SKKU Exchange Program

SKKU - Sungkyunkwan University Program Level: Undergraduate/Graduate Number of Weeks/Term: 16

• Background
• Location Information
• Program Dates
• Host Institution
• Academic Information
• Academic Disciplines
• Credit Transfer Information
• Eligibility Requirements
• Program Costs
• Housing and Meals
• Insurance
• Extracurricular Activities
• Climate
• VISA & Passport Information
• Your Next Steps
• Experiences of Former Students
• Contact Details

BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.

LOCATION INFORMATION
South Korea
Korea lies adjacent to China and Japan. The northern border of Korea is formed by the Amnokgang (Yalu) and Dumangang (Tumen) rivers, which separate it from Manchuria. A 16-kilometer segment of the Dumangang to the east also serves as a natural border with Russia. The west coast of the Korean Peninsula is bounded by the Korean Bay to the north and the West Sea to the south; the east coast faces the East Sea. Two hundred kilometers separate the peninsula from eastern China. The shortest distance between Korean and Chinese coasts is 200 kilometers and from the southeastern tip of the peninsula, the nearest point on the Japanese coast is also about 200 kilometers away.

Seoul
Seoul has been the capital of Korea for about 600 years, since the time of the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910). Seoul was referred to as “Han Yang” during the Joseon Dynasty, but after the liberation from Japan, in 1945, the newly founded Republic of Korea officially changed its capital city’s name to Seoul. Seoul has developed into a bustling metropolis, acting as the hub for political, economic, social, and cultural matters. The Han River runs through the heart of the city. The river divides the city in two; the northern part of the city is a focal point for culture and history, while the southern part is well known for its business district. Seoul has hosted many international events including: 1986 Asian Games, 1988 Olympic Games and 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup. The success of these events has shown people that Korea is truly an international city. In Seoul you can find ancient palaces and Royal Shrines of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as Seoul World Cup Stadium, 63 CITY building, Lotte World, Han River, Namsan, Bukhansan Mountain National Park, Daehangno, Insa-dong, Itaewon, Myeong-dong, Apgujeong, Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Markets. On the outskirts of Seoul you can find Seoul Land, Everland, Caribbean Bay, The Korean Folk Village, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and Namhansan Mountain Fortress.

Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately 20 miles south of Seoul and is one of the most populous of Seoul's satellite cities. Suwon has existed in various forms throughout Korea's history, growing from a small settlement in tribal times to a major industrial and cultural city today. Suwon is the only remaining completely walled city in South Korea. As such, the city walls are one of the more popular tourist destinations in Gyeonggi Province. As an industrial centre, Suwon houses a large Samsung Electronics factory. Suwon is served by two motorways, the national railway network and the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, facilitating transport of commuters, tourists and goods alike.

PROGRAM DATES
PROGRAM DATES
Fall Term: early September - mid December
Spring Term: early March - mid June
Academic Year: early September - mid June

NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the fall, spring, or for a full academic year.

YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2009

HOST INSTITUTION
Sungkyunkwan is synonymous with both tradition and innovation in education. The literal meaning of the University's name is 'an institution for building a harmonious society of perfected human beings'. Old Sungkyunkwan was founded over 600 years ago by royal decree to promote the scholarship in Confucianism. As a nation's highest educational institution, Old Sungkyunkwan went through vicissitudes with the country it served over the centuries. Though a long history alone cannot guarantee the excellence of an institution, the rich culture, which exudes from a long tradition, is surely a unique and valuable asset of the University. It would be misleading, however, to view the University merely in the context of its pre-modern history. What the University has achieved in the past fifty years meets and exceeds that of the preceding five hundred and fifty years. We take pride in the University's innovative spirit; as a result of the long efforts to place natural sciences on an equal footing with our strong foundation in humanities, we now operate two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus and the Natural Sciences Campus. Based on a highly successful partnership with Samsung which has generously funded several core initiatives, the University has been rapidly developing and prospering since 1996.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Subject Areas Available:

• Architecture
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Korean
• Management
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics
• Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering

Language Information
Courses are offered in Korean and English. About half of the undergraduate courses are taught in English. If you are proficient in Korean, you can take courses in Korean that are part of the regular SKKU course offerings.

Campus Information

SKKU's Seoul campus houses its Humanities and Social Sciences programs. The Suwon campus offers all Natural Sciences programs.

Course Information
For detailed course information, please search the SKKU course catalog.

CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.

For detailed credit transfer instructions click here

For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here

CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.

SKKU uses the following credit transfer system:
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

GRADING SYSTEM
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

• Georgia Tech degree-seeking undergraduate student
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• undergraduates complete at least two semesters of college-level study prior to participation
• at least 18 years of age by the program's departure date
• enroll in 12 or more credit hours at the host institution and earn a C or higher for each course
• be able to stay at the host university for the duration of their semester, INCLUDING through their exam period
• international students (non-US citizens) may have additional requirements set by the overseas university
• all students must have completed all the prerequisites for any courses they wish to take

PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally apply at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each GT semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT; instead, these expenses are paid on site.

The currency in South Korea is the South-Korean Won (KRW). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.

DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here

Following are cost estimates for one semester at SKKU that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.

In State Tuition	$3,035
Out of State Tuition	$3,285
GT Mandatory Fees	$818
Books and Supplies	$300
Administrative and/or Application fees	$0
Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals)	$1,000
Roundtrip Airfare	$1500
Room and Board	$2,500
Additional Language Instruction	$0
Mandatory Insurance	$150
Total	$8,585 (in state)
	$8,835 (out of state)

*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.

*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.

HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing

• on-campus dormitories

SKKU's Suwom campus has 5 on-campus dormitories which can accommodate more than 3,800 students. Incoming exchange students will be offered a spot in a dorm. Each room is shared by two or four students (of the same gender). The Seoul campus also four housing units, but these are off-campus.

Meals

• no meal plan
• on-campus dining

Dining options at SKKU are abundant, with locations across both campuses offering a variety of dining services. Campus Dining offers stately dining halls, convenience stores, coffee shops, and vending machines.

INSURANCE
Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
SKKU houses a facility called the e+ Global Zone. It provides an environment for those interested in developing their knowledge of foreign languages and foreign cultures. As their motto “Go Global” states, this is a place where people from variety of cultures can come together and communicate with each other in order to promote understanding. The e+ Global Zone has a “Foreign Language Only” policy. Therefore, everybody is encouraged to use only foreign languages within the zone. Both of SKKU's campuses have Health Enhancement Centers (fitness centers). Finally, the Seoul campus boasts an extensive museum.

CLIMATE
Korea has four distinct seasons ranging from beautiful to severe. Early June to mid-September is characterized by hot and humid weather. Summer temperatures usually exceed 80ºF. Short sleeved cotton blends are suggested are suggested for spring and summer attire. The winter, by contrast, is dry, sunny, cold, and windy with some snow fall. Long underwear, sweaters, and at least one heavy coat are necessary. The average temperature in winter is about 23ºF.

VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online click here

Students participating in this program must apply for a student visa (D-2) before leaving for Korea. Approval can take a few days to a month. To obtain an application and a list of required documents to obtain a visa go to the Korean Consulate General website (click here).

YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:

• Attend an exchange program information session. For dates visit: click here. If you are unable to attend, please make an appointment with the OIE staff member listed below.
• Download the OIE Exchange and Study/Work Abroad Application instructions at click here and submit the completed application by the appropriate deadline.
• Deadlines: Fall/academic year/summer applications are generally due in mid-February. Spring applications are generally due in early to mid-September. Specifics are listed in the application packet.
• Visit the host institution's course information link located under "academic disciplines". Print course descriptions of all the courses of interest that you believe will fit into your GT academic plan.
• Make an appointment with your Academic Advisor to review course options, bring course descriptions to help.
• If you need to get or renew a passport, you should start that process now! Passport information is online: click here.
• For financial aid information click here
• For scholarship information click here

EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Jennifer Evanuik, Study Abroad Advisor (Exchange Programs)
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: jennifer.evanuik@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here

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