Yonsei University
Programme Details
Minimum mark 63%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s Korean / English
Agreement Scope University wide - available only to additional year route.
Exchange Places 2 full year places for 2024/25 (only additional year programmes)
Overview
About:
Yonsei University started life in the late 1800s, and founded by Horace Grant Underwood, a Christian missionary. It had many identities before becoming Yonhi University in 1946, taking on its current name in the late 1950s.
Nowadays, Yonsei is regarded as South Korea’s top private university. It is one member of ‘SKY’ universities, a term for the three institutions widely regarded as the most prestigious in the country.
The university was founded on Christian principles and this is still a prominent part of its mission, which states its dedication to “educate future leaders of our society in the spirit of Christianity, fostering a strong and lasting commitment to the principles of truth and freedom.” Yonsei has a strong research ethic, and has affiliations with 120 research institutes including 40 of its own.
Spread over three sites situated in Sinchon, Wonju and its state-of-the-art international campus in Songdo, Yonsei consists of just 30,000 undergraduate and around 12,000 postgraduate students. Despite the traditional campus experience, Yonsei’s ‘Smart Campus’ aims to revolutionise the student experience through diversification of content and IT technology. Using the concept of Open Campus Experience (OCX), aims to manage and provide all the information created within the campus to students via technology.
Through its varied courses, Yonsei has produced numerous noted alumni from all areas of society. Its political alumni include Han Seung-su, former prime minister of South Korea, who also served as the president of the United Nations General Assembly. Professional golfer Ryu So-yeon won the United States Women’s Open Championship, while a student at Yonsei.
Contact at Yonsei:
International Affairs Team, Office of International Affairs, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei‐ro, Seodaemun‐gu, Seoul Korea 03722,
Gyuri JEONG, abroad@yonsei.ac.kr
Highlights:
Yonsei University holds an historic, friendly rivalry with its nearby neighbour Korea University. The Yonsei-Korea University Goodwill League event has come to strengthen the bonds of the two universities.
On average, Yonsei University annually sends 1,000 students abroad and receives 1,500 international students as exchange students, both representing one of the largest groups in Korea. The Yonsei International Summer School is the most successful summer program in the country, receiving over 1,500 students and Winter Abroad at Yonsei has also established itself as an unique international program.
Yonsei University is ranked 85th in QS World University Ranking 2021.
Location:
A huge city of more than 10.5 million people, Seoul is an economic and business powerhouse that also boasts a unique history and numerous pleasant pastimes. You can hike on Namsan, see architectural innovation at the UNESCO City of Design, visit the Demilitarised Zone and sample the city’s history with numerous temples, palaces, tea houses and galleries. The food is wonderful, as is the nightlife, the saunas and the art and culture. Seoul is also the home to industry giants such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. As a leader of the IT revolution, Seoul is one of the most wired cities in the world.
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
Visit the Yonsei University website and course catalogue for information about the courses of study available to exchange students. You can change the language displayed by clicking either 'English' or 'Korean' towards the top right of the course catalogue.
Click on the "Course Catalogue and Syllabus: Undergraduate and Graduate" banner to access the full list of courses available. You can search for courses by choosing different filters such as 'Major' or 'Semester'.
Undergraduate course numbers range from 1000 (first year) to 4000 (final year). For example, ECO1234 would be a first year course and ECO4567 would be a final year course. 5000-level courses and above are graduate courses.
Restrictions - Only students enrolled in a Business degree will be allowed to access Business units. Students are limited to a maximum of 4 Business units.
Exchange students do not have access to courses within the following subject areas: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Music, MBA, Law School, and courses offered in Songdo International Campus (UIC).
This exchange is only open to students on the additional year route programme.
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
15 Yonsei credits = 60 York credits
Teaching Periods:
Autumn semester: September to December
Spring semester: March to June
Access the Yonsei calendar.
Language:
Courses at Yonsei are taught in Korean and English.
Korean language proficiency must be demonstrated by students wishing to enrol in regular courses of study in Korean. Students should have a level 4 or above of KLAT or TOPIK.
Student life
Accommodation:
On-campus accommodation is available at Yonsei, but you also have the option to live off campus. You will submit a separate accommodation application when you are accepted to Yonsei. Please note that housing is not guaranteed due to limited spaces. Rooms will be served on a first-come, first serve basis. Find out more about accommodation options at Yonsei.
Although the cost of living varies depending on factors such as housing expenditure and food budget, the average living expenses for international students in Seoul is KRW 5,442,000 per semester (approximate GBP 3,670 per semester).
Orientation / Welcome week:
A full-day orientation will be held prior to the start of semester. It will cover information about academic guidelines, introduce you to student life on campus, student activities and more.
Support Services:
A range of services and networks are available to assist you at Yonsei, including counselling, health services, the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), and more.
Student organisations such as Yonsei Global also run various programs and events to help international and exchange students adapt and learn Korean culture, make Korean and international friends, and enjoy a more eventful and exciting life on and off campus.
Visas:
Information from Yonsei.
Health insurance:
It is mandatory for every exchange/visiting student to obtain a travel/study abroad health insurance that covers the entire period of their stay in Korea, which should cover potential medical expenses incurred by sickness and accident during the stay in Korea.
Travel insurance:
If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.
Student experiences
Be the first to share your experience at Yonsei!
To find out what it's like to study at a South Korean institution read the student experiences for Seoul National University.
Top Tips for Studying in South Korea
Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad in South Korea - Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.
Money and Banking:
I created a Korean bank account.
Monzo and other similar online banking providers are a good option to consider in order to pay for things while abroad without incurring international transaction fees.
Staying Connected:
I had to buy a prepaid monthly SIM card because other SIM cards aren't available to foreigners.
SIM cards can be preordered to your home address or to be picked up at the airport - I found this to give me a bit of peace of mind that my phone service was already sorted before arriving in Korea.
e-SIMs can be a good alternative.
Food:
Cafeteria had good and cheap food.
Groceries, particularly items like fruit and imported goods, can be very expensive so eating out at restaurants often works out cheaper than cooking at home.
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
There wasn't much paperwork to do at all.
What I wished I'd known...:
Classes are a lot more difficult than at York and professors don't help as much.
The teaching style is a lot more like lectures and less discussion-based like seminars at York. You're expected to revise and go over content in your own time.
Useful links
Contact Global Opportunities
Global Opportunities - Find us in Derwent College
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @GoGlobalUOY
Click here to make a virtual appointment to speak to one of our advisors
Videos and information from Yonsei
2023_Study_Abroad_at_Yonsei.pdf