Home / Language programs / Institutes / Yonsei KLI
Korean language program
Yonsei University Korean Language Institute
Korea's first university Korean language school, founded in 1959, and the home of the widely used Yonsei Korean textbooks. Ten-week terms, six levels, classes of about 13 in Sinchon.
Next intake for overseas applicants: Spring 2027
Spring 2027: Mar 5 – May 20, 2027. Applications Dec 7, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027.
Last verified Oct 14, 2026
Quick facts
- Location
- Sinchon campus, Seoul
- Founded
- 1959
- Term
- 10 weeks, 200 hours
- Classes
- 9:00–13:00 or 14:00–17:50
- Class size
- About 13
- Levels
- 1–6 + advanced
- Tuition (2027)
- KRW 1,960,000 / term
- Application fee
- KRW 130,000
Fees: 2027 fees (2026: KRW 1,860,000 and 120,000).
Terms and deadlines
| Term | Classes | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | Mar 5 – May 20, 2027 | Dec 7, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (5 PM Korea time); tuition by Jan 22 |
| Summer 2027 | Jun 3 – Aug 13, 2027 | Mar 8 – Apr 16, 2027 |
| Fall 2027 | Sep 1 – Nov 17, 2027 | Jun 7 – Jul 16, 2027 |
| Winter 2027 | Dec 1, 2027 – Feb 14, 2028 | Sep 6 – Oct 15, 2027 |
Winter 2026 (from Dec 1) applications close Oct 16, 2026, too soon for most overseas applicants to complete documents.
What you need to apply
Original bank certificate of at least USD 10,000, in your or a parent's name, issued within 30 days of the documents arriving. No transaction histories, copies or combined accounts.
High school completed, with the final diploma by the deadline. Expected graduates, provisional certificates, GED and homeschooling aren't accepted.
Original diploma with apostille, or Korean consular confirmation in the country of the school.
Group A (incl. Nepal, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and all African countries) also sends a transcript and a family or birth certificate, and must register and pay for at least 4 terms. Most other countries: 2 terms.
Uzbekistan: bank certificate from a Korean bank in Uzbekistan, balance held for at least 3 months. Vietnam: study-abroad deposit certificate from a Korean bank in Vietnam.
Documents must arrive in Seoul by the deadline, not just be posted.
Housing
On-campus rooms (2026): SK Global House single KRW 2,320,000 or double 1,680,000 per term; International House (women) double 1,440,000. Only about 10% of students get a room, and they usually fill on the first day. Most students rent nearby.
Route to a degree
Yonsei KLI doesn't publish a route into Yonsei's international degree admission. There are no scholarships for new students. Thinking about a degree? See our Yonsei University admission guide.
Refunds
The application fee isn't refunded. Tuition refunds fall from 80% in the first 8 days to nothing after day 42. We didn't find a specific rule for visa refusal, so ask before you pay.
Our view
What this really means
Yonsei's name opens doors and its textbooks are the standard, but it's one of the most expensive programs, and students from Group A countries pay a full year up front. Housing is the real problem: plan to rent in Sinchon.
Compare and prepare
How it works
Ten steps from choosing a program to your first class, and how long each takes.
Documents
What to prepare, how to certify it, and the extra papers for some countries.
Costs
Tuition, housing, the bank balance you need and what a first year really costs.
D-4 visa
Who qualifies, how to apply, part-time work, attendance and extensions.
Before you apply
The mistakes that cost students their visa or their money.
From language school to university
How a year of Korean leads into a degree, and which universities reward it.
Compare institutes
Nine university language institutes side by side, with 2027 dates and fees.
From Nepal
Consular confirmation, the NOC, and which institutes add extra rules.
From Uzbekistan
Apostille, the 3-month bank balance rule, and when you need a CCVI.
Sources and verification
Yonsei KLI regular program pages (admission, fees, calendar, housing), yskli.com, checked Oct 14, 2026.
K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with any university or language institute. Rules change every term; always confirm in the institute's official guide before you apply.