Yonsei University

Unique study opportunities

• Observe dynamic South-North Korean relations while learning its history.
• Witness the global impact of Korean popular culture in music, dance, fashion and media.
• Understand changing East Asian economic and political relations.
• Participate in research, independent study, or an internship for academic credit.
• Volunteer as an English teacher at a children’s hospital or as an interpreter at an adoption agency.

Language

Korean Language Study: Optional

Korean language study is recommended unless you are fluent in Korean. ​The study center also arranges activities to assist with your language skills, including a Korean Speaking Club, and a Language Buddy Program that will pair you with a Yonsei University student who is planning to attend UC on exchange.

Aside from language study, you’ll primarily take courses in English. You may also be able to enroll in courses taught in Korean. A high level of proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehension of university-level Korean is necessary to succeed in these courses.

Courses and credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program:

• Take a full-time course of study: Minimum 18 quarter/12 semester UC units (three to four courses). Most courses are 3 Yonsei University credits. 3 Yonsei credits equal 4.5 quarter/3.0 semester UC units.
• You may take up to a maximum of 27 quarter/18 semester UC units per term (five to six courses).
• If you take 18 UC quarter units, you may take one course for pass/no pass credit (up to a maximum of 4.5 UC quarter units);if you take 22.5 or more UC quarter units, you may select pass/no pass for one or two courses up to a maximum of 9 UC quarter units (typically two courses, or one 9 UC quarter unit language course).

Current Program Courses

Yonsei University courses taught in English are offered in many fields, including business, economics, engineering, history, communications, literature, philosophy, political science, and sociology. Of particular note are offerings in Asian studies, Korean studies, and Korean language and literature.

UC undergraduate students with senior-standing can take one graduate-level course per semester. A list of graduate-level courses open to exchange students is provided by Yonsei via email prior to the course registration period.

Course Number and Division

The Yonsei course numbers don't necessarily correlate with a year or level for UCEAP. The “grade” field in the Yonsei Course Catalog is helpful in determining lower or upper-division credit. 1 and 2 are beginning courses and are usually lower division; 3 and 4 are for advanced students and are usually upper division. The courses with a 0 are for all students and can be upper or lower depending on the content. Many of the 0 courses are lower-division for UCEAP.

Many UIC and IEE courses are assigned lower-division credit by UCEAP as they are designed to introduce exchange/visiting students to various aspects of Korea. Be careful when enrolling in UIC and IEE courses if you plan on using the courses to fulfill major requirements at UC. The course number does not indicate the level of the course. 

To find the assigned division, check the UCEAP Course Catalog. If the course has been previously taken, it will be listed.

Course Restrictions

Check the information in the ‘Precautions’ column of the Yonsei Course Catalog to ensure the course is open to exchange students. 

• Courses marked with a Y are open to exchange students. Courses marked with an N are not open to exchange students. 
• Courses at the International Campus are not open to exchange students.
• Restricted faculties include medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, music, MBA, and law.
• Courses in Computer Science are open to exchange students, but impacted and very competitive. 

Research and Independent Study

You may arrange research or independent study for academic credit in certain fields. If you are interested in either option, you can propose a plan after arrival in South Korea.

Catalogs and resources

• Yonsei Office of International Affairs: Get an overview of Yonsei's study abroad program.
• Yonsei Course Catalog: Courses and syllabi are typically updated in the Yonsei catalog two months prior to the start of the term. Refer to the Instruction Video for a tutorial on how to navigate the Yonsei portal and catalog.
• Yonsei University colleges: Browse courses by colleges at Yonsei University.
• UCEAP Course Catalog: See a list of courses students have taken on this program. This is not a current representation of course offerings on this program. Reference the above links to review recent course offerings. 
• Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location.

Academic culture

Grounded in Confucian traditions, respect for teachers and university rules is a hallmark of South Korean academic culture. Respect is seen in attendance and interactions in class. Students are generally polite with both professors and fellow students. And, when opinions are challenged, it’s done with a moderate tone, never demanding or argumentative.

Some professors are more traditional than others. For example, many Yonsei faculty members are Western educated and, while respecting traditional customs, encourage discussion and an interactive atmosphere in the classroom. Try to be sensitive to the style of each instructor. Instructors may also have heavy accents that are difficult to understand. If you can prepare yourself for the adjustment, it is worth the effort. Many instructors are highly recognized scholars in their fields, prominent professionals, government policy makers, and consultants in prestigious firms.

The size of Yonsei University classes varies with the popularity of the subject. Classes offered in English are relatively small and are taught mostly in the lecture format. Language classes average 12 students. Many instructors provide syllabi and focus on delivering lectures. Teamwork among students is an important aspect of some courses and group presentations are frequently required, particularly in business courses.

Unlike UC, faculty members in South Korea rarely keep regular office hours. Instead, you’ll contact a professor by e-mail to set up a meeting.

These tips will help you succeed at Yonsei University:

• List your educational goals before departure and use these objectives to guide your course selection, readings, and other activities.
• Consider the entire academic experience you’d like to have, acknowledging that classes are only the beginning of academic inquiry.
• Engage in your academic activities, join discussions, and form study groups.
• Regularly observe, read, and write about academic subjects that interest you. This can later become a base for extraordinary academic work and projects.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Your work will be assessed primarily by exams, but many courses also include attendance, participation, term papers, group and individual projects, and class presentations. Attendance is also usually an important factor in assigning the final course grade. The exact percentage that attendance counts varies depending on the instructor, but averages about 20 percent. Participation in class discussion is often part of the grade (averaging 15 to 20 percent), and if class presentations are required they may count for 20 to 30 percent. Korean language courses require serious concentration and diligent study. Grading in the language courses usually is more rigorous than it is at UC.

Fall grades are usually available from mid-February to mid-March; spring grades from mid-July to mid-August.