Mobility specification

Country:South Korea

Institution:Jeju National University

City:Jeju City

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education

Study level abroad:Master

🎓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?neutral

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?I had courses for 2 credits and they were entered into our system as 3. I couldn't find the exact conversion anywhere, I only know from students who filled out this questionnaire before me.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised to find that some Korean students who chose courses taught in English had difficulty communicating and could not speak without having a prepared text to read beforehand. Yet, in most of these courses there were discussions or group work.
I recommend the Getting to Know Jeju History and Culture course, going on field trips or having themed workshops. Classes are only every second or third week, so even if it's on Fridays, it doesn't matter.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, the university organized an orientation day in the first week and assigned us our buddies, which was a big help. The university also has study clubs, but they didn't advertise them much, so you have to find out about them yourself, either from your buddy or at the international student office. It has special clubs just for international students - calligraphy and about three others - and various other clubs that Korean students are involved in, such as dancing, diving, horse riding or Buddhism. Registration for the clubs only works for the first week, so you need to sort this out now, or preferably in advance through the contact person at the visiting university. The university also organises events such as Halloween, Chuseok, Thanksgiving and coastal clean-ups. There's quite a lot going on, but sometimes I had trouble keeping track of when was what.

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

Special needs - Other:At the beginning of the semester, they told us that they offer psychological counseling, but only in Korean. It depends on whether one could say something so intimate in another language or have a translator with them.

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:10000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was a bit bothered that you have to arrange Korean insurance, but I was counting on that. It was perhaps shocking to me that one is dependent on only store-bought food for the entire semester, as there is no option to cook on campus.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I recommend getting a food box. Most of the portions in the school cafeterias are large, so I started taking some of my food to go.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?not at all

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I searched everything on Naver Map, I find it more English user friendly than Kakao Map. A T-money card works for all public transport throughout Korea, which can be purchased at GS, CU or 7-Eleven stores, where you can also top up, unfortunately only with cash. One trip costs 1,150 won - blue bus, 2,400 won - express. Always beep your card when entering the bus and when changing at the exit (changing is free). This applies only to Jeju, in Seoul and other cities you need to beep every time you enter and exit.

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?There's probably nothing in town, but I definitely recommend the whole island of Jeju. There are a lot of UNESCO-listed sights there, such as South Korea's highest mountain, Hallasan, or the lava cave. I also definitely recommend a walk around the coast where you can spot Haenyeo divers.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I liked Gamcheon Village in Busan the best. I also recommend Jeonju, where various festivals are held, and of course Seoul, where it is possible to visit Bukhansan Mountain overlooking the city.

Share your best experience:I learned that if the sauna is open 24 hours , you can sleep in it, and it's something that is common for Koreans. So I spent one night in a sauna in Seoul and I can recommend it as a cultural experience :)

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?In Prague

What is needed?Everything is listed on the Korean Embassy website. The only thing to look out for: a letter of recommendation from your home university - an original signed and stamped letter is really needed; unfortunately, an emailed document is not sufficient.

How long does it take approximately?About a month, maybe a little longer.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?My classmate flew with LOT Air, they have direct flights to Seoul. What I liked and would use next time is the option to buy a return ticket, where you don't need to know the departure date.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?It's definitely a good idea to have physical credit cards with you, Apple Pay or Google Pay work minimally. An umbrella is handy in the summer and it can snow in the winter, so it's a good idea to bring clothing for all seasons.

🥳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?What I take away from the trip is more confidence and courage to believe that I can do anything I set my mind to and of course learning about a new culture.