# Seoul National University
**Source**: https://employability.uq.edu.au/host/seoul-national-university
**Parent**: https://employability.uq.edu.au/exchange-funding
- [Overview](#qt-uq_university_profile_tabs-foundation-tabs-1)
- [Academic matters](#qt-uq_university_profile_tabs-foundation-tabs-2)
- [Accommodation and costs](#qt-uq_university_profile_tabs-foundation-tabs-3)
- [Visa and travel](#qt-uq_university_profile_tabs-foundation-tabs-4)
Seoul
Republic of South Korea
[Seoul National University exchange website](https://oia.snu.ac.kr/exchange-program)
## Language of instruction
Korean
English
As South Korea's first national university, Seoul National University has a tradition of standing up for democracy and peace on the Korean peninsula. SNU is currently ranked within the Top 100 universities worldwide. Graduates have long served as public servants in key positions of the Korean government.
SNU offers its students outstanding cultural and recreational opportunities with a wide variety of additional entertainment options available in the city of Seoul. Gwanak Campus, the main campus of the university, covers a vast area at the foot of the magnificent Gwanak Mountain – one of eight mountains surrounding Seoul.
## Semester dates
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **UQ Semester** | **Host Semester** | **Dates** |
| Semester 1 | Spring Semester | March–June |
| Semester 2 | Fall Semester | September–December |
View the [SNU academic calendar](http://en.snu.ac.kr/academic-calendar).
## Guides and additional information
SNU has online resources to help get more from your exchange:
- [Information sheet](https://employability.uq.edu.au/files/171732/Seoul%20National%20Fact%20Sheet_Fall%202021.pdf)
- [College of Business Administration fact sheet](https://employability.uq.edu.au/files/110895/Seoul%20National%20College%20of%20Business%20Administration%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)
- [Life at SNU](https://oia.snu.ac.kr/page/snugle_student.php) (includes information about housing)
### Exchange deadlines
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:**\
**Open:** 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:**\
**Open:** 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Last Chance Apps Close:** 31 January 2026 for Sem 2, 2026 exchange
[Go back to search](https://employability.uq.edu.au/student-exchange/find-host)
[How to apply](https://employability.uq.edu.au/get-edge/global-experiences/semester-based-exchange/applying-exchange)
[Book your Global Experiences Appointment](https://studenthub.uq.edu.au/students/appointments/app/topic/207?siteId=1)
[Report any problems with this web page](https://www.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=451450&s=172237&a=59633&k=f535bc3)
## Student testimonials
- [Jennifer - Seoul National University](https://employability.uq.edu.au/story/20480/jennifer-seoul-national-university)
> I got to learn from experts with vast international experience, opening my eyes to global issues and perspectives.
- [Gessica - Seoul National University](https://employability.uq.edu.au/story/12911/gessica-seoul-national-university)
B Arts
Semester 1, 2019
- [Kwan Pok - Seoul National University](https://employability.uq.edu.au/story/11944/kwan-pok-seoul-national-university)
B Arts
Semester 1, 2019
> These 4 months have changed my life about my goal and direction.
## Full-time study load
**Undergraduate**: 15 credits per semester at SNU is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
**Postgraduate**: 12 credits per semester at SNU is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
## Host university requirements
**GPA**
- **General undergraduate students** will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 to study at SNU.
- **SNU College of Business Administration** requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.25.
- **Postgraduate students** will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.25.
**Language**\
Students wishing to take courses taught in Korean will require a TOPIK level 5 or above.
**Study Options**\
You must choose a specific SNU [college/department](https://en.snu.ac.kr/academics/programs/undergraduate) and take the majority of courses within the chosen college/department. Cross-college/department study is allowed but not recommended, as some courses have enrolment restrictions as outlined below.
Law at SNU: Please read the Academic Restrictions section below regarding undergraduate Law exchange at SNU.
**Other Requirements**
- **Department of** **Korean History / Psychology / Statistics:** Students who apply for these departments must provide proof of their Korean language ability. A satisfactory level of Korean language ability should be either [Level 5 or above of the official Korean Language Proficient Test](https://www.topikguide.com/topik-overview/) or Level 5 or above of the Korean Test conducted at the SNU Language Institute.
Note: Host university eligibility criteria are at the discretion of the host and may change without notice.
## Find courses
Search the [SNU course catalogue](https://en.snu.ac.kr/academics/programs/undergraduate) and search courses with the mortarboard icon which are English-taught courses.
SNU has about 15% of courses are taught in English. Please read the instruction on [How to search SNU courses](https://employability.uq.edu.au/files/171737/Seoul%20National%20Course%20Search%20Instruction_Updated%20Oct%202020.pdf).
Crosscheck the courses you found in the host course catalogue with the [Credit Precedent Database](http://creditprecedents.app.uq.edu.au/) to see if UQ credit has previously been granted. The database should be used as a general guide only. Few courses from each host will be in the database and many course precedents in the database may have expired. Note, the credit precedent database does not replace the host course catalogue. If a course is not listed in the CPD, you can still ask for it to be assessed on your study plan.
## Study areas taught in English
Undergraduate
Aerospace engineering
Art history
Biological sciences
Biomedical engineering
Business administration
Business information systems
Chemical engineering
Chemistry and biochemistry
Civil engineering
Communication, digital media and PR
Computer engineering
Computer science
Earth and Geographical Sciences
Economics
Electrical engineering
English literature
Environmental engineering
Film, TV and media
International business
International relations
Korean
Law
Leadership and Management
Linguistics
Marketing
Mathematics and statistics
Mechanical engineering
Mechatronic engineering
Music
Nutrition science
Peace and conflict studies
Physics
Psychology
Software engineering
Postgraduate
Business administration
Chemistry and biochemistry
Environmental studies
Religion
## Academic restrictions
**Study Load Restrictions**
Students are unable to enrol in a full-time study load in the following disciplines, however, enrolment in one or two courses may be possible:
- Business Administration / Business Information Systems / International Business / Marketing / Economics
- Aerospace Engineering / Biomedical Engineering / Civil Engineering / Environmental Engineering / Mechatronic Engineering / Software Engineering
- Nutrition Science
- Psychology
- Art History / Communications / English Literature / Film, TV & Media / International Relations / Peace and Conflict Studies / Philosophy / Studies of Religion
- Linguistics
- Computer Science / Biological Sciences / Earth Sciences / Environmental Studies / Maths and Statistics / Physics
**Course Restrictions**
- **Business**: courses offered by SNU College of Business Administration (CBA) are restricted to students who are currently studying Business / Commerce or Economics at UQ. When applying, students need to submit a Statement of Purpose (essay) and an Academic Recommendation Letter to support their applications. Applying for exchange in their Spring semester (UQ Semester 1) is recommended, however, due to the lack of course capacity to exchange students recently, we don't recommend students to apply for the CBA.
- **Law**: Courses from the College of Law are not available to undergraduate students. Instead, the School of Law (a specialized law school for graduate-level students) is open to undergraduate level students, and those students will be enrolled as graduate (Master's) level students at SNU Law School during their study.
- **Computer Science/Engineering:** The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (SCE), under the College of Engineering, requires students to complete at least 15 credits (equivalent to #8 UQ units) in CSE-related courses when applying. Students applying for the SCE have to be flexible with their courses, as most courses have capacity/placement restrictions.
- **Music:** The Department of Vocal Music is restricted to students who are currently studying vocal music at UQ, and for students who wish to study Music at SNU, please be aware the program/course availability may be limited.
**Disciplines/Faculties Restrictions**\
Courses in the following departments are not available to exchange students:
- College of Medicine
- Graduate School of Business MBA program
- School of Dentistry
- College of Law
- College of Business Administration: [CBA requisite courses](https://employability.uq.edu.au/files/55109/Seoul%20National%20CBA%20Restricted%20Business%20Courses%202016.xls) are not available to exchange students.
## Additional academic information
**Korean Language Courses**
SNU [Language Education Institute (LEI)](https://lei.snu.ac.kr/mobile/en/klec/main/main.jsp) has a 10-week [Korean Language & Culture Program](https://lei.snu.ac.kr/mobile/en/klec/regular/regular.jsp) available to exchange students at an additional cost:
- For Spring and Fall semesters only (not Summer or Winter).
- One session is equivalent to a 6-credit unit course.
- Exchange students must apply separately to LEI for the program.
- The application fee is waived.
- 50% tuition subsidised (students pay upfront and are reimbursed by SNU's Office of International Affairs).
- A limited number of full-tuition scholarships are available to students majoring in Korean.
- LEI will issue a transcript separate from SNU.
**Course Numbering**\
SNU course level can be identified on the course catalogue webpage, under the "Ac. Yr." column.
### Exchange deadlines
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:**\
**Open:** 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:**\
**Open:** 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Last Chance Apps Close:** 31 January 2026 for Sem 2, 2026 exchange
[Go back to search](https://employability.uq.edu.au/student-exchange/find-host)
[How to apply](https://employability.uq.edu.au/get-edge/global-experiences/semester-based-exchange/applying-exchange)
[Book your Global Experiences Appointment](https://studenthub.uq.edu.au/students/appointments/app/topic/207?siteId=1)
[Report any problems with this web page](https://www.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=451450&s=172237&a=59633&k=f535bc3)
## Accommodation
Exchange students at SNU can apply for accommodation in [on-campus residence halls](http://oia.snu.ac.kr/page/c_housing.php), but places cannot be guaranteed. The Office of Internation Affairs provides SNU student accommodation information and tips for finding private accommodation.
## Cost of living
Guides are available to help you understand the [cost of living while studying at SNU](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Seoul) and prepare a budget for your exchange.
## Financial support
[A range of funding](https://employability.uq.edu.au/financial-support) for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.
**Host University Scholarships**\
Exchange students at SNU may be nominated by their home university for the [Global Korea Scholarship for Exchange Students](https://oia.snu.ac.kr/global-korea-scholarship-gks). The SNU Office of International Affairs has information on the application and selection process for available scholarships.
**Hyun Family Korea Scholarship**\
Enables undergraduate students studying Korean who have an interest in journalism, media and/or communications to participate in semester-long exchange programs in South Korea. Read the [Hyun Family Korea Scholarship](https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/hyun-family-korea-scholarship) page for full details including the eligibility criteria.
## Insurance
Students approved to participate in a Semester-based Exchange are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.
For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on [UQ’s Travel Insurance web page](https://governance-risk.uq.edu.au/functions-and-services/insurance/policies-and-certificates-currency/travel-insurance) (login required).
If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.
All international students are required to have an [adequate health insurance plan](http://oia.snu.ac.kr/page/c_health_insurance.php) for the entirety of their stay in Korea.
### Exchange deadlines
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:**\
**Open:** 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:**\
**Open:** 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Last Chance Apps Close:** 31 January 2026 for Sem 2, 2026 exchange
[Go back to search](https://employability.uq.edu.au/student-exchange/find-host)
[How to apply](https://employability.uq.edu.au/get-edge/global-experiences/semester-based-exchange/applying-exchange)
[Book your Global Experiences Appointment](https://studenthub.uq.edu.au/students/appointments/app/topic/207?siteId=1)
[Report any problems with this web page](https://www.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=451450&s=172237&a=59633&k=f535bc3)
## Organise your visa
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.
SNU provides [visa and immigration information](http://oia.snu.ac.kr/page/c_immigration.php) for incoming exchange students.
Contact the [Korean Embassy](http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/au-en/index.do) for more visa information.
## Travel risk levels
The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with [a risk level of 3](http://smartraveller.gov.au/resources/pages/travel-advice-explained.aspx) (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.
If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, experiences to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.
Find out the risk level and travel advice, and sign up to receive updates for your host country on the [Smartraveller website](http://smartraveller.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx).
### Exchange deadlines
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:**\
**Open:** 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)
**Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:**\
**Open:** 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Close:** 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)\
**Last Chance Apps Close:** 31 January 2026 for Sem 2, 2026 exchange
[Go back to search](https://employability.uq.edu.au/student-exchange/find-host)
[How to apply](https://employability.uq.edu.au/get-edge/global-experiences/semester-based-exchange/applying-exchange)
[Book your Global Experiences Appointment](https://studenthub.uq.edu.au/students/appointments/app/topic/207?siteId=1)
[Report any problems with this web page](https://www.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=451450&s=172237&a=59633&k=f535bc3)