Mobility specification

Country:South Korea

Institution:Sungshin University

City:Seoul

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?manageable

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?3 Korean credits = approx. 5 MUNI credits.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I found the courses at Sungshin University overall easier than at MUNI. Attendance always counts towards the grade, lectures are required ( you can skip 3 I think) and class activity is often graded.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?One online orientation before departure and one offline right after arrival. The university offers a Buddy Program (you are asked about involvement when you apply) and two clubs. SISA @sungshin.sisa, which falls under the Office of International Affairs, and during the semester they held rather larger events like Networking Night or Global Festival. And SWIN @sungshin_swin, where they regularly held different activities every Saturday + sometimes additionally in smaller teams with Korean students. I also got involved in the off-campus club @seoulful_on, which was also about connecting Korean students with international students.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:20000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

Do you have any tips on how to save money?If you travel a lot in Seoul, get a Climate card with a youth discount. The shops often have 1+1 or 2+1 discounts, but it's probably still best to eat at the school cafeteria ( one meal 5500/6500won).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Search for connections on either NAVER maps or Kakao maps. Probably the best thing to do if you have time is to buy a T-money card at the airport and top up with cash so you can use public transport straight away. KTX trains can be bought at korail.com.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Seeing the royal palaces in hanbok and a million other things, the best is the visit korea page where there are lots of recommendations for places, tours and itineraries.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Gyeongju - probably my favorite city outside of Seoul and then definitely Busan, Jeju, Sokcho, Jeonju. @koreatravelmate offers a lot of cheap tours to not so touristy places you might not look at on your own. I've been with them twice and for the price I can't complain.

Share your best experience:If I had to pick just one experience, the winner is currently a trip to Busan, where I tried surfing for the first time. I didn't expect to be so hooked, as I'm not really a water person. But I've been surfing twice since then. When you say surfing, probably no one immediately thinks of Korea, but for me it will always be associated with that place.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

What is needed?Passport, confirmation of studies, visa application, photographs, cooperation agreements, letter of recommendation, confirmation of accommodation and flights, documents from the Korean university

How long does it take approximately?Three weeks

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Transport cards can only be loaded with cash, and I only managed to withdraw it at about the tenth ATM. So I recommend you withdraw and arrange it right at the airport. From the airport, you can get to the school by subway, which is the cheapest option, or by bus for 17,000 won.

Can you pay by card?sometimes

What not to forget when packing?Before I left, I often read that I should pack deodorant, but they normally have Nivea, the selection is small, but it's enough to buy. Otherwise, I would recommend packing something sentimental from home, a few gifts. And make sure you leave room in your suitcase for the trip back.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?An unforgettable dream come true!