Are you a student at Konkuk University who is interested in foreign life or exchange with foreigners? If so, you will be able to get useful information on various international exchange programs from this Campus Life. Through not only KU’s international offices but also school clubs, you can experience international interaction. Students interested in this can learn more about international exchange programs and prepare and participate in various programs through this article. Through this program, KU students will be able to gain an experience of international exchanges that share opinions and resources with each other in a more active and creative way.

1. Student Volunteers (run by International Programs)

* Only undergraduates in the first to sixth semesters can apply
(Students on leave of absence are not able to apply)

1.1 ISV (International Student Volunteers)
   ISV work as envoys of international exchange students. They provide essential information regarding life in Korea, academic calendar, university facilities, opening a bank account, and so on.

Benefits
- Monthly scholarship during the period of activities
- Issuance of a certificate of completion
- Preferential treatment when applying for a program of the International Exchange and Cooperation Team

1.2 i-Buddy
   i-Buddy is a one-on-one friendship program between foreign students participating in exchange or visiting student programs in KU and students. They help foreign students adapt to Korean life from entry to departure, including cultural exchanges, academic supports, and so on. In addition, they instruct what they need to live in Korea, such as transportation, bank, and cell phone.

Benefits
 - Provision of additional points when applying for short term outbound programs and ISV
- Issuance of a certificate after completion of the activity
- Provision of priority for participation of various events and cultural experience programs related to foreign exchange or visiting students

2. Mentoring international students (run by Center for International Student Services)
   Korean students work as a mentor and foreign students as a mentee. The mentor will check the deficiencies of learning Korean and major subjects, provide 1:1 learning guidance, share non-major learning know-hows, and provide information for smooth school and department life. While international helpers let foreign students improve their quality of school life, this program allows foreign mentees to learn tips on improving their academic performance.

3. Outbound Programs (run by International Programs)

   Students get chance to study abroad for a certain period of time. They complete a prescribed curriculum at sister universities and get credits of KU. All details of information about each program, such as tuition fee, scholarship, list of sister universities, are on the website of Office of International Affairs. Foreign students of KU can only apply for exchange student program.

3.1 Exchange Student Program
Students get credits of KU while taking a regular course at a sister university. Foreign students belonging to the undergraduate department can also apply, but foreign scholarship students invited by the GKS1) government cannot apply for this program.
“At first, I could not speak a word of English, but I felt that my English improved a lot as I met many foreign students often. If you want to improve your English, I recommend meeting and communicating with your foreign friends as often as possible. Moreover, as professors also take into account that you are an exchange student, if you work hard, you will not get a low grade. Do not worry! _ 2021.01 Exchange Student to Czech (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture)”

3.2 Visiting Student Program
The program runs the same as the exchange student. The only difference is KU unilaterally dispatches students to sister universities.
“It was new to ask students many questions freely in the middle of class. In the case of the team project class, it was somewhat burdensome because the local members in my team spoke so fast. However, in the liberal arts class, I felt like they discussed slowly, considering I am a foreigner. Overall, I recommend listening to liberal arts in areas of your interest because I feel that the level of liberal arts is deeper than that of Korea.” _ 2020.01 Visiting Student to the United States (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)

3.3 Double-Degree Program
Students study at sister universities abroad during the regular semester (4 semesters) to obtain both degrees by meeting both the graduation requirements of KU and the other school.
“At first, you will be busy registering for classes and getting credits. It is also a small tip to carefully pack the materials and documents necessary to be recognized for foreign credits, and to remember and record graduation requirements well at orientation. If you want to improve your language skills, the tip is to actively go and talk to foreigners. I was very shy, but I became more active by actively talking and communicating.” _ 2020.01 Visiting Student to the United States (Department of Physics)

3.4 Short-term program
1) International Short-term Program
In seasonal semesters, students can get credits by language training, cultural experiences, and internships at sister universities abroad during vacation. If students complete the program, they get one credit for the elective subject of the seasonal semester.
“I did not submit my language grades, so I took a level test separately at school after arriving in Canada, but it was not that difficult. Not only at school, but also thanks to friends who do homestays together, English has improved a lot. Seneca College, which I visited, was comfortable and good to stay in because all the facilities were new.” _ 2020.01-02 Visiting Student to Toronto, Canada (Department of International Trade)

2) Blue ladder
It provides short-term overseas training experiences to college students under difficult conditions in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Korea Scholarship Foundation during summer vacation alone. The entire training and accommodation fee is free so what you need to pay is just for other costs. It is designed for those who are economically and socially vulnerable, and the details of conditions for apply are on the website of Office of International Affairs.

**What is more?!
- KU Club: IF The club IF is a short for “International Friendship.”, which is an international exchange club.
- Language+study Program Students get credits of KU while taking the language training course and some regular courses at the sister’s university for one semester.