Transferring To Seoul National University: What You Need To Know

Seoul National University (SNU) is Korea's most prestigious university, offering international students various ways to study, including exchange programs, visiting student programs, and Korean language courses. SNU does not accept international transfer students, so interested students will have to apply as freshmen. However, SNU does facilitate department transfers for its existing students.

Seoul National University does not accept international transfer students

There are two tracks for international admissions: International Admissions I and International Admissions II. 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 completed all their education outside of Korea, from primary school through to high school graduation.

Seoul National University does, however, offer exchange and visiting student programs for international students who wish to study for one or two semesters. Exchange students must be nominated by their home institution and pay their tuition fees to that institution, while visiting students must pay tuition fees directly to Seoul National University. On-campus housing is provided for exchange students, but not for visiting students.

While Seoul National University does not accept international transfer students, it does allow current students to transfer to a different department within the university. This policy is designed to give students more time to explore their academic interests and discover their passions.

Exchange Student Program

Seoul National University (SNU) offers international students various ways to study, including the Exchange Student Program. This program is for students from SNU's partner universities who wish to study at SNU for one or two semesters and transfer the credits to their home institution. SNU has signed over 240 student exchange agreements with institutions worldwide since its first student exchange agreement with the University of Tokyo in 1995.

To be eligible for the Exchange Student Program, candidates must be officially nominated by their home institution and pay their tuition fees to that institution, not to SNU. On-campus housing is provided, and partial support is offered for Korean language course fees.

International students can apply to SNU through two tracks: International Admissions I and International Admissions II. 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 completed their primary and secondary education outside of Korea.

SNU offers international admissions for both the spring and fall semesters. The academic year at SNU begins in the spring. The university has four campuses: Gwanak, Yeongeon, Pyeongchang, and Siheung.

Visiting Student Program

Seoul National University does not accept international transfer students. However, the university does offer a Visiting Student Program for students who want to study at SNU for one or two semesters. This program is open to students from non-partner universities, and participants must pay the tuition fee at SNU and may request a credit transfer at their home institution. On-campus housing is not available for visiting students, and financial support for the Korean language program is not provided.

To apply for the Visiting Student Program, students must submit an application directly to the SNU Office of International Affairs. The application should include a completed form and all required documents, such as a curriculum vitae (CV) in English and an official transcript of the academic record (in English). Applications for the program are accepted throughout the year, and the procedure typically takes up to two months to process.

It is important to note that the Visiting Student Program is distinct from the Exchange Student Program, which is for students from SNU's partner universities. Exchange students do not pay tuition to SNU but remain registered at their home university. Additionally, SNU provides on-campus housing for exchange students and offers partial support for fees for taking Korean language courses.

For those specifically interested in the College of Medicine at SNU, there is an MD Program Visiting Student Elective Program. This program offers 2-12 week clinical elective placements for visiting international medical students at affiliated hospitals. Applicants must be international students currently enrolled in their penultimate or final years of medical school.

Department transfer policy

Seoul National University (SNU) does not accept international transfer students. If you wish to study at SNU, you must apply as a freshman. However, SNU does offer an Exchange Student Program and a Visiting Student Program for international students who want to study at the university for one or two semesters.

SNU's Department Transfer Policy allows fourth-year students to transfer to a different department. The policy was revised to give students more time to find their academic passions and is designed to assist students who discover departments that are more suitable for their talents and passions later in their academic careers.

Previously, only students who had been registered for four to five semesters and had acquired at least 65 credits and less than 98 credits were eligible to request a transfer to another department. The revised policy now permits students who have been registered for six or more semesters and have acquired no less than 98 credits and no more than 130 credits to request a transfer. The College of Pharmacy is the only exception, as it will continue to accept only second and third-year students as transfers.

The Office of Academic Affairs advises students who have acquired more than 130 credits to apply for a double major.

Application process

Seoul National University (SNU) does not accept international transfer students. If you are interested in studying at SNU, you will have to apply as a freshman. SNU does not acknowledge credits achieved from other educational institutes prior to enrollment at SNU as part of the student's credits required for graduation from the university.

There are two tracks in SNU International Admissions: International Admissions I and International Admissions II.

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. To be eligible, the applicant and their parents must renounce their Korean nationalities before the application deadline. This can be done by submitting documentary evidence of renunciation, such as a Certificate for Renunciation of Korean Citizenship or Korean residence registration as a foreigner. It is important to note that this guideline does not apply if the applicant and their parents have dual citizenship of nations other than Korea. Additionally, the applicant and their parents must have acquired foreign nationality before the applicant's admission to high school.

International Admissions II is for applicants who hold either Korean or foreign citizenship and have completed all their education (both primary and secondary) outside of Korea. This includes international marriage migrants who are naturalized as Koreans.

The application process for both tracks is as follows:

Prepare the required documents:

• Scanned copies of passports or other official documents to prove the nationality of the applicant and their parents. If the applicant or their parents do not have a passport, other official documents from their nation will be accepted. However, for documents other than passports, a notarized translation is required.
• Official documents to prove the parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate. In cases of divorce or death, related documents such as divorce decrees or death certificates should be submitted.
• High school graduation certificate and transcript. Any document from the institution that corresponds to Korea's high school system is accepted.
• Standardized test scores (optional): If you choose to submit standardized test results, such as SAT, AP, IB, or ACT, you must first upload a scanned version of the score report during the online application period. Only scores that are available before the submission deadline will be accepted.

Complete the online application:

• Visit the SNU website to access the online application system.
• Provide personal information, including name, contact details, and educational background.
• Upload the scanned copies of the required documents.
• Pay the application fee, which is KRW 70,000 for undergraduate and KRW 90,000 for graduate programs.

Submit original documents:

• After the announcement of preliminary admissions, applicants will be required to submit the original documents by post or in person before the designated deadline.
• For applicants from overseas high schools, additional documents with an Apostille of Authentication issued by the Korean Embassy or Consulate may be required.

Wait for the admissions decision:

• SNU will review the applications based on various factors, including academic achievement (such as grade point average), study plan, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and other achievement records.
• Interviews and examinations may also be required, depending on the policy of the college or department to which the applicant is applying.

Apply for housing:

Admitted applicants should apply for on-campus housing through the SNU Gwanak Residence Halls website.

Apply for scholarships:

• A limited number of admitted students will receive the Global Talent Scholarship, which covers tuition and living costs partially.
• For more information and inquiries, applicants can contact the SNU staff at intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr or refer to the scholarship section on the SNU website.

Frequently asked questions