What is the academic profile?
Seoul National University (SNU) is Korea’s top-ranked university and is considered the premier academic institution in the country. Academic admissions to SNU are
extremely competitive and the students and professors are considered the brightest in the country. You will join the ranks of the most educated members of Korean society and can expect challenging coursework with a different geographic and pedagogic focus.
Does their course portfolio include other courses than IAKH's?
The course portfolio focuses on East Asian culture within a world system. Students should be prepared to learn about origins and development of Asian civilisations including colonial and post-colonial political formations, particularly in the Pacific Ocean region. Students will be required to take a Korean language course, which offers a window into the culture in a friendly atmosphere.
Do they have a larger offer in a particular area than we have at UiO?
SNU’s academic focus in the Humanities is primarily oriented toward Asian issues, including diaspora and Korea’s role in the world. Students will learn much about Asian archaeology and currently the English-oriented staff are interested in the origins of agriculture through plant remains.
What is special and distinctive about this university?
SNU holds a special place in Korean society as it is considered the most important academic institution. SNU is a leader among the Asia-Pacific universities in innovation, particularly in the fields of Medicine, Material Sciences and Engineering. The Humanities are traditionally considered the most respected disciplines in the university and the scholars are internationally renowned thinkers in their fields. Within the Humanities, the Linguistics department is the most internationally focused with specialized offerings from Asian Languages and Civilizations and the Department of Archaeology and Art History.
How is the learning environment?
The university is well funded, and the facilities are state of the art. The library was renovated in 2015 and has large holdings of Korean and international works. Professors are obliged to hold office hours in which students are encouraged to visit them and ask questions pertaining to course material they did not grasp at first. English language courses tend to be taught by non-Korean professors and the university has invested a lot in recruiting talent from abroad. The learning environment is at the highest standard as Korea is legendary for taking academic work seriously.
What characterizes the student environment?
Students have opportunities to network with each other, both as international students, but also they are paired with Korean students at the beginning of the school year for purposes of orientation. There are many student festivals on campus, particularly in the autumn semester, which include sports, dancing, singing and games. Students are generally quiet and reserved, but nighttime social activities in the area surrounding SNU have a festive, party-like vibe. There is a lot of academic freedom in Korea and students are encouraged to think freely and openly about subject materials. The new international student dormitory (completed in 2018) has comfortable accommodations, restaurants and study areas and is located on the edge of a patch of forest within 10 minutes’ walk to the heart of campus.
What is nice about the town/city at large?
Inhabited by over 10 million people, Seoul is a vibrant city in eastern Asia, legendary for its music and food scenes. Koreans are famously hospitable to visitors and you will be immersed in one of the world’s oldest living cultures. Teaming with street markets, palaces from the Joseon Dynasty, Buddhist temples among winding streets, Seoul is a city that never sleeps but is quite accessible for visitors without knowledge of Korean. Public transportation is among the best and most affordable in the world and the country of Korea is linked by a bullet train network, making travel around the country easy. SNU is located in the heart of Gwanak-gu, situated on the south bank of the Han River nestled in lush mountains with numerous hiking trails. With hundreds of cherry trees and spectacular landscaping, it is an island oasis in the middle of the bustling urban core. Outdoor music concerts and street food vendors are common both on and off campus, making the living environment vibrant.
HFs utvekslingsavtale med Seoul National University