Seoul National University

About: 

Korea’s highest ranked and first national university, Seoul National University (SNU) leads higher education in South Korea. It has made an important contribution to the building of the nation, with a tradition of supporting peace and democracy, and has produced leaders in almost every sector of society, from business to politics, technology and the arts. It is one of the three prestigious “SKY” universities, the “Ivy League” of Korean higher education. 

Contact at SNU:

SNU ISI Team, Office of International Affairs, Seoul National University, 2F, CJ International Center (Bldg 152), 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea, 151-015

Ms. Yunju Hwang (yunju96@snu.ac.kr)

Highlights: 

Seoul National University provides a liberal education that prepares students for lifelong learning and global careers. It is a leading research university and is committed to creating a vibrant intellectual community where an international mix of students and scholars work together to build the future. The University has two campuses. The main campus, Gwanak Campus, is at the foot of the magnificent Gwanak Mountains and offers nature, historic buildings and a range of student facilities. The Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Dentistry and the University Hospital are located on the Yeongeon Campus in downtown Seoul.

Seoul National University is highly ranked for accounting and finance, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil and structural engineering, computer science, economics, electrical engineering, environmental studies, history and archaeology, linguistics, mechanical engineering, modern languages, medicine, materials sciences, mathematics, law, physics and astronomy.

SNU is ranked 64th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 and 9th in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2019. 

Location: 

A huge city of more than 10.5 million people, Seoul is an economic and business powerhouse that also boasts a unique history and numerous pleasant pastimes. You can hike on Namsan, see architectural innovation at the UNESCO City of Design, visit the Demilitarised Zone and sample the city’s history with numerous temples, palaces, tea houses and galleries. The food is wonderful, as is the nightlife, the saunas and the art and culture. Seoul is also the home to industry giants such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. As a leader of the IT revolution, Seoul is one of the most wired cities in the world.

Courses / Modules: 

• The majority of courses are taught in Korean but each college and department offers some courses in English as well. The course catalogue for the new semester is available at the beginning of January and July each year. Until then, applicants will have to refer to the previous year’s catalogue.

• Course registration is held online a month before the semester begins; it is on a first-come first-served basis and exchange/visiting students are not guaranteed with registering courses they wish to take. 

• Due to the limited number of English taught courses a credit replacement year may not be possible at SNU. Please check the course catalogue above and discuss with your academic supervisor.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

12  to 15 SNU credits = 60 York credits 

Teaching Periods: 

Autumn semester: September to December 

Spring semester: March to June 

Access the SNU calendar. 

Language: 

• The majority of courses at SNU are taught in Korean but each college or department offers number of courses in English. Pre-semester and semester language courses are available. 

• Language proficiency of either English or Korean is highly recommended, but not compulsory. 

• SNU Language Education Institute (LEI) offers credit-bearing Korean Language Programs (KLP) on a fee-paying, extracurricular basis. For exchange students taking KLP, SNU OIA will provide financial support to encourage international students to learn Korean language and culture.

Accommodation: 

• Exchange students can apply for on-campus housing, and there are two types of residence halls available on the main campus - Gwanak Residence Halls and Global Residence Halls.  

• Off-campus housing is available around the campus. It is students’ own responsibilities to find accommodation outside the campus.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

• With a student ID card, namely S-CARD, exchange/visiting students can take advantage of access to on-campus facilities and get a discount at designated cafeterias. 

• SNU Buddy Program was established in 2005 to help international exchange and visiting students settle in SNU and to build a real friendship and network. SNU domestic and international students by themselves organize intercultural events activities throughout the semester. Sign-up notice will be e-mailed to all incoming exchange/visiting students before the semester starts.

• Detailed information on the orientation schedule will be guided through e-mail.

Support Services: 

• Conveniently located in the center of the campus, SNUHSC runs a comprehensive primary care clinic and various specialty clinics in cooperation with SNU Hospital (SNUHC) and SNU Dental Hospital (SNUDH). It also provides a range of health checkup, immunizations, and medical tests, including Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Ear/Nose/Throat, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Smoking Cessation Clinic, and Dentistry.

• SNU Center for Campus Life & Culture: The center offers a variety of types of professional counseling programs, including English counseling services for international students.

• SNU Center for Students with Disabilities, located in the campus center, facilitates academic accommodations and services for students with disabilities so that these students have equal access to any on-campus facilities and offerings and fully immerse themselves into campus life. It is strongly advised that students with disabilities contact SNU OIA as early as possible to inform their necessities.

Visas: 

Information from SNU. 

Health insurance: 

It is mandatory for every exchange/visiting student to obtain a travel/study abroad medical insurance that covers the entire period of their stay in Korea, which should cover potential medical expenses incurred by sickness and accident during the stay in Korea. From March 2021, all non-Korean international students will be automatically subscribed to Korea’s National Health Insurance. SNU OIA will send out detailed information of this new policy and changes made to student exchange program on a separate note. 

Travel insurance: 

If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Abigail, History, Year Abroad 2019/20

"The experience has made me much more independent. Being the only student from York and the first student to attend SNU meant that I had to do everything alone and had no point of reference for what it would be like. Coming alone and not knowing anyone has meant my confidence has grown and I've had to put myself out there much more than I have at York." 

Elspeth, History, Summer School 2017

“The experience has definitely made me more confident and self-assured. Being in a country and having to deal with culture shock and navigating daily life including currency and public transport was a challenge, and at first I felt very homesick. However, I adapted quickly. The International Relations course I took was very interesting and has had an effect on my career direction. I now intend to apply to a conversion course after university. I would encourage every student to study abroad, even if it is just for a summer. It makes you re-evaluate your perspective and what you really want out of life.”

Hongyu, Management, Summer School 2015

“Study life in Korea has taught me a lot on how to live and study well in such a non-English country. During this process, it has facilitated not only my communication skills but also the skill of thinking of solutions rather than sitting around. I would strongly recommend students to shape different outlooks and values through going abroad, especially those which are totally different with original backgrounds. In those countries, you not only need to learn how to minimise cultural differences when making friends but also get to know a new cultural environment.”

• SNU Office of International Affairs

• SNU Exchange Information 

• Foreign Commonwealth Office Advice

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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