Summer in Seoul
New for Summer 2025!
Unique Experiences
Participate in vibrant cultural events with our 'Seoul Mates'
who will serve as your local buddies and mentors; they'll guide you to hidden gems throughout Seoul, ensuring you experience the city like a true local
Ride a bike along the Han River
using the Seoul's public bike-sharing program, Ttareungyi
Try on Korea's elegant traditional clothing, Hanbok
and visit historical sites in the city
11.5
MILES OF HANYANGDOSEONG, SEOUL’S OLD CITY WALLS, HAVE BEEN PRESERVED
14
NATIONAL MUSEUMS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA IN SEOUL
24
LETTERS IN HANGUL, THE KOREAN ALPHABET
Your Destination
Seoul, the vibrant capital of South Korea, offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, where visitors can see ancient rites performed at a Joseon-era shrine in the morning before dancing the night away to K-pop. The city's rich cultural heritage is evident in its well-preserved palaces, bustling traditional markets, and numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which share space with sleek, modern architecture like the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Students can immerse themselves in Korean history by visiting landmarks like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, while also enjoying contemporary attractions such as the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Lotte Tower. From the trendy shopping of Apkujeong to the music scene of Hongdae, the quiet alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village to the bustle of Namdaemun Market, Seoul offers something for everyone, and its many juxtapositions can help students find new ways to think about the world around them.
Summer, with festivals, events, and performances, is a wonderful time to visit Seoul. There’s always lots to do and see, whether it’s a picnic in one of the parks along the Han River, a hike in the mountains leading to a thousand-year-old temple, visiting the boutiques and cafés in the winding alleys of Ikseon-dong, or perusing art at one of the city’s many galleries and exhibits. Seoul’s extensive and inexpensive transit system will get you where you want to go by train, subway, bus, or bike-sharing, and metro lines run all the way to neighboring provinces and cities for easy access around the region. The city is also among the world’s safest and most cosmopolitan, making it a great place to experience a summer abroad as a student.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Seoul.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Tour the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea for a glimpse into Korea’s tragic 20th century history and the foundation of the modern political system
- Try your hand at making traditional food in a Korean cooking class
- Tour one of the five major palaces from the Joseon Era
- Go on a hike to get acquainted with Korea’s natural environment
- Learn a new skill like taekwondo or K-pop dance
Program Blogs
Pop-Up Culture in Seoul
Being from the US, I’ve never really experienced anything like the pop-up culture that is active in Seoul. With pop-ups designed by makeup companies to luxury brands, these stores are... keep reading
Spontaneity in Seoul: From Rock Themed Bungeoppang Cafes to Ear Piercings in Hongdae
Having a list of destinations to visit in Seoul is always great to keep in the back of your mind, but I will say that some of the best experiences... keep reading
A Hanbok Cultural Experience
While exploring the beautiful palaces of Korea, I was fortunate to rent a hanbok, a traditional Korean dress known for its vibrant colors, flowing lines, and elegant design. Wearing a... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Seoul strives to ensure you are comfortable in your home away from home. Housing is located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.
Standard Housing: Includes a double-occupancy room in a residential hotel in the downtown area, about 20 minutes from CIEE Seoul by foot or public transportation.
Meals
Programs in Seoul do not offer a meal plan. However, there are many food vendors throughout the city and especially near CIEE Seoul that cater to students with affordable meals. There is also a wide variety of restaurants throughout Seoul representing many different cultures, diets (including halal food, vegetarian, etc.), and price points.
Academics
All students take one three-credit course, with the option of adding a one-credit Communicative Korean language course. In class work is augmented with co-curricular activities that take the student out of the classroom and into Seoul for more experiential learning.
Course Information
Summer Session I 2025
Summer Session II 2025
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 4 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Fees & Housing $5,350 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Fees & Housing $5,350 | |
| Program Summer Session I and II 2025 8 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Fees & Housing $9,630 |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300
Educational Costs = $3,850*
Housing = $1,000**
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $5,350Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $530†
International Airfare = $1,600
Local Transportation = $100
Books & Supplies = $10
Personal expenses = $170††
Total Costs = $2,410Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
**Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300
Educational Costs = $3,850*
Housing = $1,000**
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $5,350Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $530†
International Airfare = $1,600
Local Transportation = $100
Books & Supplies = $10
Personal expenses = $170††
Total Costs = $2,410Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
**Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300
Educational Costs = $7,130*
Housing = $2,000**
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $9,630Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $1,060†
International Airfare = $1,600
Local Transportation = $200
Books & Supplies = $20
Personal expenses = $340††
Total Costs = $3,220Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
**Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Tina Lee
Interim Center Director/Operations Manager
Tina has extensive experience in student support and academic mentoring and loves to share Korean traditional and contemporary culture.
Teddy Choi
Student Life Manager
Teddy’s passion and love of international education was driven by his life-changing study abroad experience in the US. He tries to go the extra mile for every single student to...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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