Seoul National University Scholarship

Seoul National University (SNU) offers a variety of scholarships designed to support both domestic and international students across different levels of study. These scholarships aim to alleviate the financial burdens of tuition and living expenses, enabling students to focus on their academic and research endeavors. The types of scholarships provided by SNU can be categorized into several main groups:

Scholarships for Undergraduate courses

• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 

The scholarship described is likely the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for Undergraduate Students, sponsored by the Korean Government. This prestigious scholarship program is designed to attract talented international students to South Korea for undergraduate studies and to promote international exchange in education and mutual friendship between countries.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Year of Study: The scholarship is targeted at students who are not in their first year of study. Only those in their second, third, or fourth year are eligible. This implies that the students must have completed at least one year of their higher education program and are continuing their studies.
• Academic Performance: A critical eligibility criterion is the academic performance of the applicant. Both the overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and the GPA from the most recent semester must be at least 80 out of a possible 100. This requirement highlights the scholarship's focus on supporting students who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement during their studies.

Benefits 

• Total Aid: The total amount provided by the scholarship is approximately 6 million KRW. This sum is intended to cover various expenses the student might encounter throughout their academic year, such as tuition fees, living expenses, books, and other educational materials.
• Monthly Stipend: The scholarship disburses 500,000 KRW per month. This monthly stipend approach allows students to manage their finances more consistently, helping to cover ongoing costs like rent, utilities, food, and transportation.

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Scholarships for Graduate courses

• SNU President Fellowship Program (SPF) 

The SNU President Fellowship (SPF) targets outstanding international faculty from developing countries, offering full tuition, a living stipend, airfare, Korean language courses, and health insurance reimbursement for up to six semesters at Seoul National University.

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Eligibility criteria for the SNU President Fellowship Program include:

• Being a faculty member without a Ph.D. from a recognized university in a developing country.
• Recent admission as a Ph.D. student at Seoul National University.

• Priority is granted to faculty members from major universities in developing regions such as Asia, Africa, and South America.
• The initiative is designed to enhance the academic and research skills of faculty from these areas, promoting global academic progress and cooperation.

Benefits:

The SNU President Fellowship offers significant support for Ph.D. students, including:

• Waiver of all tuition fees for up to six semesters.
• A monthly stipend ranging from 1.5 to 2 million KRW for three to four years.
• One economy class round-trip airfare.
• Evening Korean language courses during the semester.
• Reimbursement of National Health Insurance fees, ensuring comprehensive support for academic and living needs in Korea.

• Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students 

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The Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students is designed to support international students pursuing graduate studies. This scholarship typically covers tuition fees and may also provide a monthly stipend for living expenses, aiming to attract and support academically outstanding international students to contribute to a diverse and dynamic academic community. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Eligibility for the GSFS at SNU requires non-Korean applicants.
• Applicants must be enrolled in or have graduated from institutions in GSFS-eligible countries.
• Must apply to and be accepted into an SNU program.
• The chosen study program should be within the colleges or schools participating in the GSFS Program.

Benefits:

• The GSFS at SNU provides full tuition coverage for up to four semesters. 
• It offers a monthly living stipend starting at 500,000 KRW, which may vary based on the recipient's major. This financial support package is designed to alleviate the financial burden on international graduate students, allowing them to focus more on their academic pursuits.

• SNU Global Scholarship 

The SNU Global Scholarship is designed to support international students enrolled at SNU, covering various aspects of their academic journey in South Korea. This program aims to foster a diverse academic environment by providing financial assistance to outstanding international students, which may include tuition fees, living expenses, and other academic support.

Eligibility Criteria:

• International students accepted into a graduate program at Seoul National University.
• Demonstration of academic excellence.
• Priority for applicants from developing countries or with interests aligning with SNU's strategic goals.

Benefits:

• Subsidies cover tuition, living expenses, airfare, and housing.
• Subsidy amounts are tailored to individual circumstances.
• Language training support for Korean language proficiency.
• Additional academic support funding available.

• Silk-Road Scholarship 

The Silk-Road Scholarship is a program offered by SNU aimed at fostering international academic exchange and promoting mutual friendship between countries. It targets students from countries along the historic Silk Road and other parts of the world, offering support for graduate studies at SNU.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Eligibility for the Silk-Road Scholarship focuses on applicants from Silk-Road region countries interested in humanities or social sciences at Seoul National University. This includes studies related to Korean language, history, culture, politics, and economics, aiming to deepen understanding and exchange between these regions and Korea.

Benefits:

The Silk-Road Scholarship offers significant benefits, including, 

• A full tuition fee exemption for up to four semesters, 
• Living expenses up to 600,000 KRW per month for the same duration, 
• A one-time round-trip airfare up to 1 million KRW, and 
• Fee exemption for Korean language courses at the Language Education Institute. 

These benefits are designed to support students' academic and cultural immersion in Korea.

Exchange Student Program Scholarships 

• Global Korea Scholarship for Exchange Students 

The Global Korea Scholarship for Exchange Students is a program aimed at promoting international educational exchanges and deepening mutual friendship between Korea and participating countries. It supports international students coming to Korea for short-term study or exchange programs, covering expenses such as tuition, living costs, and sometimes including airfare. The program seeks to provide students with an opportunity to learn about Korean culture and education while enhancing global networks among future leaders.

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligibility for the Global Korea Scholarship for Exchange Students includes,

• Being an international student from a developing country,
• Enrolled at a foreign university with an exchange agreement with a Korean university. 
• Candidates must show academic excellence, language skills, and interest in Korean culture, aiming to enhance global understanding and networks.

Benefits:

The Global Korea Scholarship offers subsidies including a monthly living stipend, one round-trip airfare within the budget specific to each country, a one-time settlement aid of 200,000 KRW, and medical insurance coverage. This comprehensive support package is designed to ease the financial burden on exchange students, enabling them to focus on their academic and cultural exchange activities in Korea.

• ASEM-DUO Fellowship Program

The ASEM-DUO Fellowship Program is a unique educational exchange initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and cultural exchange between Asia and Europe. It provides financial support for pairs of exchanges between European and Asian higher education institutions, promoting academic partnerships and mutual understanding between the two regions.

Eligibility Criteria 

For eligibility in this unique program, your exchange initiative must meet these four criteria: 

• There must be an academic cooperation agreement between a Korean and a European institution; 
• a Korean student chosen by the Korean institution and accepted by the European partner; reciprocally, a European student from an ASEM country accepted for exchange by the Korean institution.

Benefits 

The DUO-Korea Fellowship funds are provided directly to recipients by the Secretariat, with flexibility in their use. Awardees may allocate the fellowship towards tuition, living expenses, or travel costs without any specified restrictions.

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Korean Language Course Scholarships 

• Teaching Assistant Scholarship 

A Teaching Assistant Scholarship is typically awarded to graduate students who assist professors with instructional duties, often in exchange for a waiver of tuition fees and a stipend for living expenses. This scholarship aims to support students' academic pursuits while providing valuable teaching experience and contributing to the educational institution's academic programs. 

Eligibility Criteria 

The eligibility criteria for a Teaching Assistant Scholarship at SNU typically include,

• being enrolled in a graduate program at the university. 
• Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence and the potential to contribute to teaching and learning within their department.

Benefits 

The stipend awarded from the Teaching Assistant Scholarship at SNU is directly deposited into the recipient's personal bank account. This method ensures a straightforward and secure transfer of funds, allowing recipients easy access to their scholarship benefits for personal and academic expenses.

Other Scholarships 

• Korean Government Scholarship Program

The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) is designed to offer international students the opportunity to pursue higher education in South Korea, aiming to promote international exchange and mutual understanding between countries. The scholarship is available for undergraduate and graduate studies, targeting talented students worldwide to study and experience Korean culture and education.

Eligibility Criteria for Graduate and Doctorate Programs 

For the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) aimed at SNU's graduate programs, international students must demonstrate excellent academic performance. They should hold a bachelor's or master's degree (depending on the program level they're applying for), have a good command of English or Korean, and meet specific criteria set by both KGSP and SNU. The program seeks candidates who can contribute to international understanding and have the potential to become leaders in their fields.

Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate Programs

International students aiming for a 4-year undergraduate degree at SNU are eligible to apply for this scholarship, except those interested in extended-duration programs like medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and architecture, who are not eligible.

Benefits for Graduate and Doctorate Programs 

The scholarship covers full tuition for 4 semesters in a Master's and 6 for a Ph.D. program, offers a monthly living stipend of 1,000,000 KRW, includes one round-trip airfare, and pays for one year of Korean language training. Achieving TOPIK grade 3 within this period is mandatory for progressing to the degree program. Additional benefits include medical insurance, research funding, thesis printing fees, and support for settlement and return expenses.

Benefits for Undergraduate Programs 

The scholarship offers full tuition for up to 8 semesters, a monthly stipend of 900,000 KRW, one round-trip airfare, and covers a year of Korean language training. Successful completion of TOPIK grade 3 within this period is required for degree program eligibility. Additional supports include medical insurance and costs for settling in and returning home.

• Korean War Memorial Foundation Scholarship 

The Korean War Memorial Foundation Scholarship is aimed at commemorating and honoring the sacrifices of those who served in the Korean War by supporting the educational pursuits of their descendants or students with a demonstrated interest in the Korean War. While specific details about the scholarship can vary, including eligibility criteria, award amounts, and application requirements, the overarching goal is to ensure that the legacy of veterans and the historical significance of the Korean War are remembered and appreciated by future generations.

Eligibility Criteria

• This scholarship is given to direct descendants of international veterans of the Korean War who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in Korea and have been endorsed by the Korean War Memorial Foundation.

Benefits

• The Korean War Memorial Foundation Scholarship offers significant financial support for direct descendants of international Korean War veterans studying in Korea. It includes a complete waiver of tuition fees, dormitory fees subsidized by SNU, and a monthly stipend for living expenses amounting to 500,000 KRW. This comprehensive subsidy package is designed to alleviate the financial burden on students, allowing them to focus on their academic and personal growth during their studies in Korea.

• Overseas Koreans Scholarship 

The Overseas Korean Scholarship is aimed at supporting Korean students living abroad in their pursuit of higher education in South Korea. The goal is to encourage young Koreans from overseas to connect with their heritage while obtaining a quality education, fostering a deeper understanding and relationship between Korea and its global community. 

Eligibility Criteria 

Overseas Korean students aiming for undergraduate and graduate degrees at SNU are supported through specific scholarships and programs. These initiatives are designed to attract Korean diaspora students to pursue advanced studies in various fields at Seoul National University, enabling them to contribute to academic research and fostering stronger connections with their heritage.

Benefits 

• This scholarship offers full tuition exemption for up to 4 semesters for graduate programs and up to 8 semesters for undergraduate programs, given certain conditions are met. 
• Recipients receive a monthly stipend of 900,000 KRW for up to 4 semesters for graduate programs and for up to 8 semesters for undergraduate programs,
• A round-trip airfare, and 
• A 6-month fee exemption for Korean language courses at the Language Education Institute. 
• Additionally, it includes a subscription to private medical insurance, enhancing the support for students during their studies in Korea.

• Glo-Harmony Scholarship

The Glo-Harmony Scholarship is designed to support international students from developing countries who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at SNU. It aims to promote global harmony and cultural exchange.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for the Glo-Harmony Scholarship is specifically designated for international students originating from developing countries listed in the DAC's ODA Recipients. This criteria aims to provide educational opportunities at SNU to those from economically challenged regions, fostering global harmony through education.

Benefits 

The subsidy period for the scholarship provided by the Samsung Dreams Scholarship Foundation extends up to 4 semesters for Master's students and 6 semesters for Ph.D. students. The specific amount of financial support each student receives is determined by the foundation itself, taking into account various factors to ensure the support is aligned with the students' needs and the foundation's objectives.

The subsidy offers a maximum of 8 semesters of support, including full tuition exemption and a monthly living stipend of 600,000 KRW for undergraduate programs. This comprehensive financial aid aims to alleviate the financial burden on students, enabling them to focus on their academic pursuits.

Conclusion

SNU provides diverse scholarships for domestic and international students, aimed at reducing financial barriers and enabling a focus on academics and research. These scholarships cover undergraduate and graduate studies, exchange programs, Korean language learning, among others, fostering global exchange and cultural insight.

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