Fall Semester – 16 weeks (late August to late December)
Spring Semester – 16 weeks (February 22 - June 19, 2010)
Academic Year

Sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters and the Asian Studies Center

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

An agreement was established in 1991 between Michigan State University and Yonsei University to facilitate the exchange of students between these two institutions.  This exchange was established to encourage students who would normally not study in either location, to do so on a non-degree-seeking basis.  The purpose of this exchange, in MSU’s viewpoint, is to acquaint non-Koreans with the language and culture of Korea.  (Similarly, exchange students who attend MSU from Yonsei University should be non-Americans.)

Korea provides a particularly advantageous position from which to study the changing culture, economics, and politics of all the nations of the East Asian region. As one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, Korea has become a model for economic expansion, rapid Christianization, agricultural reform, family planning, industrial development, and a host of other issues pertinent to the nations of Asia and the world.

Where does it take place?

This program takes place in Seoul – the center of politics, culture, and economy in South Korea. Ministries, government offices, embassies, theaters, department stores, as well as other high office buildings are all a short trip from the University.  The city is also the center of industry, with headquarters of major corporations including Hyundai and Samsung.  For Korean culture and history, Seoul not only offers museums, palaces, walls, gates, but also documents, libraries, and living memories.  Many culture sites that can be seen include Gyeongbok Palace, Deoksu Palace, Changgyeong Palace, the National Museum, the Folklore Museum, and Buddhist temples just outside the old city walls.

Yonsei University, founded in 1885, is the nation's oldest university.  It is fortunate to have a large, quiet and wooded campus in the middle of a city of 12 million, only minutes away from the centers of government, business, and culture. The student body at Yonsei is comprised of about 38,000 students.  Yonsei is only minutes away from key government agencies, the business district, national palaces, and cultural hotspots, but it also offers a unique sanctuary through its spacious, wooded, and relatively quiet campus. Students have easy access to a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, and art galleries. Yonsei’s campus is located in Shinchon, which has a unique atmosphere of its own. With a rich mix of traditional and pop cultures, and also with the proximity to other universities such as Ewha Woman’s University, Sogang University, and Hongik University, the Shinchon area has a college town feeling.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of twelve (12), maximum of fifteen (15), credits per semester. 

Students may enroll in any of Yonsei University's courses, subject to the approval of their MSU department for the transfer of credit upon return to the United States. 

Typical course offerings include:

• East Asian culture
• Art
• History
• Business
• International relations
• Mass media

Course work in Korean language is optional

Courses, other than language, will be taught in English.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details see co-sponsored programs.

Contact the study abroad program coordinator listed below to learn more about available courses. To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Registrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to MSU students from all majors who have completed at least one year (two semesters) of university-level coursework. 

Students must be of at least sophomore status and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program, and submit two letters of recommendation (one of which should be from their academic adviser).

Korean students who currently attend Michigan State University and wish to attend Yonsei University should contact the Yonsei University Office of Admissions directly.

A student who holds a Korean passport should have attended at least four years of secondary school in the United States.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in the International Student Dormitory.  It provides an international atmosphere with a mix of Korean and foreign students living together.

There is no meal plan so students will be responsible for purchasing their own meals.  Students may buy their meals in one of the college cafeterias, or in the university area's many restaurants. There is also a shared-refrigerator space for storing milk, bread, or other perishables.  Nearby bakeries have coffee and rolls for breakfast, and both pizza and Chinese food can be delivered to the dorm.

For students with experience in Korea, off-campus accommodations are available.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Catherine Ryu
College of Arts & Letters
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages
A-600 Wells Hall
Phone: (517) 353-6656

Asian Studies Center
Michigan State University
301 International Center
Phone:  (517) 353-1680

Sandy Tupper
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone:  (517) 432-4341  

You can also log-on to Yonsei University's Web site.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter other countries.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

Students participating in this program are strongly encouraged to receive a series of immunizations specific for travel within Asia.  Students should schedule an appointment to be seen at a travel clinic at least 4-8 weeks before the program to inquire about the recommended and/or required vaccines you may want to consider before departure.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

• transportation to South Korea
• accommodations
• meals
• books and supplies
• MSU tuition and fees*
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $7,900 for Spring 2010.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

A program fee of $164 (Spring 2010) is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for academic year and fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

How do I apply?

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for fall or academic year participation.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines. 

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. 

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students).

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

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