#36 Seoul National University (SNU/Seouldae)
Basic Infomation:
World Position: No. 36
Nature of University: Public
Research Findings: Very High
Number of students: 26,646
Number of Teachers: 3,859
Number of international students: 1,914
Overview:
Seoul National University (Also know as SNU or Seouldae) is a national research university located in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the flagship Korean national universities.. Seoul National University is a member of the Pacific Rim University Alliance, the Asian University Alliance, the East Asian Four University Forum, and the East Asian Research University Association.
Seoul National University was established in 1946 and is considered the most prestigious university in the country. Enjoy a prestige unlike any other Korean university. It went through a turbulent period in the middle of the 20th century, becoming one of the imperial universities of Japan during the occupation of Korea, and being taken over by North Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s.
In the 1940s, the Imperial University of Kyungsong was abolished in accordance with the U.S. Military Order No. 102 of the U.S. Military Government in Korea. Later, the government of the Republic of Korea merged the remaining properties with nine colleges and professional schools, and in accordance with the Seoul National University Act promulgated by the National Assembly, the merged institution was renamed Seoul National University.
Seoul National University has signed a memorandum of understanding with more than 700 academic institutions in 40 countries, the World Bank, and general academic exchange programs with the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, the university is part of the St. Louis Macdonald International Scholars College of Washington University. The Graduate School of Business offers dual master degrees with Duke University, ESSEC Business School, Hitotsubashi University and Yale School of Management, and conducts MBA, master and doctoral exchange programs with universities in ten countries on four continents. In addition, the Graduate School of International Studies and the Graduate School of Public Policy of the University of Tokyo, the ESSEC Business School, the KU Leuven School of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities of the University of Tubingen, and the School of International Relations of Peking University offer dual master’s degrees. Master's and doctoral candidates offer exchange programs. After the government authorized the globalization of Korean universities, the number of international faculty members at the university reached a peak of 242 in 2010, accounting for 4% of the total, but then declined.
The university has three campuses: Gwanak’s main campus is located in the south of Seoul, the medical campus is located in the northeast of Seoul, and the other campus is located in Pyeongchang, the host city of the Winter Olympics, 126 kilometers away. The university is composed of sixteen colleges, one graduate school and nine professional colleges. The student body consists of nearly 17,000 undergraduates and 11,000 graduate students. According to data compiled by KEDI, the university’s per capita expenditure on students is higher than any other university in the country with at least 10,000 students.
The 16 faculties of the university offer 83 undergraduate degree programs, while the master’s and doctoral programs have a graduate school with 99 courses in five fields of study. A recent study found that Seoul National University spends more on students than any other large university in South Korea.
There are dormitory rooms on campus, most of which are double rooms with en suite bathrooms and facilities, as well as studio apartments. Students live, work, and socialize on campus, which has all the facilities needed for a healthy and happy student life. There are many cafeterias and snack bars on campus (although vegetarians may find Korean eating a challenge), as well as various clubs, societies and activities designed to enrich students’ social schedules and immerse foreign students in Korea Culture.
Sports activities, whether competitive or entertaining, can keep students in good physical and mental condition. Art and culture are also on the top of the campus activity list. Students can visit world-class art galleries and participate in concerts and anyone’s solo. Yes, from the top K-pop sensation at the time to classically trained musicians.
Seoul National University is now experiencing a happier time, with approximately 28,000 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. It has also established partnerships and exchange programs with more than 700 academic institutions in 40 countries, including general academic exchange programs with the University of Pennsylvania, and dual-degree programs with MIT Sloan School of Management and Yale School of Management.
Seoul National University ranked 4th in the 2013 and 2014 QS Asian University Rankings, and the 2019QS Asian University ranked 10th. Seoul National University is also ranked 36th in the 2022QS World University Rankings, 60th in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 129th in the 2021 U.S. News World University Rankings [5], 2020 Academic Ranking of World University Rankings (ARWU) No. 100-150.
About Undergraduate:
SNU’s 15 Colleges offer various undergraduate degree programs. Those who want to study in ‘interdisciplinary programs for undergraduates’ or ‘combined minor’ can apply for the programs after studying a few semesters in their Departments. (http://en.snu.ac.kr/undergraduate-programs)
College of Humanities
College of Social Sciences
College of Natural Sciences
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Business Administration
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Fine Arts
College of Liberal Studies
College of Human Ecology
College of Medicine
College of Music
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
College of Veterinary Medicine
Interdisciplinary Programs for Undergraduate
About Postgraduate:
SNU has one Graduate School with 99 programs from five different fields of studies. The interdisciplinary programs are the ones invented and operated by more than two different departments. Most of the majors below offer both master’s and doctoral programs. (http://en.snu.ac.kr/gradaute-school)
Humanities & Social Sciences
Natural Sciences
Medicine
Arts
Interdisciplinary Programs
SNU also has 9 Professional Graduate Schools as below. The School of Law, the Graduate School of International Studies, and the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology offer both master’s and doctoral programs, and the others have only master’s programs in the school. The doctoral programs of those majors can be offered from the Graduate School.
Graduate School of Public Health
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Graduate School of International Studies
School of Dentistry
Graduate School of Business
School of Law
School of Medicine
Graduate School of Convergence Science Technology
Graduate School of International Agriculture Technology
Graduate School of Engineering Practice
Graduate School of Data Science
