*** The Study Abroad Office will only be able to accept 2 students for the Spring 2026 academic term at Yonsei University. We strongly recommend students explore other programs in Asia because of this. ***
Introduction
Yonsei University was established in 1885, and it is the oldest university in South Korea. The university is located 20 minutes away from the cultural, economic, and political centers of downtown Seoul. Its student body is comprised of the top one percent of high school graduates in Korea. The university’s commitment to academic excellence and internationalization has attracted top-level international students to study at Yonsei. There are over 800 courses offered in English as regular courses taught in Korean. Korean language courses are offered at the Korean Language Institute. Yonsei University has achieved remarkable progress, now ranking 56th globally and 1st among Asian Private Universities.
Among the services and facilities for international students is the Global Lounge which is wireless and provides study and seminar space in a comfortable environment. It also has satellite broadcasting systems providing news from 15 countries and multimedia space for cultural and academic events. With over 3,000 international students studying abroad each year, Yonsei is the perfect university for students seeking to expand their Korean and international scope. University of Miami students wishing to participating on this University of Miami partner program must be at least a sophomore. Transfer students must complete at least one semester at UM.
Applying to Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Office is very excited that you are exploring options to study abroad. We look forward to assisting you in this process. Please keep in mind that programs may be competitive and applying to a program does not guarantee acceptance. Our goal is to support you, but this process can be time consuming and requires you to be an active participant in the process.
Academics
In order to participate on the Yonsei University UM Partner Program, UM students must be of a second semester Sophomore standing. Although course openings tend to be similar for each semester (spring to spring, fall to fall), the course schedule is published about 1~2 months before course registration, which occurs at the beginning of the semester abroad. To find Yonsei classes offered in previous semesters, students can search for course options through the Yonsei Portal Service, by clicking on "Course Catalogue & Syllabus" option. Business courses (course code BIZ) are only open to business majors and are limited to only four business courses at Yonsei University.
Following, is a list of courses taken by past University of Miami students at Yonsei University. This list does not guarantee that a particular course will be offered during a student's study abroad semester, rather it should be used as a reference guide. List of Classes Take by Past UM Students at Yonsei University..xlsx
While it is not required for University of Miami students to register in a Korean language course, it is strongly encouraged. Special Korean language courses are offered for international exchange students at Yonsei University through the Korean Language Institute (KLI). The Intensive Korean Language course is offered Monday to Friday for 2 hours of class.
Academic Areas
Business
Communications
East Asian Studies
Engineering
Humanities
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Social Sciences
Program Dates
Specific program dates can be found on the
Yonsei University Academic Calendar page. Typically the Fall semester runs from late August to late December. The Spring semester runs from mid-February to mid-June. University of Miami students may complete a full academic year at Yonsei University.
Grading Scale
| Yonsei University Grade |
A+ |
A0 |
A- |
B+ |
B0 |
B- |
C+ |
C0 |
C- |
D |
F |
| UM Grade |
A+ |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D |
F |
Credit Equivalency
1 Yonsei University Credit = 1 UM credit
Housing
There are two university housing facilities. The
International House is Yonsei’s dormitory for
international students. There are double rooms with separate wings for male and female students. The
SK Global House which opened in March 2010 is state of the art housing for international students and visiting faculty. There are single and double rooms with private bathrooms and showers. All of the rooms in both facilities are western-style with heat and air-conditioning and internet access. There are no meal plans, but there is a shared kitchen with several refrigerators. Students can eat in the university cafeterias as well as in the numerous restaurants close to campus. More information is provided at the
SK Global House Website. On-campus housing payments are made directly to Yonsei University.
Life at Yonsei
- AKARAKA & Yon-Ko Festival
- Yonsei Global
- OIA affiliated organization, Yonsei Global, runs various programs for international students every semester.
- Mentors Club
- Each semester, Mentors Club offers programs in which international students are divided into groups with Yonsei students.
Korean Health Insurance
All international students must own health insurance that covers them during the period of stay in Korea. Since Yonsei University does not offer health insurance students
will need to research international health insurance options that are the best fit for their own health needs. Proof of health insurance must be submitted to Yonsei University before students are able to register for classes.
Admission
Serious applicants should plan to submit a complete, well-thought out, and comprehensive application. Students who submit a complete application will be granted an interview. Qualified candidates will be nominated to Yonsei Unviersity, who will ask that students complete a separate application. Yonsei University will make the final admission decision. Late applications will not be considered. Admitted students will receive an acceptance email and admission package which contain documents necessary for your visa application, including the Letter of Acceptance, the Certificate of Admission, and the Certificate of Business Registration.
Applying to Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Office is very excited that you are exploring options to study abroad. We look forward to assisting you in this process. Please keep in mind that programs may be competitive and applying to a program does not guarantee acceptance. Our goal is to support you, but this process can be time consuming and requires you to be an active participant in the process.
Student Visa
Admitted students must apply for a D-2 student visa to study in Korea. The application documents vary from country to country, so please check with your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate for further information. Students with Korean Heritage may have special requirements regarding visa issuance due to dual nationality issues, especially in terms of military service for male students. If you suspect that this might be your case, please ask for instructions from your local Korean Embassy well in advance of your trip to Korea.
Due to a strengthened immigration policy, Yonsei University are required to collect the Apostilled or Authenticated/Legalized transcript from students with nationality of a non-OECD country (OECD member countries). Students can visit this website to check whether or not they fall under the Apostille process.
Additional Resources 
Testimonials
- "The most desirable characteristics of this program is that you are studying at a great location. There are many subjects to choose from academic-wise and the housing is nice and clean. It is super easy and convenient to get around the city using public transportation, not to mention it's relatively inexpensive and clean."
- "Take a Korean language class while you're there, it really helps. Get involved, there are multiple clubs either academic or social that you can join to not only meet other international students, but local students as well."
- "Yonsei is an amazing institution with an amazing campus in an amazing city."
- "Be patient with yourself! Adjustment takes a different amount of time for everyone, so don't expect to adjust like everyone else seems to be adjusting. Chances are, everyone else is pretending like they have it all together just like you. Enjoy the experience of becoming a local in a new place, and get lost around Yonsei's campus and the surrounding area. It's safe, beautiful, and has lots of great food! It will feel nice to get out of the dorm life for a little while too."
