Program in Crop Science and Biotechnology

The Program in Crop Science and Biotechnology at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive and innovative curriculum designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and practical skills necessary to address global challenges related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship. This interdisciplinary program integrates fundamental principles of plant biology, genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology, allowing students to explore the intricate mechanisms underlying crop growth, development, and resilience. Emphasizing both theoretical understanding and practical applications, the program includes coursework, laboratory research, and fieldwork that enable students to develop expertise in crop improvement, biotechnological techniques, pest and disease management, and sustainable cropping systems. Students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research projects, often collaborating with industry partners and research institutes, which prepares them for careers in agriculture, biotechnology, research institutions, and policy development. The program aims to foster innovative thinking and leadership in developing new crop varieties, enhancing crop productivity, and promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Graduates of this program are equipped with the skills needed to contribute to the advancement of agriculture science and to develop solutions for global food security challenges. The interdisciplinary approach, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and experienced faculty, ensures an enriching educational environment that prepares students to become future leaders in crop science and biotechnology.

For undergraduate students, the Program in Crop Science and Biotechnology provides courses in crop breeding and genomics, crop molecular genetics and biotechnology, advanced technologies of crop production, agroecology, agrometeorology, environmentally friendly conservation of natural resources, crop physiology and weed science, crop ecology, forage crops, statistics, crop bioinformatics, and many other relevant fields. 

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)

The Program in Crop Science and Biotechnology at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to advance knowledge and skills in the fields of crop production, genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnological applications. The program aims to equip students with both fundamental scientific understanding and practical techniques necessary to address global challenges such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental preservation. Students engaged in this program investigate various aspects of crop improvement, including breeding strategies, disease resistance, pest management, and the development of genetically modified crops.

The coursework integrates interdisciplinary approaches that combine plant biology, genetics, biochemistry, and technology to foster innovative solutions in crop production. Students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research projects within state-of-the-art laboratories, focusing on areas such as plant genome editing, molecular marker development, and biotechnological innovations to enhance crop yield and resilience. The program emphasizes active engagement with contemporary scientific issues, fostering critical thinking, research competencies, and practical skills through laboratory work, field experiments, and collaborative projects.

Graduates of this program are prepared to pursue careers in academia, biotechnology industries, agricultural research institutes, and government agencies involved in agricultural policy and development. The curriculum also promotes international collaboration and encourages students to participate in global research initiatives, facilitating a broader understanding of agricultural sciences in diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts. Seoul National University’s Department of Crop Science and Biotechnology is renowned for its distinguished faculty members who are experts in various disciplines, providing mentorship and guidance to students. Overall, the program strives to cultivate innovative scientists and professionals committed to sustainable agriculture and the advancement of biotechnological solutions for crop improvement on a global scale.