PhD in Ocean System

This combined master's and doctorate program in Ocean System, offered through the Faculty of Earth and Marine Convergence at Jeju National University in Jeju, South Korea, lets students progress from graduate coursework into doctoral research on the ocean as a physical and chemical system within one continuous track. The field covers ocean circulation, marine geology, water chemistry, and how these physical processes interact with marine life and coastal environments, connecting earth science methods with marine science questions. Students move from foundational coursework in oceanographic and earth science topics into independent dissertation research, building skills in oceanographic data collection, laboratory analysis, and modeling. Jeju's location, surrounded by ocean waters and shaped by volcanic geology, offers a natural research setting for this kind of work. Instruction is delivered in English, allowing international students to pursue an integrated ocean systems research pathway without a separate Korean-language requirement at the master's stage. The combined program runs four years across eight semesters, reflecting the extended timeline needed to progress from initial graduate study through to a completed doctorate, with entry available in March or September. Graduates typically move into research careers at oceanographic and earth science institutes, government environmental and marine agencies, or academic positions, having developed their expertise through a single continuous program of study.