Linguistics

The Department of Linguistics at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive undergraduate program designed to equip students with a deep understanding of human language and communication. This program covers a wide range of linguistic disciplines, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, enabling students to analyze language structures and functions from various perspectives. Students will explore the cognitive, social, and cultural aspects of language, gaining insights into how language shapes human experience and society. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications, such as language acquisition, computational linguistics, and language teaching methodologies.

Throughout the program, students have the opportunity to engage in advanced research projects, attend seminars led by leading linguists, and participate in collaborative learning experiences. The department fosters an environment that encourages critical thinking, analytical skills, and innovative research. Additionally, students can specialize in areas like Korean linguistics, English linguistics, psycholinguistics, or computational linguistics, tailoring their academic journey to their interests and career goals.

The program prepares graduates for diverse career paths, including academia, language education, translation and interpretation, natural language processing, and further graduate studies. Seoul National University’s strong connections with research institutions and industry partners provide students with valuable internship and networking opportunities. With a faculty comprised of distinguished scholars and researchers, the Department of Linguistics at Seoul National University is dedicated to advancing the scientific study of language and fostering global perspectives on linguistic issues. This rigorous and versatile program aims to produce well-rounded linguists capable of contributing to both academic inquiry and practical applications in the dynamic field of language sciences.

Students who major in linguistics must take the following four courses:
Required courses: Phonetics, Historical linguistics, Syntax, Computational linguistics.
These courses are selected from each of the four research tracks of the department, i.e., phonetics/phonology, syntax/semantics, historical linguistics, computational linguistics. In order to obtain a BA in linguistics, the students must take at least nine other three credit courses among those offered in the linguistics department as shown below.

• Language and Linguistics
• Language and Computer
• Introduction to Phonetics
• Languages of the World
• Phonology
• Manchu
• History of Linguistics
• Morphology
• Semantics
• Historical Comparative Linguistics
• Syntax
• Sociolinguistics
• Linguisic Survey and Analysis
• Psycholinguistics
• Topics in Individual Languages
• Altaic Linguistics
• Indo-European Linguistics
• Computational Linguistics
• Seminar in Linguistics 1
• Applied Phonetics
• Structure of Japanese Language
• Language and Information Processing

For the admission of foreign students, regular or visiting, the linguistics department follows the general requirements of SNU

1. Online
   application
2. Either
   proof
   of
   Korean
   or
   English
   proficiency
   is
   required;
   
   
   
   
   1)
   Korean
   Proficiency:
   TOPIK
   level
   3
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   
   2)
   English
   Proficiency:
   TOEFL
   (PBT
   550,
   CBT
   213,
   iBT
   80),
   TEPS
   551, IELTS
   5.5
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   3)
   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)

New  Student (Merit scholarship)

• Funding: Fully funded or partially funded (admission fee + tuition 10%)
• Eligibility: New undergraduate student (Full fund – 2 by college (excluding science and engineering);

Partial fund – selected within the 30% of the registered students)

Current Student (Merit scholarship)

• GPA requirement: Completed more than one semester; 3.6 GPA or higher (average of all semesters)
• Funding: Fully funded
• Eligibility: Undergraduate student (selected from the allotted pool)

International Student Scholarship:

• GPA requirement: 2.4 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)

SNU Foundation Scholarship:

• GPA requirement: 2.7 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partial or fully funded)
• Feature: Scholarship funded by some 200 funds created by Seoul National University Foundation

The following is the scholarship programs offered for undergraduate applicants. Students may apply for the programs before or during the admission application period. Applicants may find program details via this website http://en.snu.ac.kr/apply/info or supporting organizations.

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

Eligibility

• International applicants who wish to apply for 4-year undergraduate programs of SNU.
• * Those who wish to study in the programs longer than 4 years – such as medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and architecture – cannot apply for this scholarship.

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 20~40 every year

Subsidies

• Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 8 semesters
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: 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, settlement and returning expenses

Application Period

• September

Selection Procedure

• Applicants submit applications for this program to Korean embassies in their countries ⇒ the embassies make the first selection ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the final selection

Contact

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

Reference

• NIIED: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr (English version) ⇒ GKS ⇒ Introduction to the projects ⇒ Korean Government Scholarship Program
• 2016 KGSP Guideline Download

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

Eligibility

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

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 5 students

Subsidies

• Full tuition exemption for a maximum of 8 semesters
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute for 8 months
• Medical insurance fees

Application Period

• March

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

Contacts

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr
• Overseas Koreans Foundation: 82-2-3415-0174, ljh@okf.or.kr
  * The latest announcement on this scholarship can be found only via the foundation’s website.

Reference

• Overseas Koreans Foundation: http://scholarship.korean.net (Korean)

Seoul National University offers an undergraduate program in Linguistics designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of language structures, functions, and use. The program aims to develop students' analytical skills, linguistic competence, and research abilities through a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical linguistics with practical applications. Students are introduced to core areas such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, enabling them to understand and analyze language both at a structural and functional level. The program also emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of language studies, integrating insights from psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and computer science to explore the multifaceted aspects of human language.

The curriculum includes coursework in language acquisition, language variation and change, computational linguistics, and language processing, among other topics. Practical skills are enhanced through various projects, seminars, and research opportunities, which encourage students to apply their knowledge to real-world language data and issues. The program also fosters international perspectives by incorporating the study of various languages and linguistic phenomena across different cultures, preparing students for careers in academia, language technology, education, and communication industries.

Students are provided with access to advanced linguistic research facilities and resources, supporting their academic growth and scholarly activities. The faculty comprises leading experts in the field, offering mentorship and guidance tailored to students' interests and career aspirations. Graduates of the program are equipped to pursue further study in graduate schools or to enter fields that demand linguistic expertise, including language teaching, speech therapy, translation, and language technology development. Overall, Seoul National University's Linguistics program aims to produce well-rounded linguists who can contribute to the understanding and advancement of human language in diverse contexts.