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Host Universities for Seoul, Korea

USAC partners with three universities in Seoul, Korea: Kookmin University (KMU), Korea University (KU), and Yonsei University. KU and Yonsei University are both highly prestigious SKY universities, and KMU is renowned for their art and design programs.

Kookmin University

Cherry blossom trees at Kookmin University in Seoul, Korea.

Founded in 1946, Kookmin University (KMU) was the first national private university in Korea after being liberated from Japan. It is currently the seventh-largest university in Seoul and is home to nearly 24,000 students. The campus is located adjacent to Bukhansan National Park, a nature preserve located right in the heart of one of the world’s biggest cities. The clean, green campus is complimented by the most up-to-date educational facilities; the campus is home to several libraries and computer labs, a wellness center, an art museum, and the historic Myoungwon Folk House.

KMU is one of the leading private universities in Korea, with a total of 15 various colleges and 15 postgraduate schools. With an educational mission to foster leaders not only for Korea but for the world, KMU provides students with a global perspective and with opportunities to experience the world academically, culturally, and professionally. KMU has ABET accreditation.

Korea University

Korea University in Seoul, Korea.

Korea University (KU), founded in 1905, is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious private universities in Korea. Its reputation for quality is based on excellence in teaching, research, and service to Korean society. Eminent faculty, outstanding students, and internationally recognized research programs all contribute to Korea University’s academic fame. As a major comprehensive university, KU offers a rich variety of courses in liberal arts and sciences as well as in all professional fields, including law, medicine, and business administration. Korea University Business School (KUBS) has acquired both European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation.

In accordance with KU’s vision, ‘Opening the Future, Leading the Future, Creating the Future’ and KU’s education goal, ‘To encourage the holistic growth of intelligent, spiritual and active potential, nurture capabilities for creative academic study and professional practice, and foster open-minded leadership contributing to the international community’, KU strives to take the lead in creating a new future by developing knowledge that can change and lead Korean society and the world.

KU campus covers over 182 acres and is home to more than 36,000 students from all over the nation and the world. With its stately stone architecture, sprawling lawns, seasonal trees, and natural flora, KU is known to be one of the most beautiful campuses in Korea.

Yonsei University

Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea.

Since its founding in 1885, Yonsei University has been synonymous with international education and exchange in Asia. Yonsei maintains the most extensive international network in Korea with over 700 partner institutions in 77 countries and educates the largest number of international students among Korean universities, with over 4,500 students in 2017. It has held the position as top private university in Korea in the QS World University Rankings for many consecutive years.

Yonsei University provides excellent global programs for international students. Its English-based degree programs include Underwood International College (UIC), a highly selective four-year undergraduate school which provides an intimate, elite setting within the larger institution of Yonsei, the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), renowned for its global competitiveness, and Global MBA, an MBA program that is reflective of the modern business environment of the world. Yonsei University’s School of Business holds accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International, the KABEA (Korea Association of Business Education Accreditation), and EQUIS. Yonsei University also offers the most comprehensive and modernized international non-degree programs for ambitious international students, which include the exchange/visiting student program (SAY), Yonsei International Summer School (YISS), Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY), short-term programs, and various Korean language programs offered by the Korean Language Institute.

Yonsei University is located in a unique part of Seoul where you can experience both the vibe of the metropolitan area and the awes of deep-rooted Korean traditions. The Sinchon area around Yonsei University campus is home to one of the most vibrant and exciting college towns in Seoul. With a rich array of facilities and activities, Sinchon creates a unique culture of its own and attracts young population from around the city and around the country. This is where one can mingle with the youth of Korea.

Quick Details

2024-25 Application Cycle

Kookmin University

  • Summer 2024: Open
    • Deadline: May 1
  • Fall/Yearlong 2024-25: Open
    • Deadline: May 1
  • Spring 2025: Open
    • Deadline: November 1

Korea University

  • Summer 2024: Open
    • Deadline: April 15
  • Fall/Yearlong 2024-25: Open
    • Deadline: April 1
  • Spring 2025: Open
    • Deadline: October 1
  • January 2025: Open
    • Deadline: October 15

Yonsei University

  • Summer 2024: Open
    • Deadline: April 1
  • Fall 2024: Waitlist
    • Deadline: April 1
  • Spring 2025: Open
    • Deadline: October 1
  • January 2025: Open
    • Deadline: October 15

Program Type

Partnership (all programs)

Credit

Overseas credit (all programs)

Eligibility

Kookmin University

  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (all terms)
  • Semester programs only:
    • Minimum class standing: Sophomore
    • Open to degree-seeking students attending a 4-year institution at the time of application

Korea University

  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (all terms)
  • Semester programs only:
    • Minimum class standing: Applicants must have sophomore standing or higher at time of application, and
      transfer students must have completed at least one semester at their current institution.

Yonsei University

  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 (all terms)
  • Semester programs only:
    • Applicants must be degree-seeking at a 4-year institution and have sophomore standing at time of application. In addition to above, transfer students must have one semester completed at their current institution.

Program Capacity

  • Kookmin University: 40 students
  • Korea University: 30 students
  • Yonsei University: 85 fall / 75 spring / 80 summer

Instruction

English, Korean (all programs)

Passport & Visa

Passport & Visa Information