our campus during spring

Among the enrichment programs that BINUS offers is Study Abroad. Through this program, students can study abroad for up to two semesters with no tuition at the host university. During my seventh semester, I was lucky enough to be one of the study abroad participants. Seoul National University of Science and Technology, a national university which excels in the engineering department, was my college of choice. I had the fortune of being granted the GKS scholarship, which was a major assistance for my financial stability while living abroad.

campus tour with ISC students

The orientation took place in late February, and the semester began in March. We met the members of our Buddy Group and International Student Club on orientation day, and they served as our partners until the end of the semester. They showed us around the campus, explained the club and the school system, handed down used clothing and bedding, assisted foreign students in finding eateries on campus, and helped us get used to the environment by giving a tour of the neighbourhood. Their assistance allowed us to adjust more quickly throughout the first several months.

cinema class

Since we were allowed to enrol for courses outside of our major, I took the Korean language, film, and architecture classes. I was anxious about the upcoming semester since I anticipated a very competitive learning environment. However, my personal experience studying abroad was less hectic. Although we were tasked with a lot of readings to do, there were significantly fewer assignments. The assignments usually involve writing essays that require us to discuss the subject material in our own words. We were frequently asked to assess real-life structures and exhibits. In this manner, pupils could successfully grasp the content, and teachers could assess how well we understood it.

Indonesian booth during International Week

I got to know the other Indonesian students on campus at the Indonesian stand we had during the International Week Festival. They prepared Indonesian sauces, snacks, games, and batiks for people to try. Many foreign visitors during the event expressed interest in Indonesian culture, primarily our cuisine and tourist destinations. In addition to International Week, the Club Festival was also held around the beginning of the semester. Korean university students were given a lot of freedom over club formation, so there were a ton of them and each one was unique. All students were welcome to join the regular clubs, although, foreign students typically opt for the ISC clubs, wherein the schedule is less tight and they can socialize solely by using English.

brief for writing scientific paper in Korean Writing class

We had our midterms in the second month. Except for the Korean Writing exam, I felt secure in every subject. Ultimately, I made an effort to complete my tasks thoroughly to improve my poor midterm results. Like any other student during exam season, we would visit the library often and stay until the evening.

at Bulguksa Temple

We were required to complete final reports instead of final exams for several courses. In one class, the professor tasked us to visit another city, Gyeongju, to conduct an assessment of the traditional architecture there. Every location we went to was breathtaking, and we learned why it was necessary to experience the architecture in person to appreciate its beauty. Writing my first scientific paper in full Korean was a challenge, but it felt rewarding in the end knowing how much time and effort I had put into it. Time flew, and the semester ended so soon. By that time I had grown close to the friends I met there. I wish I could have stayed for longer. Regardless, I was immensely grateful for this opportunity, my main objective of taking up this program was to broaden my horizon, and that has been fulfilled.