South Korea is internationally known for its academic achievement, research output, and innovation in science and technology education. For students interested in the life sciences, it can be a strong destination for university study.
The country’s system of tertiary education has made great strides in creating a contemporary learning environment led by experienced scholars and researchers. Students can also explore employment opportunities after graduation, although post-study work options depend on the graduate’s visa status, language ability, field of employment, and employer requirements.
For a closer look at South Korean universities, this article examines some of the country’s leading biology and life science programs.
Top Schools Offering Biology in South Korea
1. Seoul National University
Seoul National University is widely regarded as one of South Korea’s leading universities. Founded in 1946, SNU has its main campus in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, as well as the Yeongeon Medical Campus in Seoul and additional campuses in Pyeongchang and Siheung. Seoul National University is also a recognized institution for biology in South Korea and is engaged in creating a global community whose values are based on knowledge and compassion.
The university’s School of Biological Sciences is among its notable academic units. Its official undergraduate curriculum includes 130 credits for graduation, including a major curriculum that covers required and elective courses in areas such as molecular biology, genetics, physiology, microbiology, ecology, virology, neurobiology, and bioinformatics. At the graduate level, SNU offers master’s, doctoral, and combined master’s-doctoral study paths in biological sciences. The department recognizes that biology alone cannot provide answers to the most complex research questions, so students are encouraged to develop a broad and multidisciplinary view of biological research.
2. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Located in Daejeon, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, abbreviated as KAIST, is a national science and technology university with international recognition. It opened in 1971 and is described by the university as Korea’s first science and technology university.
Since opening its doors, KAIST has established itself locally and globally as a major research university in science, engineering, and technology. Its academic structure includes the College of Life Science and Bioengineering, which covers biological sciences, brain and cognitive science, engineering biology, medical science and engineering, stem cell and regenerative biology, and related convergence fields.
The KAIST Department of Biological Sciences and related life science programs offer courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its programs emphasize research, laboratory training, and the connection between biology and engineering. Through departments and graduate schools in life science, bioengineering, and engineering biology, students can study biological systems while also exploring interdisciplinary applications in medicine, biotechnology, health, the environment, and engineering.
What Current Students / Alumni of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Sehrish Javed
Master’s in Biological Sciences — Behavioral Genetics and Neuroscience | Specialized in behavioral genetics and neuroscience during her master’s. She reports that all the classes she attended were conducted in English. | She felt the research infrastructure and available research funding supported comfortable research work, although her account does not identify particular equipment or techniques. |
Tria Asri Widowati
Master’s in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Worked in a laboratory focused on RNA engineering during her master’s, building on her earlier biology and genetics background. | Finding a professor willing to accept her into a laboratory took considerable time and caused anxiety. She recommends contacting potential supervisors earlier. |
3. Yonsei University
Another research center situated in Seoul, Yonsei University is recognized for academic excellence and research activity. The university traces its roots to the late 19th century and became Yonsei University after Yonhi University and Severance Medical School merged in 1957. Today, it is commonly grouped with Seoul National University and Korea University under the SKY label, a term often used for three of South Korea’s most selective universities.
In addition to its work in medicine and engineering, Yonsei University is known for biology and life science education in South Korea. The field is primarily situated at the university’s College of Life Science and Biotechnology, which includes majors such as Systems Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. Yonsei’s Systems Biology program focuses on biological phenomena from the molecular and cellular levels to ecosystems and introduces students to fields such as molecular biology, epigenetics, immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, plant genetics, microbial genomics, and structural biology.
4. Sungkyunkwan University
Throughout South Korea and Asia, Sungkyunkwan University is known as a historic and research-focused university. Its institutional roots go back to Sungkyunkwan, which was founded in 1398 as the highest national educational institute of the Joseon Dynasty. Today, the university defines its mission as providing world-class education to future global leaders.
Students who wish to study biology at Sungkyunkwan University may do so through its Department of Biological Sciences. The university lists biological sciences degree paths at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and combined master’s-doctoral levels. The department teaches and researches fields such as physiology, immunology, microbiology, virology, molecular cell biology, biodiversity, biochemistry, plant physiology, structural biology, signal transduction, plant systematics, neuroscience, and molecular and environmental biology. Its curriculum includes undergraduate and graduate courses, research seminars, and thesis-related study.
5. Korea University
Korea University is a private research university in Seoul. Its history dates back to Bosung College, which was founded in 1905, and it was elevated to university status and renamed Korea University in 1946. Today, Korea University is one of South Korea’s major private universities and is commonly included in the SKY grouping with Seoul National University and Yonsei University.
The university’s biology-related programs are housed in the College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, including the Division of Life Sciences. Its curriculum includes required laboratory and core science courses as well as electives in areas such as plant systematics, animal systematics, ecology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, neurobiology, immunology, virology, bioinformatics, and internship-based learning. During their studies, students can learn through lectures, laboratory work, and research-oriented coursework.
What Current Students / Alumni of Korea University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Olebogeng Thelma G. Eyman
MSc in Ecology and Environmental Biology — 2020–2022 | Studied in the Ecosystem Ecology laboratory subdivision. Her division offered classes in English and Korean; she was allowed to complete assignments and examinations in English for Korean-taught classes. | She reports receiving substantial support from her professor and laboratory colleagues during her studies. |
Alisson Yheraldin Onzueta Caballero
Bachelor’s double major in Biotechnology and International Studies | Several science courses in her biotechnology studies were taught in Korean, within a degree experience that used both English and Korean. | Knowing Korean helped her follow classes and communicate with professors. She advises checking each program’s teaching language because Korean proficiency can affect access to courses and academic opportunities. |
6. Kyung Hee University
Kyung Hee University offers Biology through its College of Sciences at the Seoul campus in South Korea. Its Department of Biology studies living organisms through structural and functional approaches, with academic interests spanning cellular processes, organismal diversity, and ecological relationships. Biomedical science and ecological environmental science are identified as departmental research focuses.
The undergraduate Biology program develops foundations in cell biology, taxonomy, genetics, physiology, and ecology. The department emphasizes understanding biological phenomena and developing the ability to frame research questions. Its broad academic scope supports students interested in organisms and environmental systems as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms. This is a formal Biology pathway within the sciences, distinct from professional medical training.
The Graduate School separately identifies a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biology. Its department describes specializations in Botany, Animal Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Environmental Biology. These provide several routes for advanced biological investigation. The graduate research environment also includes work connected to neuroscience, oncology, microbial infections, animal ecology, and ornithology, depending on the selected laboratory and supervisor.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyung Hee University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Geovanna Luisa Romero Gomez
Bachelor’s in Biology | Reports that her classes were primarily in Korean. Some advertised English-speaking classes were largely delivered in Korean, and promised English examinations were sometimes provided only in Korean. | She found maintaining strong grades challenging when competing with native speakers under relative grading. She strongly recommends preparing in both English and Korean. |
7. Chung-Ang University
Chung-Ang University offers biological education through its College of Natural Sciences in Seoul, South Korea. Its Life Science department provides a relevant pathway for studying biological mechanisms and systems. The university also offers distinct biotechnology programs, whose applied orientation should be distinguished from its natural-science Life Science department.
Undergraduate study is available in Life Science. The department’s current website identifies undergraduate teaching and research activities, including Life Science Research coursework. This provides a route for students interested in fundamental biological investigation within the College of Natural Sciences. Separate undergraduate options in Systems Biotechnology and Plant Science and Technology extend into genomics, bioinformatics, plant physiology, and other applied biological subjects.
The Graduate School’s current admissions guide independently confirms master’s, doctoral, and integrated master’s–doctoral availability in Life Science. Its formal specializations are Environmental and Biological Systems, Cell Physiology, and Molecular Biology. These offer different scales of biological investigation, from environmental relationships to cellular functions and molecular mechanisms. Graduate study is organized through the department and its research supervision rather than through professional medical qualifications.
What Current Students / Alumni of Chung-Ang University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Arxel Gutierrez Elnar
Integrated M.S.–Ph.D. in Animal Science and Technology — completed August 2025 | Conducted research on probiotic microorganisms, bacteriocins, and microbial conversion of linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid. His training included microbial genomics, molecular biology, transcriptomics, and enzymology. | He reports close mentorship and research collaborations, alongside opportunities he used to publish papers, present at conferences, and participate in patent development. He continued at Chung-Ang as a postdoctoral researcher. |
Catia Mota
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology | Most classes in her doctoral studies were entirely in Korean. She describes Korean-language presentations, workshops, and conferences as significant demands of her graduate experience. | She found professors demanding and felt expected to navigate administration independently as a full-time international student. She recommends stronger preparation in spoken Korean. |
8. Kyungpook National University
Kyungpook National University provides relevant biological education at its Daegu campus in South Korea. Its College of Natural Sciences supports life-science and biotechnology study. The current Biotechnology school’s history records its separation into an undergraduate school in 2024, while graduate teaching continues under the Life Science structure.
The undergraduate Biotechnology curriculum includes biochemistry, cell biology, medical virology, and laboratory animal science. Students can also undertake Biotechnology Research and Laboratory work through a capstone-design course. These subjects connect molecular and cellular foundations with experimental applications. The pathway is especially relevant for students interested in biotechnology and biological mechanisms, and its official name should be preserved when discussing it within a Biology article.
Master’s and doctoral study are confirmed in Life Science, including current departmental guidance distinguishing the two degree levels. Graduate courses include advanced cell biology, molecular biology, plant physiology, immunology, developmental biology, and genomic evolution. Research training also incorporates seminars, journal clubs, and dissertation research ethics. This graduate structure supports specialized biological investigation beyond the undergraduate biotechnology curriculum.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kyungpook National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Ashim Kumar Das
Ph.D. in Plant Biology — focus on plant gene regulation | Identifies plant gene regulation and its effects on molecular mechanisms as his doctoral focus. | Selected a laboratory matching his interests and contacted its professor directly before applying. He warns that students can struggle when placed in laboratories outside their research interests. |
9. Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University, founded in 1886, is a prestigious private university in Seoul, South Korea. The university began as Korea’s first modern educational institute for women and later developed into a major women’s university with strong programs in science, research, and higher education. Its academic environment supports students interested in biology, life science, and related fields.
Ewha’s Life Science major traces its roots to the Department of Biology, which was established in 1951. The program is now part of the College of Natural Sciences and is designed to give students a broad understanding of the natural sciences as well as specialized training in modern biology. Students can study subjects related to genetics, medicine, pharmacology, environmental engineering, and other life science fields while gaining experimental and research experience.
At the graduate level, Ewha has offered advanced study in biology for decades, including master’s and doctoral coursework. The College of Natural Sciences also emphasizes laboratory-based education, research institutes, and the development of women leaders in science. These elements make Ewha Womans University a strong option for students interested in biology and related research fields.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ewha Womans University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Thai Quynh Anh Nguyen
Ph.D. in Life Sciences | Her doctoral research examined the roles of ERBB3 and GGT5 in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. She reports that course materials in her field were in English, although classes were available in both English and Korean. | She describes an academically challenging environment that pushed her development. She later continued cancer research as a postdoctoral fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center. |
10. Chungnam National University
Chungnam National University is located in Daejeon, South Korea. Its College of Bioscience and Biotechnology provides the principal setting for relevant biological education. The college connects fundamental life-science research with biotechnology, biological information, and applications involving health and biological industries.
Undergraduate pathways include Microbiology and Molecular Life Science and Convergent Bioscience and Informatics. These emphasize different aspects of biology: microorganisms and molecular mechanisms in the former, and biological data, bio-health, and synthetic biology in the latter. Students therefore enter formally named life-science programs rather than a single undifferentiated Biology major. Applied Biology is also available separately through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The university separately confirms master’s and doctoral opportunities in biological fields. Its graduate listings include Biodiversity and Environmental Ecology, Molecular Functional Biology, and Plant Systems Biology, alongside molecular microbiology and biotechnology-related specializations. These allow advanced study across ecological, organismal, and molecular scales. The official graduate admissions table independently identifies relevant fields at both degree levels, rather than implying doctoral availability from undergraduate or master’s offerings.
What Current Students / Alumni of Chungnam National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Alfin Mohammad Abdillah
Ph.D. in Medical Science — Energy Metabolism and Metabolic Diseases | His doctoral work focuses on energy metabolism and metabolic diseases, with interests in mitochondrial biology and disease mechanisms. | — |
11. Chungbuk National University
Chungbuk National University is located in Cheongju, South Korea. Its College of Natural Sciences offers biological education through departments including Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry. This organization provides several related academic routes while maintaining a formal Biology department for students seeking broader study of living systems.
The undergraduate Biology curriculum includes cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, and the biological principles underlying cellular structure, function, growth, and evolution. Students can examine fundamental life processes before pursuing more specialized interests. The separate Microbiology department provides another biological pathway, with study in microbial ecology, molecular virology, pathogenic microorganisms, bioinformatics, and biochemistry. These should be described as distinct undergraduate programs within the college.
The College of Natural Sciences explicitly confirms master’s and doctoral education in its biological departments. The current graduate directory identifies relevant specializations including Botany and Environmental Biology and Microbiology and Biotechnology. The Microbiology department also confirms an integrated master’s–doctoral route. Graduate opportunities therefore extend beyond a single biological specialization, supporting focused investigation of organisms, environmental relationships, and microbial processes.
What Current Students / Alumni of Chungbuk National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Adigun Aderonke Odunayo
Master’s in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Systems Sciences | Studies environmental microorganisms that perform important ecosystem functions, focusing on how microbial interactions and environmental conditions shape metabolic traits. | She reports that the Korean skills developed before her degree proved useful during her studies, although she does not specify the language used in individual classes or laboratory activities. |
12. Kangwon National University
Kangwon National University offers Biological Sciences through the College of Natural Sciences at its Chuncheon campus in South Korea. This campus-specific pathway provides a clear academic setting for fundamental biology. The university also lists other biological and biomedical departments, which have their own distinct disciplinary and campus identities.
The undergraduate Biological Sciences program covers living systems from molecules and cells to ecosystems. Its stated educational approach combines scientific theory with practical ability, supporting students interested in both biological mechanisms and organismal relationships. The department therefore provides a broad life-science foundation rather than concentrating solely on clinical or professional health subjects. Separate molecular and biomedical pathways offer additional choices elsewhere within the university’s academic structure.
The General Graduate School’s Chuncheon Life Sciences department independently confirms master’s and doctoral pathways through its degree requirements. Graduate study includes seminars, research ethics, thesis preparation, and research dissemination. Relevant courses include advanced plant biotechnology, molecular developmental stem-cell biology, and advanced tumor biology. These illustrate opportunities for specialized molecular, developmental, and cellular investigation within an academic biological research program.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kangwon National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Rutchelle Joyce Pugoy
MSc in Biohealth Convergence | Joined an antibody engineering and cancer therapeutics laboratory, working on antibody discovery and engineering projects aimed at targeting cancer cells. | Most classes were in Korean, although lecture materials and research resources often used English. She found limited Korean proficiency a real academic barrier, while describing professors as approachable and helpful. |
13. Pukyong National University
Pukyong National University is located in Busan, South Korea. Its Department of Microbiology at the Daeyeon campus provides a specialized biological pathway within the College of Natural Sciences. The university also offers fisheries and biotechnology programs, creating additional connections between biological science, aquatic resources, and practical applications.
The undergraduate Microbiology program includes biochemistry, cell biology, microbial ecology, microbial genetics, molecular biology, and virology. Laboratory components accompany subjects such as biochemistry, bacteriology, marine microbiology, and immunology. Later options include proteomics, industrial microbiology, genetic engineering, and thesis research. This curriculum concentrates on microorganisms and their biological functions, while giving students supporting knowledge of cells, genes, proteins, and experimental analysis.
The General Graduate School separately confirms master’s and doctoral study in the Microbiology major within Marine and Fisheries Life Sciences. Its academic setting includes laboratories in virology, cell signaling, microbial ecology, microbial genetics and informatics, food microbiology, and systems biology. These graduate pathways support specialized biological research, while remaining distinct from the university’s separately organized Bioengineering major.
What Current Students / Alumni of Pukyong National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Ayu Fitri Izaki
Ph.D. in Marine Biology | Took core courses covering molecular and genomic topics and developed her knowledge of fisheries science and marine biology. | Language barriers sometimes prevented her from understanding topics, but her professor and laboratory members helped. She also identifies international administration and speaking-focused language support as areas needing improvement. |
Naz Kamaran
Master’s in Applied Microbiology | Gained hands-on research experience in microbiology and biotechnology through laboratory work. She describes a curriculum combining theory with practical laboratory training. | She worked in well-equipped laboratories and experienced an environment that encouraged independent thinking. Her account does not specify individual experimental techniques or equipment. |
14. Gyeongsang National University
Gyeongsang National University provides biological education through its Division of Life Science in Jinju, South Korea. The division’s academic structure connects undergraduate life-science teaching with graduate research. Its associated research environment includes the Institute of Life Science and facilities concerned with plant biotechnology and molecular regulation.
The undergraduate Life Science program covers molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, ecology, and organismal subjects. Its curriculum also includes experimental training and biological data analysis, with subjects such as molecular biology laboratories, bioinformatics, and biological statistics. The division publishes a separate curriculum for students entering from 2026, allowing its current undergraduate requirements to be distinguished from earlier study plans.
The Graduate School independently lists Biology at master’s, doctoral, and integrated master’s–doctoral levels. These provide formal advanced-study opportunities beyond the undergraduate Life Science program. Applied Life Science offers another related research route, including work in structural biology and molecular investigation. Its separate title should be preserved when describing that option, rather than treating every biological research activity as part of the Biology graduate department.
What Current Students / Alumni of Gyeongsang National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Mohammad Nazmul Alam
Master’s in Pharmacology — thesis program | Spent more than a year researching kinase inhibitors as potential anticancer agents, developing experience in laboratory techniques and data analysis. | English was the primary language for his postgraduate coursework and research, although Korean was occasionally used in academic settings and daily communication. |
15. Jeju National University
Jeju National University is located in Jeju City, South Korea. Its Department of Biology belongs to the College of Natural Sciences and provides education in fundamental life processes, biological diversity, and scientific research methods. Its academic scope includes organisms, molecular mechanisms, and ecological systems.
The undergraduate Biology program develops knowledge of living systems alongside practical scientific training. The department’s teaching and research laboratories cover animal diversity, plant physiology and biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, biotechnology, plant molecular systematics, microbial ecology and genomics, and ecology. This range gives students exposure to both organismal and molecular approaches, supporting further specialization in biological research rather than focusing exclusively on professional health training.
The Graduate School separately lists Biology at master’s, doctoral, and integrated master’s–doctoral levels. Research fields include animal molecular genetics, plant molecular physiology, microbial ecology and genomics, ecology, plant molecular systematics, and biotechnology. Graduate students develop expertise through specialized investigation and scientific research methods. These academic Biology programs are distinct from the university’s separate Biology Education and biotechnology-related graduate departments.
What Current Students / Alumni of Jeju National University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Thai Quynh Anh Nguyen
Master’s in Animal Biotechnology | Her master’s research focused on stem cell and gene therapy, specifically engineering mesenchymal stem cells for targeted osteosarcoma therapy. | — |
16. Sangmyung University
Sangmyung University provides relevant biological study at its Seoul campus in South Korea. Its undergraduate Biotechnology major is housed within the College of Convergence Engineering, while the General Graduate School offers Life Science. These pathways connect fundamental biological knowledge with experimental methods and applied biotechnology.
The undergraduate Biotechnology major includes molecular biology, bioinformatics, microbial engineering, and developmental engineering. Laboratory courses accompany molecular biology and microbial engineering, helping students connect theoretical knowledge with experimental practice. The department’s degree-level table explicitly identifies a bachelor’s pathway and a linked bachelor’s–master’s option. Biotechnology is therefore the appropriate undergraduate program name, reflecting an applied life-science curriculum rather than a separately titled general Biology degree.
The department’s official program table independently confirms master’s and doctoral availability in Life Science. Its graduate introduction describes study of biological theories, experimental methodologies, and applications involving cells, microorganisms, plants, and animals. The English graduate website uses Biology as its department label, while the current Korean program table uses Life Science. Both refer to the relevant academic graduate pathway.
What Current Students / Alumni of Sangmyung University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Buhari Lawan Muhammad
Ph.D. in Marine Biology | Researched evolutionary genomics of toxic marine species and their environmental impacts, combining molecular biology, bioinformatics, and environmental science. | His laboratory meetings, research discussions, and scientific writing were primarily in English, while classes used both Korean and English. He continued at Sangmyung as a postdoctoral researcher. |
FAQS About Studying Biology in South Korea
Can I Study Biology in South Korea if I Don’t Speak Korean?
The South Korean education system includes a growing number of courses taught in English or other foreign languages, and applicants do not always need fluent Korean or TOPIK to apply. However, language requirements vary by university, degree level, and program. Check each biology program’s language of instruction and whether it requires IELTS, TOEFL, TOPIK, or another proof of language proficiency.
Are there Job Opportunities for Graduates with a Biology Degree in South Korea?
Studying biology can lead to career paths in areas such as microbiology, pharmacology, laboratory research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, hospital research centers, teaching, and graduate study. International graduates who want to remain in South Korea for employment must meet immigration rules, such as D-10 job-seeking or E-1 to E-7 employment status requirements, and secure the required documents. A Korean biology degree can help, but it does not guarantee employment or an advantage over other applicants.
We hope this article has helped trim down your list of universities offering strong biology and life science programs. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
