What is so special in HUFS that makes it a perfect choice for exchange students - a good reputation, a great number of classes taught in English, a good localisation on Seoul’s map - certainly. But HUFS represents something more. What makes it different, it’s an unique  atmosphere, multicultural environment a fusion between tradition and modernity, between that what’s Korean and what’s international.

    The great advantage of the HUFS’ exchange program is the intense course of Korean which gives a possibility to learn Korean fast and so to better experience Korea. The University is open for foreign students. HUFS’ students are curious to know them and  always ready to help them.

    Deciding to come to Korea, to HUFS I didn’t really know what I should expect, I’ve made a bet coming here and I won! The people I have met at HUFS have helped make my experience here a positive one.

    At first sight, I thought this school is just another popular university in Seoul, Korea, but as I go and learn this summer, I realized that this school is not just an ordinary university. It was the vivid energy and life that captured my heart. Diverse communities and activities were very dynamic. The energy was flooding, and I was so glad that I could be a part of this energy.

    The campus felt not only like Korea but also like a globally gathered country where diverse culture and races were all mixed together. I believe, it is really hard to find this diversely mixed culture at any other universities, even in the States. I believe it is a great opportunity to meet a very diverse, open minded, and culturally mixed people.

    Mostly, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies attracted me because of the size of the school. I go to a public school where sometimes 600 students are all packed in one class. Of course, it is fun taking big classes, but it was always hard to commute with the professor. Going to HUFS this summer was an exciting shock for me. All the professors knew my name and had a lot of chances to talk to them. I believe this chance of being a part of HUFS student will be one of the most memorable life experience.

    Hi everybody! ^^ My name's Wojciech and I'm an exchange student from Poland studying Korean language (which is my major) at HUFS.
 
    I don't know where should I start talking about HUFS so maybe I'll say at the beginnig that if you want to learn Korean language HUFS is the best possible choice because it has great teachers, who are always keen to help their students, comfortable classes (in which there are usually not more than 10 students) and the atmosphere here is great and unique. Not only because people here are friendly but also because you can simply feel the "Korean spirit" here.
 
    Besides all of that the very first thing you'll probably notice when coming to our Campus is that it is full of foreigners. You can say that HUFS is truely a multinational community with diverse people and cultures. This is a great opportunity especially for those who come to HUFS to study other country's culture and language. 
 
    I think that studying in a foreign country broadens our minds and Korea's HUFS is a great place to do that! Aside of studying here you can learn culture, as I've mentioned before, through various extra-curriculum activities like for example taking Taekwondo classes or Samulnori (a folk music accompanied by four percussion instruments). I myself am attending Pungmulnori classes which is a variation of Samulnori (we are dancing when playing the instruments).
 
    So in the end I want to say that if you want to come to an Asian country to study, Korea's HUFS is just the University you were looking for! :) 

 Coming to Korea, I didn't really know what to expect. You hardly ever do when going to a new place but with Korea this was especially true just because I didn't know very much about it before I came. Well, any doubts or apprehensions I might have had, were dissolved the very second the ISO staff picked me up from the bus (Fred and Muni, thank you!:). And from that very first meeting all through the next four months of my stay I was every day amazed at the hospitality and friendliness of Korean students (and Korean people in general). Seoul itself was a very comfortable, interesting and easy experience and HUFS is a very good representative of the entire mentality as it combines all these traits.

Studying at HUFS was no different than studying anywhere else in Europe or in the US as the staff includes a huge number of foreign professors so, even for those who don't speak Korean (like me) there is no shortage of interesting classes to choose from.

I enjoyed my time in Seoul a lot and would recommend it to anyone looking for the experience of studying abroad!!

 

Michael Mathews
Visiting Program

Prairie View A&M Univ.
USA

 It was a break from reality; an electrifying, wonderful dream that came into fruition and ended too early, a gain of rich culture, an acquirement of profound and invaluable insight, and an establishment of lifetime friendship. Korea was a remarkable experience. I infiltrated and acculturated myself into this subtle culture. The ambiance of Korea was positive. I believed at first that their acceptance of me would have been dismal but they were extremely open to my culture as I was opened to theirs. Seoul was a small lighthouse that had enough capacity to hold 10 million people. The nightlife was vibrant and the college district area was always filled with illuminating people. Seoul was like an impeccable place illustrated in fairy tale books. At first, I was not very excited about these very healthy foods in diminutive portions, but eventually I developed an acquired taste and unconditional love for Korean food. Kimchi was my favorite side dish. It was an accoutrement at every course meal, so I had many chances to consume it.

The International Student Organization (ISO) on HUFS campus was filled with a plethora of activates and warm hearted Koreans who were willing to help exchange students assimilate. This prominent organization on campus provided international students with the basic fundamentals to surviving in Korea. The members treated me so kindly and were accepting of my amiable personality. It was hard to say goodbye to these wonderful, fun, kind-hearted individuals and to the excellent university.

 I am extremely euphoric and beyond grateful that I got to experience this invaluable opportunity. I enjoyed myself without a doubt. The most enlightening and surprising aspect was meeting not only Koreans but individuals from various nationalities. I gained copious insight on Europeans, Arabs, Africans, and many Asians. Going abroad has opened up my eyes and has allowed me to see that there is another world out there besides the world I live in. I have put to rest my pre-notions and schemas.

This trip has added depth to my framework of thinking and has impacted my repertoire. It has given be the ability to acclimate myself to any situation. I feel I can work in teams better and I can lead efficiently. In Korea, I planned many events. I was extremely extroverted, gregarious and amicable; some of my innate attributes. Living in Korea has changed my life tremendously and I cannot wait to travel to back to Korea and experience new things and met more people.

Studying at HUFS was no different than studying anywhere else in Europe or in the US as the staff includes a huge number of foreign professors so, even for those who don't speak Korean (like me) there is no shortage of interesting classes to choose from.

I enjoyed my time in Seoul a lot and would recommend it to anyone looking for the experience of studying abroad!!