Religious Studies

Subject studies include the faith and form, structure and function of religions situated in various periods in history, as well as their myths, rituals, symbols and world-views. The study of religion entails the consideration of both the composite nature and the universal character of religious phenomena, the study of which in turn fosters an understanding of other's religious cultures as well as that of one's own. Those engaged in the study of religion do not seek to defend the beliefs of particular religions. Rather, they suspend all normative judgement on religion and attempt to record, analyze and interpret innate human religiosity and their forms of expression. Thus, religious studies is a humanistic discipline which views religion as a reality to be studied with objectivity. Given that religion has the power to move individuals and communities and is a force for dynamism in human life, the study of religion is bound to contribute to human self-understanding and development. Religion has always changed appearance in accordance with the times, and takes different forms according to change in socio-political structure, the particular traits of a people, geographical conditions, cultural conditions, social class and even styles of individuals. The study of religion takes all these factors into consideration. Therefore the study of religion is an appropriate discipline not only for those with an intellectual interest in religion, but also for those who are earnestly drawn to questions concerning history, culture and society, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Students' extra-curricular activities within the department revolve around the Department of Religious Studies Students Association and various academic societies. The student association is vigorous in its defence and promotion of student autonomy, and is responsible for organizing events such as freshman orientation, alumni night, departmental sports festival, volunteer work in farms, and field trips. It also serves as the forum for the exchange of views between junior and senior students and coordinates student opinion on a diverse range of subjects. The academic societies were formed as a respond to the demands of students of the department for a deeper and more thorough inquiry into diverse academic subjects. There are three notable academic societies that have been in existence for more than ten years : the philosophical society, the literature society, and the religion society.

Graduates either go on to further studies in graduate school or serve in religious circles. Many graduates also find employment in journalism and the cultural sphere. In an increasingly pluralistic world, those imbued with a deep understanding of culture and humanity are urgently needed in all fields.

• 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