Dual Degree with Yonsei GSIS
MIA students can apply for the dual degree programme with Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei University has an excellent reputation in the Asian region.
If you are interested in International Affairs but also would like to experience Asia, this is the ideal programme for you. You will profit from a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum while being exposed to Asia's unfolding opportunities and challenges. As one of Asia's leading professional schools in International Affairs, this programme not only offers you excellent qualifications but also provides you with important intercultural skills for launching an international career.
As a dual degree student you will spend your first year at HSG and your second year at Yonsei Graduate School. Upon completion, you will obtain a Master's degree from each of the two institutions.
As a MIA student you will start the dual degree programme at HSG. You will spend your second year in one of the Master's programmes at the Yonsei GSIS. The dual degree programme starts once a year, in the autumn semester. As a dual degree student, you may choose among three options for your MIA curriculum.
All double degree students write their Master's thesis at the University of St.Gallen.
After you have enrolled in the MIA programme, you can apply during your first semester. Participants in the Dual Degree programme are selected first by the MIA programme directors and subsequently by the Admissions Office of Yonsei GSIS.
Please submit your application through Mobility Online. The online portal opens for applications in October and following documents (in English) have to be uploaded:
The two letters of recommendation should be submitted in a sealed envelope or sent directly by the referee via E-mail.
For the reference letter, please use the Reference Letter template.
Please note following deadlines:
To graduate from the Yonsei GSIS, you have to complete 48 Yonsei credits. Your studies at HSG will account for half of these credits.
The academic year at the Yonsei GSIS follows the curricula of the Master’s programmes in Seoul and begins in the autumn semester. At Yonsei GSIS, you may choose among the following Master’s programmes:
GSIS students have to complete 48 Yonsei credits for their two-year Master of International Studies. As part of the dual degree programme with St.Gallen, MIA coursework and the Master's thesis account for 24 Yonsei credits. Therefore, students need to complete 12 credits or 4 courses per semester. Depending on which courses you have chosen during your year in St.Gallen and which of them will be credited towards your degree in Seoul, you have to complete 8 courses at Yonsei GSIS from the regular curriculum of your chosen Master's programme.
Course | Regular MIA | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
| Mandatory courses | ||||
| International Politics & Market Economy | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| International Law & Business Strategy | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Data Analytics and Causal Inference | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Strategies of Social Science Inquiry | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Cases in International Affairs | 4 | 4 | ||
| MIA Mornings: Skills and Competences | 2 | 2 | ||
| Core Electives | ||||
| Thematic Courses | 4-20 | 4-20 | 4-20 | 4-20 |
| Methodological Courses | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 |
| Consultancy Projects | 4-12 | 4-12 | 4-12 | 4-12 |
| Independent Electives | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Master's Thesis | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Contextual Studies | 18 | - | - | - |
| Total | 90 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
All Dual Degree students write their Master's Thesis at the University of St.Gallen.
A total of 90 credits have to be completed. Dual Degree students complete 60 ECTS at the University of St.Gallen; 30 ECTS are credited for course work completed at Yonsei GSIS. Students can select fours courses from the Compulsory Courses and Core Electives of Yonsei GSIS. Dual Degree students may not apply for "Practice Credits" as they may not credit more than 30 external credits to their MIA diploma.
The grades from Seoul are converted as follows: Since Autumn 2021, we determine quarter grades for all our Dual Degree students, which results along the lines of the Grading Scale below:
| Yonsei GSIS | University of St.Gallen |
| A+ | 6 |
| A | 6 |
| A- | 5.5 |
| B+ | 5 |
| B | 5 |
| B- | 4.5 |
| C+ | 4 |
| C | 4 |
| C- | fail |
| F | fail |
The grade average of the Master's degree HSG results from the weighting of the completed 90 credits. For Ph.D. studies at the University of St.Gallen a grade average of 5.0 is required.
The calculation of the negative weighted credit points takes into account the courses completed in Seoul which are credited to the Master's degree HSG (equivalent to 30 credits). Across the total of 90 credits 13.5 negative weighted credit points may be accumulated.
Tuition fees for this Double Degree programme apply at the respective home institution. Double Degree students starting at the University of St.Gallen pay the regular HSG tuition fees throughout the two academic years.