Credit & Grade
Credit Structure
Universities use academic terms and concepts that may be unfamiliar from high school. First, a ‘credit’ is the unit used by universities to calculate a student’s completed coursework. At least 15 hours of lecture during a semester is recognized as 1 credit, and a single course generally consists of 1 to 3 credits. Students can take up to 18 to 21 credits per semester.
Typically, a course is worth 3 credits, meaning a total of 45 hours of class time is conducted over the semester. This time only includes instruction (lecture) hours and excludes independent study, preview, or review hours. The ‘Cred(it) – Lec(ture) – Lab’ notation for each course represents the number of credits, lecture hours per week, and laboratory/practical hours per week. For example, ‘3-3-0’ indicates a 3-credit course operated with 3 lecture hours and 0 lab hours per week.
Credit Policy
The maximum number of credits that exchange and visiting students can take at Seoul National University is 18 credits. Although there is no minimum credit requirement enforced by SNU, it is generally recommended to take at least 6 credits per semester. If your Home University requires you to take more than 18 credits, you must contact the SNU Office of International Affairs (SNU OGA).
Credit recognition and transfer are entirely determined by the criteria and discretion of your Home University; therefore, you must verify the standards directly with your home institution. SNU does not provide a separate official credit conversion standard.
Attendance & Exams
The syllabus for each course outlines attendance policies, exam schedules, and grading criteria. In Korean universities, punctual attendance is highly emphasized, and missing more than 5 classes usually results in an automatic ‘F’ grade. Large in-person lectures often utilize an electronic attendance system (e-attendance), so students must verify that their attendance has been properly recorded.
Grades & GPA
Grades and GPA (Grade Point Average, out of a maximum of 4.3) are indicators of academic achievement in courses. Grades are assigned as letter grades, and GPA is calculated based on a 4.3 scale. Please be careful not to confuse this when filling out various documents such as scholarship applications.
SNU uses an A–F grading system, and some courses are evaluated on an S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory) basis. The academic transcript issued at the end of each semester will explicitly state the evaluation method for each course.
| Grade | A+ | A0 | A- | B+ | B0 | B- | C+ | C0 | C- | D+ | D0 | D- | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0 |
| 100% | 100 | 96 | 93 | 89 | 86 | 83 | 79 | 76 | 73 | 69 | 66 | 63 | 0 |
e-Attendance & Alerts
The electronic attendance (e-attendance) system verifies your attendance through Bluetooth (BLE) communication via the e-attendance tab on the Seoul National University official app, or by authenticating at the e-attendance terminals installed in classrooms using your student ID card (S-CARD), mobile QR code, or mobile NFC.
In this case, you will receive real-time push notifications under the PUSH Notification menu in the SNU App ‘My Page’ for reminders before class, and updates on your attendance, tardiness, or absence status.
Additionally, through both the PC portal and mobile app, students can view their attendance status, check class timetables, and access course information. Students can also directly submit an application to modify or appeal their attendance status.
Inquiries & Contacts
For inquiries or assistance
- Primary Contact
The teaching assistant (TA) of the respective course or the hosting department/college office - Secondary Contact
- Attendance Inquiries: Division of Educational Affairs (+82-2-880-5042)
- Attendance Terminal Inquiries: Student Support Division (+82-2-880-5249)