Program Description

Study Korean language and culture in Seoul, South Korea! This exchange program with Ewha Womans University offers students an opportunity to directly enroll in courses taught in English, while students with proficiency in Korean will be able to take advantage of the university's wide range of course offerings.

The capital of South Korea, Seoul has a population of over 10 million and is the nation's cultural, educational, and political center. The host of the 1988 Summer Olympics and 2002 World Cup, Seoul is home to many cultural attractions such as museums, shrines, shopping districts and gardens. From the crowded markets to the peaceful Han River that runs through the city center, Seoul offers one of the most striking settings of any large city in Asia.

Academics

From its beginnings as a missionary boarding school in 1886, Ewha Womans University today is the largest women's university in the world, enrolling both men and women. Located in the Shinchon district of Seoul, just 15 minutes from the metropolitan center of the city, Ewha Womans University is home to over 17,000 students and houses 14 colleges offering 62 major areas of study, nine graduate schools and 30 research institutes.

Students may choose from almost all courses on offer at Ewha Womans University, including courses taught in English in art and design, art history, Asian studies, business, economics, geography, ideology and culture, international studies, Korean studies, literature, media studies, music, politics, psychology, religion, social welfare, sociology, women's studies, and many more. In addition, the Korean Language and Literature Department, in cooperation with the university's Institute of Language Education, offers international students intensive, individually tailored Korean language classes. Students with sufficient language proficiency may take regular university courses taught in Korean.

Housing

Participants are offered on-campus housing in the Ewha-Samsung International House, a modern complex designed for international exchange students. Students live in single or double rooms with shared facilities for academic, recreational, and cultural activities, including computer labs, laundry rooms, reading rooms, seminar rooms, kitchenettes, ironing rooms, a gym, a lounge, and a convenience store. Students eat meals at one of the four different cafeterias on campus.

Excursions and Activities

Prior to each session, the Office of Global Affairs at Ewha Womans University organizes an orientation for incoming international students. The office also organizes a "buddy" program that pairs participants with student buddies from Ewha Womans University in order to facilitate exchange students' contact with Korean students and assist with their adjustment to Ewha and Seoul. In addition, the office sponsors a variety of excursions for international students, including trips to the DMZ and cultural performances.

During the semester, students may get involved in a wide range of activities and events at the university. University clubs offer students a chance to share a broad range of social, cultural, and scholastic interests. The International Student Fellowship organizes programs and parties for exchange students throughout the semester, including dinner parties, bazaars, and Thanksgiving celebrations, while students who wish to improve their language skills can visit the Ewha Korean Language Education of Society, a student volunteer group dedicated to teaching Korean to international students and foreigners.