South Korea: An Unforgettable Student Trip

Last month, several of our Diversity Travel and Diversity Study Trips colleagues, along with some of our academic partners, joined the South Korea Tourist Board to experience the country first-hand and discover why it’s the perfect place for an unforgettable student trip abroad.

We asked the attendees to tell us all about it…

What was your favourite thing about South Korea?

“I loved South Korea, and the experience was brilliant from start to finish. The food was amazing and trying a variety of different dishes was a real highlight! The cultural activities were a nice way of conceptualising what a student experience could look like, and staying/visiting different areas made sure we saw as much of the city as possible in just a few days. I found it really insightful hearing the team’s first-hand experiences of studying in South Korea. Having recently lived the experiences that students are currently, or could be soon, it was really helpful to learn about the destination from a student frame of reference.”

What was your favourite part of the itinerary?

“The entire itinerary was great, with a nice mix of visits that showcased Korean cultural and the city of Seoul. The university visits were a particular highlight, and I was really impressed by the caliber of speakers for the presentations that were arranged for us. Our students tell us that when participating on an overseas trip, they value opportunities that they wouldn't ordinarily be able access as a tourist - so being able to bring students to engage in activities at a prestigious institution such as Korea University is something that would be really appealing. It was also really enjoyable to have the opportunity to participate in cultural activities such as Taekwondo and the Korean language class - getting a taste of the cultural immersion that could be offered to future students who visit Seoul.”

What makes South Korea an ideal place to send your student groups to?

“A core objective of our outward mobility activity is to provide students with a platform to develop their intercultural competence. South Korea is an ideal setting to foster intercultural learning - as a destination it offers students the opportunity to experience a new culture in the 'Far East’ but feels accessible and manageable too. For many of our students, a Global opportunity is the first time they have travelled overseas - and South Korea's mix of rich cultural, history and diverse range of experiences available, combined with being accessible for non-native speakers, easy to navigate and feeling safe, makes it an ideal destination for of student demographic.”

What can South Korea offer uniquely to you and your institution?

“As an institution that has a high proportion of students from widening participation and underrepresented backgrounds, South Korea felt like a good fit for our students. Offering a completely new cultural experience that still feels manageable for inexperienced travellers is a perfect combination. Moreover, the cost of living being affordable would be appealing to our students - particularly as all of our students can access funding to contribute towards the cost of the experience.”

How do you plan to incorporate South Korea into your institution's future study trips / international programs?

“We have a small number of existing activities in South Korea with several students studying abroad in Seoul at institutions such as Kyung Hee University and Sookmyung Women's University. Having seen first-hand what a great student experience is on offer in Seoul, there is the intention of encouraging more students to choose South Korea as an exchange destination - as well as potentially seeking further university partners in Seoul in order to increase student capacity.

We currently offer our students the opportunity to participate in a Korean culture and language summer school at Sookmyung Women's University each year - this has become oversubscribed over the past few years, with more students applying than places available. Therefore, for summer 2026 we will be promoting and recruiting students to participate in Korea University's summer school - inspired by the Fam Tour's visit to the institution.

Finally, now that we are more familiar with South Korea as a destination, there is the scope to develop new short-term opportunities (2-4 weeks) for our students. Such opportunities are currently under discussion as we plan our activity for the future.”

Why should Academics consider booking South Korea via Diversity Study Trips / Diversity Travel?

“Being responsible for outward student mobility, we recognise the value of booking with Diversity. Having a provider who understands our requirements is key to our ability to delivering overseas opportunities on the scale that we do. On occasions where things do go wrong (as can be the case in overseas activity), Diversity are on-hand to resolve any issues, supporting staff and students - providing peace of mind and ensuring the health and safety of our travellers. I'm confident that with their knowledge of South Korea and broader travel expertise, Diversity would be able to provide a high level of service to an academic booking a trip to Seoul.” 

Please comment on the service you received on your flights by Korean Air

“I was super impressed with Korean Air and the service that we received! A really comfortable flight both ways, with the aircraft feeling more spacious than other airlines I have flown with - even when sitting in a middle seat on one of the journeys. The in-flight meals and refreshments were nice and there was a good selection. ICN airport was a really positive experience, and it was nice to spend some time 'behind the scenes' as part of our itinerary.”