Systematics and Ecology

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English Korean
Foreign:$ 2.9 k / Semester(s) Deadline: Feb 1, 2026
60 place StudyQA ranking:5211 Duration:4 semestrs

Photos of university / #seoul.national.university

Program Title: Systematics and Ecology (Bachelor's Program)

The Bachelor’s Program in Systematics and Ecology at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive education in understanding the diversity of life on Earth and the ecological relationships that sustain it. This program is designed to equip students with fundamental knowledge and practical skills in taxonomy, evolutionary biology, population studies, conservation, and environmental management. Students will explore various biological disciplines, including plant, animal, and fungal systematics, along with ecological theories and methodologies, to develop a holistic understanding of biological systems and their interactions within different environments.

Throughout the course, students will engage in fieldwork, laboratory research, and computational analyses, fostering hands-on experience essential for careers in research, conservation, agriculture, environmental consulting, and education. The program emphasizes the importance of biodiversity preservation, sustainable development, and the application of scientific principles to solve real-world ecological challenges. Students will learn to identify various species, understand evolutionary processes, and evaluate ecological impacts, preparing them to contribute effectively to ecosystem management and conservation efforts domestically and globally.

The curriculum is structured to facilitate both theoretical understanding and practical application, with courses covering phylogenetics, biogeography, population ecology, community ecology, and environmental policy. In addition, students have access to specialized laboratories and research facilities, providing a conducive environment for innovative research projects. Collaboration with international institutions and participation in field studies abroad further enhance the educational experience, broadening students’ perspectives and professional networks.

Graduates of the Systematics and Ecology program will be well-prepared for advanced postgraduate studies or careers in academia, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sectors involved in environmental assessment and management. The program aims to cultivate skilled professionals with a passion for biodiversity and ecological integrity, dedicated to promoting sustainable interactions between humans and the natural world. Whether pursuing scientific research or practical conservation efforts, students will develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and an ethical approach to ecological stewardship, making a meaningful contribution to the preservation and understanding of Earth’s biological diversity.

  • Advanced Developmental Biology
  • Advanced Ecology 
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology 
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Advanced plant science 
  • Advanced microbiology
  • Organismal biology
  • Advanced Evolutionary Biology
  • Reading and Research
  • Computational Molecular Phylogeny 
  • Methods for animal behavior and ecology 
  • Sensory Ecology and Signals in Animal 
  • Advanced Environmental Microbiology 
  • Invertebrate Conservation Biology 
  • Invertebrate Molecular Ecology 
  • Invertebrates 
  • Botanical Nomenclature 
  • Methods for Plant Systematics
  • Restoration Ecology 
  • Methods for Ecological Research 
  • Special studies in systematics & ecology
  • Systematics lectures 
  • Ecology lectures 
  • Bioinformatics 
  • Advanced Systematic Biology 
  • Population Genetics 
  • Advanced Plant Taxonomy
  • Advanced Environmental Biology
  • Advanced Molecular Evolution
  • Advanced Microbial Ecology 
  • Prokaryotic Diversity 
  • Mycology
  • Advanced Behavioral Biology 
  • Seminar in systematics & ecology 1 
  • Seminar in systematics & ecology 2 
  • Colloquium in systematics & ecology 1 
  • Colloquium in systematics & ecology 2
  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 Systematics and Ecology at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational program focused on understanding the diversity of life, the evolutionary relationships among organisms, and their ecological interactions. The program aims to equip students with a solid foundation in biological sciences, emphasizing taxonomy, phylogenetics, conservation biology, and ecosystem dynamics. Students are exposed to a wide array of research methodologies, including molecular biology, morphological analysis, and fieldwork techniques, enabling them to conduct original research in various fields within biology.

The curriculum integrates theoretical coursework with practical laboratory and field experiences, fostering skills in species identification, specimen collection, data analysis, and scientific communication. Students have access to advanced laboratories equipped with modern instrumentation for genetic sequencing, microscopy, and ecological monitoring. The program encourages active participation in research projects, often collaborating with national and international institutions on biodiversity assessment, conservation projects, and ecological modeling.

Faculty members are leading experts in their fields, providing mentorship and supervising theses that contribute to understanding biodiversity conservation and ecological theory. Graduates of this program are well-prepared for careers in academic research, environmental consultancy, conservation organizations, and government agencies focused on biodiversity management and ecological sustainability. The program also promotes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating aspects of environmental science, geography, and policy studies to address real-world ecological challenges.

Students benefit from Seoul National University’s extensive research facilities, libraries, and field stations across Korea, facilitating immersive learning experiences in native habitats. The program’s commitment to excellence in research and education positions graduates to contribute meaningfully to the scientific community and to global efforts in preserving biodiversity and understanding ecological processes. Overall, the Department of Systematics and Ecology combines rigorous academic training with practical research opportunities, fostering a new generation of ecologists and taxonomists dedicated to advancing biological sciences and promoting sustainable coexistence with our natural environment.

Similar programs:
Study mode:On campus Languages: Italian
Local:$ 1.75 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 1.75 k / Year(s)
401–500 place StudyQA ranking: 11832
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 13.6 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 27.7 k / Year(s)
Deadline: Jul 28, 2025 16 place StudyQA ranking: 8146
Study mode:On campus Languages: Italian
Local:$ 1.75 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 1.75 k / Year(s)
StudyQA ranking: 7453