2023
NIIED GKS & YONSEI GSIS
ADMISSIONS GUIDELINE
Table of Contents
About Yonsei GSIS ..................................................................................................... 2
Yonsei GSIS: International Admissions Office ........................................................... 2
Yonsei GSIS Programs................................................................................................ 3
Admissions Timeline .......................................................................................................... 3
NIIED Requirements .................................................................................................. 3
Important Things to Know Before Applying ................................................................. 4
Submission of Documents ...................................................................................... 4
Other .................................................................................................................... 4
International Admission ............................................................................................ 5
Eligibility ........................................................................................................................ 5
Required Documents ............................................................................................. 5
Contact Us ................................................................................................................ 8
About Yonsei GSIS
Thank you for your interest in the Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). The Graduate
School of International Studies lies at the center of Yonsei’s commitment to internationalization and
the education of global leaders. Yonsei GSIS was first established in 1987, motivated by a desire to
meet the growing demand for international academic institutions, and was the first professional
school dedicated exclusively to international studies in Korea. International students from all over the
world provide a unique, multicultural learning environment where diversity is not just a slogan, but an
enduring feature of the school’s globalized student culture.
The core mission of Yonsei GSIS is to educate and train global leaders who transform themselves so
that they can transform the world. In order to achieve this goal, programs at Yonsei GSIS offer a
dynamic and rigorous curriculum taught by Korea’s leading academics, equipping students with the
theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in the public and private sectors of the
global arena.
This admissions guideline provides information pertaining to the application process, eligibility, and
admissions criteria. Should you have any further questions or seek additional information, please
contact our staff at the information listed below.
Yonsei GSIS: International Admissions Office
Website http://gsis.yonsei.ac.kr
Email gsis@yonsei.ac.kr
Telephone +82-2-2123-8484
Mailing Address
English Room 510, New Millennium Hall, Yonsei University
50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea 03722
Korean [03722] 서울특별시 서대문구 연세로 50 새천년관 510 호
Office Hours Weekdays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Lunch Break: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM)
Summer & Winter Vacation, office closes earlier at 3:00 PM
2
Yonsei GSIS Programs
Yonsei GSIS offers Master and Doctoral Programs in the following fields:
Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree Medium of
Program Degree Program Degree Instruction
Master of Arts in
Korean Studies Korean Studies Ph.D. in Korean Studies
Korean Studies (MKS)
Global Studies: Ph.D. in International
Master of Global Affairs International
International Studies (International
& Policy (MGAP) Cooperation
Cooperation (PIC) Relations)
English
Ph.D. in International
International Trade &
Global Studies: Studies (International
Master of Global Finance
International Trade, Political Economy)
Economy & Strategy
Finance & Management
(MGES) International Ph.D. in Strategy &
(ITFM)
Management Organization
Global Citizenship and Multilingual
Human Development Master of Global Civic (Mainly Korean)
-
Global Citizenship and Studies (MGCS)
Mainly Chinese
Cooperation
Admissions Timeline
Admissions March 6 (Mon.), 2023 to March 17 (Fri.), 2023 (by 17:00 KST)
Period The program begins on September 1, 2023 (Fri.).
Click “Online Application” located in the International Students tab and create an
account. Online Application
All documents must either be post mailed or delivered in person
The documents must arrive at the Yonsei GSIS office by the designated deadline.
NIIED Requirements
Visit the NIIED website for complete details of the program.
Regardless of whether you submit an application through the Embassy or University track, you must
submit all required documents in one package, as indicated in our guideline. Yonsei GSIS requires
supplementary documents, in addition to NIIED’s requirement documents. Please read the 2023 GKS
FAQ for information on universities requiring additional documentation.
For University Track applications, you only need to submit one original application package.
3
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Submission of Documents
All submitted records and documents become the property of Yonsei GSIS and will not be
returned to the students in any case.
Applicants who transferred schools during their studies must submit their complete academic
records from all of the applicable institutions, including transcripts and certificates of
graduation/attendance.
All documents must be in English or Korean. If documents are in another language, the
applicant must submit a notarized/certified translation into English.
If an applicant’s personal information has been modified (i.e. change in name, nationality, etc.),
the applicant should submit a photocopy of the document that records the change.
All documents must be submitted by the application deadline in order to be considered for
admission.
You must use the GKS forms provided.
Other
Yonsei GSIS does not disclose information related to the process of admissions decisions. Please
do not contact the GSIS faculty for updates or information regarding admissions decisions as
they will not be reversed.
The admissions board reserves the right to request an interview from the applicant. If an
interview is requested, the applicant will be notified. The admissions board will not take
responsibility in the case that the applicant is unable to be contacted due to incorrectly
inputted contact information
Yonsei GSIS welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds, recognizing that
different fields of expertise provide unique perspectives, contributing to an actively advancing
learning atmosphere.
If you are accepted as a GKS scholar and enter the program in Fall 2023, you must submit an
apostille of your transcript to Yonsei GSIS by the second week of September 2023.
4
International Admission
Eligibility
Both the applicant and their parents are not citizens of Korea.
Ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship must submit documents proving the renunciation
of Korean citizenship for both them and their parents as well as documents proving the
acquirement of nationality for both them and their parents by the application deadline.
Applicants to the master program must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent (or higher)
degree from an accredited college or university.
Applicants to the doctoral program must hold a master’s degree or its equivalent (or higher)
degree from an accredited college or university.
Required Documents
SUBMISSIONS VIA EMAIL ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE IN ENGLISH or KOREAN. If documents are in another language,
the applicant must submit the original notarized/certified translation into English.
There are some COVID-19 exceptions for document submission:
1) In the case that submitting sealed recommendation letters is difficult due to the current pandemic, please
have your recommenders send us their letters directly through email. Please make a note of this in your
application package.
No. Documents Submission
1 GKS Application Form [GKS Form 1]
2 GSIS Online Application (Link)
Your name, nationality, and date of birth should match the corresponding information
on your passport exactly. Please input your first, middle, and last names in the correct
place when registering your ID.
Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) should be your personal
information and not that of your agency.
If you are having trouble uploading the ID photo, please email us with the photo that
you would like to upload and we will insert it for you.
Please keep in mind that once you submit the online application, you can no longer
make any changes.
Please print out the online application and include it in your application package.
3 Personal Statement [GKS Form 2]
4 Study Plan [GKS Form 3]
5 GKS Applicant Agreement [GKS Form 7]
6 Personal Medical Assessment [GKS Form 8]
7-1 Apostilled or Korean Embassy Verified Bachelor’s Diploma or Graduation
Certificate
You can get verification on the copy of diploma or graduation certificate, but the
Apostille or Korean Embassy Verification must be original.
5
7-2 Apostille or Korean Embassy Verified Bachelor’s Transcript
For schools that use a third-party service like National Student Clearing House or
Parchment, you should get the certificate first and get the Apostille or Korean
Embassy Verification
If the transcript does not include the grade point average (GPA) or does not specify
the GPA scale (e.g. 4.0/4.3/4.5 scale), please submit an official document issued by
your university describing their grading system.
If you have previously transferred schools or participated in exchange/study abroad
programs, you must submit transcripts from those schools as well, unless the
transferred credits and grades are clearly stated on your primary transcript.
8 (Original) Two Letters of Recommendation [GKS Form 5]
The letters must be sealed, with the recommender’s signature over the envelope’s
seal. Opened letters are considered invalid.
For Korean Studies, Global Studies applicants, all letters of recommendation must
be written in English.
For Global Citizenship and Human Development applicants, all letters of
recommendation can be written in English or Korean.
For Global Citizenship and Cooperation applicants, all letters of recommendation
can be written in English or Chinese.
The letter must include the name, title, and contact information of the recommender.
The recommender may be either an academic or a professional reference.
The sealed letters may be included in your application package or sent by the
recommender directly to the GSIS office. If they are being sent by your recommender,
please make a note in your application package.
Letters of Recommendation provide the opportunity for the admissions board to gain
insight about your performance in either an academic or professional setting. Your
recommenders should be those who can express specific and relevant details to your
academic or professional abilities.
6
9 (Original) Proof of Language Proficiency
Please read the instructions carefully:
1) (For English) We accept TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and TOEIC English Proficiency Tests if the
GSIS application deadline falls within 2 years of the date of examination
If you took the IELTS exam, you only need to submit a copy in your application
package. We can use the TRF code to verify your scores.
TOEFL scores can be sent electronically to C455 (Yonsei University – Graduate
School of International Studies). We accept TOEFL MyBest scores.
(For Global Citizenship and Human Development major applicants only):
- TOPIK Level 4 and Above(for non-native Korean speakers) required
(For Global Citizenship and Cooperation major applicants only):
- HSK Level 5 and Above(for non-native Chinese speakers) required
2) This requirement will be automatically waived (no waiver form necessary) if the
applicant is a native speaker from countries that use the language of the
program they are applying for. (English) United States, United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or South Africa.
3) This requirement will be waived if the applicant fulfills one of the following:
a) If the applicant completed high school in one of the countries listed above in
#2, please submit the Apostilled or Korean Embassy Verified diploma or
transcript from that institution.
b) If the applicant completed high school in a non-English speaking country
but the medium of instruction was 100% in English, please submit the
Apostilled or Korean Embassy Verified diploma or transcript AND a letter
confirming the medium of instruction.
c) If the applicant completed undergraduate in one of the countries listed
above in #2, the Apostilled or Korean Embassy Verified Bachelor’s transcript
(see 3-2) is sufficient proof.
d) If the applicant completed undergraduate in a non-English country but the
medium of instruction was 100% in English, please submit a letter confirming
the medium of instruction.
4) For other situations where an applicant cannot meet the conditions specified above
but still considers their English proficient, submit a waiver request form [Form 3].
You may attach supporting documents. The request may or may not be approved.
10 Copy of Applicant’s Passport
The passport must be valid.
If you are currently residing in South Korea, please submit a copy of your existing ARC
11 Copies of Both Parents’ Passports
The passports must be valid. In the case that your parents do not possess passports,
other identification cards proving their nationality will be accepted. Birth certificates
will not be accepted as a substitute for their passports.
12 Proof of Family Relationship
A copy of a birth certificate or household register that clearly indicates the
relationship between the applicant and their parents.
Ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship must submit documents proving the
renunciation of Korean citizenship for both them and their parents as well as
documents proving the acquirement of nationality for both them and their parents
by the application deadline.
13 Agreement for Collection and Use of Personal Data [GSIS Form 9]
7
The following documents are additionally required for the doctoral program only:
14 Research Proposal [GKS Form 4]
Please print on one side of the paper only.
This proposal is not merely another study plan but is more similar to a thesis outline,
including the title, table of contents, outline of research plan, etc.
15 Writing Sample
Master’s Thesis, Graduate Term Paper, or Published Papers (min. 40 pages, English,
print on one side of the paper only)
16-1 Apostille or Korean Embassy Verified Master’s Diploma or Graduation
Certificate (same guidelines as 3-1)
16-2 Apostille or Korean Embassy Verified Official Master’s Transcript (same
guidelines as 3-2)
Contact Us
Website http://gsis.yonsei.ac.kr
Email gsis@yonsei.ac.kr
Telephone +82-2-2123-8484
Mailing Address
English Room 510, New Millennium Hall, Yonsei University
50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea 03722
Korean [03722] 서울특별시 서대문구 연세로 50 새천년관 510 호
Office Hours Weekdays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Lunch Break: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM)
Summer & Winter Vacation, office closes earlier at 3:00 PM
