Justin (Sem 1, 2023)

My Exchange at Yonsei University

I first found out about the 360 international exchange programme through a friend of mine who also went on exchange to Washington in the same semester. He told me that it would be a great opportunity to travel while studying and I was convinced. About half a year later, arriving in South Korea, it was definitely a change of scenery from New Zealand. Travelling to an entirely different continent means that you are faced with many unknowns and new concepts you may have never heard about before. But that is what is exciting about it.

I stayed at the on campus accommodation for international students but the walk from the dorms to my classes was a bit far due to the campus being quite big however you eventually get used to it. The first orientation was for the exchange programme and it was a couple of hours long however it detailed everything that was needed to know from classes and the library to banking and how to contact emergency services. It was informative for people new to the country and university. The second orientation was for the accommodation and this was just to explain some of the dorm rules and etiquettes. You get to make friends with some new people at these orientations as everyone is in the same boat as you.

The teaching at Yonsei was quite different to the teaching here at UoA. There are no recordings unless your course is specifically taught online and attendance is recorded for all classes. Thus, to pass a course you must attend nearly all of your classes with a few justified absences. I found that with the courses that I took, the learning was mostly theory based where we would learn the material in class and apply it in the exam. Additionally, some weeks are more intense as they tend to group together assignments and exam periods.

It was very convenient to live in Seoul as everything is quite easily accessible by foot. There are convenience stores everywhere which close very late at night or are even 24/7. It is very easy to get what you need at any time of the day. There are restaurants everywhere and the transportation system is very developed. The cost of living in Seoul for a semester is quite affordable compared to Auckland. The cost of the dorms was very inexpensive for a 4 month period although this may be because it is provided by the school. It is cheap to get around by public transport although may be very crowded during rush hours. The food costs are a lot cheaper than in Auckland. So much so that it is affordable to eat out everyday and enjoy great meals without spending too much money.

One of the clubs I took part in was the Mentor’s club. This is a club for international students at Yonsei and they hold many events throughout the semester. They also have a system where a group of exchange students are paired up with a mentor who is a domestic student at Yonsei. Thus, you can experience doing things in Seoul with someone who is familiar with the place and culture. This is a good chance to meet other exchange students and have fun throughout your exchange semester.

Living on campus was a positive. Not only is the campus very big, there are also many different services on campus such as a bank and even a hair salon. There are many cafeterias spread out across campus along with a number of convenience stores and even one right under the dorm I stayed at. Overall, life on campus was very enjoyable and comfortable for a student. The food in Korea was probably the highlight of the exchange. Not only was it very affordable, the cuisine in Korea is one of my favourite foods. Being able to eat this everyday made the exchange very enjoyable.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

One of the highlights of my academic experience at Yonsei is being able to experience what it is like to study as a student in a different country. It was interesting to see how students from other countries live and study and having the in-person experience gives an entirely different perspective.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

Some things to do that I really enjoyed was just walking around the major shopping areas and streets. There are so many things that you can find to do by just exploring the city. There are a lot of cafes, shopping malls, unique stores, street food vendors, street performances and much more to experience. I would recommend going to areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae just to name a few.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

Pack as lightly as possible as you will likely return with a lot of things. When enrolling in courses do everything as early as possible as it is very competitive and you could easily miss out on courses that you want. Don’t stress too much about studying as you are there for the experience and have as much fun as you can.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

Firstly budgeted around $8000 excluding flights and this is doable if you budget well however I did make some large expenses which required a bit more money. Shopping at daiso is best to save money on essentials. There are a lot of places that serve meals for less than $8 NZD, especially in the school cafeterias where the meals are usually around $6 so eating at these places will help save money to spend on activities. Bring cash if possible to exchange and avoid bank fees. Make sure to carry your passport everywhere to claim the tax refund where possible as this can save you a good amount.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

I learnt how to settle in and make friends in a completely new setting where I didn’t know anyone. I discovered that there is so much more to explore in the world, which I want to do in the future. I also learnt how to appreciate other cultures and how to assimilate into their societies. I find that I am very grateful for this experience of having travelled to study abroad.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

Travelling to Busan on a few days trip may have been a bit short, but it was one of the most enjoyable few days I have experienced, and Busan has become one of my favourite cities in the world.