Yonsei University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most Yonsei scholarships are designed for students who are formally admitted and enrolled in on-campus degree or approved non-degree programs (undergraduate, graduate, Korean language programs, summer/winter schools).

Both exist, but it depends heavily on the college/program. Yonsei’s regular “Korean program” (many majors across the Seoul campus) generally expects Korean ability, while several flagship tracks are explicitly English-taught.

• English-taught examples: Underwood International College (UIC) is explicitly English-instruction. Recipient Dzung studied at Yonsei UIC and highlights how a “foreign language specialized” background helped them “communicate & write confidently in English.”
• English-taught graduate example: Yonsei’s Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) is widely marketed as English-taught; recipient Rizka attended Yonsei GSIS and describes being “forced to speak in English and Korean” during earlier Korea experiences, then targeting strong English scores for graduate study.

Yonsei’s internal scholarships typically focus on enrollment status, academic performance, and eligibility rules (program/department-based) rather than age. However, some external scholarships that Yonsei students commonly use can include age preferences or limits.

For example, KOICA-funded programs can be age-sensitive: Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa notes KOICA eligibility can “preferably be under 40 years old.” Also, KOICA often targets public-sector professionals; Santiago Bravo and Charmaine Distor both describe KOICA as closely tied to professional background and nomination-style processes. Also, GKS has age limitations as well.

Generally: scholarships at Yonsei span a wide range of subjects because many are university-wide (international student scholarships, departmental awards, external funding like GKS/KOICA, and program-specific scholarships).

Yonsei’s international-student scholarships are broadly intended for international applicants (program rules may define “international” by citizenship/parent nationality). In practice, recipients in Yonsei-related scholarship stories span many nationalities: Pakistan, Vietnam, Iran, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malawi.

That said, external scholarships can narrow nationality: KOICA is for partner countries and often requires government nomination; GKS has nationality restrictions as well.

It depends on the track, but language proof is commonly required in some form. For example, Yonsei’s international undergraduate guide requires applicants to submit documents proving Korean or English proficiency (you can often choose from test scores OR other official proof like schooling conducted in Korean/English, depending on the guideline). For scholarships, language scores can directly strengthen eligibility—some scholarship guidelines list minimum scores for TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS/TOPIK.

Recipients frequently used IELTS as a practical path: Dzung reports “IELTS… 7.5”; Sohani Sahar notes “IELTS (band score 7)”; Shokhrukh Avazov took IELTS and reports “6.5.” Even when waivers exist, a strong score can help your scholarship competitiveness and reduce uncertainty in document review.

Many Yonsei tracks do not publish a single universal “minimum GPA for acceptance” because admissions decisions are based on document review (transcripts, rigor, fit, language proof, and sometimes interviews/portfolio depending on the program). Instead of a single cutoff, think “competitive profile.”

What “competitive” looked like for recipients: Dzung reports “GPA: about 9.3 – 9.5/10”; Rizka graduated “Cum Laude, GPA 3.58/4.00” and also had a “perfect 4.0/4.0” exchange term; Shokhrukh Avazov reports a Yonsei doctoral GPA of “4.15 out of 4.5.”

For maintaining certain scholarships after enrollment, GPA cutoffs are more explicit (e.g., some scholarships require keeping a minimum term GPA to continue).

A strong background can be built in more than one way, depending on the scholarship type:

• High academics + strong writing: Dzung pairs high grades with intensive essay work, saying, “I poured lots of effort into this essay,” and also secured 3 recommendation letters.
• Honors + clear specialization: Shokhrukh Avazov highlights an interdisciplinary pathway (law → development policy → public administration) and shows strong GPAs across degrees.
• Career alignment (especially for external funding): KOICA is very career-driven; Santiago Bravo emphasizes leadership in public health roles, and Charmaine Distor notes KOICA targets public servants and requires agency coordination (including nomination-style documents).

Documents vary by program, but here’s a practical “Yonsei-style” checklist you’ll see repeatedly across official guides and recipient experiences:

• Core admissions set (common): application form, personal statement (or statement of purpose), and academic records (transcripts + graduation certificate/diploma). Some tracks require authentication (apostille/consular legalization) depending on country and document type.
• Language proof: IELTS/TOEFL/TOPIK score report or accepted alternative proof (such as “medium of instruction” documentation) depending on your track.
• Recommendations: many programs require recommendation letters; for example, Dzung got “3 recommendation letters,” and GSIS-style programs commonly require two.
• Identity/family documents (common in international admissions): passport copies and documents proving family relationship/nationality may be required for some international tracks.
• Scholarship-specific additions (when you apply for scholarships alongside admission): scholarship application form, evidence of awards/Dean’s List/honors, CV, and certificates of employment/career if you’re applying under a “relevant career” category.

Yonsei is comprehensive: the main undergraduate “Korean program” spans many colleges/majors (humanities, social sciences, business/economics, engineering and broader STEM fields, and more). There are also distinct international tracks like UIC (liberal arts, interdisciplinary majors taught in English) and professional/graduate schools like GSIS (international studies fields).

Examples tied to recipients: Civil & Environmental Engineering (Aliza Khan), Information & Interaction Design (Dzung), International Trade/Finance/Management (Rizka), Public Health (Santiago Bravo), e-Government/Public Management (Charmaine Distor), Industrial Engineering (Sohani Sahar), and Public Administration (Shokhrukh Avazov).

Yes, application fees exist and depend on the unit you apply to. For example, Yonsei’s international undergraduate guide lists an application fee of “150,000 KRW” for the international student track, while GSIS-style online applications commonly list “100,000 won” via the application system used. Because fees can differ by college/program, check with the latest guidelines for updated information.