r/yonsei

I’m an incoming international student trying to make a huge decision between two offers: Yonsei UIC (ISED) and Korea University (Electrical Engineering). Also, my SKKU result is coming on July 16th.

My ultimate goal is to graduate entirely in English and leave Korea after for my master’s abroad. I have zero plans (as of now) to stay in Korea long-term. I need some unfiltered, realistic advice on a few things:

1. The KU English graduation path: For international students in KU electrical engineering, how do they manage an all-English path? It’s concerning that many major-required courses and technical electives lack English sections. If my goal is an English-taught degree for a global master’s program, is KU a trap? How do non-Korean speakers handle mandatory Korean language requirements and major classes without harming their GPA?

2. Yonsei UIC ISED (No Scholarship): Since I didn’t receive an initial scholarship from Yonsei, I’ll be paying the full tuition out of pocket. Given that I want to move to Western countries/abroad for grad school, do UIC’s environment, curriculum, and international recognition actually justify the steep price tag? Is the post-grad pipeline worth the investment?

3. Cost of Living: Can any current student (ideally South Asian students) give me a raw, realistic estimate of monthly living expenses in Korea? I just need a breakdown of dorms/rent, food, transport, and daily life (everything except tuition).

Would really really appreciate if anyone can Help Out!!

I’m from Uzbekistan, and I really want to study in South Korea. Right now I have TOPIK Level 2, but I stopped studying Korean because my parents were against it. However, my dad said that if I get a full scholarship, he’ll allow me to study there.
The problem is that I have no idea where to start. I want to become a translator, but I think I should carefully think about my future career first. Could you recommend some fields of study and tell me how you got accepted, which university you chose, and what the application process was like?

I'm going to be an exchange student at Yonsei in Fall 2026, and I'm required by my home university to take 1-2 classes taught in Korean (ideally either Korean culture/area studies or business classes). I'm at a high TOPIK 3/low TOPIK 4 level (My Korean professor wrote a letter saying I'm a TOPIK 4 so I'm eligible to take classes in Korean). I'm looking for classes that will be easier for foreigners (ex. more projects instead of tests, the professor talks slow, easier readings, simple vocab/class topics, minimal in-class participation, etc.) What classes/professors would you recommend?

Hi all, I'm a prospective international applicant (Muslim) looking at Yonsei for Finance. I know Chapel and Christianity courses are mandatory for graduation. For current/former students — is there any real exemption or alternative (like an online option) for non-Christian students? Does attendance alone count, or is active participation expected? Any first-hand experience would really help before I apply. Thanks!

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Hi! I'm an incoming GSIS student trying to plan my schedule. I'm considering taking two Wednesday classes that run from periods 7–9 and 10–12.

Is there a break between the 9th and 10th periods, or are they completely back-to-back? Or if i pick 1-3 and 4-6 back to back is there any break in between? Or would i have to run from classroom to classroom? 🥲

Do the classes start sharply like 9:00 and end like 12:00? Or like 11:50 or something?

Thanks!

I was planning on visiting Seoul for a trip this year when I discovered that I can apply for a 3 week language course in Seoul. I find this idea very exciting as I can basically get a taste of what it’s like to live there rather than just sightseeing as a tourist.

I want to know if anyone has actually done any of these 3 week courses and if they found it fun or interesting? Did you make any friends out of it?

I want to do this course with either Ewha or Yonsei this fall (leaning more towards Ewha’s course as it’s in September and I prefer warmer temperatures).

i’ll be attending yonsei kli this fall and would love to connect with other people doing the kli program as well! feel free to dm me or comment on here, i’d love to make more friends!!

high school student from NIS Physics/Math at Astana. GPA 4.9 for 11th grade and predicted 4.85 for 12th grade. Eager to apply for robotics/mechatronics/mechanical engineering.

Got 1510 SAT superscore. December 710 780 and march 730 750

Ielts L8.5 R7.5 W6.5 S6.5

AP Calculus BC, Mechanics, and CSA 5 (predicted, will know results in 6th july)

Honours:

Samsung semi-finalist (waiting for semi-final). 38/800+ teams

Iphyc(International Physics Competition) finalist. 15% of 5600 participants.

Selected partiticipant for LaunchX winter bootcamp

ISSAI (Nazarbayev University) internship. Selected of 80/2600+

Turaqty jol 7.0 eco-competition 17/400+ final(waiting for final, engineering based projects toward ecology)

Activities:

About 100 hours of student council. Was honoured by certificate of best member two times in a row.

Internship at local store as a sales manager, 6weeks

Internship at factory, 1.5 weeks

Article in scopus Q3 (not sure will it be published until application)

Cycling 6 years as a hobby.

Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship mini-course certificate

Projects: 3dof manipulator, inverse kinematics, robot-hand (movement based on camera by my hand)

I really want to study in Korea (yonsei, kaist, postech, skku, unist) and live there because of the better job opportunities. My high school GPA is 4.8/5, and I got a 7.0 on the IELTS a year ago, though I think I should retake it. My SAT score is 1590. I have been working as an SAT tutor for the past six months and have helped many students achieve higher scores. I also have strong extracurricular activities and projects, including interviewing professors from top universities such as the University of Michigan and Stanford University (we did some research tgth too). I don't have many notable honors. I placed third in several regional Olympiads but wasn't able to win at the national finals.

hi guys im a gsis student who was accepted to start this fall and wanted to make a discord server to connect w other students starting this upcoming sem (undergrad, grad, exchange--everyone)!

• here's the link!

i modeled it after an old server i joined as an exchange student at yonsei 3yrs ago lol so if there are any suggestions for improvement i'd love to hear them :) figured discord might be a little more organized than standard gcs in other apps... hope to meet some of u guys there!!

Throwaway

Hello! I'm a Korean-American college student living in Seoul for the summer near Yonsei. I don't really know many people here and am looking to make friends with other college students. I am near some major universities; does anyone know if it's realistic to try to make friends with other undergrads here? If so, what is the best way to do this and meet new people my age?

Hello! I didn't really know there was a reddit community for this; I wish I had known this earlier. Anyways... I have been applying to PSIR/PSIS in both yonsei tracks ever since 2024 when I was in high school (did not have IB program), I applied for Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and did not apply for Fall 2026, as I decided to have time to reflect and improve for now Spring 2027... (Also for KU, Ewha and HUFS this time). Currently, since im class of 2024, I am studying law at the top 1 university in my country. rn im about to finish my 3rd semester/1.5 year of a 6-year program. I did not know if I was still allowed to apply as a freshman (Fall 2025-Spring 2026; I still did apply as a freshman), so I asked and they firstly said yes, but now that I ask, they do not give a clear answer other than "applicants must choose their eligibility based on the guidelines; therefore, read the guidelines." I am scared that the reason they might have been rejecting me is because of this? I do not wish to transfer any credits or apply as a transfer; I'd gladly start over as a freshman (also bc my uni grades are not that good bc of serious mental health issues + it being the top 1 uni really is challenging).
Also before I didn't have an SAT score (it's not a common test in my country), but I do know, and I've decided to retake it in august since I didn't get a good score in the june one (1250 as my first SAT; I've been 2 years out of high school, and I had to balance studying for the SAT with uni coursework lol). I'm aiming for a 1400+ this time, so hopefully I make the cut with that. I also have to retake the TOEFL since the one I took in 2024 specifically for the application is about to expire. I'm aiming for a 5.5 on the new scale? like a 110/120? since last time I didn't study at all for it and got a 92...
I would love some feedback :(. My ECS are not that good and each time I applied, I've tried to improve them, being this time where I feel they are stronger(?) (joined 2 youth orgs and made the bylaws of one of them, attended the intl seminar of Dr. Song No talking abt Han Kang where at the end I engaged with him and got a pic w him too, started an online study group/blog where I even got a big brand to sponsor, doing the yonsei online coursera and other courses, staff at a girls only study space community, etc), and Im also actively trying to improve them (please help) Also I got 2 recommendation letters from my university professors (one is from my constitutional law prof and the other one is from my Asian Cultures/Korean literature prof) but I don't know how to submit them for UIC or the regular intl track... I emailed them both, and UIC hasn't answered, and RegTrack literally ONLY said, "You cannot submit the recommendation Letters."

Idk what else to do; please, I'd love some feedback, stats that got you into any of these programs, more ecs... :( Seriously, I don't know what else to do and I do not want to fall into the cliche of "oh its my dream school" but it really is and im desperate

EDIT: For high school I was really good, I had a 9/10 GPA or a 4.0, I was the only one in my class to get into the top 1 uni; so idk what else...

EDIT 2: They FINALLY gave me a clear answer, and yes I can still apply as a freshman

Im planning to take ielts in august 2026, aiming for 7.5-8.

Not taking topik or SAT because i heard it was optional. My gpa is 4.0 (im in 11th grade)

I don’t understand how to know what courses do i need to sign up for. I don’t even have the course catalogue.

Posting here because the Ewha subreddit seems fairly dead. I made a post about making friends around Seoul in general, but I was wondering if anyone knows of any opportunities to make friends with students at Ewha specifically? I'm a college-age girl looking to meet other girls in the area and am staying near Ewha/Yonsei's campus. I know it's summer but if anyone has suggestions or advice, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone,

I was recently admitted to the Yonsei Global MBA (Fall 2026)** **and thought it would be great for incoming students to connect before classes start.

If you’re joining Yonsei GMBA this fall, feel free to comment below with:
- Your country
- Program (GMBA)
- Instagram ID (or send me a DM if you prefer privacy)

I’ll create an Instagram group chat so we can:
- Get to know each other
- Discuss housing, visas, tuition, and arrival plans
- Share information before orientation

Looking forward to meeting everyone!
Thanks 😊

hey i’m in my final year of undergrad in canada and am thinking about going to yonsei gsb mba.

i want to know if anyone is in that program currently
• how it’s going for you and if you enjoy the program?
• what is the faculty like?
• how the split between students (male/female, with or without work experience)
• how’s the work load like - courses, typical schedule etc
• how’s the curriculum?
• what programs/events/student support is offered for GSB students?
• as a global (foreign) masters student in korea, how do you find life in seoul given the cultural differences - quality of life i guess is the question
• if you’ve graduated, how was your overall experience.
• how was the application process for you
• what made you choose an mba in korea and in yonsei specifically?

also only if you’re willing to share,,,
• where did you do your undergrad (not school but country)
• if you’d be willing to tell me how the admissions process was, specifically gpa (even ball park, you don’t need to give me exact numbers but like a range of 3.3-3.7 or 3.6-4.0 would be so helpful)

i’m trying to make a decision in either staying in canada or leaving. i’m a dual citizen of canada and korea but i only grew up abroad so my korean passport exists, but ive never lived in korea. im fluent in korean but ill definitely need to study, i got a level 5 in topik, but im studying towards a level 6.

thanks in advance

Hi, I was accepted to the main Yonsei for the fall term. I am confused how to accept the offer and pay tuition. What documents and when I have to send them? (Yes I read the guideline but still confused I cannot register to the portal)

Accepted into main school as undergraduate (not UIC)
Are the timelines to submit documents by mail really that short?

They want a bank statement dated 07/01 or after but yet they want the documents in office by 07/10? It takes 5-7 business days normally to reach Korea once it’s dropped off here.

Also, for recent high school graduates how are you submitting the Diploma is it a notarized copy that was apostilled?
*United States based