The graduate school of chemistry at SNU has a long tradition of the contribution to science and societies by educating the brightest minds in chemistry. The alumni of the graduate school of chemistry have grown to 2000 M.S. and 780 Ph.Ds who have taken the leading roles in educational and research institutions, public sectors, and commercial institutions. When you join SNU chemistry, you will be a part of this tradition of excellence by preparing to be a world leader in the progress of chemical sciences.
The school of chemistry is recognized as a nation’s top research institution in chemistry and chemical sciences, which has been evaluated as one of the world-leading chemistry department by the global ranking indices such as QS world university ranking and nature index. SNU chemistry has been selected as a recipient of the BK21 program, the award for the nation’s top departments of graduate education.
SNU provides a diverse and yet intimate academic environment in the downtown Seoul, one of the cultural centers in the globe. At SNU, students will enjoy cultural and academic diversity. This experience will make our students to be prepared to lead the world and serve the community.
The chemistry faculty consists of 36 world-leading chemists who study all areas of chemistry. SNU chemistry provide a world-class research experience to our students in chemistry and related fields. Chemistry department and SNU operates the state-of-the art instruments and research facilities. The faculty and graduate students are conducting researches in all areas of chemistry including the origin of life, the nature of chemical bonding, the understanding of molecular structures, the development of new chemical reactions, pharmaceutical chemistry, materials chemistry, and energy and environmental chemistry.
the applicant must submit the complete package including the statement of purpose, essay and research statement. The admission committee evaluate applicants based on their academic performance (GPA), the grades of the chemistry-related courses, and the application package. The academic performance, research experience, research statement, and the statement of purpose are important factors for admission. However, the evaluation will not rely on a single factor. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to make detailed but concise statements delivering the purpose and plan for the graduate study.
All applicants for the graduate school must submit the English proficiency test score such as TOEFL, IELTS, and TEPS. For successful admission to Chemistry, the test score should meet the minimum requirements. Currently, the minimum requirements are 86 or higher for TOEFL (IBT) and 327 or higher for TEPS. English proficiency test scores will only be used as a requirement for admission. Higher scores will not be a deciding factor for admission.
On-site interview will be given to the applicant who passed the first round. Interviewers question applicants’ basic knowledge of college-level chemistry as well as their motivation and plan for graduate study.
Expanding the diversity of students and faculty is the primary goal of the school of chemistry. As of 2020, 70 M.S students (including MS-PhD students who spent less than 18 months from their admission) and 247 pHD students are enrolled in the school. 69% of graduate students are male and 31% are female. 55% of our graduate students came from the universities and colleges throughout the country. 5% of students joined the school from abroad.
The school encourage prospective student to freely contact faculty members for asking information about the graduate study and research at SNU. We are willing to provide information to students who want to be informed about the graduate school and admission, research opportunities offered by the school of chemistry. We would like to encourage all interested students to get familiar to the school and SNU. We remind any interested student that the pre-admission contact is only to provide information. The pre-admission contact will not be considered as a necessary step for admission.
Students may contact individual faculty members or administrative staff (ej0905@snu.ac.kr) for more information.
Students may contact individual faculty members or administrative staff (ej0905@snu.ac.kr) for more information.
We provide a research internship programs to undergraduate students in June and December. To expand the internship opportunities for students in Korea, the school plans to establish new internship program for external students in vacation. Also, individual research labs may hire research interns. We encourage all interested students to apply for our internship programs. Please note that research experience alone will not be a deciding factor for admission.
All applicants are required to address their research interests, interested research areas and research labs in their statement and research plan. You may choose multiple research areas and labs. After admission, students can choose their supervisors after interview with faculty members.
The school of chemistry guarantees full financial support for graduate students. The support includes tuitions and fees, housing, and living expenses. Currently, the tuition is 38 M KRW (~ 3500 USD) per semester. Enrolled students are eligible for scholarships awarded by SNU and external foundations.
SNU provides student housing options for graduate students. The student apartment offers single-student units and shared units, which can host most of graduate students. The university also offers family housing. There could be a waiting list for single-student. For information, check the website of the student housing. Currently, the monthly rent for a shared unit is 214,200 ~ 247,000 KRW (200 ~ 230 USD). The community around SNU offers a plenty of rooms and houses.
Teaching assistantship is a part of graduate education in the school of chemistry. From teaching a class, graduate students will have a valuable experience in education and communication. Therefore, all graduate students are required for teaching one lab class (chemistry lab) and serving a regular class as a teaching assistant.
