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Sungkyunkwan University

South Korea 2024/2025 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
Study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Vietnamese Studies / Vietnamese Studies

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2024

Period of placement (from-to):
2024-08-24 - 2024-12-21

Number of months:
4

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
They are on the university website in advance. The course catalog is also sent to students.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Documents required by CZS, Transcript of records, Certificate of enrollment, Participation agreement

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
At least a year before the study abroad.

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Filled out form available on the embassy website, Certificate of admission, Certificate of business registration (both given by university), passport photo, passport, a fee (60 USD)

Length of wait for visa:
1 month

Fee for the visa:
60 USD

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
YES

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
YES

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Course registration took půlace online about a month before semester was about to start. There are language proficiency restrictions. Changes could be made even after first week of classes.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
YES

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
no

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
1 Korean credit equals 1,67 ECTS

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Teaching method: lectures with mandatory attendance, in-class activities, independent work (online materials and lectures in iCampus), project work, group presentations. In the middle of semester there were ''midterm'' exams, which were exams consisting of the half a semester topics. They and the final exams could be written, but also could be a class presentation with a PPT.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
More emphasis on active participation in lessons. Rest was comparable.

How did you receive study materials?:
Most of them were in online form on iCampus - SKKU's version of our IS system.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
I personally enjoyed Contemporary Korean Society and Culture, which was focued on issues of modern Korean society - very eye opening, also there was always an open discussion held on the end of the class.

How well is the school library equipped?:
Not a lot of English books and most of them in the fiction category.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Computers are available in the library. There is school wifi on the school premises. Wifi is in the dormitories too.

Options from printing and copying:
Available after small fee in the dormitories and around the university grounds.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Few themed field trips with limited available spots only for exchange students.
There also were festivals, events arranged for the whole school - as well as for exchange students.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
3

or describe in your own words:
I was mostly communicating with fellow exchange students since it is a bit difficult to integrate with Korean students due to language barrier.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
In the university dormitory.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
435 USD

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Rooms for two with private bathroom and balcony (bed with duvet and pillow, table, chairs, wifi, socket, shelves, wardrobe, shower and sink, separate toilet, hair dryer). In the hallway there are shared refrigerators, water filter, vacuum cleaners, shared laundry room. On the ground floor there is a shared space for meeting with others/study, kitchen.
Blanket with pillow is provided, but bring your own covers.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Dorm application will be send to your e-mail cca 3 months before the semester.

What are the catering options?:
The campus has several dining halls serving traditional Korean food. There are many restaurants and snack bars around the school.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Most of the groceries were .far more expensive than in Czechia - especially fruit and vegetables. Ready to eat meals like kimbap, sandwiches, ramyeon,... are very cheap.

Transport to location of placement:
From the airport either with airport railroad (cca 5000 krw per ride) or with a bus (cca 17000 krw per ride).

Rough prices for transportation:
One ordinary bus/subway ride is about 1500 krw.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
The best in my opinion is to fly with Korean air - direct flight from Prague and not very expensive.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Main types of transport - metro and buses. After purchase of Tmoney cards (available in convenience stores) transportation card can be reloaded with cash in the stores and inside the metro stations.
Seoul is also easily walkable and safe to do so.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
ARC is mandatory, but has to be arranged after arrival.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
There is NHIS, which is local Korean insurance, which is mandatory for residents (the cost is cca 78000 krw per month).

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
NO

Did you work during your studies?:
NO

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
Students on student visa couldn't work.

Tips for free-time activities:
City is full of culture, restaurants, cafes, events, shops. There is always something to do. There are many hiking trails all around the city with beautiful nature and many temples.
Other Korean cities are easily reached with train - I recommend going to Busan in the south of Korea.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
80000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4

Total number of months:
4

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
My own savings and support from my family.

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
20000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
0

b/ of which for catering:
10000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
10000 CZK

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
12

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
20

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
YES

What problems did you have with recognition?:
NONE

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
1

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
NO

What would you recommend to take with you:
Cash for the start of your stay and medicaments+suplements.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The university festivals and other school related activities. The university location - very close to city centre and to royal palaces with traditional villages around them.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
NOTHING

Further comments:
You can contact me through instagram @sonkalia, if you have any questions.