Are you thinking about studying Korean Studies in Tübingen but have no idea whether it’s the right choice for you? Studying at university is very different from school. And even university programs differ greatly from one another in terms of structure and organization. We’ll give you a glimpse into the everyday life of Korean Studies students from various perspectives. Today, we’re starting with the first semester in the minor.

You might think a minor would be more relaxed and less time-consuming than a major, but that’s not really the case with Korean Studies. While you may sometimes need to prioritize your major—like when scheduling conflicts arise—you’re essentially studying two majors when you choose Korean Studies as your minor.

I’m in my first semester and started studying German Studies as my major and Korean Studies as my minor right after graduating from high school. At first, I was pleasantly surprised by how empty my timetable looked compared to school. Well, reality hit in the first week. But I’ll show you what I mean.

Monday

Mondays are relatively free for me, although I still have to get up at 7 a.m. because I have a German Studies class at 8.

At 10, I go home, have breakfast, and work about 2 to 3 hours in my home office, depending on how much there is to do.

At 2 p.m., I have Korean language class. In the major, the course is divided into “Basic” and “Active.” Basic means grammar, vocabulary, and writing, while Active focuses on speaking and listening comprehension. Although the timetable shows this division for minor students as well, the classes are actually merged. Only the exams are separated again. There’s a 90-minute Basic exam, which is a regular language test, then a separate 30-minute listening test, and finally about a 10-minute interview with the instructor.

The course is similar to school lessons but more intensive and faster (although not as intensive as in the major). My instructor speaks only Korean, but you can understand everything since the class is designed for beginners and requires no prior knowledge. However, having some previous experience definitely helps—everything becomes a bit easier. We use a textbook for this course but usually work with worksheets. By the way, tablets and laptops are not allowed—only pen and paper. Attendance is mandatory, and you can only miss two classes without a doctor’s note. After every lesson there’s homework due by the next class, and every week we have a vocabulary list with a vocab test.

At home, I do my Korean homework for Tuesday and anything I didn’t finish over the weekend. That usually takes around 2 hours.

Tuesday

Tuesday is by far my busiest day. I again start with German Studies at 8 a.m.

After that, I have the tutorial “Culture and Society of Korea.” Honestly, it doesn’t feel much different from a lecture, except that attendance is required and you’re expected to have read the assigned texts beforehand. You really shouldn’t underestimate them—they can be quite long and difficult.

This course is divided into two halves. In the first half of the semester, we focused on culture, which basically meant literature and film, and we wrote an exam on that. In the first semester, all content-based Korean Studies courses have multiple-choice exams. It’s easier in some ways, but you still need to prepare well since the entire course content is tested.

In the second half, we covered society. This part is entirely in English because of our instructor.

Since my next German Studies class starts at 2 p.m., I meet friends for lunch at the cafeteria, and afterward we head to the library. There I read a bit for the upcoming class. After that class ends, I have another Korean class, and then a German Studies tutorial. Luckily, it takes me no more than 10 minutes to walk from one class to another, so I get a bit of a break in between. After I get home, I cook something and usually watch a movie.

Wednesday

On Wednesdays, I get up later because I don’t have to be at the university until around 2 p.m. I have breakfast and work a bit longer on the computer since I never have time for that on Tuesdays. I eat lunch at home because I’ll be at the university for quite a while, and I tell myself I’ll do some homework—though I usually don’t.

Then I go to a German Studies lecture with a friend.

After that, I have a tutorial for the lecture “Introduction to the History of Korea.” Tutorials are usually optional, but this one is mandatory. They’re led by students from higher semesters, and they cover lecture content, answer questions, and teach academic writing.

Afterwards, I usually stay at the university because in the evening there’s a weekly Korean Studies lecture series. I find it very interesting since each week covers different topics, and you learn a lot about Korea that isn’t necessarily part of the regular courses. Since I only get home late, I just do the Korean homework for the next day, which doesn’t even take an hour.

Thursday

On Thursday, I get up around 8 a.m. and work for about 2 hours. Then I have a lecture on Korean history. Lectures don’t have mandatory attendance, but I go anyway because I have time and I find the history lecture quite interesting. It’s recommended to read an additional book for the lecture, but it’s not mandatory, and the important points are on the slides. I sometimes read the chapters when I didn’t understand something. At the end of the semester, there’s also a multiple-choice test.

Right after that comes another lecture in German Studies. It’s pretty exhausting to have two lectures in a row, but it’s not worth going home in between, and with a bit of chocolate or snacks it’s manageable.

To finish the week, I have my third and final Korean language class, and then I have a relaxed evening at home. In my opinion, Thursday is the best day to go out and party.

Friday

Since I have Fridays off, I get up later. I work 4–5 hours, and after lunch I start my homework and reading. For my major, German Studies, I need more time because there’s a lot to read. Altogether, I spend around 4–5 hours on German Studies. In Korean Studies, I find the content courses more time-consuming than the language class homework, but that might be because I already have some prior knowledge of Korean. If you thoroughly read the required texts, you’ll spend about 2–3 hours on them; with the additional reading, it takes even longer. It may seem like a lot—in school I never spent that much time on homework—but if you enjoy it, it’s manageable.

I spread these tasks out over the weekend. It would probably be better to do some of it during the week, but my time management still needs improvement. But don’t worry, there’s definitely still time for hobbies and relaxation. It’s also worth noting that I’m attending all the recommended courses for this semester, which isn’t always possible due to scheduling conflicts with the major, so my schedule is essentially the maximum workload for Korean Studies in the first semester.

I hope this gives you a rough idea of what studying Korean Studies is like, and I look forward to seeing you at the university next semester!

A stay in Korea is an important part of the Korean Studies program—after all, it is even mandatory for major students. Despite the many information sessions offered by the Korean Studies department, not all questions can be answered and not all concerns can be addressed. In this article, we would like to explain the first part of the application process and hopefully give you some helpful tips so that you can go through it without worries.

This text is only an additional guide written by students for students. All official information can be found on the official Korean Studies website.

Here is the link:

https://uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/philosophische-fakultaet/fachbereiche/asien-orient-wissenschaften/koreanistik/tucku/bewerbung/ (last accessed 29.05.2025)

The first part of the application process takes place within the Korean Studies department at the University of Tübingen.

---

1. Choosing a Korean University

The TUCKU page provides a lot of information about the individual universities. In addition to the most recent brochure, there is also an archive with various experience reports. These are helpful for learning about general housing situations and how classes are organized.

Finding the course catalog can be a bit more difficult. Usually, you can search using the keyword “sugang” + university name. Otherwise, just browse the website of the respective university.

Since some universities do not allow you to clearly filter for English-taught courses, it is recommended to ask students who are currently in Korea or who have already completed their stay. It can also be useful to ask the Korean exchange students directly, as they can often help.

The most important events are the information evenings hosted by the Korean Studies department, where all partner universities are introduced and most key points are discussed. The presentations can later be viewed again on the TUCKU website.

https://uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/philosophische-fakultaet/fachbereiche/asien-orient-wissenschaften/koreanistik/tucku/infobroschuere/#c1230043 (last accessed 29.05.2025)

However, changes can occur afterwards. For example, I did not get assigned to my preferred university because the Korean university had changed its program offerings. This doesn’t happen often, but you shouldn’t rely on just one university. Make sure to also look closely into your second and third choices to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

---

2. Application within the Korean Studies Department

First, you apply directly to the Korean Studies department. They will decide which university you will be assigned to. This application includes around seven documents, which may be written either in English or German and must be uploaded as a single file via a SharePoint link on the TUCKU website. All documents, however, must be in the same language.

The required documents are:

Copy of the Abitur diploma

Tabular CV

As in a typical resume, your personal information should be listed at the top (name, date of birth, nationality, student ID number, and two email addresses—your university email and private email). As with any CV, list relevant stages from most recent to earliest.

Motivation Letter

This should not exceed one page. It should explain what you expect from your stay in Korea, why you want to attend the specific university, and what significance this has for your future path.

Minor students must mention at the very beginning whether they are applying for one or two semesters.

Course Plan

You should outline your intended study plan, including course titles, brief descriptions, and weekly hours. You can find this information using the methods explained in section 1.

For major students only: Internship plans including expected locations and dates.

Transcript of Records

This can simply be downloaded from Alma.

GPA Conversion

The TUCKU website provides an Excel sheet for converting grades to GPA. You can enter all your grades there and then export the table to Word. Important: major students only need to list their Korean Studies courses, while minor students must list all courses—including those from their major.

Signed consent form for the exchange program conditions

Selection of Universities

Here, you must indicate your three preferred universities.

---

Minor students must also obtain a letter of recommendation from an instructor in their major subject. This person must hold at least a doctoral degree. A template can be found on the TUCKU website. You can fill in your part in advance and send it to the instructor. They must then upload the recommendation letter using the link provided on the TUCKU page. It is advisable to take care of this early and ask the instructor for confirmation once they have submitted it. My instructor kindly sent me a copy of the letter as well, but they are not obliged to do so. In any case, make sure to send reminder emails so that nothing is forgotten.

A separate file containing a passport photo must also be uploaded.