The Course Preregistration Form must be filled out in order for IES Abroad to start preparing for your course schedule. As class sizes are limited for most IES Abroad courses, Course Preregistration Forms will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please obtain course approval from your current college or university for all courses you intend to take before your departure, especially if you intend to fulfill specific degree requirements with those courses. Please note that the Course Preregistration Form can only be completed once. All subsequent changes will take place upon your...

IES Abroad Area Studies Courses IES Abroad academic courses are designed to enhance your engagement in the intellectual, political, cultural, and social institutions of South Korea and Japan. IES Abroad courses are taught by experts in the field, and course-related trips are integrated with in-class course work. Each of the area studies courses are taught in English and meet once a week for three hours. This format is more seminar-style than lecture, and you will need to make sure you adjust to this format. The Multilocation - Seoul & Tokyo: Influence & Innovation Fall 2026 course list can be...

Course Load You take 15-16 credits per semester. All IES Abroad courses are taught in English. Seoul (6-7 weeks) Choose two English-taught area studies courses (required, 3 credits each) Potential Area Studies Courses taught in Seoul: AN 362 - Inside the Korean Wave: From K-Pop to Global Softpower CM/IC 329 - Reading Korea: Literature, Language, and Society CU/FH 220 - K-Style Lab: Korean Fashion, Beauty, and Design HS/PO/SO 331 - Daily Life and Youth in Korea __________________________________________________________________________ Tokyo (9 weeks) AS/HS 330 - Japan & Korea - History, Society...

Students who skip these sessions often miss important information that puts them at a disadvantage when they arrive in South Korea and Japan. Even if you have visited both countries before, there is program-specific information in these sessions that is crucial for students to know.

According to IES Abroad policy, you MUST have a working cell phone within a week of your arrival. Students typically opt for one of the following: Use your cell phone from home if your provider offers an international phone plan. Bring an unlocked smartphone and purchase either a physical sim card or e-sim card, if available. – This option is recommended. Independently get a physical cell phone from a local provider after arrival. Students are required to carry their cell phones at all times and be able to respond immediately in case of emergency. Using Your Own Smartphone Internet access...

WhatsApp Students are required to install WhatsApp on their mobile device before leaving for Seoul. WhatsApp is an extremely popular mobile messaging app in both South Korea and Japan, and you will certainly use it as a means of communicating with classmates and both the IES Abroad Seoul and IES Abroad Tokyo Center staff. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to add WhatsApp to your mobile device: Download WhatsApp Onto Your Mobile Device IES Abroad requires that students have WhatsApp downloaded on their mobile device prior to their departure. WhatsApp WhatsApp Messenger on the App Store...

Overview You'll live in a single room studio apartment conveniently located near public transportation for daily commutes to your classes, which will take about 40-50 minutes. Commuting is a regular part of daily life in Seoul and your commuting time may vary depending on a variety of factors (frequency of trains or buses, delays during travel, road closures, etc.). Studio Apartment At-A-Glance Housing Type Single room studio apartment Furnished Yes (bed, desk, wardrobe with drawers, air conditioner/heater, mini refrigerator) Extra Fee No Internet Access Yes Meal Plan No Kitchen Yes, three...

Your specific housing assignment will be sent to you via email from admissions@IESabroad.org approximately three weeks before the program start date, provided you have submitted all forms listed below. Make sure that emails from this address will not end up in your spam filter by adding it to your trusted sender list. NOTE: We must receive all forms listed below before we can finalize housing arrangements on your behalf and release your housing assignment to you. Review the housing options below to determine your preferences and contact your IES Abroad Program Advisor with any questions...

IES Abroad Mandatory Orientation Upon arrival in both Seoul & Tokyo, you will participate in a mandatory IES Abroad Multilocation Program Orientation designed to support your adjustment in both Seoul and Japan. In person attendance to all sessions is required. Classes in both Seoul and Tokyo will begin the week following your arrival. In Seoul, your IES Abroad orientation will include the following activities and sessions: Orientation Session – Introduction to the IES Abroad program, your peers in the program and IES Abroad Seoul staff members. This will give you a good introduction to the...

Early Departure Policy Early departures are not permitted unless warranted by a documented medical or family emergency and approved by IES Abroad. It is not possible to reschedule a final exam or final paper deadline in order to accommodate early departure for personal travel, including plans to attend events such as a friend or relative's wedding, a family reunion, or a graduation ceremony. Plan ahead and make sure our program dates do not conflict with your personal plans before you confirm your place in the program. Departure Policy You must move out of your housing accommodation on the...