Dormitory: I stayed at I-House (International House), an all-female only dormitory for exchange students. With all dormitories, there is a curfew from 1-5am, access in and out of the dorm is not allowed. There is security on duty 24/7. I-House is right beside SKKU and is visible from the hill as you walk downhill. You can reach I-House in a few minutes after exiting from the iron side gate. I-House had clean and modern facilities. It had a shared kitchen downstairs (fully equipped with pots and pans, utensils and cups so you will not need to buy them. Each room is assigned a shared level in one of the common fridges to place your food), a TV area and laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers available (1000 won per use I think). There is one vacuum cleaner per floor, in the common corridor, and two fridges on each level in addition to the fridges in the kitchen downstairs. Two sets of bedsheets and a blanket are provided. The shower and toilet are separated and there is a small balcony with a laundry rack in the room. Roommates are randomly assigned although I think they may try to match nationalities. Residents are not allowed to bring visitors in.

Mobile services: I used a SIM card from Evergreen Mobile (EG) which uses the KT network. You can order it online before departure and collect it from a collection point of your choice when you land at Incheon. The EG SIM card is a prepaid card with 3 data plan options: 100MB/30 Days/5,500won/No free KT Wi-Fi 500MB/30 Days/11,000won/Free KT Wi-Fi 1GB/30 Days/16,500won/Free KT Wi-Fi I found the 1GB plan to be more than sufficient as KT’s network coverage was massive enough for me to be able to connect to their Wi-Fi networks while I was out and about most of the time. Recharging your account can be done through the EG SIM app and website. A customer service hotline is available for any enquiries and issues. This was a relatively easy and simple option for temporary mobile services in Korea, although other options are available. The main telcos like KT and Olleh have English-speaking branches to cater to foreigners.

Sending items home: I sent a 20+ kg package back to Singapore before the semester ended, which cost around 90,000 – 100,000 won. Postal rates are relatively affordable and the EMS service may even deliver your parcel to your doorstep back home within a few days.

Socialising: Drinking is the most common way to bond so if you do join a school club, you may be offered alcohol all the time. It’s okay to say no if you are uncomfortable but if you are alright with social drinking, I recommend giving it a try! Most students will not pressure you into it so no worries. Joining student clubs is one of the best ways to make local friends. So don’t be shy and give it a shot! I joined the taekwondo club because I wanted to continue practicing while away from home and it was the best decision I made on exchange. I made many friends whom I now regard as family, got to experience typical things a university student in Korea would that exchange students normally don’t get to do, and got more out of my time at SKKU thanks to my taekwondo club.

Academics: Lessons at the Humanities and Social Sciences campus are conducted mainly in classrooms or seminar rooms, with the professors delivering the lectures via PowerPoint. I would say Korean university life is rather different from the Singapore system. For example the way assessment is conducted is mostly a 50% mid-term and a 50% final for most courses, both of which will take place during class time in the classroom for that lesson. There will not be examination venues scattered around the campus like NTU and the final examination period at the end of the semester lasts for only one week, plus or minus a few days. This is unlike NTU where examinations can be spread out across a month. As my major there was English Language and Literature, I did not encounter the problem of professors choosing to deliver the classes in Korean for modules under my major. Most of my other electives were under some globalisation category so I did not have much problem with those as well. I did however choose to drop one non-essential module as the professor had to conduct the class in Korean for the sake of the local students, and I felt that it was better for me to drop the class rather than have her cater to my needs alone. Friends who were studying mechanical engineering modules at the Suwon campus however encountered a professor who insisted on delivering lectures in Korean.