Emma, South Korea
Emma is studying in the final year of the master's programme in Computer Science at KTH. She spent one semester as an exchange student at the Seoul National University in South Korea.
Why did you choose to go on exchange at Seoul National University?
I was determined early on that I wanted to go to South Korea as I have long had a great interest in the country in terms of culture and language. When I saw that KTH offered the opportunity to go to SNU, which is a well-reputed university in Asia and has a very high status in South Korea, I thought it would be cool to have the chance to study there.
What was the most significant difference between the exchange studies and life at KTH?
After all, you live in an entirely different culture with everything from different food to ways of socializing. The biggest thing that I reacted to, however, was the way of teaching, which was very different from how they teach at KTH, so the study technique I was used to didn't work at all. Even the fact that the campus is like its own neighbourhood with everything you need is a little different.
What are the biggest lessons you take away from your exchange studies?
Above all, even if a lot in your life feels very serious and you are afraid of failure, most things always work out as long as you honestly do your best. Also, how incredibly friendly people there are in the world with such different experiences and personalities that give a different perspective on things and make you come out of your little Swedish bubble.
Was there a lot of preparation before the exchange?
The preparations mainly included applying for a visa, finding relevant courses, and accommodation. The visa is relatively painless as long as you carefully read all the information emails from KTH and SNU and don't stress yourself out (which I did anyway). Course registration is first-come, first-served, so it was essential to understand the system and plan which courses you want to focus on the most and how popular they are. SNU offered accommodation on campus, but I chose to search on my own, which was challenging but could be solved on the spot with some help online and from friends. There was a lot I stressed a lot about at the time, which I now feel in retrospect wasn't that dangerous anyway. Most things work out, as I said!
What advice would you give to students interested in exchange studies?
Join SNU Buddy! It is a superb program for international students that allows you to meet both international and national students at various events, a bit similar to KTH's reception, but less intensive and runs during the whole semester! Then, joining one of the school's clubs is the best way to get to know the students who study their entire education at SNU, and it was the best decision I made. Last but not least, try to learn a bit of the language, because it makes things easier!