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International undergraduate admission, Seoul Campus
Yonsei University
One of Korea's oldest and most selective private universities, based in Sinchon, Seoul. International students apply through the international student track (Korean-taught majors), the Global Leaders College track, or Underwood International College, which teaches entirely in English.
Admission status
Spring 2027: online applications closed Sep 17, 2026. Documents must arrive by Sep 30, 2026, 5 PM Korea time. Results on Dec 4, 2026. Next intake: Fall 2027, schedule not yet announced.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026
Quick facts
- Main campus
- Sinchon, Seoul
- First year
- Songdo, Incheon
- Type
- Private, Christian
- Intakes
- March and September
- Selection
- 100% document review
- TOPIK to apply
- Not required (most majors)
- Application fee
- KRW 200,000
- Visa funds
- KRW 22 million+
This guide covers the international student track and the Global Leaders College (GLC) track at the Seoul campus. Underwood International College runs its own admission; see the section below.
Three ways in
International student track
Apply to one specific major, from economics and engineering to computer science and medicine. Classes are taught in Korean, with some English courses depending on the department.
Global Leaders College
Apply to the Global Leadership Division and choose a major after admission: international commerce, Korean language and culture education, cultural media, bio and living engineering, or applied information engineering. Taught in Korean.
Underwood International College
All majors taught in English, with a separate application and an online interview for shortlisted applicants. The best-known English route at Yonsei.
You can apply to both the international student track and the GLC track, but only one major within each, with a separate set of documents for each.
Key dates for the Spring 2027 intake
| Step | Date (Korea time) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Sep 1, 10 AM to Sep 17, 5 PM, 2026 | Fill in the application, academic history record and personal statement online, then pay |
| Documents | Must arrive by Sep 30, 2026, 5 PM | Registered or express international mail only |
| Interview | Oct 31, 2026 | In person, for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy applicants only |
| Results | Dec 4, 2026, 5 PM | On the Office of Admissions website |
| Tuition payment | January 2027 | Admission is final only after full payment |
Who can apply?
Nationality
You and both parents must hold non-Korean nationality, obtained before you began high school. If you or either parent also holds Korean nationality, you can't use this track.
Education
A high school diploma, or graduation by February 2027 (March 2027 for schools in Japan).
Important for homeschooled and GED students
Yonsei does not accept the GED, homeschooling, distance learning or other equivalency certificates as a high school diploma for this track. If that's your background, talk to us before you apply elsewhere in Korea too, as rules differ by university.
Language requirements
Most majors
Korean or English proof
Any one of: a Korean or English test score, a standardized test with a Korean or English result, a Korean language institute certificate, or proof that your high school courses were taught in Korean or English.
Medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy
TOPIK 5
TOPIK level 5 or higher, or level 5 completion at Yonsei's Korean Language Institute.
What this really means
You can apply without any Korean, but these majors are taught in Korean. Every international freshman spends the first year in the Global Basic Education Division on the Songdo campus, studying Korean and general courses. You need TOPIK 3 to enter your major and TOPIK 4 to graduate. If you want to study only in English, look at Underwood International College instead.
Documents you'll need
- Printed online application
- Academic history record (every school since elementary)
- Personal statement (written online, see below)
- High school diploma or expected graduation certificate, with apostille or consular confirmation
- Transcripts for every semester of high school, with apostille or consular confirmation
- Passport copies for you and both parents
- Birth certificate or other proof of relationship to your parents
- Language proof (see above)
Where applicants get stuck
Translations you make yourself aren't accepted; documents not in Korean or English need a notarized translation. Apostilled documents that arrive bound must stay bound. If you send SAT, ACT, AP, TOEFL or IELTS scores, report them to Yonsei (ETS and College Board code 9893, ACT code 7879) and enter the test and reporting date in your application, or they won't be counted.
The personal statement
Written in Korean or English on the online application. Three questions for everyone, and a fourth for applicants who have already finished high school.
| Question | Length |
|---|---|
| Why Yonsei, and why this major? | 180 words or less |
| How have you prepared to succeed as an international student? | 600 words or less |
| A cultural difference you've experienced, and how you'd resolve conflicts it could cause | 300 words or less |
| What you've done since high school, and anything else to add | 300 words or less |
Don't mention your parents' names, employers or job titles. The guideline says this can count against you.
Fees, tuition and visa funds
KRW 200,000
Application fee
KRW 230,000 for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. Up from KRW 150,000 last year. Non-refundable.
By major
Tuition
Listed on Yonsei's tuition page. In your first year you pay the Global Basic Education Division's tuition rate.
KRW 22M+
Bank balance for the visa
Needed for the certificate of admission for a D-2 student visa, in your or a parent's name, and kept during your stay.
After you receive the bank statement, you have 30 days to complete the visa steps, so prepare your other documents first.
Underwood International College (English-taught)
For Spring 2027, UIC accepted applications from Aug 26 to Sep 17, 2026. Shortlisted applicants have online interviews on Dec 11 and 12, with results on Dec 18. UIC reviews your academic record, personal statement, activities and standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, IB, A-Levels or AP, then interviews the strongest applicants. There's no cutoff score.
UIC has its own guideline, application options and tuition. Read our full UIC guide.
Is Yonsei a good fit for you?
A strong fit if you have a strong academic record and want a top Korean degree, and you're ready to reach TOPIK 3 during your first year.
The English route is Underwood International College, not the international student track. Compare both before you apply.
Think twice if you have a GED or were homeschooled, or if you want to live in central Seoul from day one: year one is in Songdo.
Sources and verification
Yonsei University, Spring 2027 (March 2027 entry) international student admission guideline, Korean and English editions, Seoul campus. Underwood International College dates as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, July and September 2026. Last verified Sep 23, 2026.
Where the Korean and English editions differ, Yonsei says the Korean text prevails. Requirements change every intake; always confirm in the official guideline before you apply. K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with Yonsei University.