University of Seoul Summer Program
Study in Seoul this summer and explore the rest of South Korea though field trips they offer to places like Jeju Island, the Korean world heritage site of Changdeok Palace or watching a NANTA Show!
The Seoul International Summer School Ⅰ (SISS Ⅰ) program at the University of Seoul (UOS) has been providing international students with a unique opportunity to learn about Korean culture and tradition since its establishment in 2000. SISS Ⅰ has been reorganized in 2024, offering customized programs to participants from UOS partner universities and other prestigious universities worldwide.
Key information
Application information
Program details
The information below was last updated on October 2025
University of Seoul offers 2 options
1) Seoul International Summer School I in July
This Summer School offers two tracks:
- Business in Korean Perspective
- Korean Culture Studies
Course Information:
Students can choose one morning and one afternoon class. 3 credits = 1 UCalgary half course; 6-8 credits = 6 UCalgary units (2 half-courses)
2) Seoul International Summer School II in August
This program does not provide transcripts, only a certificate of participation.
The Summer I program will run from July 1st - July 29th 2026.
The Summer II will run from August 5th to August 21st 2026.
-
Costs
This is a Fee-Paying program, which means that you will pay tuition fees to University of Seoul directly as well as any other required program fees such as housing, social events, etc.
You will pay a $150 placement fee to UCalgary, but otherwise you will not owe any fees to UCalgary for this program.
Expense Estimated Student Cost
Early Bird applicants have UOS support for Field Trips fee and Housing fee.
Registration Fee + Tuition (2 courses) + On-Campus Housing = $2,600 CAD (estimated but subject to change due to currency conversion)
Flights, Meals, and Personal Expenses are self-determined.
Seoul provides more clarity and updated information on the cost of living online. Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.
Seoul cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
-
Funding
Seoul offers a partner discount to our students for this program on the tuition and registration fee. They also waive the cost of the field trips for Calgary students.
Fee-paying programs might be able to obtain additional funding. Students are responsible for verifying eligibility for any funding you wish to pursue at UCalgary. If you wish to apply for student loans, please confirm eligibility with Alberta Student Aid or your responsible loans provider. If you wish to apply for our office's awards, such as the Global Learning Award, note that your program must receive at least 3 units of academic credit at UCalgary to qualify.
On-campus housing is assigned according to gender. Students will be allocated to dormitories based on this gender division, and further instructions will be provided accordingly.
For Gender Minorities: Due to the current housing allocation policy, students who identify as non-binary or third-gender are required to seek off-campus housing. Please note that specific assistance with finding off-campus housing is not provided.
A common cooking facility is available in the dorm building, and you can find a cafeteria near the building for your meals. Detailed information on the facilities of the UOS dormitory can be found at http://global.uos.ac.kr → For International Students → Living in Seoul → After Arrival Information → On-campus Housing.
This program is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Do I have to speak Korean?
No prior knowledge of Korean is required for this exchange. The Seoul International Summer School (SISS) offers a variety of courses in English.
Student Experience: "I found that Korean people are quite straightforward and easily express their opinions. As well, most of them are quite self conscious about their ability to speak English so it was important for me to make sure they were comfortable around me when they spoke English. Even though I did not speak or read Korean, it helped that I understood a little bit. I would recommend being able to read Hangeul which is really easy to learn. Mostly people spoke minimal English, so it wasn’t too bad. As well, it helped that we had a lot of Korean friends who spoke English well who translated for us."
What supports or services are available on the SISS program?
SISS offers a buddy program "Peer Advocate" for international students. Peer Advocates are UoS Korean students who help international students adjust to life in Korea. Peer Advocates live with international students in the dorm and participate in most of the programs offered by SISS with all of international students.
Students in the program come from Korea, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Hungary, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USA, and more.
What's great about Seoul and SISS?
Not many people would come to South Korea for its outdoors, but the hikes around Seoul are some of the most scenic in the world. The University of Seoul is a fantastic student-experience oriented university in South Korea. There are a multitude of great events and gatherings for you to meet and interact with other international and Korean students. The location of the dorms at UoS also provide easy access to great pathways and hiking trails right up into the hills around Seoul for incredible views of the campus and beyond.
The UoS-subsidized Jeju Island trip is a highlight for many students on the program - the 4-day field trip tours the volcanic island, which is full of breathtaking natural beauty as well as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and will give you a better understanding of Korea.
Other field trips on this program help you to learn about Korea’s past, present and future - you will experience various kinds of activities while visiting meaningful spots in Korea such as Jeonju’s Hanok Village, Taekwondowon, Chuncheon (a famous film location), watching a NANTA Show, and enjoying the summer at an Amusement Park (Everland or Caribbean Bay).
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Andrea Santos V.
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.