Is Seoul National University better than Yonsei University for international applicants?

Seoul National University is ranked #1 at the national level and #31 at global level because of its excellent academic courses and research-oriented labs. Whereas Yonsei University is ranked #2 and #56 in respective areas. Though both the universities provide globally recognised programs, Yonsei university has a better focus on global participation. Yonsei University is known for it's active student and campus life. Apart from this, Yonsei also offers programs to international students that are purely taught in English, therefore making it a better choice for international students.

Which university has the highest number of international students among Yonsei University, Seoul National University and Korea University?

Among Yonsei University, Seoul National University and Korea University, Korea University has the the highest number of international students. The university reported 6524 students in fall 2024, followed by 6375 students in Yonsei University and 2000+ in Seoul National University. Though the acceptance rate of Korea University is around 8%, it offers the highest number of courses in comparison with Yonsei and Seoul National University within affordable tuition fees.

How many international applicants are enrolled at Yonsei University?

A total number of 6375 international applicants are enrolled in Yonsei university. Out of which, 5466 applicants are enrolled in main campus (Sinchon) and rest 909 are enrolled in MIRAE campus. Out of 5466, 3155 students are degree seeking, 826 are on credit exchange programme and 1485 are seeking language course. Out of 909, 834 students are degree seeking, 31 students are on credit exchange and 44 are pursuing language course.

Can a student apply to more than one college?

Yes, a student can apply to more than one college. Generally, many applicants inquire about applying to different colleges to increase the chance of getting into the university. However, Yonsei University has one condition, if the applicant is already enrolled in Underwood International College, he will not be eligible to enroll in any other college even if they have received an acceptance letter.

Does Yonsei University support visa application process?

Applicants need to apply for a student visa if the duration of their course if longer than three months. After full payment of tuition fees, applicants will have to submit required documents in the Office of International Affairs (OIA) and they will receive a COA (Certificate of Admission) and a copy of Yonsei Business Registration Certificate from OIA. The last step is to submit required documents in the embassy to apply for a D-2 visa.

Which Kdramas were filmed in Yonsei University?

Yonsei universities is known to have one of the prettiest campuses in Seoul and therefore chosen by many Korean filmmakers for their Kdramas such as Snowdrop My Sassy Girl Abyss, Reply 1994 Romance is a bonus book A time called you (new!); etc.

Who are some famous graduates of Yonsei University?

Graduates from Yonsei University excelled in various fields including Television industry, Business, Politician, Writing and many more. Some of them are Lee Boo-jin, Han Kang, Park Gyu-young, Jun Hyun-moo, Seo Jang-hoon, J.Y. Park, Sun Sheng Xi, Paik Jong-won and many more.

What kind of career support does Yonsei University offer to international students?

Yes, Yonsei University does provide career support. Office of Student Affairs and Services helps students grab various job opportunities in different industries and trains them for recruiting process. Career support team provides all the resources, guest lectures from industry experts, mock interview sessions and counselling sessions as well.

Are there opportunities for internships during the program?

Yes, Yonsei International Summer School offers a Corporate Internship Program where students get the opportunity to experience corporate world. Students get a chance to gain professional experience and build a strong social network. The duration of this programme is 7.5 weeks, from Jun 16, 2025 – Aug 5, 2025. Students enrolled in any reputed foreign institution other than Yonsei University are eligible for this internship program.

Who is eligible for Global Korea Scholarship?

Applicants interested for any programme at any level can apply for Global Korea Scholarship. But they must meet certain requirements which are mentioned below: Applicant or his parents must hold a citizenship of country other than Korea and if they previously held the citizenship, they must submit the documents of proof. Applicants must have scored 80% in their previous programme or ranked amongst 20% of his class. Applicant must be under 40 years.

Is the scholarship application process more challenging and demanding than visa application process in Yonsei University?

Applying for scholarship involves steps including submitting application, reviewing and submitting scholarship application form along with the required documents. Whereas, visa application process includes paying tuition fees, submitting required documents for COA (certificate of admission), getting a student visa by submitting COA along with required documents to embassy, arrival in the country and then applying for an alien registration card. While both the processes are different, if any step not followed properly can put the applicant in a challenging situation.

What are the scholarships provided by Yonsei University?

There are four types of Scholarships provided by Yonsei University: Scholarship Eligibility Amount Global Leader Fellowship Recommended outstanding International students with a minimum GPA of 3.4/4.3 Full Entrance & Tuition Fee, Monthly stipend Outstanding International Student Scholarship (I) Recommended outstanding International students with a minimum GPA of 3.4/4.3 Full Entrance & Tuition Fee Outstanding International Student Scholarships (II) Recommended outstanding International students with a minimum GPA of 3.4/4.3 50% of Entrance & Tuition Fee Outstanding International Student Scholarship (III) Outstanding international students selected to receive financial support from their department Maximum 50% of Entrance & Tuition Fee Also read: South Korea scholarship for Indian students

Who all are eligible for MBA at Yonsei University?

To pursue MBA from Yonsei University, student must submit the documents as proof that following requirements are fulfilled. A non-Korean applicant with non-Korean parents Completion of high school along with Bachelor's degree from outside of Korea. English language proficiency report. A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or TOEFL score of atleast 91 is required to be eligible for MBA program. Proof of funds Recommendation letter GMAT or GRE report (if applicable)

How can I get admission in Yonsei University?

If the applicant is eligible for the admission, he will have to follow the steps mentioned below to apply: First step is submitting the online application either from the university or from a common app along with the required documents. The admission committee will interview the selected applicants and will give a score on a scale of 100 points. Selected applicants must register and provide required documents to the university.

How much is the Yonsei application fee?

The application fees for undergraduate programs is 150,000 KRW and 130,000 KRW for graduate programs, PhD and integrated programs and 120,000 KRW for global MBA.

Does Yonsei accept IELTS?

Yes, Yonsei University accepts IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC score to check the applicant's English proficiency skills. Usually the university accepts a minimum score of 5.5 for most of the programs but for MBA program, minimum score of 6.0 is accepted to be eligible.

How to apply to Yonsei University as an international student?

International students have to follow the below process to apply at Yonsei University: Gather required documents: To submit a Yonsei University application, international students must keep the below-required documents handy: 1. Personal Statement 2. Academic History Records (Marksheet) 3. Official academic transcripts of high school (s) attended. 4. High school Diploma or Certificate of (expected) graduation 5. Certificate of Korean Language Proficiency (mandatory for pre-med, nursing, pre-dentistry, and pharmacy) 6. Documents verifying the foreign nationality of the student and his/her parents. 7. Official document indicating the relationship between the student and his/her parents. Check the eligibility: Before filling out the Yonsei University application form, international students must check the program-specific requirements, language proficiency scores, and minimum admission requirements. Fill out the application form: Using the above documents details and personal details, fill out the educational background, work experience, and personal statement in the Yonsei University application form before the deadline and pay around 5k as application fees. Wait for a response: International students have to wait for the official mail confirmation from Yonsei University.

Is Korea expensive for applicants?

Yes, Korea is expensive for applicants. It is important that the applicant plan out the budget beforehand. Some of the estimated expenses are as follows: Application fees for an undergraduate program is 150,000 KRW and 130,000 KRW for a postgraduate, PhD and integrated programs and 120,000 KRW for global MBA. Along with the tution fees, applicant will also have to pay miscellaneous fees every semester which will cover additional services such as student council, editorial board, newspaper subscription fee, broadcasting fee and many more. Apart from the study programs, cost of living can be costly than that of living in India. Yonsei University provides housing facilities to the international applicants which may cost from INR 50000- 70000 per semester.

What are Yonsei University fees for Indian students?

The first-year tuition fee for the bachelor's programme is INR 3 Lacs for Indian students and post-graduation programs, the tuition fees are INR 27lakhs. Yonsei University offers Bachelors programs in history, applied statistics, mathematics, physics, business administration, and global and corporate MBA programs.

What are the English language requirements to get into Yonsei University?

Yonsei University judges the English proficiency of international students with TOEFL and IELTS scores. Below are the Yonsei University English language requirements: English Language Test Minimum score required TOEFL 79 IELTS 6.5 Also read: A guide to learning Korean language

Is the Yonsei application fees refundable?

No, Yonsei University does not refund application fees whereas the tuition fees is refundable. Refund percentage of tuition fees depends on the time of withdrawal which is mentioned below. Time of Withdrawal Refund Percentage of Tuition Fees One day before first day of class 100% refund First day of class 80% refund From second day onward No refund

What are Yonsei University document requirements for international students' admission?

The Yonsei University document requirements for international students are: Complete application form Personal Statement Academic History Records Official academic transcripts of high school (s) attended. High school Diploma or Certificate of (expected) graduation Certificate of Korean Language Proficiency (mandatory for pre-med, nursing, pre-dentistry, and pharmacy) Documents verifying the foreign nationality of the student and his/her parents. Official document indicating the relationship between the student and his/her parents. 2 Letters of recommendation Copy of applicant’s and his/her parent’s passport

Are Yonsei courses taught in English?

Yes, Yonsei university offers courses that are taught in English. These courses are open for undergraduate, graduate and non-degree programs specially for international applicants and student exchange programs. But the primary language for instruction is Korean so applicants must know basic language skills. The schools of Yonsei that teach its programs in English are as follows. FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS: Underwood International College FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS: Graduate School of International Studies Global Institute of Theology Global MBA FOR NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS: Yonsei International Summer School Winter Abroad at Yonsei

Which is the best course in Yonsei University for international applicants?

Yonsei university provides different programs in different leading industries such as Business and Management Studies, IT and Software, Data Science etc.; out of which Business and Management Studies programs are top ranked. Majority of the international applicants pursue BBA and MBA. MBA has been ranked #2 in Shiksha Popularity Ranking because of its global recognition. The highest annual package after an MBA programme is INR 56.5 LPA.

What are the specializations offered by Yonsei University?

Yonsei university offers courses in various fields for both undergraduate and graduate programs which are as follows: FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS: Under Liberal Arts, courses like language programs, literature, history, philosophy and psychology are offered. Under Commerce and Business, economics, business administration; under Science and Biotechnology, mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry, astronomy, physics, etc.; Engineering courses Computer and Artificial Intelligence related courses; Theology; Social Science and many more internationally recognised courses are offered. FOR POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS: Yonsei University offers postgraduate programs to international applicants in various specializations including Journalism and Mass communication, Business, Engineering, Social Welfare, Law, Public Health and many more.

What is the Yonsei University World Ranking?

In 2024, Yonsei University QS ranking under World Universities Ranking is 76. As per US News and World Report, Yonsei University is ranked at 292 among Global Universities. As per Times Higher Education, Yonsei University is ranked at 76 in World Universities Ranking.

Where do Yonsei applicants live?

Yonsei university provides on campus housing facilities which are mentioned below: SK Global House can take in approximately 585 international applicants where separate floors are allotted to different genders. International House, also known as Gukje Haksa can accommodate almost 232 international applicants with sharing rooms. Muak Dormitories and Beophyeon Haksa consists of five buidings and are open to both international as well as domestic applicants.

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Yonsei University: Rankings, Cost, Programs, Placements

Q: Is it hard to get into Yonsei University for international applicants?

The acceptance rate of Yonsei University is 18%. A good hold on following things can help you get the acceptance: Applicants must have strong academic performance especially in the areas of their interested programs. Yonsei University accepts IELTS, TOEFL, TOPIK (IBT), TOEIC and TEPS scores as English proficiency requirements. The minimum scores may vary with different programs. Participation in extracurricular activities, a good work experience and a strong recommendation letter may strengthen the chances of getting into Yonsei University.

Seoul, South Korea

26 Student Q&A

Shiksha popularity ranking

#108 in World

#2 in South Korea

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Private University
Estd. 1885

Last updated on 5 May '25

Yonsei
What’s new?

Applicants of graduate school will receive notifications about the interview round on May 12, 2025 and the interview will take place on May 17, 2025.
Yonsei University will announce the final results of graduate school on June 5, 2025.

Yonsei Overview

Table of content

About Yonsei University
Yonsei University Courses
Yonsei University Scholarships 2025
Yonsei University Admission 2025
Yonsei University Fees
+ 7 more items

About Yonsei University

Yonsei University, a private Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea was established in 1885. Yonsei is a part of SKY Universities comprising country’s three most reputed universities. With the motto “Truth and Freedom”, university pledges to carry forward it’s mission in order to educate applicants the importance of a deep personal reflection and doing what is right.

The university is ranked #56 globally and #2 in Shiksha's popularity ranking in South Korea, making it one of the Korea’s leading research driven institution. The university includes 20 schools, 28 colleges and 2 divisions out of which 22 colleges and 17 schools are a part of the main campus (including Sinchon campus, International campus and a Severance hospital) and rest 6 colleges and 3 schools along with 2 divisions are under MIRAE campus, offering a wide range of academic programs. The university has 152 research centers on its main campus out of which 67 are used for broader research projects, 14 are used by various departments and rest 71 are used for specific subjects.

When it comes to admission process, Yonsei University’s acceptance rate is around 18%. The university offers many programs at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level for international applicants amongst which top ranked programs are focusing on areas like Banking, Finance, IT and Software, Business Management Studies and Data Science. Programs like BBA and MBA/PGDM are commonly preferred by the applicants.

Currently, 37,500+ applicants are studying at Yonsei University. Out of which 5466 are international applicants including 3155 are pursuing degree courses, 826 are on credit exchange program and rest 1485 are seeking language course. As of now, the university is connected with a total number of 381418 alumni. Out of them, some of the notable alumni are: Bong Joon-ho, Lu Han, Jun Hyun-moo, Paik Jong-won, Seo Jang-hoon and many more.

Things to Know About Yonsei University

Some of the the important things to know about Yonsei University are mentioned below.

Particulars	Statistics
Year of Establishment	1885
Type of University	Private University
Acceptance Rate	Around 18%
Types of Programs	Undergraduate Graduate Non-Degree
Popular programs	BBA MBA/PGDM
Yonsei Tution Fees	INR 2L- 23L
Accepted Exams	IELTS TOEFL
Number of international applicants	5466
Global Ranking	#56
Shiksha Popularity Ranking	#2
Campus (2)	MAIN CAMPUS (Shinchon campus, International campus, Severance Hospital) MIRAE CAMPUS
Notable Alumni	Bong Joon-ho Lu Han J.Y. Park Park Gyu-young Han Kang Paik Jong-won Seo Jang-hoon; and many more.
Type of Student Organizations	Performing Arts Division Liberal Branch Division Social Activities Division Religious Division Creative Arts Division Sports Division Books Division

Year of establishment

1885

University website

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Student website

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Accepted exams

IELTS
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Commonly asked questions
On Highlights

Q: Is it hard to get into Yonsei University for international applicants?

The acceptance rate of Yonsei University is 18%. A good hold on following things can help you get the acceptance:

Applicants must have strong academic performance especially in the areas of their interested programs.
Yonsei University accepts IELTS, TOEFL, TOPIK (IBT), TOEIC and TEPS scores as English proficiency requirements. The minimum scores may vary with different programs.
Participation in extracurricular activities, a good work experience and a strong recommendation letter may strengthen the chances of getting into Yonsei University.

Upvote

Q: Is Yonsei University better than IIM?

Both Yonsei University and IIM are globally recognised universities. According to QS World University Rankings, Yonsei University is ranked #56 whereas IIM (Ahmedabad) is ranked #60. Although both the universities have their own strengths and weaknesses, Yonsei university stands better than the IIM Ahmedabad. The table below mentions the comparison between the two universities.

Parameter	Yonsei University	IIM
Acceptance rate	Appx 18%	0.17%
QS Ranking	56	60
Annual Tuition Fees	INR 2L – 23L	INR 64000 – 33L
Average Package	INR 45.7 – 56.5 LPA	INR 35.68 LPA

Upvote

Q: Is Yonsei University expensive?

The annual tuition for an undergraduate course at Yonsei University ranges from KRW 23,300,000 (INR 14 lakhs) to KRW 33,900,000 (INR 21 lakhs). Therefore, studying there is somewhat expensive. Along with the tuition fees, international students have to pay for housing and living expenses too. So overall cost of studying at Yonsei University is expensive.

Also read: Cost of living in South Korea

(KRW 1= INR 0.062)

Upvote

Q: Does Yonsei accept foreigners?

Yes, Yonsei University accept international applicants on a rolling basis, offering a flexible admission timeline whereas domestic applicants have a fixed timeline. During each admission cycle, the university interviews around 5800+ international applicants with an aim to provide an experience of studying and culture of Korea.

Upvote

Q: Why study abroad at Yonsei?

Yonsei University is one of the top three universities of South Korea ranked #56 in world university rankings creating a strong global presence while focusing on excellence.
The university offers a wide range of programs in fields such as Business and Management Studies, Banking, Finance, IT and Software and Data Science.
The university's main library holds over three million books along with many research institutes like Yonsei Global Health Center that focuses on major global healthcare challenges.
Apart from this, applicants can be a part of different clubs based on their interests and engage in sport activities.

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TOEFL iBT Test is accepted across all the colleges across South Korea. Use coupon code SHIKTOEFL to get an instant discount of up to RS 500.

Yonsei University Courses

Yonsei University offers various programs at undergraduate and graduate level to international applicants under various streams including Liberal arts, Commerce and Economics, Business, Science and Biotechnology, Engineering, Computer and Artificial Intelligence, Theology, Social Science, Law and many more. The popular courses covers leading sectors of the industry, covering Business and Management Studies, IT and Software, Banking and Finance, Insurance and Data Science. Usually the duration of BBA is 4 years with tuition fees of INR 2L and the duration of MBA program is 18 months with the tuition fees of INR 23L.

Top ranked courses for international applicants are mentioned below:

Program	BBA	MBA/PGDM
Level	Undergraduate	Graduate
Tuition Fees	INR 2L	INR 23L
Duration	4 years	18 months

MBA/PGDM

1 Course18 months

1st year Tution Fees

₹23 L

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BBA

1 Course4 years

1st year Tution Fees

₹2 L

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Yonsei University Admission 2025

To get admmition, applicants must apply by completing online application and sending application material to UIC via post or by submitting the application using Common App.

Yonsei University Application Deadlines

International applicants are admitted on a rolling basis. This is for Underwood International College.

The application deadlines are mentioned below in the following table:

Programs	Application Deadline (International Applicants)
Fall Undergraduate Programs	April 4, 2025
Graduate School of Business (Global MBA Program)	October 16, 2024

Admission Requirements for International Applicants

Yonsei University has set up following requirements for the international applicants to successfully get enrolled in their respective courses:

Yonsei University requires English proficiency proof. Test scores of IELTS, TOEFL, TOPIK(IBT), TOEIC and TEPS are accepted by the university. However, the minimum scores may vary for different programs.
To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, one must earn the number of credits based on their selected program as per stated on university’s website.

Acceptance Rate

Yonsei University has an acceptance rate of approximately 18% making it slightly selective for the applicants.

Application Fees

International applicants applying in UG level programs and Graduate School of Business are required to deposit 150,000 KRW and 130,000 KRW as their application fees.

Eligibility

The general documents to get into the university are as follow:

Printed application cover
Personal statement (written in English)
Letter of consent
Letter of verification
Official transcripts of high school
One copy of high school diploma or Certificate of Graduation
Copies of Passports/ID Cards of applicant and applicant’s parents
One copy of Applicant’s Birth Certificate

Some additional documents are as follows:

Academic portfolio
Extracurricular Activities
Work Experience

Application fees :No Fees
Type of deadline :Regular

Documents

Type of documents	Applicable for
SOP	Not required
LOR	Needed for few courses
Essays	Needed for few courses
CV	Not required
Additional documents	Required

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Yonsei University VS Korea university VS Seoul National University, which is better?

Yonsei University, Korea University and Seoul National University are the top 3 reputed universities of South Korea. SNU is usually the highest ranked whereas Yonsei and Korea university are ranked #2 and #3 at National level. SNU is a public university known for its discipline and a vast research-focused campus. Meanwhile Yonsei and Korea Universities are known for their campus life and international programs.

A comparison of Yonsei University with Seoul and Korea University is mentioned below for better understanding.

Parameters	Yonsei University	SNU	Korea University
Shiksha Popularity Rankings	#2	#1	#4
World University Rankings	#56	#31	#67
No. of Courses	12	13	18
Annual tuition fees	INR 2L- 23L	INR 2L	INR 3L – 22L
Acceptance Rate	Around 18%	Around 15-20%	Around 8%
No. of Scholarships	4	2 (before admission)	5

Compare Yonsei with other similar colleges

MBA/PGDM

BBA

College	1st Year Tuition Fees	Shiksha Grade	Ranking
Yonsei University	INR 22.5 L	A+	#56 QS, 2025
Korea University Compare	INR 22 L	A	#67 QS, 2025
Chung-Ang University Compare	INR 12 L	C+	#401 THE, 2025
Sungkyunkwan University Compare	INR 16.25 L	B++	#102 THE, 2025
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Compare	INR 4.05 L - 12.6 L	A	#53 QS, 2025
Sejong University Compare	INR 6.02 L	B+	#201 THE, 2025

The values are of the latest years available with Shiksha. For more details, check detailed comparison

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Yonsei
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4+Universities & colleges

1.99KIndian students in South Korea in 2024

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51.97M (2023)Total population

2%Economic growth rate in 2023

KoreanPrimary language

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Yonsei University Notable Alumni

Many of the graduates from Yonsei University have excelled in various fields. Some of them are as follows:

Yonsei University Notable Alumni	Designation
Bong Joon-ho	Television producer, Politician, Screen Writer, Film Director
Lu Han	Actor, Singer, Dancer
J.Y. Park	Film Actor, Director, Song Writer, Singer
Park Gyu-young	Actor
Han Kang	Writer, Poet, Novelist
Paik Jong-won	Writer, Chef, Businessperson
Seo Jang-hoon	Basketball player
Ahn Nae sang	Actor
Lee Boo-jin	Businesswoman
Jun Hyun-moo	Host and Television Personality

Yonsei University’s Sinchon Campus (main campus) covers almost 250 acres. The university offers various services including IT, health and sports, transportation, general stores, venue reservations and many more. The city experiences summer from June to August where temperature can go from 22 to 30 degree celsius. This season also experience heavy rainfall leading to humidity, therefore students are advised to pack light weight clothes along with sunscreen, sunglass and a water bottle. September to November experience Autumn with temperatures between 10 – 20 degree celsius. And in winter season, temperatures can drop to 0 degree and sometimes -5 degree celsius as well. Students are advised to pack accordingly.

HOUSING

Gukje Haksa is one of the main campus housing for international applicants with a capacity of 232 applicants each in a room. The house is primarily allotted to the international applicants who are visiting for an exchange program, undergraduates, graduates and language programs. University makes sure that different genders are allotted rooms on separate floors.

OTHER RESOURCES

The campus also provides various resources such as libraries, IT facilities, Health facilities such as bank, gym, athletic ground, table tennis court, squash court, post office etc; shuttle system to help the applicants easily travel; Restaurants; Cafes; Pharmacies. Students can also find the campus map, location, directions and a virtual tour of the campus on university’s website.

Visit the official website for more information.

Yonsei University FAQs

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