Korean Dictionary
How to say "Dissertation" in Korean
“Dissertation” in Korean is 학위논문 (pronounced "Hagwi Nonmun").
학위논문
Hagwi Nonmun
Usage & Context
A doctoral dissertation (학위논문) is the pinnacle of academic achievement in Korean higher education. PhD candidates spend years conducting original research and writing their 학위논문 under faculty supervision. Successfully defending a dissertation earns the highest academic credential and opens doors to professorships and leading research positions in Korea.
Example Sentence
박사 학위논문을 제출했어요.
I submitted my doctoral dissertation.
How to use 학위논문 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Dissertation” is 학위논문, romanized as Hagwi Nonmun.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 학위논문.
Pronunciation Guide
Say "Hag-wee Non-moon." "Hag" is like 'hug' but with a slightly softer 'g' sound. "Wee" sounds like the English word 'we.' "Non" is like the 'non' in 'non-stop,' and "moon" is like the celestial body.
More Example Sentences
A PhD student talking about their demanding schedule.
박사 학위논문 준비로 요즘 밤샘 작업이 많아요.
I have many all-nighters these days preparing my doctoral dissertation.
A student recommending a good advisor.
그 교수님은 학위논문 지도 경험이 풍부해서 인기가 많아요.
That professor has extensive experience advising dissertations, so they are very popular.
A student feeling stressed about a deadline.
학위논문 제출 기한이 얼마 남지 않아서 초조해요.
There isn't much time left until the dissertation submission deadline, so I'm anxious.
Cultural Context
학위논문 (hagwi nonmun) specifically refers to a thesis written to obtain an academic degree, most commonly a doctoral dissertation (박사 학위논문, baksa hagwi nonmun). It represents the culmination of years of specialized research and is a prerequisite for earning a PhD in Korea. The successful defense of a 학위논문 is a highly respected achievement, opening doors to academic and research leadership.
Editorial note
We review entries like 학위논문 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
학위논문을 쓰다
to write a dissertation
학위논문 심사
dissertation defense/review
학위논문 제출
dissertation submission
Related Expressions
논문
nonmun
thesis, paper (broader term)
박사 논문
baksa nonmun
doctoral dissertation
석사 논문
seoksa nonmun
master's thesis
졸업 논문
joreop nonmun
graduation thesis (can be for any degree)
More Education Words
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