is located in Lyngby, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Studying in Denmark is easier than in some other European countries, since everyone speaks English well. In particular, all graduate courses at DTU Compute are taught in English. This means that there are many courses available that you can take. It is easy to live in Denmark speaking English only.

Accomodation for KAIST students is provided on or near the campus. There are many other foreign students around.

There are no specific costs at DTU, but life in Denmark is not cheap.

The Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) is a good engineering university located in the center of former West Berlin. Berlin is an exciting and interesting city to live in, there are many foreigners and restaurants of all different kinds. There are even some Korean restaurants and supermarkets.

TUB teaches only some of their courses in English, so you are more restricted in which courses you can take. However, it is a big department and a large program, so even the English selection is comparable to the number of courses offered at KAIST.

Outside the university, it is not that easy to survive with English only. You are expected to take at least a beginner's course in German, and it really helps to deal with everyday situations like shopping or taking a bus. (TU Berlin offers courses in the month before the start of the semester).

Students need to pay about 300 Euros per semester as a "student fee", but in exchange they get free transportation on public transportation in Berlin and surroundings.

Graduation requirements

Students in the DD program (both KAIST students and DTU/TUB-studens) need to satisfy the graduation requirements of both universities.

At KAIST, these are the same requirements that normal KAIST CS master students have to satisfy in order to receive their degree, the only difference is that DD students can use the course work and thesis work done at DTU/TUB to satisfy these requirements. Do not rely on the text of the (old) dual-degree agreement or what your seniors tell you: You must satisfy the current graduation requirements.

KAIST will only check that you have satisfied the KAIST requirements before you can receive your KAIST master degree. The partner university likewise checks that you have satisfied their graduation requirement.

Below are the KAIST CS graduation requirements that were current at the time of writing (last updated in April 2018). It is your responsibility to check that these are still correct for your situation!

We then take a quick look at the requirements of the partner universities. More information in detail of graduation requirements and courseworks is available in here.

Seo Sangwon Scholarship (up to KRW 5,000,000/person)

A program to support outbound KAIST SoC students who are to be dispatched to partner universities which concluded a dual degree master program with KAIST SoC.