Is YISS an accredited educational institution?
Yes. YISS is fully accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is recognized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE). Students who attend YISS can easily transfer to schools and universities in other countries.

What type of curriculum program does YISS offer?
YISS offers an academic course of study based on the U.S. educational model. At the high school level, YISS has an enriched college preparatory curriculum offering a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Is YISS a Christian school?
Yes. YISS is part of the Network of International Christian Schools. While YISS recruits Christian educators, our student body is comprised of students from many varying faith backgrounds and more than 50 countries.

Which grade should I apply for?
The online platform is set to auto-default the applying grade based on the applicant's birthday for the applying school year. Students applying from schools with different calendar school years (i.e. January or February until November or December, as in Australia and Singapore) will be considered for admission to the grade that extends their current school year.

How do you hire teachers and what are their backgrounds?
YISS faculty are hired after completing a rigorous interview and evaluation process. Teachers at YISS are certified in their content areas and receive training to teach in an international context.

Are all students required to take Bible classes and attend chapel?
No. YISS offers two programs for students. Students in the NICS program attend Bible class and weekly chapel, while students in the Oasis program attend character education and/or philosophy class and weekly assembly. Our Oasis program is reserved for students who are actively practicing a faith other than Christianity. Within the application, you will have the opportunity to select which program you prefer for your child.

Are there any services available for English language learners (ELLs) or students with special needs?
English language learners (ELLs) can participate in an instructional program for non-native speakers of English. The program helps students attain a certain level of English proficiency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, bringing them to the appropriate academic level. YISS offers the program to a limited number of students each year. Students' English language abilities will be assessed during the admissions process.

Learning support services are offered to meet the diverse learning needs of our student population, specifically, those students who require additional services in order to be successful in the mainstream classroom. This includes specialized class instruction from our learning support teachers in mathematics and reading.

Do students in kindergarten through 2nd grade have to provide standardized test scores?
Selected applicants applying for kindergarten or 1st grade will be invited for an initial screening. Students entering 2nd grade should provide standardized test results if available. If not provided, but deemed necessary, you will be contacted after your application has been submitted.

What standardized test scores do you accept for 3rd-12th graders?
Please provide standardized test scores from within the last 12 months.

The following are examples of test results that are accepted:

MAP (NWEA)

ERB/ISEE

TerraNova/SAT-9

US State Standardized Tests

Where can the applicant take a standardized test for 3rd-12th grades?
If an applicant in 3rd-12th grade does not have a recent test result, YISS recommends students take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).

You may register online to take the test at a Prometric Testing office. Fees range from $100 – $180, depending on the type of testing center. An option is available to take the ISEE at home or remotely if you are unable to visit a Prometric Testing Office. Open test sites are offered at many locations throughout the year. In Korea, the ISEE is only available for 5th-12th grade.

YISS ISEE School Code: 682450 - ISEE Registration

Please note that submitting an application without test results will delay the review process and the admissions decision.

Do students who need English support need to take an admissions test?
Students whose native language is not English may be required to take an English language proficiency test if school records indicate that English language support may be needed.

YISS values the diversity contained within its student body, which results from a variety of cultural backgrounds, international experience, previous experiences, philosophy, and abilities of our students.

YISS is open to students of all nationalities, however, because the school cannot admit all applicants, priority for admission is applied as follows:

Priority (1) applicants of families who are foreign residents in Korea; (2) all other applicants based on qualitative criteria to help determine the match between the student’s abilities and needs, and Yongsan International School of Seoul’s resources and capabilities.

Other criteria considered within these categories:

-English language proficiency
-Student records from previous school(s)
-Parent’s employment by a company with direct investment in Korea
-Extracurricular activities
-Teacher recommendations
-Number of years in an English-speaking school environment
-Family language background
-Any additional factors deemed relevant by YISS

Families wishing to apply to Yongsan International School of Seoul must meet the eligibility requirements set out by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE).

Please note: The admission criteria are not listed in any particular order. YISS reserves the right to apply selective enrollment when deemed necessary and in the school's best interest.

After Documents are submitted:

- We will contact you if there are any missing documents.

- Students whose native language is not English may be required to take an English language proficiency test, if school records indicate that English language support may be needed.

The following decisions may be sent:

- Offer: If accepted you will receive an offer letter via OpenApply. Please click the “Yes” button within two business days and you will need to make arrangements to pay tuition within five business days.

- Wait Pool: Please note that students placed in the wait pool will remain in the wait pool until you are notified by YISS. If you have updated documents such as transcripts or test scores from the time you were placed in the wait pool, please upload them to your application to keep it up to date.

Why was my application placed in the wait pool?
Qualified applicants who are not accepted due to space availability are placed in our wait pool and will be considered if spaces become available.

How often do I need to update the applicant’s school records while in the wait pool?
If you continue to have a strong interest in your child’s acceptance during the school year, it is important to keep the application current by sending recent school records as they become available. In the event of a mid-year vacancy, immediate decisions can be made only on complete and current files.

Is the wait pool chronological? Does it matter when I apply for my child?
No, the wait pool does not have a chronological or predetermined order based on the order of receipt of application. The wait pool is maintained for the applying year only. All applicants who are interested in any subsequent year must reapply.

Is there an application fee?
Currently, there is no set fee charged to submit an application. The non-refundable Application Processing Fee of ₩500,000 is charged upon acceptance. Applicants required to sit for an admissions interview or test will be charged the Application Processing Fee, whether or not the applicant is accepted.

What are the tuition and fees?
A comprehensive list of tuition, fees, and financial information is available for review here. YISS tuition and fees are a combination of refundable and non-refundable charges.

What is the capital development fee?
YISS takes great pride and care of the facilities in which we operate. The capital development fee allows YISS to offer and maintain the highest quality educational and activity spaces for our students.

Does YISS provide scholarships?
YISS does not offer scholarships at this time.

What are your school start and end dates?
YISS traditionally begins the school year in August and concludes in early June. Please view our academic calendar for specific details. View Academic Calendar

What are your school hours?
Kindergarten to 5th Grade: 7:50 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

6th Grade to 12th Grade: 7:50 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.

Do you have boarding facilities?
YISS does not have any boarding facilities available for students and cannot arrange homestays or studying abroad for international students.

What type of bus transportation services are offered to students?
Learn more at Bus Transportation.

What school lunch options are available for students?
YISS offers two set menu options daily.

Is there a required uniform for students?
The YISS uniform consists of polo shirts with uniform-style bottoms.

View the Elementary Dress Code

View the Middle and High School Dress Code