Western Philosophy

Program Description: The Department of Philosophy at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive undergraduate program focusing on Western Philosophy, designed to cultivate deep critical thinking, analytical skills, and a profound understanding of the historical and contemporary issues within the Western philosophical tradition. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, mind, and language through the study of influential philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche, and contemporaries. Emphasizing both historical context and analytical rigor, the program encourages students to engage with philosophical texts deeply and to develop their own philosophical perspectives. Students will gain proficiency in logical reasoning, argumentative skills, and scholarly research methods essential for academic pursuits, teaching professions, or careers in philosophy-related fields. The program combines traditional philosophical inquiry with interdisciplinary approaches, fostering a broad intellectual outlook and critical analysis of modern societal and cultural issues through the lens of Western philosophical thought. The faculty members are distinguished scholars committed to undergraduate education and research excellence, guiding students through seminars, lectures, and independent projects. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to pursue advanced studies in philosophy or related disciplines, or to apply their philosophical training in governmental, corporate, or non-profit sectors where analytical and ethical reasoning are valued. The program emphasizes the development of independent thinking, precise communication skills, and a lifelong interest in philosophical inquiry, preparing students to contribute thoughtfully to academic discourse and societal debates.

• Seminar in Oriental Philosophical Methodology
• Seminar in Asian Philosophy
• Studies in Asian Philosophy
• Studies in Buddhist Philosophy Methodology
• Studies in Buddhist Philosophy
• Seminar in Modern Korean Philosophy
• Seminar in Classics of Pre - Qin China
• Studies in Neo - Confucian Philosophy
• Seminar in Confucian Philosophy
• Studies in Classics of Pre - Qin China
• Seminar in Taoist Philosophy
• Seminar in Neo - Confucian Philosophy
• Studies in Confucian Philosophy
• Studies in Indian Philosophy
• Seminar in Indian Buddhist Philosophy
• Seminar in Modern Chinese Philosophy
• Seminar in Korean Neo - Confucian Philosophy
• Seminar in East Asian Buddhist Phlosophy
• Seminar in Korean Buddhist Philosophy
• Reading and Research

1. Online
   application
2. 
   proof
   of
   Korean
   
   proficiency
   is
   required;
   
   
   
   
   1)
   Korean
   Proficiency:
   TOPIK
   level
   3
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   
   2)
   Other
   official
   documents
   indicating
   proof
   of
   language
   proficiency (ie.
   SNU
   Korean
   Language
   Center
   Level
   4
   or
   higher)
3. Personal
   Statement
   and
   Study
   Plan
4. Letter
   of
   Recommendation
5. Counselor
   Reference
   
6. Official
   High
   School
   Transcript
   and
   Graduation
   Certificate
7. A
   Copy
   of
   the
   Applicant’s
   Passport
8. Certificate
   of
   Facts
   concerning
   the
   Entry
   and
   Exit
9. Portfolio,
   Records
   of
   Achievement,
   etc.
10. Agreement
    for
    Verification
    of
    Academic
    Record

If you wish to apply for the scholarship program, please fill out the scholarship application form every semester. Application period:

• During November(1st semester)
• During May(2nd semester)

International Student Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.0 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partial or fully funded)
• Eligibility: International student in the government-funded (government-invited) scholarship, international student

  (self-funded), Korean student living overseas and studying in Korea (undergraduate and graduate course)

Lecture/Research Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.3 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester; excluding new students)
• Eligibility: Graduate student recommended by the advising professor; an annual income of less than KRW 12 million
• Working condition: 10 or more hours a week (40 hours/month)
• Responsibility: Assist the lectures by the professor, general electives and research; help students with their course; manage assignments; manage laboratory; fulfill administrative duties for the undergraduate course, etc.
• Funding: Current student: Fully funded tuition and fees and monthly scholarship;

  Research student: Monthly scholarship

• Termination: If on leave of absence, disciplinary action or determined to be unqualified for other reasons

Core TA Scholarship

• Eligibility: Returning graduate student and research student
• Funding: Type A – Tuition (partially funded) and monthly research aid / Type B  – Half of the monthly research aid
• Duration: 1st semester : March – August (6 months) /

  2nd semester: September – February of the following year (6 months)

• Responsibility: Attend the assigned lecture; supervise discussion; check assignments; focus on Laboratory

  sessions/Experiment/Practice courses; assist practice, etc.

SNU Foundation Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.3 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partially or fully funded)
• Feature: Scholarship funded by some 200 funds created by Seoul National University Foundation

The following is the scholarship programs offered for graduate applicants. Students may apply for the programs before or during the admission application period. The annual announcement will be posted on this websitehttp://en.snu.ac.kr/apply/info.

Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS)

Eligibility

• Asian students, excluding Japanese and Chinese nationals, who wish to study one of the designated graduate programs
  * The programs eligible for this scholarship are subject to change, and different by applicants’ nationalities. The eligible programs list is announced every semester.

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 20

Subsidies

• Tuition fee: full tuition exemption for a maximum of 4 semesters
• Living expenses: 500,000 KRW per month (different according to recipients’ majors)

Application Period

• During admission period for international students every semester

Selection Procedure

• Applicants who submit admission application to SNU’s Office of Admissions ⇒ applicants submit scholarship application to SNU’s Office of International Affairs ⇒ Selection made by respective Colleges/Schools based on the admission documents ⇒ decision noticed

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Silk-Road Scholarship

Eligibility

• Applicants from the countries in the ‘Silk-Road’ area who want to study humanities or social sciences, including Korean language, history, culture, politics, and economics

Number of Recipients

• About 5 new graduate students

Subsidies

• Tuition fee: full tuition fee exemption for a maximum of 4 semesters
• Living expenses: maximum of 600,000 KRW per month for 4 semesters
• Airfare: maximum of 1 million KRW for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute

Application Period

• During admission period for international students every Fall semester

Selection Procedure

• Applicants who submit admission application to SNU’s Office of Admissions ⇒ applicants submit scholarship application to SNU’s Office of International Affairs ⇒ Selection made by respective Colleges/Schools based on the admission documents ⇒ decision noticed

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

Eligibility

• Overseas Korean students who wish to take graduate degrees at SNU

Subsidies

• Full tuition exemption
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month for 4 semesters
• Insurance fees: approximately 30,000 per month
• Settlement expenses aid upon initial arrival: 500,000 KRW (one-time payment)
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Language training expenses: for 2 semesters

Application Period

• March and September

Selection Procedure

• Applicants submit applications to Korean embassies in their countries ⇒ the embassies make the first selection ⇒ the Overseas Koreans Foundation make the second selection

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

Eligibility

• International students applying for SNU’s graduate programs

Number of Recipients

• 325

Subsidies

• Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 4 semesters for master’s program and 6 semesters for Ph. D program
• Living expenses: 900,000 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: for one year
  * Korean language training is mandatory and when the student does not achieve TOPIK grade 3 within a year, she/he is not eligible to enter the degree program
• Others: medical insurance, research fund, thesis printing fees, settlement and returning expenses

Application Period

• February

Selection Procedure

※ Applicants choose one of the following application methods.

• University Recommendation Program: applicants submit applications to SNU’s Office of Admission ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the selection
• Embassy Recommendation Program: applications submit applications to Korean Embassies in their countries ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the selection

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-6971, sck590@snu.ac.kr

The Department of Philosophy at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive program focused on Western Philosophy, aiming to cultivate students' critical thinking, analytical skills, and understanding of philosophical traditions rooted in Western intellectual history. The program is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in the classical and modern philosophical thought that has shaped Western civilization. It encompasses a wide range of areas within philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, logic, and the history of philosophy.

Students learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, and independent research with faculty members who are experts in various philosophical disciplines. The curriculum covers foundational texts from ancient Greece to contemporary philosophy, allowing students to explore the evolution of philosophical ideas and debates. Emphasis is placed on developing skills in critical reading, philosophical argumentation, and written and oral expression. The program encourages students to engage with both historical and contemporary philosophical issues, fostering a nuanced understanding of the philosophical methods and perspectives that have influenced Western thought.

The university supports students in pursuing research projects, participating in academic conferences, and contributing to philosophical debates. Graduates of the program often go on to careers in academia, education, public policy, law, and other fields requiring critical reasoning and analytical skills. The department aims to prepare students not only for advanced philosophical study but also for engaging thoughtfully with societal issues from a philosophical perspective. The program is characterized by its rigorous academic standards, vibrant intellectual community, and commitment to fostering philosophical inquiry that bridges historical traditions with contemporary relevance. It provides a strong foundation for students interested in exploring the enduring questions about existence, knowledge, morality, and human nature through the lens of Western Philosophy.