SNU to offer scholarships to students from overseas

Seoul National University (SNU) will provide scholarships to 332 students from China, Mongolia, Vietnam and other developing countries beginning from the fall semester, the school said Sunday.

The SNU Office of International Affairs said that it will offer each student a 25 million won ($22,050) scholarship to study at the school, including tuition, living expenses and airfare as a part of a project to nurture future professors.

Of the total, 71 are doctorate students, 188 are studying for master’s degrees and 73 are undergraduates, according to a school official. The university began the selection process in June, with its academic departments and the admission office reviewing the grades and other application documents.

It will invest 23.5 billion won ($20.7 million) in the project, including 4 billion won ($3.5 million) for scholarships. Next month, it will also recruit 170 to 200 additional international students who will begin their studies in the first semester of 2013.

“We were able to secure enough funds and publicize our project to attract bright young minds from abroad,” the official said. “We anticipate drawing more students in September.”

Those selected will train to become professors back in their home countries.

The university plans to step up its efforts to promote itself as a higher learning institute that focuses on global education. It also expects the project to help improve the nation’s ties with developing countries around the world. <The Korea Times/Yi Whan-woo>

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