University of Seoul
Find your 'SeoulMate' and immerse yourself in Korean culture at the University of Seoul, one of the best universities in Korea for student experience.
Seoul's campus has an excellent culture of social involvement, from volunteering to social work, and has one of the highest student satisfaction rates of Korean universities due to its high quality of education and funding support.
The University of Seoul (UoS) was founded in 1918 and currently has a student population of over 10,000. Seoul and its surrounding areas have a population of more than twenty million people, making it the world's second largest metropolitan area. Visit Dongdaemun to take in the market or the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, get the big picture of Seoul from the vantage point at N Seoul Tower or stroll along the Cheonggyecheon, an urban stream running though down town and cool your feet!
Key information
Application information
Program details
Areas of Study:
English: Architecture & Urban Studies, Asian & Korean Studies, Business & Public Administration, Chinese Language & Culture, Computer science & Engineering, Economics, Engineering (computer, electrical, materials), English, Geology & GIS, History, International Relations, Korean, Literature, Political science.
It is possible for students fluent in Korean to take classes taught in Korean. Courses lists are available for each department.
Internship Opportunity: it is possible to add an internship to your exchange. Students can apply for it during orientation in Seoul.
Course Information:
Course information can be found online under Courses offered in English.
3 UCalgary units = 3 UoS credits. Students can take up to 20 credits (6 courses at UCalgary) per semester.
Course lists for the upcoming semester are available about a month before studies start (and are emailed to accepted students), so please use courses available from the previous academic year for your tentative course list until you can get approvals closer to departure.
Student Experience: "My course in Mass Media class had interesting field trips to filming sites and broadcasting companies. The field trips for my other class was also really interesting and I don’t remember having gone on any field trips at UCalgary, so this was an interesting experience."
The academic year is divided into two semesters.
- Fall Semester runs from early September to late December
- Spring Semester runs from late February to late June (in 2020, check-in is Feb 27th, and checkout is June 20th)
The University of Seoul also offers a summer program!
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
UoS estimates average cost of living per semester to be between 700,000 won to 1,000,000 won per month, including food, local transit, books, entertainment, etc.
Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning. South Korea mandates all students be enrolled in a national health insurance service. This will be applied for at the time of application to your host university, and costs about $60/month. As the coverage is not comprehensive and doesn't include places outside of Korea, students should also seek their own medical insurance in addition to the coverage in Korea.
Seoul cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
Student Experience: "The school helped all the students open a bank account, so I personally didn’t face any challenges. I think it would be best for future students to make Korean friends because I heavily relied on my Korean friends to help translate with any inquiries or difficulties I faced."
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Exchange students are guaranteed housing on campus in one of the student dormitories or in UoS' International House.
Student Experience: "I would recommend both the residence hall and the international dorms. If you would like to meet Korean students, then the residence hall is a good option as you share a room. If you are more independent and like your own space then the international hall is the best option."
This exchange 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. Seoul offers a variety of courses in English.
How can I learn or improve my Korean?
Korean language courses are available to exchange students free of charge! They offer Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes. Course lists are published in early Feb and August for the upcoming semester.
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 at UoS?
Are you ready to find your "SeoulMate?" UOS' buddy program matches you with a local student to help you adjust to life at UoS, in Seoul, and Korea. Your SeoulMate emails you about a month before semester starts. They also offer a language exchange program and the Global Lounge (it's possible to work there!) to help international students make friends with Korean students.
Alumni Experience: "What is one "must-do" experience you recommend to future UoS students?"
"University of Seoul has one of the most beautiful campuses in Korea. Be sure to pack a picnic and head to the "Sky Pond" next to the dormitories! Students gather to hang out, and to play music in the evenings. Its a great place to meet other international students, and domestic students as well! My favorite thing to do during the week was to order traditional dishes, have them delivered to the steps near the sky pond and hang out with my friends. Sharing a meal with old and new friends was one truly a highlight of my time in Korea. (Plus the beautiful surroundings are perfect for that Instagram update on your semester abroad for your friends!)."
What's great about Seoul and UoS?
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.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Flavien Niederst
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.