Before joining a research group

Ask whether admission already fixes the advisor or whether there is a later choice, committee decision, temporary advisor or rotation. Confirm the deadline, approval evidence and what happens if the preferred advisor is unavailable.

Official sources to confirm with: SNU Department of Biomedical Sciences — Advisor Selection

Confirm the languages used in meetings, messages, seminars, teaching and written feedback. Ask who gives day-to-day guidance, how often meetings usually occur and how urgent questions are handled when the supervisor is away.

Official sources to confirm with: SNU Department of Biomedical Sciences — Advisor Selection

Ask for the expected first project, how topics may change, where work is done and which data, equipment, software, field access or collaborators are available. Separate a funded project description from a promise of a specific thesis topic.

Official sources to confirm with: Konkuk University — 2026 Fall Graduate Admission Guidelines for International Students

Ask what outputs are expected, how contribution and author order are discussed, who may reuse project data or code, and which publication or confidentiality rules apply. Request the current written policy rather than relying on an informal custom.

Official sources to confirm with: Yonsei University Graduate School — Research Ethics FAQ · Ajou University Graduate School — Bill of Rights for Graduate Students

List tuition waiver, tuition payment, living stipend, assistantship, insurance or other support separately. Record the payer, amount or formula, payment method and whether each part is confirmed, conditional or only an application opportunity.

Official sources to confirm with: Konkuk University — 2026 Fall Graduate Admission Guidelines for International Students · POSTECH Graduate Admissions — Financial Aid and Assistantship

Confirm the first payment date, funded months or semesters, renewal criteria, grade or project conditions and what happens during leave, extension or a funding gap. Build a cash plan for costs due before the first payment.

Official sources to confirm with: Konkuk University — 2026 Fall Graduate Admission Guidelines for International Students · POSTECH Graduate Admissions — Financial Aid and Assistantship

Ask for the role, supervisor, expected time, semester and vacation duties, training, deliverables and how the work is recorded. Confirm whether the duty is a condition of funding and how it interacts with research milestones.

Official sources to confirm with: Korea University Business School — Fall 2026 RA/TA Application Notice · POSTECH Graduate Admissions — Financial Aid and Assistantship

Check admission and tuition deposits, fees, insurance, housing, equipment, software, fieldwork, conference travel, publication charges and thesis costs. Ask which expenses need advance payment and which reimbursements require prior approval and receipts.

Official sources to confirm with: Konkuk University — 2026 Fall Graduate Admission Guidelines for International Students · POSTECH Graduate Admissions — Financial Aid and Assistantship

Map required credits, courses, language or comprehensive exams, proposal, committee, research registration, publications if any, thesis review and maximum completion periods. Verify programme, department and entry-year rules separately.

Official sources to confirm with: Yonsei University Graduate School — Degree Conferment Requirements

Identify required research-ethics, laboratory-safety, human-subject, animal, data-security or technology-security training and approvals for the actual project. Confirm the responsible office and do not begin covered work before the required approval.

Official sources to confirm with: KAIST Ethics & Safety — Course Overview

Ask about expected on-site times, remote work, seminars, weekend or field duties, vacation planning, sick leave and who approves absences. Separate laboratory practice from university employment, scholarship and student rules, then keep the applicable written policy.

Official sources to confirm with: Korea University Business School — Fall 2026 RA/TA Application Notice · Ajou University Graduate School — Bill of Rights for Graduate Students

Find the current advisor-change rule and a neutral office outside the laboratory for academic, funding, safety or human-rights concerns. Ask what records, approvals and deadlines apply and how funding or degree progress would be handled during a change.

Official sources to confirm with: SNU Department of Biomedical Sciences — Advisor Selection · Ajou University Graduate School — Bill of Rights for Graduate Students