Yonsei University
Start your cultural experience at Yonsei University, which has the longest history of international education in Korea.
Study at one of Korea's oldest and top ranked universities, and one of Seoul's famous SKY universities (#6 in Korea, #104 worldwide, QS 2020). From the ivy-covered buildings of Yonsei explore Seoul's exciting neighbourhoods. Walk around Seoul city wall, visit the largest traditional market in Korea -Namdaemun Market - or take in the trendy neighbourhood of Hongdae where modern Korean culture is brought to life!
Key information
Application information
Program details
Areas of Study:
English taught courses: anthropology, architecture, asian studies, astronomy, biochemistry, biology, biotechnology, business, chemistry, communications, computer science, development studies, economics, engineering (chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical) English, food & nutrition, international relations, law & society, library & information science, math, nanoscience, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, social work, statistics, textiles & fashion, urban planning
Languages: Chinese, French, German, Russian
Please note: Economics and business courses are restricted to students majoring in those subjects and students can take a maximum of three courses in this faculty per semester. Courses taught at the Songdo Campus are unavailable. Other programs that are restricted include: medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, music. MBA, law, pharmacy, global leadership division,
Course Information:
Yonsei provides a course page that discusses registration, course load, English taught courses, the course search portal and language classes. Students must take a minimum of 9 Yonsei credits and a maximum of 18 (3-6 classes.) 1 U Calgary half course = 3 Yonsei credits.
Grading and academic regulations: https://oia.yonsei.ac.kr/intstd/exRule.asp
The year is divided into two terms.
- Fall Semester runs from late August/early September - late December
- Spring semester runs from late February/early March - late June.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
Yonsei University provides the following cost of living estimates for one semester:
Semester Expense
On-campus Housing 1,854,000 KRW
Meals 2,000,000 KRW
Transit 400,000 KRW
Books & Supplies 400,000 KRW
Total per semester 4,654,000 KRW
Total divided per month (4 months) 1,163,500 KRW
Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning. South Korea mandates all students be enrolled in a national health insurance service. This will be applied for at the time of application to your host university, and costs about $60/month. As the coverage is not comprehensive and doesn't include places outside of Korea, students should also seek their own medical insurance in addition to the coverage in Korea.
Seoul cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
There are several student residences at Yonsei that you can apply to live in as well as off campus options to choose from.
On campus housing is not guaranteed due to limited spaces and is assigned on a first come first considered basis.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level at the time of application to Yonsei, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Korean is not required to study at Yonsei. Students who want to take classes taught in Korean, however must have KLAT level 4.
Yonsei has an active student life, with buddy programs and activities deigned for international students.
Transcripts for the Fall term are typically issued by mid January. Transcripts for the Winter term (or Spring as they call it) are typically issued by mid July.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Flavien Niederst
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.