EN: University of Seoul: "A memory for life that I will remember fondly forever"

My Field Report on University of Seoul

The most action-packed times describes my semester abroad at University of Seoul quite well. I experienced more in 5 months than I usually do in 5 years and had a unique semester with the most wonderful people. But how does it actually work in Seoul? I will gladly inform you about that in my field report.

The Beginning - Application & Preparation

To apply to University of Seoul (UOS), you will need to submit a few documents, as usual. After you are accepted, the International Office of UOS will contact you and discuss all further details. The International Office has very kind staff and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. So always write if you have any questions! But keep in mind that there is a severe time difference.

The next steps are the visa application and the flight/travel, to which I will come back later. Applying for the visa was quite straightforward as an exchange student but check if your passport is still valid for longer than the semester abroad.

Accommodation, Food & Courses

Some time before your arrival, the website for selecting the on-campus accomodation will be activated, as a Viadrina student I had no problem with receiving a student dorm. I was sharing the bathroom with two others, both turned out to be the other two Viadrina students. On the opposite side of the hallway we had two more students with a separate bathroom. From what I have heared they sorted by University most of the time. The dorms are complete gender seperated by buildings.

In your room, you will not have a refrigirator, microwave, or any other kitchen appliance, keep that in mind. We ordered a refrigirator for our dorms, but it never arrived. Do not worry though, you will most likely eat in restaurants all the time, more on this later. Additionally, there is a lounge with a kitchen on the ground floor. As well, a convenience store, a gym and a laundry room. They just started renovating the common area at the entrance and I hope they continue with those facilities. The downside of the dorms is that the laundry room has only five dryers which are obviously always taken. The convenience store is open 24/7, but during the night you can only enter with a Korean bank card, or if some kind Korean holds the door open for you (it always happens). The gym has old equipment, so I recommend using the larger and more modern gym at the sports facility of the university. In general, you cannot complain about the dorms even though they have some flaws when you consider the price. The entire semester costs around 650 € and can be paid at the bank on campus. Funny remark: You have to pay for everything that goes to the state in cash (Dorm rent, health insurance, public transportation). So, prepare to have well over 1 million Won in cash in your hands for the rent alone.

Before you arrive you have to choose the courses. The website to do so will be sent to you. The professors are generous and therefore the academic level is a bit lower than at Viadrina, but the workload is much higher. Besides case studies and lectures, there are also tests and midterm exams during the semester. Of course, the amount of work varies depending on the course. In any case, you have less pressure at the end for the final exams. Most of my courses were related to the Korean economy and I highly recommend to use the opportunity to take Korean/East Asian specific courses.

Arrival in Seoul

Arriving by plane can be quite stressful, as the trip to South Korea is not a short journey, but you are still not done yet. From the airport, which is in Incheon, you can choose to take the metro, bus, or taxi to get to the University. For public transport I recommend getting the public transportation card (Attention: only cash), available in every convenience store. The check-in at the dorms was pretty uncomplicated so do not worry about that. After the check-in you can enter the dorms with your fingerprint 24/7, in case any problem arises there is a security guard as well.

UOS offers a mentoring program for international students, which you will be informed about in advance. The mentoring program at UOS is generally well organized and the mentors are really warm people who will help you at any time. Throughout the semester they prepare events like a sport day, field trips, and more. Very quickly, the mentors also become your friends.

Before the lectures start there will be an orientation day, where all new students are introduced to the campus, student life, and the semester schedule. Here you will also have the opportunity to get to know the other international students and make further contacts with your future friends. After that, the first lectures will start soon, and the rest of the students will arrive at the dorms and on campus. There is only one inconvenience with arriving in Korea: receiving the mandatory residence card “ARC” (Alien Registration Card). Of course, as in Germany, the bureaucracy in Korea will result in you receiving the card very late, for us it was in November. Unfortunately, with this you are partially cut off from the convenient life in Korea. You need this card for almost everything, like creating online accounts for the Korean apps, or receiving national health insurance. So, make sure to have your own health insurance.

Campus Life, Everyday Life & Adventures

The campus of UOS is breathtaking and extremely well-equipped. When I entered the campus the first time I thought I accidentally went into a botanical garden. Every day you will see gardeners perfecting the campus. Furthermore, there is an almost endless list of facilities: several diners, cafés, a gym, a football field, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and many more (usually indoors and outdoors), top golf, a theater, a climbing wall etc. The huge library is right next to the dorms and can be used with the student ID. The only inconvenience is the dining hall's opening hours, and breakfast is basically only for Koreans possible to order. But luckily the restaurants in Korea are unbelievable cheap. I usually ate next to the campus for 5 € or less.  

There are a lot of small events on campus, not only in the first week. I can highly recommend the events, especially since you get some free stuff often. The overall highlight was the UOS festival! Many musicians have performed on the large stage on campus, including a group of Kpop stars. (Yes, this is the standard in Korea). Additionally, there were several food trucks, and booths of all student organizations, so you can learn more about them.

In your free time, you will certainly explore Seoul and surroundings, and you can fully rely on public transportation. I highly recommend to hike some mountains! You will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the city and the mountainous country. I have been to other cities besides Seoul as well. For example, we took trips to Suwon, Seoraksan, Busan, Jeju, etc. Chuseok break also is suitable for a longer trip like a roadtrip through Korea. (Make sure to get an international driver’s license beforehand.) The landscapes and cities are truly impressive, and you will sometimes feel like you are in a movie. After the semester ends, you still have time to explore nearby countries like Japan, China, and Taiwan. 

But even without traveling you will have an eventful time in Seoul and a really exciting student life. The Korean culture is truly wonderful to experience during the semester abroad. I would particularly like to mention the extremely friendly nature of Koreans. You can always count on their help. It even happens that you receive small gifts from complete strangers. Be prepared for K-pop, delicious food, and an incredible number of kindhearted people! 

Conclusion

I will never forget it! A memory for life that I will remember fondly forever.

I strongly recommend a semester abroad at UOS, nothing more needs to be said.                                        

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!