Korean Universities Open Spring 2026 Admissions for Foreigners

• Seoul National, Hongik, and Yonsei begin spring 2026 int’l UG admissions, with deadlines from July to December.
• Personal statements and study plans are now required due to the revised Higher Education Act, effective from spring 2026.
• Yonsei and Chung-Ang introduce special transfer tracks and new majors exclusively for international students.

The initial round of spring 2026 admissions for international undergraduate students is currently in progress. Certain universities have established new majors that cater solely to international students, whereas Yonsei University plans to launch special transfer admissions throughout the year.

Admissions for international students seeking to enroll in undergraduate programs for the spring semester generally occur from July to October, with some institutions starting to accept applications early.

Seoul National University has historically been the institution that initiates admissions ahead of others, currently accepting applications for its spring 2026 international undergraduate enrollment from Monday to Thursday.

Applicants have until Friday to submit their recommendation letters, with initial admission decisions announced on October 16 and final admission decisions made public on November 21.

Hongik University, which is expected to open its undergraduate international admissions in spring 2026, will accept applications from July 17 to 24.  A significant alteration is that candidates will now need to provide a personal statement and study plan.

For several years, universities were prohibited from mandating personal statements and study plans for undergraduate admissions. However, several reinstated them for global admissions beginning with the fall 2025 intake, after the revision to the Higher Education Act that permitted this action.

Hongik University has delayed implementing the change and will necessitate personal statements and study plans beginning with the spring 2026 intake.  The upcoming months will see the opening of international undergraduate admissions for Yonsei University and its Underwood International College (UIC), which has distinct admission periods.

Yonsei University will allow applications from Sept. 1 to 12, with chosen candidates revealed on Dec. 5. Yonsei University's UIC, favored by international students due to its English-taught programs, will commence international undergraduate admissions from Aug. 25 to Oct. 17.  Chosen applicants will participate in a virtual interview on Dec. 12, and accepted candidates will be revealed on Dec. 19.

The transfer program is available not only to foreign nationals but also to overseas Koreans who have completed their elementary, middle, and high school education abroad. Applicants must be registered as either a sophomore or junior at a foreign university.

Applications will be received from Sept. 2 to Dec. 4, with the extended application timeframe indicating the university's effort to support students potentially impacted by the student visa crisis in the U.S. Although the university has not yet posted an admission guideline on its admissions website, it has provided a brief overview of the evaluation process for students.

Foreign candidates will be assessed on Korean language skills, recognized English test results, and the academic paperwork they provide, allocated weights of 30 percent, 30 percent, and 40 percent, respectively.

Also Read: Stanford Graduate Scholarship 2026 Open for Applications

For Koreans living abroad, the requirement for proficiency in the Korean language will be replaced by prior university grades, which will also carry a weight of 30 percent.  The university states that a comprehensive admission guideline will be available on its admissions website in late July.

Chung-Ang University will commence its international undergraduate admissions from Sept. 1 to 19, with chosen students revealed on Oct. 31.

The university has a second application period for spring 2026, set to open from Nov. 12 to 26, with successful applicants being announced on Dec. 19. A significant shift for the university is the launch of new majors that will be available solely for international students.

Beginning in spring 2026, the university will establish the Korean Language Education & Korean Culture program within the School of Korean Language & Literature and the Global Advertising & PR program under the School of Advertising & Public Relations, exclusively for international students.

The Department of Global Interactive Convergence Content, set to include programs related to the game, media, and content sectors, is an additional new department for international students that will be established in spring 2026.