Yonsei University

Yonsei University, is one of South Korea's oldest and most prestigious institutions. Established in 1885, it is part of the “SKY” trio, which is equivalent to the Russell Group in the United Kingdom.  

Yonsei is a private university with over 40,000 students across its three campuses; Sinchon, Songdo, and the Mirae Campus. The university is known for its rigorous academics, vibrant campus life and diverse international student community. Over 800 courses are offered in English over various disciplines.  

Yonsei offers a wide range of courses taught in English, covering fields such as business, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The institution hosts students from over 70 countries, providing a multicultural environment. 

Website: YONSEI University, Seoul, Korea 

3 places available. Please note, this opportunity is not available to students pursuing the CIVICA Engage Track. 

Applicants must be in their second year and must return to LSE after the year abroad to complete their degree. 

To be eligible for consideration, you must have an overall average of 60% or above from all of your first year courses. Applicants with individual module scores under 60% will be considered, as long as the overall average grade is 60% or above. 

As part of your application, you must provide your marks from your first year modules at LSE and the name and contact details of one academic referee. Your referee can be any academic member of staff from your department at LSE.

Host Institution Requirements: Additional academic standing requirements may apply depending on the faculty or program. 

Language of Instruction: Courses are available in Korean and English. To study in Korean, students will require either KLAT level 4, TOPIK level 4 or an assessment report by a professor. 

Courses are available via the Course Catalogue and Syllabus page. 

Academic Calendar:  Orientation takes place in the last week of August, with the semester running until the third week of December. The Spring semester runs from the first week of March until the third week of June. Please note that Korean students typically start the academic year with the Spring semester. 

Workload & Credit System: Students will be expected to take 9-18 credits worth of courses per semester. Courses are typically worth 3 or 1.5 credits.  

Courses offered by the Department of Business Administration are only available to exchange/visiting students who are majoring in a business-related field at their home institution and have chosen Business Administration as their Yonsei major in their application. Students who qualify may take a maximum of 4 BIZ courses (12 credits) only. 

Courses are marked on a scale out of 4.3, which is then transferred to letter grades.  

Induction & Orientation: Orientation is offered in the first week of term for all visiting students. The Yonsei Global One-Stop Service Centre supports international student’s smooth landing by providing services such as visa guidance.   

Student support: Yonsei offers counselling services via the Counselling Centre. Within this, psychological testing is also available to explore relationship and career paths.  

The Health Service Centre is available on the international campus. The Office for Students with Disabilities is available to discuss individual accommodations. 

The Korean Language Institute is an educational institution affiliated with Yonsei University, established on April 1, 1959, to teach the Korean language and culture to students, missionaries, diplomats, foreign professors, businesspeople, and media personnel interested in studying Korea and to enhance understanding of Korea. This school offers a range of programmes to fit around your studies.  

There are three on-campus dormitories available to international students. With costs approximately KRW 2,000,000 per month. 

Cost of Living: Exchnage students are advised to undertake research and budget accordingly. 

The below provides an approximate estmate for essential expenses per month: 

Meals - KRW 2,000,000 

Transportation - KRW 400,000 

Students must have health insurance that covers the entire period of study in Korea. Safety tips and helpful phone numbers are available here: Safety & Emergency 

Students can experience Korean culture by participating in various Yonsei clubs and activities for international students. For example, the famous Yon-Ko Festival, the annual friendly sports match between Yonsei University and Korea University and their surrounding festivities, is a major must-see event for international students. 

The Yonsei Global organisation runs various programs for exchange/visiting students, while the Mentors Club offers a program in which international students are divided into groups with Yonsei students. 

Sports and fitness: The university offers a gymnasium, swimming pool, and fitness centre among other facilities.  

Visas

• It is your responsibility to check whether you require a visa and to apply for the appropriate visa on time.
• Contact the embassy or consulate early to learn about visa application procedures.
• Apply for your visa as soon as possible 
• Make travel plans that allow time for processing of your visa application. 

Email: abroad@yonsei.ac.kr  

Link to factsheet: 

• https://oia.yonsei.ac.kr/intstd/[Yonsei_ESP]_Factsheet_Spring_2025.pdf  
• Study in Korea|run by Korean Government 
• Global One-Stop Service Center