Anyang University, 2012-2013

At a glance

Where, who, when

Full name of the host university: Anyang University
City, country: Anyang, South Korea
Homepage of the host university: home.anyang.ac.kr/eng/index.htm
Author of the experience report: Konstantin Schnitzler
Degree programme at FH Aachen: Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty 8
Start and end of the stay abroad: 16/08/2012 - 14/01/2013
The semester abroad was completed in: 7th semester

Auslandssemester an der Anyang University in Südkorea — View over the campus and surroundings of Anyang University

Assessments

Quality of course content: 2.0
Study conditions / facilities at the host university: 1.7
On-site support and assistance: 1.7
Campus: 1.3
Transport links to the campus: 1.0
Food on campus (dining hall (Mensa), etc.): 2.3 Sports facilities: 1.7 Leisure activities: 1.7 Bars / discos / nightlife: 1.3 Quality of accommodation / costs: 1.3 Contact): 2.3
Sports facilities: 1.7
Leisure activities: 1.7
Bars / discos / nightlife: 1.3
Quality / cost of living: 1.3
Contact with locals: 1.3

Preparation

When did you start your preparations? After a conversation with Prof Reichert at the end of 2011, I submitted my official application in November/December 2011 after consultation with the IFO.
How does the application process work and what documents are required? You receive very good support from the IFO during the application process. You have to write a short essay about your reasons for applying, prepare a CV in Europass format and submit a current transcript of records. The documents are sent to the Magellan Exchange Programme. The application costs about 20€. Later, Anyang University will request some information and documents. These include: Passport photo, copy of passport, Application Form and Medical Information Self Checklist.
Doesthe host university require a language test?
Useful tips or further information on preparation:
The visa is easy to obtain, you only need to submit proof of sufficient financial means or a guarantee (e.g. from your parents). You should take a few passport photos with you to South Korea, as these are required for some documents/ID cards.

Formalities

Do you have to pay fees at the host university? No. You only had to pay a deposit of around €35 for the flat.
Did you receive a scholarship to finance your stay abroad? Yes, the Anyang University scholarship, which all exchange students receive.
How do you recommend travelling to the host university? What are the approximate travelling costs? Personally, I can highly recommend Korean Air. As I booked a little late and wanted a direct flight, the flight was quite expensive at around €900. If you book earlier or have a stopover, the price is around €700. The prices of course refer to a return flight. You might want to make sure that you can rebook the return flight free of charge. I made use of this option.
Did you have to take out additional health insurance? If so, which one and at what cost? Yes, a longer stay in a non-EU country is not covered by German health insurance. I took out insurance with ENVIVAS, as they work together with my health insurance company. The tariff is called TraxelXL and costs €0.80 per day. It's best to call your own health insurance company and ask them.
Is further insurance necessary?

On site

What formalities have to be completed after arrival? Firstly, you have to register at the Office for International Relations at Anyang University. There you have to hand in passport photos and everything will be explained and questions answered. You should go to the Immigration Office in Seoul as soon as possible to apply for your Alien Registration Card.
Where is the best place to live and what are the average accommodation costs? Apartments are provided free of charge by the university. You only have to pay the deposit mentioned above. When I was there, there were also smaller flats (2-6 people) just outside the campus. However, rooms are now only available in two large student residences. All exchange students live in these.
How did you find accommodation (who is your contact person)? Not necessary.
What is the average cost of living? The cost of living is slightly cheaper than in Germany. Eating out is relatively cheap, shopping depends on the product selection. Dairy products, foreign brands and fruit/vegetables are relatively expensive. Other things are cheaper.
What is cheap/expensive? Cheap: Going out, eating out, public transport (taxi, bus, Subway), ramen noodles. Expensive: Dairy products, fruit/vegetables.
What are the shopping facilities like? There are slightly better kiosks directly on campus. You can also walk to smaller grocery shops and the weekly market. For bulk purchases, you should take a taxi to E-mart (approx. 5-8 minutes).

About the host university

Briefly describe the host university: Anyang University is a private, Christian university. The campus is situated on a hill. Some of the buildings are somewhat older and some are very new. There is a large Library, which also offers DVDs, music, television etc. There are cafés, a large dining hall (Mensa) and several small kiosks/dining halls. There is also a new fitness centre with plenty of equipment. As it only opened at the end of the semester when I was there, it was still free to use. Now it's around €42 per semester.
How was the quality of the courses? Very good. The teaching was a bit more school-like, i.e. small classes (max. 25) and more discussions. The professors are all very friendly, open-minded and helpful towards the exchange students.
What are the facilities like at the host university? The facilities are good. In addition to the cafés, gym and Library already mentioned, there are also computer and study rooms, a football, basketball and badminton court, table tennis tables and an atrium.
What are the opening hours on campus, how are the libraries, are there scripts for the lectures? You can enter the campus at any time, but the buildings are closed from around 10 pm. I only used the Library to study, I can't say anything about the books available to borrow. Scripts are mostly distributed. Some documents are sent by email and there is a kind of ILIAS platform, but it is not really used.
How many hours per week did you have on average? What is the assessment system (ECZS)? I had about 17 hours of lectures per week. The credit system is similar to that in the USA. Grades are given in A, B etc. The IFO decides in advance whether to award credits.
Did the professors prepare you well for exams? Didyou also receive help from them outside the lectures? Yes, the preparation for the exams was very good. You could ask questions during and after the courses, or by email.
Are there special introductory courses for visiting students? Yes, there is an introductory event before the start of the semester. Here you will receive a personal envelope with a timetable and other important documents (opening hours, addresses etc.).
What do I need to bear in mind when the certificate is issued at the foreign university? You will receive the certificate by email and it will also be sent to the IFO for credit transfer.
Who was the contact person at the foreign university?
Steven Ahn.
What did you like / dislike about the campus?
The campus is modern and pleasantly located. Only the "hill" that you have to walk up to get to the campus can be annoying.
What are the transport links like? As the International Dormitories are located directly on campus, you don't have to worry about getting to the university. You can get into the city on foot or cheaply by taxi. To get to Seoul, you should take the subway. A so-called T-money card is recommended here. This allows you to use/pay for all means of transport (including taxis) and sometimes also to shop in shops (e.g. 7-11). You can get the card in any shop that accepts it. The card can be topped up at terminals on the Subway.
Other: Almost all information is available via the university's Facebook group. Organisational matters, such as course cancellations or excursions, are also clarified here.

About the courses and lectures attended at Anyang University

Course attended: Cross Cultural Communication Practicum
Lecturer: Steven Ahn
Course duration & scope, teaching format: 1x 45min, lecture, iChat
Keywords for the course description: Lots of cultural aspects - interesting.
Form of assessment: Reports
Is the course recommended? Yes
Course attended: Ari Leadership
Lecturer: Steven Ahn
Course duration & scope, teaching format: 1x 2h45min, lecture
Keywordsfor the course description: Soft skills are trained
Form ofassessment: Presentations
Is the course recommended? Yes
Course attended: International Organisations
Course duration & scope, teaching format: 2x 1h15min, lecture
Keywordsfor the course description: Dry material
Form ofassessment: Presentation/written examination
Isthe course recommended? No
Course attended: Beginning Korean Conversation/Written
Instructor: 하은애, Ha-Enae
Course duration & length, teaching format: 2x 2h45min, lecture
Key wordsfor course description: Not as difficult as you think.
Method ofassessment: Midterm and finals
Isthis course recommended? Yes
Course attended: World Regional Studies
Lecturer: Graeme Armitage
Course duration & scope, teaching format: 2x 1h15min, lecture
Key words for course description: Very interesting
Form ofassessment: Midterm and finals
Isthe course recommended? Yes

Leisure activities

What is the range of sports on campus like? There is a lot on offer: Football, badminton, basketball, table tennis, gym, hiking.
Do youhave to pay for the sports activities? No, except for the gym (approx. €42 per semester). Balls, rackets etc. may have to be purchased.
What leisure activities does the campus offer? You can go on trips to an adventure swimming pool. As the campus is located directly on a mountain, you can easily start hiking tours from there. There are generally a lot of mountains for hiking in South Korea.
What sights are there locally? The Anyang Art Parc, a park with various art installations. A recreation park located on a river. The traditional market is also worth a visit.
What tourist attractions does the surrounding area have to offer? There is a lot to discover in Seoul. Fish market, Seoul Tower, palaces, really interesting museums, Cheonggyecheon and Han River, interesting and sometimes traditional neighbourhoods and much more. It's best to get a travel guide. I can also recommend the "iTour Seoul" app, which offers lots of information and suggestions. The "Jihachul Subway" app is also very helpful for finding the right subway connection.
Are there anyorganised (possibly subsidised) excursions for visiting students? During my stay, a trip to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone, border with North Korea) was sponsored by LG. Information was provided by the Office for International Relations. A hiking tour was organised, a trip to a traditional village and a traditional tea ceremony with costumes. A visit to a taekwondo school was also planned, but unfortunately this was cancelled due to a lack of interest. All exchange students were invited to dinner at the beginning, middle and end of the semester. Of course, you can and should organise trips yourself. Many interesting countries such as Thailand, Japan or the Philippines are easy to reach from South Korea.
Are there many good restaurants and bars nearby? There is a city centrewhere there are some good bars and two or three clubs. There are also more than enough restaurants. In Anyang, I recommend Ho Bar for drinking/dancing, Club 674 for dancing, Kamagwii or Noblesse for drinking. When it comes to eating, you should rely on your nose and personal taste. Korean cuisine is very tasty, not too spicy and sufficient.
Are there anyspecial features of the local cuisine that you should be aware of? If you are eating with several people, everything is shared. You don't have your own plate, but simply help yourself to bowls and plates that are placed in the centre for everyone. The food is often freshly prepared at the table. A grill/cooking plate is usually built into the tables. You should be confident in using chopsticks. Kimchi (fermented vegetables pickled in a sour and spicy sauce) is part of every meal.
Where to go in the evening (pubs, bars, discos, cinemas) and what is recommended? In Anyang, my recommendations are listed above. If you want more, you should definitely go to Seoul. There is a huge choice there. I can highly recommend the Hongdae neighbourhood. I personally didn't like Itaewon that much, although it is often recommended in travel guides. When travelling to Seoul in the evening, you should keep an eye on the subway timetable. The trains run back to Anyang until around midnight, and then not again until around 5am. If necessary, you can also take a taxi. However, this costs around €25-30 compared to a subway journey for around €1.40.
Are there anyspecial customs/customs among the locals and what is an absolute taboo? In restaurants where you sit on the floor, you should definitely take off your shoes. The same is also expected in private homes. Blowing your nose is also not necessarily appreciated, but spitting and "pulling up" is totally fine. When drinking, always toast and make sure that all glasses are filled. Do not pour alcoholic drinks yourself. If you want to pay or order, each table has a bell button with which you can call the waiter.

Final considerations - Conclusion

How would you rate your stay abroad overall? For me, it was the best semester of my degree programme. The country, the experiences and above all the people made my stay a wonderful experience.
Did you choose the right time for your semester abroad? I actually wanted to go a semester earlier, but in hindsight I don't regret it. You should pay attention to which written examinations you can get credit for and whether there are any important courses such as Pro8 or Project 2 coming up.
What were the high and low points of your stay?
There were lots of high points. The team spirit and contact with the other exchange students and the Koreans was great. Personally, the birthday parties, including my own, were the best moments. The only low point for me was not being able to go to the graduation ceremony because of food poisoning (from KFC!).
What I will never forget is the people, the friendliness and warmth. The great view from the Seoul Tower.
What advice would you like to give to other students on your degree programme who decide to spend a semester abroad at this foreign university? As a German, you are very spoilt when it comes to reliability and the like. This is not to say that things are chaotic in South Korea, but you should bring a little composure with you.
Any criticism or suggestions? I can't think of any specific suggestions for improvement.