Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea

Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea

Location
  • South Korea
    • Seoul
Term
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory
Language
English
Jun 15, 2026
Aug 27, 2025
150 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The capital of South Korea, Seoul is truly a modern, cosmopolitan, and dazzling city.

Seoul is among the largest cities in the world in terms of both population and area, with over 20 million people residing in the metropolitan area. In addition to the unique classroom culture and college atmosphere, Seoul offers natural beauty through its royal palaces, Buddhist temples, sleek skyscrapers, and cutting-edge technology. Plus, there is an excellent public transportation system that allows you to get anywhere in the city within minutes.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program’s strong support, smooth logistics, and helpful staff, which ease cultural adjustment and visa processes.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Our team is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and staff. We have developed our Community and Impact Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations.
Our team is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and staff. We have developed our Community and Impact Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations.
WorldStrides is devoted to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of neurodivergence. Our Health & Safety team is available to answer questions about insurance and medication, as well as provide students with materials on overseas access to support.
We are dedicated to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of accessibility. With our wide portfolio of program types and locations we’re confident there is a suitable and accessible program for each student. Accommodations abroad can be complex and take time, so those with accessibility needs should inform WorldStrides of any accommodations requests as early as possible in the advising process.

Impact 🌎

We have partnered with Fill it Forward to engage team members and program participants in waste reduction practices. The goal is to encourage the elimination of single-use waste. Every QR code scan shows the impact of reusable bottles and unlocks a donation to environmental impact groups.
WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

Program Highlights

  • Seoul is known for its impressive skyline. The cityscape showcases a blend of traditional Korean architecture and contemporary high-rise buildings.
  • South Korea is renowned for its high-quality education system and prestigious universities. Many universities are ranked among the top in Asia.
  • Korea and Yonsei University are members of the prestigious group of SKY universities in Korea, similar to the Ivy League in the U.S.
  • Sogang University is renowned for its academic excellence, particularly in the fields of social sciences, humanities, and business
  • Hanyang university is known for courses in technology and science, with hands-on learning in high-tech labs and unique innovation spaces.

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Program Reviews

4.88 Rating
based on 57 reviews
  • 5 rating 87.72%
  • 4 rating 12.28%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.45
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.9
  • Housing 4.55
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 57 reviews
Brittany
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Korea University (Seoul, Korea) Semester Abroad

TEAN was the perfect choice for my first time leaving the country. They made the entire process smooth and guided you along the way on zoom for applying for a visa and registering in courses. It made the entire process stress free--I couldn't recommend them enough!

My time in Korea was spent traveling every weekend, and I really feel like I got the most out of my 4.5 months there and in turn became extremely confident planning trips. Both program coordinators Kakao talk IDs' were available, and they were always available to give recommendations and would respond fast. The on-campus housing in the Anam international dorm was clean and had updated facilities. The downstairs also had a kitchen you could store food in. As for academics, my teachers were very kind. I would recommend going to office hours for any non Korean courses you take because it makes understanding the grading easier. They were always willing to work with me!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If you have the choice to do the Tokyo excursion, do it! I really enjoyed my time in Japan, and they planned the entire trip. It was a jam packed weekend, but everyone was satisfied with what we accomplished in a short time.
Pros
  • On campus housing
  • Help with entering the country
Cons
  • No travel accommodation to the airport at the end of the trip
60 people found this review helpful.
Philip
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEAN Seoul Review

Before coming to Korea, I was a picky eater. However, given a unique situation and a positive mindset towards new experiences, I tried new foods and enjoyed eating seafood for the first time.
If you're unsure about studying abroad in Korea, you should go for it and enjoy the experience of being in a new country. I explored a new culture and ate fresh foods I would never find in the US for a lower price. I recommend checking out night markets, new districts, and social media to find hidden restaurants serving unique foods. Overall, this program has provided me with the opportunity to discover new things and given me an experience that I will never forget.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate was a moving octopus. The tentacles were served on a bed of beef tartare, and when the dish came out, the tentacles were still moving around. When eating it, the tentacles would grab onto the inside of my mouth, and it was a weird experience. Despite this, I would say this was my favorite dish during my time in Korea and was the most memorable thing I ate.
Pros
  • New food
  • New friends
  • Interesting classes
Cons
  • Busy schedule
  • Difficulty navigating the first week
  • Not enough time abroad
109 people found this review helpful.
Ogechi
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An eye-opening abroad experience!

Participating in the Korea University Summer Program was one of the best life decisions I've ever made. For one, this experience made me more independent and self-confident. Stepping out of my comfort zone to try new things and navigate through many obstacles such as language barriers and culture shocks allowed me to grow proud of myself and be more confident that I can accomplish more in my future travel journeys. The cultural activities hosted both by TEAN and Korea University made the trip even more special. Some activities include a weekend trip to Busan, a day trip to Lotte World, and attending a baseball game with other students. All the activities I engaged in allowed me to embrace Korean culture and learn about its history in a non-intimidating way. Making connections with different types of people was also a highlight of this experience. I made connections and new friendships with Korean locals and students of different cultural backgrounds. They allowed me to develop connections with Korean locals and other abroad students. Everyone I met along the way was super welcoming and made my study abroad journey even more exciting. If you’re looking for a summer or a short-term study abroad program, I highly recommend this one!

Pros
  • So many cultural excursions!
  • Nightlife
  • Affordable costs
Cons
  • Got sick a lot
  • Faced some discrimination
  • Very steep hills...
134 people found this review helpful.
Betty
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Summer Ever

I had the best summer studying Abroad at Hanyang University through TEAN. I met excellent students from across the US who participated, and they made my experience wholesome. I never felt alone since I had kept company with them. Also, the onsite team were amazing. Euisoo, Hwang, and Chan ensured that we lacked nothing. They were a text away and supported us throughout the program. They also sent out any weather notices or alerts, which I found super helpful. TEAN and Hanyang University's immersive cultural activities allowed me to engage with Korea's traditions and lifestyle. The highlight of my study abroad experience was my classes. I took a "Studies of Korean Society and Culture" class, and I encourage anyone studying at Hanyang University to enroll in this course. It was very insightful; there were lectures and discussions of ancient and modern Korea, among other topics. It allowed me to view Korea objectively and understand why things worked as they did. Also, I loved getting crafty in my ceramics class. That was fun. I am grateful to TEAN for the best summer ever.

Cons
  • The program was short
124 people found this review helpful.
James
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEAN South Korea Review

I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea with TEAN and wish I could do it all over again. The TEAN staff made the process of obtaining my required documents and entry into the country much easier than I had anticipated, and when I had difficulty with course registration at the beginning of my semester, the TEAN staff was able to help me by speaking to the university, and the university made exceptions for me which was almost unheard of. TEAN also included activities and excursions, and gave students plenty of opportunities to meet other students and make friends. I loved being in South Korea. The food was delicious and affordable, the public transportation was very clean and convenient, the people were very polite and welcoming, and the city overall was beautiful and fun to explore. I would highly recommend visiting Seoul, and I would recommend doing so with TEAN.

139 people found this review helpful.
Zoe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Time of My Life

Honestly an amazing experience that I can probably say was one of the best eras of my life so far. I got to go to a country I was interested in, meet incredible people that I will probably keep in touch with for a long time, do countless activities all of that while I took classes that were key to my college graduation. I was a little worried about having to figure it all out myself, but I was honestly incredibly thankful to the staff on and off site who were all so nice and helpful. The activities offered are also really great, it really helped to be guided for the first couple of days in a country so far from home where it is easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to do and explore.
Korea was very welcoming, even when people do not speak English, and if you don't speak Korea, most of the time they try to help as best as they can.
There is also so much to do that is easily accessible; pop up stores in Seongsu, idol birthday cafes in Hongdae, hiking up countless mountains, exploring palaces and older traditional neighborhoods... I feel like there are options for a wide range of people and interests.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most surprising things I saw was the incredible number of photobooths available absolutely everywhere. There are just so many, often there are multiple ones on the same street. They also have such a wide range of different styles and themes, some very cool ones with high angles, or low angles where the camera is under the floor. Some themes were actually really surprising. I went to a wide variety, I tried ones replicating elevators, subways and even toilets! I found them very fun and now I have countless photos with my friends, and because they are so cheap, we went very often. Anytime we wanted to remember a specific moment or memory, we would go to a photobooth and make fun poses related to that moment. They also tend to have special events and themes when kpop artists have comebacks!
Pros
  • Everything is very affordable! Like food, transportation and activities
  • Public transportation is very reliable (only downside is that it stops at night)
  • Felt so safe
Cons
  • Very long flight of you fly from places like Europe or the United States, pick a comfortable seat if you can!
  • You will probably spend all of your money (like I did) because there are so many interesting tings to do
138 people found this review helpful.
Marvic
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Supportive Staff

The program's staff was very supportive before and throughout my entire study abroad trip. When applying for the program, I would send an email and they would respond right away on any questions regarding the application process. While in Korea, the staff was very friendly and willing to help me out when I had any questions or needed their assistance, they consistently made themselves available and supported me throughout my study abroad experience. They organized many activities and it was evident that every staff member was genuinely eager about connecting and engaging with the students.

139 people found this review helpful.
Andrew
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Semester of My Life

A phenomenal program and place to go if you want to improve your social confidence, be less of a picky eater, try new styles and clothes, explore nightlife, and learn meaningful life lessons.

So much of making the most of your time lies in preparation. Pack properly. Don't bring a lot, you'll want to buy a lot there. Don't bring overly colorful clothes (You'll stand out a lot!). Account for mid/post-semester travel when booking flights. Flights to Japan, Taiwan, and more are very cheap compared to from the states.
Be involved in KUBA! Go to the cheering orientations, the dinners, and more. They're more expensive than a meal on your own, but they are amazing opportunities to make friends with both Koreans and exchange students from around the world. I regret not going to my group's MT (bonding event) despite its steep price.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I wouldn't have limited myself by staying within a friend group at the start. Making the most of social opportunities like KUBA and befriending as many of your fellow TEAN students as possible is the way to go. You'd be shocked how much drama can occur despite only being a 4 month semester, so be cool and be friends with everyone, it took time but by the end of the semester I was the happiest I've ever been.
Pros
  • Public Transportation
  • English friendly
  • School Spirit & Festivals
Cons
  • On the expensive side
  • Stressful course registration
  • Dorm is at the top of a steep hill (not recommended if you have mobility issues)
149 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

In Seoul, I would say that quite a large amount of people can understand and speak at least a little English. In popular areas with heavy foot traffic like Hongdae, Myeongdong, itaewon and Dongdaemun you should be ok to use English because they get a lot of foreigners there. At Korea University in Anam since there are a lot of university students that had to study English back in high school and...

Hi Trya! The cost of our program in Seoul can vary term to term and depending on which program you are interested in (summer or semester or winter term). I recommend visiting our website to see current pricing for upcoming programs.