Underwood International College: proof, but no minimum
UIC's first-year international admissions page says English test scores were optional until the 2026 intake; from the 2027 intake every division requires proof of English. Accepted tests are TOEFL PBT/CBT/iBT, IELTS, a CEFR English certification, IB DP English A or AP English, with no minimum scores.
Instead of a test you can submit a high school diploma from a country where English is the sole official language (the US, Canada outside Quebec, the UK, Australia and New Zealand), or a Medium of Instruction certificate if your entire high school curriculum, apart from native language and history, was in English. India is not on that country list, so Indian applicants use a test or the certificate.
Graduate School minimums by department
The Graduate School's spring 2027 guidelines for international students, linked from its international admissions page, list a minimum for each department on the Sinchon campus. Most English-accepting departments ask IELTS 5.5. Examples:
| Department (Sinchon) | IELTS | TOEFL iBT new (old) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 5.5 | 3.5 (59) |
| Artificial Intelligence | 5.5 | 3.5 (59) |
| Economics | 5.5 | 3.5 (59) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 5.5 | 3.5 (59) |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 6.0 | 4.0 (72) |
| Business Administration (International Business) | Not accepted (TOPIK 6) | Not accepted |
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Graduate test rules and substitutes
Scores must come from tests taken on or after 4 December 2024, and you upload a verifiable printout; score reporting is not accepted. TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest and IELTS One Skill Retake are accepted; TOEFL ITP counts only if taken at Yonsei. A score below the department minimum is treated as not submitted.
Where a department accepts substitutes, you can use nationality of, or completed secondary or degree study in, the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, or a whole bachelor's, master's or PhD completed in a non-English-speaking country, proved by a letter or certificate with the university's seal.
Yonsei's English pages we read do not set a separate English score for the student visa or permit. Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Yonsei programme page and in your admission decision, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does Yonsei UIC require?+
None. From the 2027 intake UIC requires proof of English, but it states no minimum score for IELTS, TOEFL or the other accepted options.
Does Yonsei accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not among the English proofs UIC lists or the tests in the Graduate School guide.
Does Yonsei accept PTE?+
PTE Academic is not listed. The Graduate School accepts TOEFL, TOEIC, TEPS and IELTS where the department allows English.
Does Yonsei accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
Yes for the Graduate School: One Skill Retake scores within the validity period are accepted.
Can an English-taught Indian degree replace IELTS at Yonsei?+
For graduate entry, a whole degree completed in a non-English-speaking country, with a sealed university letter, is a listed substitute, if your department accepts substitutes.
Keep reading
Related
- Korea University IELTS requirement
- Seoul National University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for South Korea
- IELTS One Skill Retake explained
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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