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English-taught undergraduate admission
Yonsei Underwood International College
Yonsei's English-language liberal arts college, founded in 2005. Every course is taught in English, so you can earn a Yonsei degree without TOPIK. Admission is selective: a document review followed by an interview.
Admission status
Spring 2027: applications closed Sep 17, 2026. Online interviews for shortlisted applicants Dec 11–12, results Dec 18. Next intake: Fall 2027 (second round), schedule not yet announced.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026
Quick facts
- Language
- All courses in English
- TOPIK
- Not required
- Intakes
- March and September
- Selection
- Documents, then interview
- Divisions
- UD, HASS, ISE
- Apply via
- UIC site or Common App
- First semester cost
- KRW 8.42M (2026)
- Campuses
- Sinchon and Songdo
UIC or Yonsei's international student track?
| Underwood International College | International student track | |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching language | English | Korean, some English courses |
| Korean needed | No | TOPIK 3 to enter your major, TOPIK 4 to graduate |
| Selection | Document review and interview | Document review only (most majors) |
| Spring 2027 application | Aug 26 to Sep 17, 2026 | Sep 1 to Sep 17, 2026 |
| Results | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 |
Both tracks share the same nationality and diploma rules. Read the international student track guide.
Who can apply?
Nationality
You and both parents must be non-Korean. If you or either parent holds Korean citizenship alongside another, you can't use the international track. Ethnically Korean applicants need proof that the family gave up Korean citizenship, and foreign citizenship must date from before you entered high school.
Education
A high school diploma, held or expected before you start at UIC. If you apply while still in high school, you send the diploma to the UIC office before you matriculate.
No GED, no homeschooling
UIC does not accept the GED, homeschooling, cyber schooling or other equivalency certificates as a high school diploma. This rules out many applicants from the US who otherwise fit UIC well, so check this first.
English requirement
You need to show English proficiency, but UIC lists no minimum score. Accepted proof includes TOEFL, IELTS, a CEFR English certificate, IB Diploma English A (Language and Literature, or Literature), or AP English Language or Literature.
What this really means
If your whole high school curriculum was in English but you can't get a formal medium-of-instruction certificate, your registrar or principal can confirm it on UIC's verification form. "No minimum" doesn't mean scores don't matter: with a selective document review and interview, strong English is expected. Some websites quote specific cutoffs; we couldn't find them in UIC's own admission pages.
How to apply
Option 1: UIC's own application
Apply online through UIC's application system, then post your documents to the UIC office by the deadline.
Option 2: Common App
Add Underwood International College to your Common Application account, the same one used for US colleges, then post your documents to the UIC office. The Common App fee is USD 150.
Good news for US applicants
Because UIC is on the Common App, you can apply alongside your US colleges with the same essays and activities list. You still need to mail original documents to Seoul, and apostille rules still apply.
How UIC chooses students
| Stage | What's assessed |
|---|---|
| 1. Document review | High school record, grades, class rank, personal statements, activities, and any standardized tests (SAT, ACT, A-Levels, IB, AP) |
| 2. Interview | Shortlisted applicants only; online for Spring 2027. You must also join a check-up call before your interview slot. |
Standardized test scores are optional, and there's no cutoff. If you send scores directly from the testing service, email uicadm@yonsei.ac.kr with your English name and test date so they're matched to your file.
Tuition and scholarships
KRW 8,416,000
First semester, international students
2026 academic year figure from UIC. Later semesters and 2027 fees may differ. Living costs are extra.
Automatic
Admission scholarship
Every international applicant is considered. Recipients are chosen from admitted students by academic record, and the offer comes with the admission packet. You must keep a set GPA to renew it.
Full, 1/2 or 1/3
Need-based aid (enrolled students)
After you enroll, UIC's need-based scholarship can cover full, half or one third of a semester's tuition. Applications open at the end of each semester.
Is UIC a good fit for you?
A strong fit if you want a Yonsei degree fully in English, have a strong academic record, and are comfortable with a US-style holistic review and interview.
Especially convenient if you're already applying to US colleges: add UIC on the Common App.
Think twice if you have a GED or were homeschooled, or if you'd rather be assessed on documents alone.
Sources and verification
Underwood International College admission, tuition and scholarship pages (uic.yonsei.ac.kr); Spring 2027 dates as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, July and September 2026. We could not access the full Spring 2027 UIC guideline directly, so details not listed above are left out on purpose. Last verified Sep 23, 2026.
Requirements change every intake. Always confirm in UIC's official guideline before you apply. K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with Yonsei University.