연세대학교 행정대학원

Admission Guidelines

Overview

The Graduate School of Communication and Arts at Yonsei University offers interdisciplinary graduate programs that bring together critical inquiry, research, creative practice, and professional expertise across communication, media, culture, technology, design, and the arts.

Admissions are offered for the master's, doctoral, integrated master's–doctoral, and non-degree research programs. All programs are based at Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus in Seoul.

Our programs welcome applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Applicants are not required to hold an undergraduate or previous graduate degree in the same field as their intended program of study.

Please Note: This page provides an English-language summary of the admissions process. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the Official Admissions Guidelines (Korean) for complete requirements, policies, deadlines, and application procedures. In the event of any discrepancy, the Korean version shall prevail.

Programs & Degrees

Applicants may apply to one program only during each admissions cycle. Multiple or concurrent applications to more than one program or track within this Graduate School are strictly prohibited.

*The D.F.A. program in Visual Arts encompasses doctoral tracks in HCI Design, Cinema, and Media Art.

A non-degree Research Program is also available in each field. The eligibility criteria for admission are equivalent to those of the regular Master's program. For more information about each program's curriculum, faculty, research areas, and academic focus, please visit Program.

Eligibility

Master’s Programs

Applicants must hold, or be expected to earn, a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution prior to the start of the semester.

Doctoral Programs

Applicants must hold, or be expected to earn, a master's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution prior to the start of the semester.

Integrated Master’s and Ph.D. Programs

Applicants holding either a bachelor's or a master's degree (or their equivalents) are eligible to apply for the Integrated Master's and Ph.D. program. Please note, however, that based on a comprehensive evaluation, accepted students may be admitted either directly into the Integrated Master's and Ph.D. track or into the regular Master's program.

International Applicants

Applicants must possess a high level of proficiency in the Korean language and meet one of the following criteria.

• Track 1 (International Applicants with Non-Korean Parents): Both the applicant and their parents must not hold Korean citizenship.
• Track 2 (Applicants Educated Entirely Overseas): Overseas Koreans—including Korean citizens and dual citizens—or foreign nationals who have completed their entire elementary, secondary, and undergraduate education outside the territory of the Republic of Korea.

Applicants who qualify both categories must apply under Track 1 (International Applicants with Non-Korean Parents).

Application Requirements

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted through the Yonsei Graduate Admissions Application system. Applicants should prepare the following documents as applicable to their intended program.

• Core Required Documents: Degree Certificate or Certificate of Expected Graduation, Official Academic Transcript(s), Statement of Purpose (including Personal Statement, Academic Interests & Motivation, Research Plan, and Post-Graduation Plan), Applicant’s Photo, Letter of Recommendation (required for Doctoral and Integrated program applicants, optional for Master’s applicants), Consent Form for Academic Records Verification (required only for graduates of international institutions), Copy of Passport (required only for international applicants), TOPIK Score Report or Equivalent Proof of Korean Language Proficiency (required only for international applicants).  
• Portfolio: Please consult the Official Admissions Guidelines (Korean) to verify whether a portfolio is required for your specific program. If required, the portfolio must be submitted as a single PDF file. 
• Eligibility Verification: International applicants must select the appropriate eligibility path between Track 1 and Track 2, and submit the corresponding documentation to verify their status. All required documents must be combined and uploaded as a single PDF file.
• Supplemental Materials: Official English proficiency test scores may be submitted but are not required at the time of application.      

Admissions Timeline

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the Official Admissions Guidelines (Korean) and updates from the administration office, as admission schedules are subject to change each semester.

*Both application review results and final admission decisions will be available through the online application system.

**Further details will be provided in future announcements on the Graduate School website. 

Important Notes

• Applicants must complete the online application form and upload all required documents by the deadline. The documents must be combined by category and uploaded as a single PDF file for each category.
• Once the online application is finalized, application information and supporting documents may not be revised, replaced, or withdrawn.
• Applicants are strictly advised to review all information and uploaded materials carefully before the final submission. The University holds no responsibility for any disadvantages or adverse outcomes resulting from errors made by the applicant.
• The application will be officially approved only after verification of the application fee payment. The application fee is KRW90,000 and fee payment must be completed by the deadline. The application fee is non-refundable once the final submission is complete.
• Care must be taken to ensure the accuracy of all personal information, including names in Korean and English (exactly as written on the passport), Resident Registration Number (or Alien Registration Number), date of birth, address, phone number, and email address. Any data-entry errors may lead to disadvantages during the evaluation and admissions process.
• The application number and password must be recorded and securely saved as these credentials are strictly required to access admission decisions. 

FAQ

Q: Do I need to contact a prospective academic advisor before applying? Can a faculty member provide an admission letter?

A: No. Prior approval or an admission letter from a prospective academic advisor is not required to apply. All applicants must apply through the Graduate School's official admissions process. Individual faculty members do not make admission decisions or issue admission letters to prospective students. You are welcome to contact faculty members whose academic or research interests align with your own, but doing so is optional and does not guarantee admission.

Q: Can I receive early admission to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)?

A: No. We do not offer early admission for GKS applicants. All applicants, including GKS applicants, must apply through the Graduate School's official admissions process. Depending on your GKS application track, university admission may not be required at the time of your initial GKS application. However, you must ultimately obtain admission to an eligible Korean university in order to receive the GKS scholarship. Please follow both the official GKS procedures and the Graduate School's admissions process applicable to you.

Q: Can the admissions interview be conducted online?

A: Interviews are generally conducted in person. Only applicants who advance to the interview stage after the initial application review will be invited to an interview, and failure to attend will result in disqualification. Applicants residing overseas may be permitted to interview online. Please provide accurate and up-to-date contact information in your application and follow the interview instructions provided by the Graduate School.

Q: Can I apply to more than one program?

A: No. You may apply to only one program and one admissions track within the Graduate School of Communication and Arts in each admissions cycle. Multiple applications within the Graduate School are not permitted.

Q: Do I need to submit a Consent Form for Academic Records Verification?

A: Only if your most recent degree is from an institution outside Korea. Applicants whose most recent degree is from a Korean institution do not need to submit this form. Please download the form from the Graduate School website, complete it, and upload it as a PDF with your application.

Q: Is there an English-taught track?

A: No. The Graduate School does not offer a separate English-taught track. While some courses are offered in English, most courses are taught in Korean. Students may, however, write their thesis in English.

Q: What level of Korean language proficiency is required for international applicants?

A: Applicants must demonstrate Korean language proficiency by submitting a valid TOPIK score or other acceptable proof of Korean language proficiency. There is no minimum TOPIK level required for admission. For details on acceptable alternative documentation, please refer to the Official Admissions Guidelines (Korean) for international applicants. Given that most courses are taught in Korean, applicants should have sufficient Korean-language proficiency to participate fully in coursework and other academic activities.

Q: Is financial aid available for international students?

A: Yes. Full-time international students enrolled in regular semesters through the International Admissions track may be eligible for the Yonsei International Companion Scholarship.

Q: Where can I download the Admissions Guidelines and application forms?

A: The Admissions Guidelines and required application forms are available for download from the Admissions section of the Graduate School’s Korean website.