Religious Studies

Religion has been a fundamental aspect of human societies throughout history, shaping cultures, influencing philosophies, and guiding moral values. The Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies at Seoul National University offers an in-depth exploration of these diverse spiritual traditions, their historical development, and their roles in contemporary society. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the major world religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, and indigenous spiritual practices, among others. Students will engage with interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from history, anthropology, philosophy, and theology to analyze religious phenomena and their impacts on cultural and social structures. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, comparative analysis, and scholarly research methods, enabling students to develop nuanced perspectives on religious beliefs, practices, and their intersections with politics, economics, and globalization. The program also encourages exploring the ethical and moral dimensions of religion, fostering a reflective understanding of religious influence on individual and societal values. Opportunities for fieldwork, participation in seminars, and collaboration with faculty members conducting pioneering research further enrich the learning experience. Graduates of this program are well-equipped for careers in academia, education, cultural preservation, international relations, and non-governmental organizations, where a deep understanding of religious contexts is increasingly essential. Seoul National University’s Religious Studies program aims to cultivate knowledgeable, open-minded, and socially responsible individuals who can contribute thoughtfully to dialogue and understanding among diverse communities worldwide.

• Studies in Jewish Tradition
• Seminar in the Science of Religion 1
• Studies in Ethnic Religionsv
• Studies in Shamanism
• Studies in Religion and Society
• Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
• Studies in Buddhist Doctrines
• Studies in Eastern Religious Texts
• Studies in Korean Religions
• Studies Buddhism in Korea
• Studies in Christianity in Korea
• Studies in the History of Christian Thought
• Studies in the History of Taoism
• Studies in Psychology of Religion
• Studies in Myth and Worldview
• Studies in Indian Religion
• Studies in Confucian Classics
• Studies in Christian Canons
• Studies in Confucianism in Korea
• Seminar in the Comparative Study of Religions
• Studies in the Classics of Religious Studies
• Studies in Western Religious Texts
• Seminar in Buddhist History
• Seminar in Buddhist Classics
• Studies in Religious Ethics
• Studies in Religious Rituals
• Studies in Transformation of Religion in Modern Society
• Studies in Contemporary Theories of Religious Studies
• Seminar in Religion and Culture
• Studies in Islam
• Studies in History of Religious Studies in Korea
• Seminar in Phenomenology of Religion
• Studies in the History of Religion
• Field Researches of Religion
• Studies in Religious Thoughts
• Studies in Korean Religious Texts
• Seminar in the Science of Religion 2
• Reading and Research

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)

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 Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at Seoul National University offers students an in-depth exploration of various religious traditions, philosophies, and cultural practices from around the world. The program is designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the role religion plays in shaping societies, influencing personal identities, and affecting historical developments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students examine topics such as religious texts, rituals, ethics, and the socio-political impact of religions across different regions and eras. The curriculum includes courses in world religions, Asian religious traditions, religious philosophy, and contemporary religious issues, providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights.

Seoul National University, being South Korea's most prestigious university, ensures that its Religious Studies program is taught by renowned faculty members with expertise in areas such as Buddhist studies, Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, and indigenous Korean faiths. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary research, combining insights from anthropology, history, philosophy, and sociology. Students are encouraged to participate in seminars, research projects, and fieldwork experiences to deepen their understanding of the religious phenomena they study.

Graduates of the program can pursue careers in academia, cultural preservation, education, international relations, and non-governmental organizations. The program also prepares students for further graduate studies in religious studies, theology, or related fields. With its comprehensive curriculum and the university’s strong emphasis on research and international cooperation, the Religious Studies program at Seoul National University provides an excellent foundation for students interested in exploring the complex and diverse world of religion from a global perspective.