
Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, has been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia since its founding in 1885. The university offers a range of opportunities for international students, including degree and non-degree global programs, scholarships, and extracurricular activities. With over 660 partner institutions in 70 countries, Yonsei University provides an extensive international network for its students. The university's Underwood International College (UIC) is a highly selective four-year undergraduate school that offers an intimate, elite setting within the larger institution. In addition, Yonsei University's scenic campus, located near a mountain in the center of Seoul's metropolitan area, provides a beautiful and culturally rich environment for students to enjoy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Establishment | 1885 |
| Motto | "Truth and Freedom" |
| Ranking | 56 globally and 2nd in South Korea |
| Number of Campuses | 4 |
| Number of Students | 38,000+ |
| Number of International Students | 5,466 |
| Number of Colleges | 28 |
| Number of Clubs | 100+ |
| Number of Research Centers and Institutes | 153 |
| Academic Programs | Undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, commerce, economics, business, science, biotechnology, engineering, computer and artificial intelligence, theology, social science, law, international studies, Korean language and literature, psychology, culture and media, and creative technology management |
| Global Network | Over 660 partner institutions in 70 countries |
| International Programs | Exchange/visiting student program (SAY), Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY), short-term programs, and Korean language programs |
| Scholarships | Extensive tuition scholarships for international students that cover tuition and accommodation |
| Buddy Program | Yes |
| Cultural Activities | Yes, including the Yon-Ko Festival |
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What You'll Learn

Application process for international students
Yonsei University has a rich history of academic excellence and is known for its strong commitment to innovation, making it a leading university in South Korea. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes in various fields, including the arts, sciences, engineering, business, and social sciences.
Yonsei University's admissions programs are designed to select talented students who can contribute to Korean society as global leaders with a spirit of truth and liberty. The university also aims to develop admissions policies that promote equality of opportunity. An admissions committee comprehensively evaluates each prospective student.
International students can apply to Yonsei University through the Global Admissions portal. Here is a step-by-step guide to the application process:
- Gather Required Documents: Start by gathering all the necessary documents, including transcripts, your passport, academic planning form, and any other relevant materials. This process can take time, so it is advisable to begin early. Having your documents in a digital format can expedite the application process.
- Check Application Dates: Plan to apply 7-12 months in advance of your intended program start date. Refer to the application dates page on the university website for specific deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- Choose Your Program: Yonsei University offers various programs for international students, including degree and non-degree options. Research and select the program that aligns with your academic goals and interests.
- Complete Your Application: Fill out the application form accurately and completely. Provide all the required information, including your personal details, academic qualifications, and any other supporting documents.
- Submit Your Application: Submit your completed application, along with the required documents, to Global Admissions. They will review your application and may request additional information if needed.
- Wait for Processing: After your application is processed, you will receive a unique application ID from the university. The university may contact you directly if they have any further questions or requirements.
- Acceptance and Visa: Once you are accepted, you will receive an admissions letter electronically. You will then be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit to the university. After receiving your deposit, the university will issue your official admissions letter and the necessary visa forms for your home country.
- Accommodation: If on-campus accommodation is important to you, plan to arrive a few days before the start of your program to register. You can also explore off-campus housing options if preferred.
Global Programs for International Students:
Yonsei University provides excellent global programs specifically designed for international students:
- Underwood International College (UIC): UIC offers a highly selective four-year undergraduate program with a diverse student body. It provides a rigorous, world-class education through innovative programs.
- Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS): GSIS is renowned for its global competitiveness and attracts students from around the world.
- Global MBA: This MBA program reflects the modern business environment, offering a unique perspective for international students.
- Study Abroad at Yonsei (SAY): SAY is the regular fall/spring semester program for exchange and visiting students. It provides an opportunity to experience Yonsei's academic and cultural environment.
- Yonsei International Summer School (YISS): YISS is a summer program that offers a blend of Korean and global cultures, with various courses taught in English.
- Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY): WAY is a 3-week winter program that combines academic courses with cultural experiences, allowing international students to explore Seoul and Korean culture.
- Korean Language Institute: This institute offers international students the chance to learn the Korean language and gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture.
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Scholarships and financial aid
Yonsei University provides several scholarship opportunities and financial aid for international students. The university offers scholarships for various degree levels, including undergraduate, Masters, and PhD programs.
University Scholarships
Yonsei University offers the Underwood International College Admissions Scholarship, which covers full tuition for outstanding undergraduate applicants. The university also provides the Global Leader Fellowship at the graduate level, which includes full entrance and tuition fees, as well as a monthly stipend, for students who demonstrate strong leadership potential. Additionally, the university has need-based scholarships for currently enrolled Underwood International College students, with options for full, half, or one-third tuition coverage per semester.
External Scholarships
International students at Yonsei University can also apply for external scholarships, such as the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). The GKS is sponsored by the South Korean government and is available for undergraduate, Master's, and PhD programs. It covers tuition, airfare, living expenses, health insurance, and research support. The GKS also includes Korean language training, which is essential for international students as many programs at Yonsei University are taught primarily in Korean.
Other Opportunities
Apart from university-based scholarships, international students can explore other external funding options. Various organizations, foundations, trusts, and corporations offer scholarships specifically for international students. Additionally, students enrolled in the APRU and AEARU associate university will automatically receive the APRU & AEARU Scholarship, which is a KRW 100,000 deduction from their tuition fee.
Application Requirements
The eligibility criteria and application processes for scholarships at Yonsei University vary. For example, the GKS has specific requirements regarding citizenship, age, physical and mental health, educational and language qualifications, and academic performance. Students applying for the Underwood International College Admissions Scholarship or the Global Leader Fellowship need to demonstrate outstanding academic performance or strong leadership potential, respectively.
Financial Need-Based Scholarships
Yonsei University also offers financial need-based scholarships, such as the Dr. Kim-Suk Hi and Do-Sim Scholarship. Applicants for these scholarships are required to submit their parents' income tax statements to assess their financial needs and ensure a fair distribution of scholarships.
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Student life and campus culture
Yonsei University, a private Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea, has long been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia. It is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, with the largest number of international students among Korean universities. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate courses in liberal arts, commerce, economics, business, science and biotechnology, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, theology, social science, and law.
The university's main campus, the Sinchon campus, is situated in the centre of Seoul's metropolitan area, surrounded by various gardens, fountains, and monuments. The campus is described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, with its modern and historical buildings and well-wooded surroundings near a mountain. The main quad area resembles an Ivy League university with gothic stone buildings. The Sinchon area is a lively college neighbourhood with restaurants and nightlife, popular among students from nearby universities.
Yonsei University provides a rigorous, globally-focused curriculum with over 960 undergraduate courses taught in English. The university's Underwood International College (UIC) brings together students from diverse backgrounds, providing them with a world-class education through innovative programs. The university also offers the most comprehensive and modernised international non-degree programs, including the exchange/visiting student program (SAY), Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), and Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY).
The university has over 100 clubs, including the AFKN Listener's Club (ALC), one of the largest and oldest Korean-International exchange student clubs, where students play dramas and engage in various activities with foreign students. The Mentors Club promotes interaction between international and regular Yonsei students through a buddy program, matching international students with Yonsei students based on interests, hobbies, and goals. Yonsei Global, consisting of Yonsei University student volunteers, aims to provide students with diverse world views and cultural experiences.
Yonsei University's admissions programs aim to select talented students who can contribute to Korean society as global leaders with the spirit of "truth and freedom". The university has an acceptance rate of around 18% and offers scholarships for international students that cover tuition and accommodation.
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Degree programs and curriculum
Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, has been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia since its founding in 1885. The university offers over 960 undergraduate courses taught in English, with 13 colleges and more than 90 undergraduate majors. The colleges offer courses in business and economics, engineering, human ecology, law, liberal arts, science, and sciences, taught in Korean. The university also offers courses in biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and immunology, physiology, plant physiology, and zoology/animal biology.
Underwood International College (UIC) brings together students from diverse backgrounds, providing them with a rigorous, world-class education through its innovative programs. The admission process is designed to accommodate different educational systems and support equality of opportunity. An admissions committee evaluates each prospective student comprehensively. International students are matched with Yonsei students based on their interests, hobbies, and goals, promoting community and friendship and enhancing cultural learning.
Yonsei Global consists of Yonsei University student volunteers who aim to provide 30,000 Yonseians with diverse world views and cultural experiences. The International Yonsei Club (IYC) works to strengthen ties between Korea and the world, arranging retreats, activities, language exchanges, and forums. The university also offers a Korean Language Institute for students to learn the language and culture, enhancing their understanding of Korea. The Winter Abroad at Yonsei program offers international students a 3-week winter program with academic courses and opportunities to experience Korean culture, including DMZ tours, ski trips, and cooking classes.
The Yonsei International Summer School (YISS) offers about 100 courses in 7 different areas for 6 weeks in the summer. Students can also attend the regular fall/spring semester as exchange or visiting students through Study Abroad at Yonsei (SAY). The university provides a Mentors Club that encourages one-on-one interaction between international and regular Yonsei students.
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Exchange programs and partnerships
Yonsei University has been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia since its founding in 1885. The university maintains the most extensive international network in Korea, with over 660 partner institutions in 70 countries. It also has the highest number of international students among Korean universities, with over 4,500 students in 2017.
Yonsei University provides excellent global programs for international students. Its English-based degree programs include Underwood International College (UIC), a highly selective four-year undergraduate school that provides an intimate, elite setting within the larger institution of Yonsei. The Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) is renowned for its global competitiveness, and the Global MBA is an MBA program that reflects the modern business environment worldwide.
The university offers various programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels for international applicants in fields such as liberal arts, commerce, economics, business, science, biotechnology, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, theology, social science, and law. The popular courses cover leading sectors of the industry, including business and management studies, IT and software, banking and finance, insurance, and data science.
Yonsei University also offers the most comprehensive and modernised international non-degree programs for ambitious international students. These include the exchange/visiting student program (SAY), Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY), short-term programs, and various Korean language programs offered by the Korean Language Institute.
The Korean Language Institute is designed to give students the opportunity to learn the Korean language and culture while enhancing their understanding of Korea. All teachers at the institute hold a minimum of a Master's degree in Korean and possess a range of knowledge about Korean culture and teaching foreign students.
Yonsei Global, consisting of Yonsei University student volunteers, aims to provide 30,000 Yonseians with diverse world views and help them experience different cultures. The Mentors Club encourages interaction between international and regular Yonsei students through a buddy program, where international students are matched with Yonsei students based on their interests, hobbies, and goals.
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) manages Yonsei University's main non-degree programs for international students. Students can choose from various programs according to their personal and academic interests. Study Abroad at Yonsei (SAY) is the regular fall/spring semester for exchange and visiting students. Students can also attend the Yonsei International Summer School (YISS) or Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY) programs during the summer or winter. The OIA also arranges tailor-made programs for overseas partner universities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yonsei University has been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia since its founding in 1885. The university offers a rigorous, globally-focused curriculum and the opportunity to receive the best international education in Asia. It also provides a beautiful and culturally rich environment, with a scenic campus that has been described as "one of the most beautiful campuses in the world".
Yonsei University provides scholarships for undergraduates that include Need-based, Merit-based (Honors), and Work-Study and Activity-based options. Global Leaders College, the university's youngest college, also offers various scholarships and financial aid in the categories of Need-based, Merit-based, and Work-based.
Yonsei University offers the most comprehensive and modernised international non-degree programs for international students, including the exchange/visiting student program (SAY), Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY), short-term programs, and various Korean language programs. The university also offers globally renowned degree programs such as Underwood International College (UIC), the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), and Global MBA.
International students must submit an online application and provide a full name that can be verified through legal documents such as a passport, social security card, or birth certificate. All documents must be in English, and students must submit a hard copy of their application by the deadline. A valid passport and visa/residence permit are also required for international students.
Yes, Yonsei Global consists of Yonsei University student volunteers who aim to provide international students with a variety of world views and help them experience diverse cultures. The Mentors Club also encourages interaction between international and regular Yonsei students through a buddy program, matching students based on their interests, hobbies, and goals.











































