From Bradford to South Korea: a Seoulful adventure

Hi, I'm Oshan. I'm an international student in my second year of BSc (Hons) Computer Science.

Applying to study abroad

My course offers students the chance to partake in a summer study placement in partnership with the University's International Opportunities Team.

Obviously, I was really interested in this and decided to apply to do a placement in South Korea. During the Easter break, I got confirmation to say that I had been selected for the study abroad programme. I was so excited to be going to South Korea and had little time to celebrate before being captured in a whirlwind of application and visa procedures.

Once all of the forms and documents were taken care of it was time to begin my adventure. I couldn't wait to study at Sungkyunkwan University and explore Seoul.

Getting to Seoul

My dream was finally coming true and I began the adventure of a lifetime by flying from Manchester Airport to Incheon Airport. I ended up sleeping through most of the 14-hour flight. After I had landed in Incheon, I took a bus to my new accommodation in Seoul. Despite suffering from jetlag and being extremely tired, I was really excited to meet my roommate. Little did I know, they were going to become my best friend.

Studying at Sungkyunkwan

The orientation process at Sungkyunkwan University blew my mind. On our first day, they gifted us with University branded merchandise and a Purito SEOUL skincare box. They also organised dance performances and hosted a welcome brunch for all the exchange students.

During my time in Seoul, I studied Technology, Society and Sustainability. I was excited as this was led by Professor Priyank Chandra from the University of Toronto.

We got to go on field trips every week throughout the whole study placement. We went to a variety of different places, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Blue House, Insadong Culture Street, Painters Show, Dangjin Factory, Everland/Caribbean Bay and the unlimited Ashley Queens buffet!

My soul in Seoul

My younger self would have never thought that one day I would be exploring one of my dream cities while studying abroad.

From the serene Han River to the magnificent Namsan Tower, everything about Seoul was magical. What captured my heart the most was interacting with locals, and having fun conversations with them about various things. This experience taught me to communicate with heart and kindness despite the language barrier.

Amidst lectures, we were able to explore every part of Seoul. My friends and I visited Gangnam, Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu, Itaewon and various other famous neighbourhoods. We really wanted to visit these districts as they are popular among tourists for shopping, aesthetic cafes, photo booths and Pinterest-worthy tourist spots such as Gangnam statue, Starfield Library, and Gamcheon Village. I also managed to visit Busan over one of the weekends with my friends and it was such a serene feeling.

The gift of friendship

Who knew that a placement would gift me with such beautiful friendships?

Despite everyone communicating with each other in the pre-arrival group chat, all of us were looking forward to meeting in person. Over the four weeks of placement, we all grew close to each other and developed amazing bonds. These bonds played such an important role when it came to being miles apart after our placement finished. It was such a unique experience and we created fabulous memories through endless conversations, hangouts, pictures, food and coffee dates.

I wouldn't change my experience for the world.

Trust the process

For me, it was not just a placement, it was a dream that I feel grateful to have experienced.

Visiting South Korea provided me with a sense of familiarity and comfort during placement because of similar Asian culture roots. This experience has helped me grow as a person, and develop a much better sense of my strengths in terms of academics and employability.

If you trust the process and believe in yourself, you will surely experience the benefits of overseas placements as they push you out of your comfort zone through challenges and exciting adventures.

Interested in studying in another country?

Find out more about opportunities abroad.