Despite my belief that learning should never stop, the knowledge I have gained being a HUFS International Development Studies graduate has permanently changed the way I view our globalized world. That alone made my experience at the University worthwhile, but I also appreciated the form of academic rigor, the international environment created by teachers and students, and the individual attention provided to each of us by our professors.

Before applying to Graduate School, I had already experienced one of the HUFS exchange programs so I felt familiar with the Seoul campus, its area, and the school’s global nature. Then, a fellow student from Ethiopia told me about the IDS department. As expected, the study field engaged me in learning, although the graduate student’s life differed from the one I had as an exchange. Established in 2010, the department is still relatively small. There are fewer social events that I was used to but on the other hand, due to small class groups, we had more interactive and discussion-focused lectures, as opposed to formal lectures offered by most top universities in Seoul. I was also relieved to not fall under Korea’s relative evaluation system.

That being said, each semester new and “old” students are invited to a welcoming dinner. It’s an opportunity for not only making first friends at the department but also for talking to professors in a relaxed environment. It was interesting for me to hear what other students’ motivations to study were and I got a great impression of the academic faculty when we joked and played games, which was reassuring for me as a freshman.

The on-site administration was smooth in my personal experience. I received help many times while visiting the office or oftentimes when sending e-mails. Even though the graduate school website still needs work on providing full translation for English speakers, I had never had problems receiving advice in English from the office administration.

The instruction language within IDS is always English, with English Speaking and Writing courses available (and for some required). In fact, I improved my academic English skills during the 2 years course. The language center on the campus offers evening Korean classes for beginners as well. It’s valuable for international students for adjusting to life in Korea or even meeting people from other departments.

In my last semester, the student council organized the MT, and we spent two days and one night in Yongin (outside Seoul city). The event was exciting, fun, and I appreciated it a lot since it’s a part of studying culture in Korea, that I could not experience in my home country.

I am overall proud to have received the diploma from HUFS, the most global university in South Korea, and satisfied with the vast majority of my courses. In our small community, I made very close friends who I still keep in touch with and I feel reliant on my professors’ assistance even now, after my graduation.