Direct Enrollment - Yonsei University

• 18 years of age
• In good standing at your home school
• 3.0 cumulative GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs between 2.99 and 2.75 on a 4.0 scale will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students with a GPA below 2.75 are ineligible)
• Must be currently enrolled in a four-year degree granting institution
• Second-semester Sophomore, Junior, or first-semester Senior standing when program begins. Neither graduating second-semester Seniors nor college graduates are eligible for this program
• Final admission decision rests with Yonsei University 

Submit Your Online Application

• Applications may be considered after the published deadline on a space available basis. Please note that late applicants may be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit upon acceptance in order to secure a place in the program. Please contact us with questions about applying after the deadline. 

Submit the following in your MyIESabroad account after your Online Application is processed: 

1. Home School Authorization — Your on-campus study abroad advisor can either complete the Home School Authorization electronically through IES Abroad’s PartnerPortal system, or by filling out the PDF form linked above. Consult your study abroad advisor to determine how they would prefer to complete your Home School Authorization.
2. Official Certificate of Enrollment — This is a letter from your school's registrar or study abroad office confirming your enrollment in your current university, current standing in school and your intention to return to your school once your study at Yonsei is completed.
3. Official Transcript(s) — for each college/university you have attended since high school. If you have multiple transcripts, IES Abroad will average the GPAs for all colleges/universities you have attended and use that cumulative GPA when reviewing your application. (Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. must obtain a professional course-by-course transcript equivalency report. You may choose any organization that provides professional international transcript equivalencies.)
4. Color Copy of Your Passport — Submit a copy of the signature page and photo page only showing that your passport is valid at least 6 months beyond the program end date. Must have a valid passport at the time of application.
5. Official e-Bank Letter  — This must be from a bank stating that you have sufficient funds to study in South Korea for your program's duration. More information on this can be found in your MyIESabroad account.
6. Yonsei Study Plan — 4 shorts essays, at least 10 sentences long each, detailing why you would like to study at Yonsei University and give a brief explanation of your current studies to provide a general overview of your academic background. Also mention previous study, volunteer, or work experiences. These essays should state what academic area of study you hope to pursue while Yonsei University. Exact essay prompts can be found in your MyIESabroad Account.
7. Student Photo —  Please upload a passport-style headshot in JPEG format. This photo must be clear and recent, with a full front view of your face and shoulders with a white background. Your photo will be used by Yonsei University for official documents in preparation for your arrival.

Additional requirements in cumulative GPA is below 3.00:

1. Professor Recommendation — Although there is no length requirement, the recommendation must indicate a professor's opinion of the applicant's ability to pursue university-level coursework in a foreign country, in addition to any information that would help IES Abroad gain a better understanding of the applicant.
2. Personal Academic Essay — Although there is no length requirement, the essay must address your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, reasons you chose this IES Abroad program, and how it fits into your academic career.

Apply Now

Acceptance to this program is highly competitive. To ensure that this program is a proper fit for admitted students, IES Abroad has identified majors that best fit with the course offerings available to visiting students at Yonsei University, which will be a factor in the admissions process. All admissions decisions will be made after the application deadline.

Recommended majors: Yonsei has a fair amount of courses available in these disciplines open to visiting students. Students may need to be flexible with course planning. Best fit for study abroad at Yonsei University are denoted by an asterisk (*).

• Asian Studies – students with this major at their home school can select Chinese, Japanese, or Korean Language & Literature on their Yonsei Study Plan *
• Chinese Language & Literature *
• History *
• Japanese Language & Literature *
• Korean Language & Literature *
• Child & Family Studies
• English Language & Literature
• Food & Nutrition
• Human Environment & Design
• Mass Communication
• Philosophy
• Political Science & Diplomacy
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Sports Industry Studies
• Theology 

Competitive majors: Courses in these topics are generally not taught in English or open to visiting students. Course registration is typically competitive due to the lower number of sections available. 

• Architectural Engineering
• Business Administration
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Economics
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering 

You can use this list of majors as a starting point to discern if this program is a good fit for you. If you have any questions, reach out to your IESAbroad advisor study@iesabroad.org

Renew (or Apply for!) Your Passport ASAP 

Passport applications and renewals are taking longer than normal these days. Save yourself from the last-minute stress by making sure: 

1. You have a passport
2. The expiration date is at least six months after your study abroad program ends

Visit  travel.state.gov  to locate U.S. passport agencies in your area. 

Visa Requirements 

South Korea requires U.S.  citizens to obtain a student visa before studying abroad for a semester or longer.  

US Citizenship and Korean Descent: 

If you hold US citizenship, but your parents were born in Korea,  the Korean Consulate considers you a Korean citizen. Contact your Korean Consulate regarding your ability to obtain a Korean visa because the process can be lengthy.

Dual Citizenship and Korean Military Service:

Even if you possess dual citizenship with another country, if you are a Korean citizen (either by birth or blood), you must apply for the program as a Korean citizen. Male students between 18-36 years of age and with Korean citizenship might be subject to conscription into the Korean military if they haven't fulfilled their military service obligation. Check with the Korean Consulate for more information.

South Korean Passport and Visa Requirements:

Students who have a South Korean passport must enter South Korea with their South Korean passport. South Korean passport holders will not need a visa to study abroad for a semester or longer.

Learn more about applying for a student visa for  South Korea. 

Not a U.S. citizen? Consult the consulate website of your passport country and  contact your IES Abroad Advisor.