Seoul National University: Open To International Students?

Seoul National University (SNU) is one of the top 10 universities in South Korea, and it ranks 31st in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university offers over 110 undergraduate programs and 106 graduate programs across five study fields. SNU has two intakes: Fall and Spring. International students can apply through two tracks: International Admissions I and International Admissions II. International Admissions I is for applicants and their parents who are not citizens of Korea, while International Admissions II is for applicants with Korean or foreign citizenship who completed their primary and secondary education outside of Korea. SNU offers a number of courses in English, but most courses are in Korean.

International student eligibility criteria

Seoul National University (SNU) is one of the leading public universities in South Korea. The university has two tracks for international admissions: International Admissions I and International Admissions II. Here is a detailed breakdown of the eligibility criteria for international students under these two categories:

International Admissions I:

• Neither the applicant nor their parents should hold Korean citizenship.
• For undergraduate applicants, a high school diploma or its equivalent is required.
• Postgraduate applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution.
• Applicants must submit various documents, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, proof of language proficiency, official transcripts, and certificates of nationality for themselves and their parents.
• Standardised test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, are required for undergraduate applicants.
• For postgraduate research-based programs, a detailed research proposal is necessary.
• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Korean or English, depending on the program's language of instruction.

International Admissions II:

• The applicant holds Korean or foreign citizenship and completed their entire primary and secondary education outside of Korea.
• Undergraduate applicants must have completed high school education outside of Korea.
• Postgraduate applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or higher and have undertaken all their education outside of Korea, from elementary school to high school.
• Similar to International Admissions I, applicants need to submit various documents, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, proof of language proficiency, official transcripts, and certificates of nationality.
• Additionally, they may need to provide a Certificate of Entry and Exit and other optional documents.

It is important to note that SNU does not accept international transfer students. Applicants with prior credits from other institutions must apply as freshmen, and their previous credits will not be acknowledged for graduation requirements.

Application process for undergraduate admissions

Seoul National University (SNU) offers international admissions for both the spring and fall semesters. The application process for undergraduate admissions is as follows:

Eligibility

To be eligible for undergraduate admissions at SNU, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• They must not be citizens of Korea, and neither should their parents.
• They must have graduated from high school or attained an equivalent level of education.
• They must provide proof of their parent's nationality, such as a scanned file of their parents' passports.
• They must submit any official document that proves their relationship with their parents, such as a birth certificate.
• They must provide proof of language proficiency, either in Korean or English. The minimum scores required are TOPIK level 3 or higher for Korean proficiency and TOEFL iBT 80, TEPS 551, IELTS 6.0 or higher for English proficiency.

Application Process

The application process for undergraduate admissions at SNU is as follows:

• Applicants must log on to the SNU admissions website (https://admission.snu.ac.kr) and look for the dates and links to the application.
• Applicants must prepare the required documents in the desired format, including recommendation letters, language proficiency proof, standardized test score reports, official high school certificates, transcripts, graduation certificates, and nationality certificates.
• Applicants must pay the application fee of KRW 70,000 for international undergraduate admissions.
• Once the application and fee are submitted, applicants will be able to share links with their recommenders for submitting letters of recommendation.
• Applicants may modify their personal statement and files until the deadline of the online application period.
• International applicants must upload scanned versions of all documents through the online system. After the announcement of preliminary admission, applicants must submit the original documents by post or in person before the designated deadline.

Additional Information

• SNU offers a number of courses in English, but most courses are in Korean. Therefore, it is advised that students study Korean during their time at SNU.
• SNU does not accept international transfer students. Applicants with previous credits from other institutions must apply as freshmen and will not have their previous credits acknowledged.
• The quota for international admissions is not predetermined, and there is no additional selection in case of non-enrollment of admitted students.

Application process for graduate admissions

Seoul National University (SNU) does accept foreign students, with two tracks for international admissions. International Admissions I is for applicants who are not citizens of Korea and have graduated from high school or attained an equivalent level of education. International Admissions II is for applicants who hold Korean or foreign citizenship and have received all their education outside of Korea. The academic year at SNU begins in the spring, with international admissions offered for both the spring and fall semesters. Here is a detailed guide on the application process for graduate admissions:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Before applying, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for either International Admissions I or II. The requirements differ based on your citizenship status and educational background.

Step 2: Prepare Documents

Gather and prepare the required documents, including:

• Scanned copies of your passport and your parents' passports to prove citizenship and nationality.
• Official documents proving your parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate.
• High school graduation certificate and transcript.
• Standardized test scores (optional but recommended): SNU accepts scores from tests like the SAT, AP, IB, and ACT.
• Proof of language proficiency: Either Korean or English proficiency is required. For English, SNU accepts TOEFL, TEPS, or IELTS scores. For Korean, a TOPIK level 3 or higher is required.
• Supplementary materials (optional): You can submit up to 10 documents showcasing your extracurricular activities, awards, and achievements during high school.

Step 3: Complete the Online Application

Visit the SNU website to access the online application portal. Create an account and fill out the application form with your personal, academic, and contact information. You will also be required to submit a personal statement and pay an application fee of KRW 90,000 for the graduate program.

Step 4: Submit Recommendations and Scores

Once you pay the application fee, an automated invitation will be sent to your recommender's email to submit a letter of recommendation. Additionally, if you choose to submit standardized test scores, you should request the corresponding educational organization (e.g., ETS, College Board) to send an online score report to SNU if you are preliminarily admitted.

Step 5: Upload Documents

International applicants must upload scanned versions of all required documents through the online system during the application period. This includes the documents mentioned in Step 2, as well as any other supporting materials you wish to include.

Step 6: Wait for Preliminary Admission Decision

SNU will review your application and notify you of their preliminary admission decision. If you are offered preliminary admission, you will be required to submit the original documents either by post or in person before the designated deadline.

Step 7: Final Admission Decision

After submitting your original documents, SNU will make a final admission decision. If you are accepted, you will receive an admission offer and can proceed with enrolling at the university.

It is important to note that SNU's admissions decisions are based on various factors, including academic achievement (GPA), study plan, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and other achievement records. The university may also consider interviews and examinations, depending on the college or department you are applying to.

Required documents for online application

Seoul National University does accept foreign students, with two tracks for international admissions. International Admissions I is for applicants who are not citizens of Korea and have graduated from high school or attained an equivalent level of education. International Admissions II is for applicants who hold Korean or foreign citizenship and have received all their education outside of Korea.

International Admissions I

• Scanned versions of your passport and your parents' passports to prove nationality. If you don't have a passport, you can submit other official documents from your nation. However, for documents other than passports, a notarized translation is required.
• Official documents that prove your parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate. In cases of divorce or death, related documents such as divorce certificates or death certificates should be submitted.
• If you are a dual citizen or former Korean citizen, you must submit documentary evidence of renunciation of Korean nationality for yourself and your parents.
• High school graduation certificate and transcript.
• Standardized test results and other indicators of academic achievement, such as SAT, AP, IB, or ACT scores.
• Proof of language proficiency in Korean or English. This can include TOPIK, TOEFL, TEPS, IELTS, or other official documents.
• Supplementary materials that showcase your activities during the high school period, such as extracurricular activities or awards. The maximum number of documents accepted is 10.

International Admissions II

• Scanned versions of your passport and your parents' passports to prove nationality.
• Official documents that prove your parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate.
• High school graduation certificate and transcript from a school outside of Korea.
• Standardized test results and other indicators of academic achievement.
• Proof of language proficiency in Korean or English.
• Supplementary materials that showcase your activities during the high school period.

All international applicants are required to upload scanned versions of the documents through the online system. After the announcement of preliminary admission, the original documents must be submitted either by post or in person before the designated deadline.

Available scholarships

Seoul National University offers a variety of scholarship programs for foreign students. Internal scholarships are awarded each semester, and external scholarships are generally provided until graduation if all requirements are continually met.

Undergraduate Scholarships

Undergraduate applicants may apply for the following scholarship programs before or during the admission application period.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

• Full tuition fee exemption for eight semesters
• Living expenses: 1,133,330 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: one year
• Medical insurance, settlement and returning expenses

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of eight semesters (only when conditions are met)
• Living expenses: 900,000 KRW per month for eight semesters (maximum)
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute for six months
• Medical insurance subscription (private company)

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate applicants may apply for the following scholarship programs before or during the admission application period.

SNU President Fellowship Program (SPF)

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of six semesters
• Living expenses: 1,500,000 KRW ~ 2,000,000 KRW per month for 3~4 years
• Round-trip airfare (economy class based on GTS system)
• Korean language training (only evening class during regular semesters)
• National Health Insurance fee reimbursement

Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS)

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of four semesters
• Living expenses: minimum of 500,000 KRW per month (varies according to recipients' majors)

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of four semesters (when conditions are met)
• Living expenses: 900,000 KRW per month for four semesters (maximum)
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute for six months
• Medical insurance subscription (private company)

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP/GKS)

• Full tuition fee exemption for four semesters for Master's program and six semesters for Ph.D. program
• Monthly allowance: 1,308,330 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: for one year
• Medical insurance, research fund, thesis printing fees, settlement and returning expenses

Frequently asked questions