EXPERIENCE REPORT YONSEI UNIVERSITY, SEOUL, SOUTH-KOREA E-mail: mathijsvanboesschoten@live.nl Study Program: Business Administration Exchange semester: Fall Academic year: 2016-2017 Host University: Yonsei University, South-Korea GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Yonsei University is one of the best private Universities in South-Korea. The Koreans are very impressed if you mention that you study at Yonsei University because the admission requirements are very tough for the local students. This makes it very special to study here as an exchange student, especially because status is considered to be very important in South-Korea. The University is located in Sinchon which is a district within Seoul. I really enjoyed living in this district because it is known to be the student district, this means the prices of food and drinks are relatively low compared to other areas of Seoul. Sinchon is very alive and you will find many restaurants, karaoke bars, shops and coffee bars in this area. Sinchon is very close to Hongdae which is a good area for partying. The Campus of the University is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen, the campus is enormous and the library is provided with the most high-tech features, of course sponsored by Samsung ;). There is also a good cafeteria on Campus in the Union building, here you can have a nice meal for around 4 euro s. Besides the beautiful campus there are many things to see in Seoul, the fancy area Gangnam, the Seoul Tower, the Lotte tower and many more attractions but you will have to see them for yourself. At the moment there are 38,725 students studying at Yonsei University, out of which 26,731 are undergraduates and 11,994 are postgraduates. Yonsei hosts roughly 1300 exchange student from all over the world per Semester, so you won t be the only one. In fact, I was shocked by the amount of Dutch people I met at Yonsei University, because Seoul is not the first destination most people think of as an exchange destination. But of course I made friends from all over the world, with whom I am still in touch. This is one of the great things the exchange experience provides you. Studying in South-Korea is a little different than at Tilburg University. Even though Yonsei is one of the most prestigious universities in Korea, the level of education is a little lower, especially the exchange courses are basically impossible to fail. The study load is a little heavier since you will have to make quit a lot of group projects, which are time consuming, but this is also a good way to get to know your fellow students. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Information before you left When did you receive the pre-arrival information from the host university? Any difficulties? The 23th of May I received the documents required for the application of my Visa. I started my semester at the first of September, so no difficulties what so ever. At the 23th of August I received a reminder of how to register for my courses. Visa procedure and arrival How long did it take you to arrange your (student) visa (if relevant)? Around two weeks, How much did you pay for the visa (if relevant)? I believe less than 70 euro s, I picked it up at the South-Korean consulate in The Hague How was your arrival organized? I contacted some other exchange students on the Yonsei exchange Facebook page, who were arriving with the same flight in Seoul. Together we took the limousine bus which stops right in front of the dorms (Ewha back gate). Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? No, but if requested this could be arranged for you How was the reception at the school? I arrived the moment the dormitory became available and didn t realized that the introduction started a week later. But one week later we had an informative day about the life in Seoul and a brief introduction of the facilities on the campus. Was the administration and faculty well prepared for your arrival? Yes, on arrival everything went very smooth. What problems, if any did you encounter? No problems at all.
Orientation/Introduction activities Was an orientation or introduction activity organized? Yes, there was an informative introduction from the dormitory and the university. Besides that, you could take two day tours around the city but sadly I was too late with signing up for the tour. But I still did some sightseeing around the cities with some friends. Did the school s students participate in the reception of the exchange students? Yes, there was an international student society which also arranges the buddy programs. Did you have a student mentor/buddy? No sadly I was too late with signing up for the buddy program as well. But this is something you can arrange at Yonsei University. Only I advice you to do it earlier than me (I signed up on the plane heading to Seoul). Housing How was accommodation organized? You could choose between two dorms, SK Global house and I-house. I stayed at SK Global because in this dormitory every room has a private bathroom. I had a double room so I had to share it with a roommate. This was something I really had to get adjusted to but in the end it is a fun experience. SK Global is equipped with a small gym, good security, kitchen in the basement, and a lounge area on every floor. The first 3 floors are for guys and the other 4 floors for girls. Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place to live after you arrived? I signed up in advance, but make sure you sign up immediately when the registration opens because the rooms are given on first come first serve basis. What kind of housing does the university provide? Double and private rooms in two dormitories on campus What support did you receive from the school in locating housing? I signed up for the dormitory, but if you have to find a room for yourself in sinchon there are a couple of Facebook pages to find rooms in and around Sinchon. Were you satisfied with your accommodation? Yes, although 350 euro s a month is slightly expensive for what you get (shared room) I was happy that I didn t had the stress of arranging a room on arrival. Any special issues or good ideas/useful websites for prospective students? Yonsei exchange students Facebook page, Housing in Seoul Facebook page Living Costs How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University? I didn t receive a grant from Tilburg University so I financed everything by myself. I did sublet my room so I didn t have to pay for the double rent. What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? Living in Seoul was more expensive compared to Tilburg. But in return I also got a lot more luxury, we always ate out and went to clubs quite often. Prepare to pay entrance for most clubs (between 10 and 30 dollars). What did you spend most of your money on? Travelling in Korea (Sokcho and Jeju Island) and to Hong Kong and Tokyo. Besides that also quit a lot of money went to food because we had to eat out every day. What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Sightseeing in and around Seoul, and try the wide variety of food in Seoul. I also travelled to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Macau during my semester which I can totally recommend everyone! Please outline your approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: Housing: 350 euro Food: 280 euro Transport: 50 euro (public transportation is very cheap, the taxi from Hongdae (nightlife)back to the dorm is also only 4 euro) Books: 10 euro Clubbing: 150 euro Miscellaneous: 100 euro
Academic Calendar Culture and Language Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? No not at all How would you compare your host culture to your own culture? The culture in Korea is completely different than the culture in the Netherlands, but very easy to adapt to. You have to respect people who are older than you, for example handing over important things like money with two hands if someone is older than you are. What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? That we are very individualistic, and to some extend a lot freer in the decisions we make. Personal Development How do you think the exchange experience will affect you from a cultural and social point of view? I have learned that there is a big difference in the way we treat each other in different parts of the world. With the exchange experience and the travel experience afterwards I really became more open to other cultures and I think it will be easier for me to adapt myself to a new environment. How do you think the exchange experience will influence your future
career possibilities? I definitely became interested in working abroad, so I will choose to work for a multinational company. What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? That people from different countries have different working attitudes. Especially with all the group projects I noticed that there is a major difference between Spanish countries and for Example Germans in their working attitude. ACADEMIC INFORMATION Academic level at a host university In what language(s) are the courses offered at a partner university? English and Korean Did you follow any courses taught in the language of the host country? No Which courses did you take and why? Entrepreneurship and strategy: I read good reviews about the professor and this class and I can confirm that this is a really interesting class thought by a Dutch Professor. International Management: I mainly wanted to attend courses that focus on doing business globally. Free trade agreements: I do not recommend this course, the professor was very vague. Business in Emerging markets: I wanted to gain more knowledge about emerging markets and a course like this is not offered in Tilburg Money and Banking: I wanted to attend one more challenging class since the other classes were relatively easy Which courses would you recommend? Entrepreneurship and Strategy Business in Emerging markets How would compare the academic level at your host university to the academic level at Tilburg University (e.g.: level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.)? The level of the courses is lower compared to the level of the courses at Tilburg University. The workload is however a little heavier because you will have to make a lot of group projects and read more cases. The lectures are a lot more practical focused compared to Tilburg University. Is the teaching style primarily practical or theoretical? I would say a mixture between the two. What teaching method is practiced by the host university: case studies, group work, seminars or lectures (or a mix)? Case studies and group work and lectures, so a mixture of these three.
How would you describe the relationship between the students and the teaching staff? Differs between the exchange courses professors and the General courses of Yonsei. In the exchange courses there is a lot of interaction with the professors and the conversations are quit informal but it is the opposite at the regular Yonsei courses. At the regular Yonsei courses it is very quiet in the classes and only the professor is talking. In general, were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Yes Exams What types of exams did you have to sit? Regular exams, group projects, take home exams Other Can students easily access the library and its resources? Yes, the library is open to all students Were there public computers available on campus/in university buildings? Yes, the library at Yonsei is very luxurious with a lot of Samsung equipment. Description of Courses Course Course prerequisites exam Korean comments Entrepreneurship and strategy International Management Free trade agreements Business in Emerging markets Money and Banking level BA None Take home exam BA None Take home exam BA None Essay, exam BA None Exam, Group project BA Macro economics 1 2x exam credits 3 Write a business plan 3 3 Essay was not very interesting 3 3 more challenging Tips for future students: Would you recommend an exchange period? Definitely it was the best time of my life so far. I would recommend anyone to go on exchange because it is a unique opportunity to meet people from all over te world. Besides that, you are conflicted with a different culture and you have the chance to see a lot of the world.
Would you recommend your host university? Yes, Yonsei is a great environment to study and the students are very open minded and interested in foreigners. It is also a great experience to study on such a prestigious university. Locals are really impressed if you mention you study at Yonsei. What should prospective students absolutely not forget before going on exchange? Sign up for the buddy program on time, sign up on time for the dormitory, pack some winter clothes as well because during wintertime it gets very cold! Contact details: If you wish to get more information about an exchange at Yonsei University you can always contact me! Photo s: