seoul

Yonsei University Summer Program

Spend 6 weeks this summer at prestigious Yonsei University! 

Explore the nearby Sinchon district, a mecca for late night shopping and dining, packed with students. Neighbouring Hongdae is the centre of Seoul's indie scene.

Key information

Language

English

Semester

Summer

Program type

Fee-paying, Credit-bearing (see Costs and Academic sections below for more details)

Application information

Timeline

Applications open mid-January. Early bird deadlines are usually mid-March.

Requirements

Students will submit an application both to UCalgary and to Yonsei University for this program. See Application section below for details.

 

Program details

The information below was last updated on January 2026

Yonsei offers nearly 100 courses in the summer in the following areas:

  • Arts & Humanities: Literature, Psychology, Art History, Drama, Fashion Design, Film/Cinema, Philosophy.
  • Korean Studies, East Asian Studies, Korean: Korean Language, Korean Culture & History, Film, Economics, Politics, International Relations
  • Business & Economics: Economics, Diversity Management, Calculus, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, International Management, Finance, Statistics, Marketing, Supply Chain Management
  • Social Sciences: Law & Society, Psychology, Sociology, Development Studies, Political Science, International Relations
  • Science & Technology: Biochemistry, Calculus, Energy & Environment, Chemistry, Microbio, Physics, Computer Graphics, Statistics, Life Sciences

There are 4 or 6 weeks programs. Students enrolled in the 6-week program can take both 6-week and 4-week courses, while students registered for the 4-week program are only eligible to take 4-week courses.

Students can choose to take either 1, 2 or 3 courses on the summer program. 1 course = 1 UCalgary half-course (3 units).

There is also a summer research internship option that students can apply for. This will fill one class requirement, of the 2-3 courses students take on the program.

YISS runs for 4-6 weeks from late June to early August. For 2026 it will run from 26th June to August 6th, 2026

  1. Costs

    This is a Fee-Paying program, which means that you will pay tuition fees to Yonsei University directly as well as any other required program fees such as housing, social events, etc.

    You will pay a $150 placement fee to UCalgary, but otherwise you will not owe any fees to UCalgary for this program.

    Please click here to find the program fees in their website.

    Flights, meals, personal expenses, insurance, visas, etc are the responsibility of the student.


    Seoul cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here 

  2. Funding

    Fee-paying programs might be able to obtain additional funding. Students are responsible for verifying eligibility for any funding you wish to pursue at UCalgary. If you wish to apply for student loans, please confirm eligibility with Alberta Student Aid or your responsible loans provider. If you wish to apply for our office's awards, such as the Global Learning Award, note that your program must receive at least 3 units of academic credit at UCalgary to qualify.

On campus housing is available on a first come, first served basis, and should be applied for immediately after receiving your YISS acceptance letter. Students who are not successful at the housing application or want to live off campus can consult the off campus listing to arrange their own accommodation. 

This program is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

There are optional field trips and cultural activities for this program. See info on extracurricular activities here!


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The exchange advisor for this program is: Andrea Santos V.

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.

Application guide

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.

APPLY NOW

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.