Passage Seoul Summer School 2027

Twenty students spend the first half of July 2027 in Seoul with Passage. Mornings are Korean language classes for complete beginners and improvers, taught in small groups. Afternoons are for the city: campus visits on university open days, the National Museum of Korea, Gyeongbokgung Palace and the neighbourhoods around it.

Running through the fortnight is a group project. Korea went from mass illiteracy in the 1950s to some of the highest test scores in the world, and students work in teams to explain how, and at what cost: the hagwon cram schools, the suneung exam day when flights are rerouted so planes do not disturb listening tests, and the current debate about pressure on teenagers. Teams present on the last day, and the best piece is edited and published in Passage Journal.

Students live together in a residence in central Seoul, two to a room, with two Passage staff on site around the clock.

Everything is paid for: return flights, the visa where one is needed, accommodation, meals, local transport, tickets and classes. Students only need pocket money for personal shopping.

How selection works: applications close on 14 December 2026. The selection team reads every application after the deadline, shortlists about 40 students for a 15-minute video call in January, and confirms places by 31 January 2027.