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Seoul National University

#31 QS World Ranking#151 THE RankingSouth KoreaPublic
  • QS ranking#31
  • Acceptance rate≈25%
  • Typical GPATop 0.1% of CSAT scores
  • Tuition / year≈$7,500

Overview

About Seoul National University

Korea's most prestigious institution ('Seoul National' = pinnacle of Korean education); CSAT (수능) scores determine entry; massive prestige for Korean employers; government/chaebol pipeline

  • International environmentLimited international UG; ~5% intl; GSIS (Graduate School of International Studies) in English
  • Teaching styleLecture-heavy; exam-intensive; hierarchical Korean academic culture

Academics

Subjects and fit

Strongest subjects

  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Business (SNU Business School)
  • Engineering
  • Sciences
  • Humanities

Best for

  • Korean career-focused students
  • KGSP holders
  • Korean studies academics

Getting in

Admission requirements

  • GPA: Top 0.1% of CSAT scores (domestic); intl: GPA 3.7+
  • TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.0+
  • CSAT (수능) for domestic; international: TOEFL/IELTS + GPA; GSIS: TOEFL 88+
  • Difficulty: Extremely Competitive (domestic); Competitive (intl)
  • Acceptance rate: ~25% domestic; intl: separate quota
  • Deadline: UG: Nov (CSAT-based) | GSIS: Mar/Sep | Graduate: various

On campus

Campus and location

On-campus dormitory available; Seoul housing expensive; priority for distance students

Money

Costs and scholarships

  • Tuition (USD)5,000,000 KRW/sem ≈ ~$7,500/yr (UG); Graduate similar
  • Living cost (USD)9,000–14,000 USD
  • ScholarshipsKorean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP, full-ride for intl); KOICA Scholarship

  • SNU President Fellowship Program (SPF) at Seoul National University 2026 (Fully Funded)

    regional

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Tiến sĩ, mọi quốc tịch.

    South KoreaThe great news is that there is no specific deadline to apply for SNU President Fellowship Program (SPF)! While there is no fixed deadline to apply, you do need to apply for Ph.D. admissions at Seoul National University . Ph.D. admissions timelines can differ by department or project—please check your department’s page for specifics.
    Official link

  • Silk-Road Scholarship at Seoul National University 2026 (Full Tuition)

    meritneed

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Thạc sĩ và Tiến sĩ, công dân các quốc gia thuộc danh sách quy định (22 quốc gia, gồm Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cote dIvoire, Egypt, ...).

    South Korea5 Mar 2026
    Official link

  • Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS) at Seoul National University 2026 (Full Tuition)

    meritneed

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Thạc sĩ và Tiến sĩ, mọi quốc tịch.

    South Korea5 Mar 2026
See all scholarships

After graduation

Careers and outcomes

  • Industry connectionsSamsung, LG, Hyundai, POSCO, Korean government, McKinsey Korea, Goldman Sachs Korea
  • InternshipsInternships via SNU Career Development; chaebol recruitment pipeline
  • EmployabilityTop Korean employer pipeline; Samsung/LG actively recruit SNU grads; government ministry feeder

The honest view

Why students choose Seoul National University

  • Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP, full-ride for intl); KOICA Scholarship
  • Employability: Top Korean employer pipeline; Samsung/LG actively recruit SNU grads; government ministry feeder

Worth knowing

Korean language essential for career; intense academic pressure (hierarchy); limited English UG

GlowBal's insider note

VERIFIED: KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program) is one of Asia's best full-scholarship programs. INSIGHT: SNU is the most prestigious brand for Korean chaebols and government almost a prerequisite for top positions.

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