As an exchange student, there are a few things you need to know about going to Seoul National University. Learn more about the location, the courses and student life!
Visit their website for more information about studying abroad at Seoul National University!
Founded in 1946 by the merger of ten higher education institutions, Seoul National University is considered to be the most prestigious university in the country.
Students live, work and socialize on campus, which contains all the facilities needed for healthy and happy student life. There are plenty of cafeterias and snack bars on campus (though vegetarians may find the Korean diet a challenge), and a wide range of clubs, societies and activities designed to fill students’ social calendars and immerse foreign students in Korean culture.
Sporting activities, whether competitive or recreational, keep students in good shape mentally and physically, while arts and culture also rank highly on the list of what to do on campus, with students able to visit a world-class art gallery as well as attend concerts and recitals by anyone from the top K-pop sensation of the day to classically trained musicians.
South Korea is an engaging, welcoming place where the benefits of a fully industrialised, high-tech nation are balanced alongside tradition and the ways of old Asia.
The capital and largest city, Seoul, is the centre of Asia's third-largest economy. This round-the-clock city is constantly on the move. Yet there are plenty of areas to escape the crowds. Popular tourist spots include the ancient palaces and royal shrines of the Joseon Dynasty, the historic Namhansan Mountain Fortress, the Han River which runs to North Korea, and the Seoul World Cup and Olympic Stadia.
Seoul is within comfortable flying distance of Japan and China, with Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai all less than three hours flight away.
Very competitive ***
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Semester 1: Beginning of March – Mid-June
Semester 2: Beginning of September – Mid-December
More information on important dates can be found on SNU's academic calendar.
Not available to students studying strictly Drama of Business Management degree programmes at Queen Mary.
Space available for students reading degrees in Computer Science, Engineering, Business and Economics is limited due to a lack of course capacity - module availability cannot be guaranteed. The School of Korean History/Psychology/Statistics and Pharmacy is only available to students with language proficiency in Korean.
Undergraduate applicants for SNU’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering must have earned at least 15 credits in CSE-related courses (one credit corresponds to 15 lecture hours or 30 lab hours). This must be explicitly shown on the official transcript.
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.
Important: 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 provided with any guarantees with regard to registering for courses/faculties.
Students must take 4 modules per semester (no fewer) and up to a maximum of 18 credits per semester.
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions.
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram takeovers:
Exchange students can apply for on-campus housing, and there are two types of residence halls available on the main campus. A dormitory application guide is provided by SNU to students who are offered acceptance from SNU. While all exchange students can apply, spaces are not guaranteed due to high demand.
Off-campus housing is available around the campus, and some Queen Mary students who are unsuccessful in receiving on-campus housing do live off-campus, finding houseshares, etc. The SNU OIA can assist students in searching for housing, yet it is a student's own responsibility to find accommodation outside the campus and to obtain and maintain the off-campus housing contract.
Seoul National University provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Seoul here.
Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
SNU Center for Students with Disabilities, located in the campus centre, 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. More information on accessibility can be found on Seoul National University's page for students with disabilities.
With a student ID card, exchange/visiting students can take advantage of access to on-campus facilities and get a discount at designated cafeterias.
The SNU Buddy was established in 2005 to help international exchange and visiting students settle in SNU and to build a real friendship and network. Sign-up notice will be e-mailed to all incoming exchange/visiting students before the semester starts.
There are a number of student activities and sports clubs at SNU, including musical bands, choir, orchestra, dance, painting, photography, student newspaper, traditional Korean music, travel clubs and SNU International Students Association (SISA). Sports clubs ranging from fencing, golf, basketball, rugby, scuba-diving, snowboard, ski, horse riding, baseball, yacht, judo, kendo, soccer, taekwondo, tennis, etc
Seoul National University:
Seoul Survivor Brochure - SNU [PDF 10,389KB]