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Korea Field School

Dates: 15 May–18 July 2027
Application Deadline: 15 November 2026

The Korea field school is a research-based study abroad program located in the heart of Seoul. All majors are welcome. At the center of the field school experience is the opportunity to conduct firsthand mentored research on Korean culture in Seoul, South Korea. Students will pursue their own research projects under the supervision of the field school director. This is an excellent opportunity to conduct research for a capstone project in any major and to learn about and demonstrate competence in research. Students will receive support and training in ethnographic and qualitative research methods. Students will also register for a course on Korean culture.

During the field school, students will have the option of living with a South Korean family or in an apartment. Students will also have opportunities to take part in various cultural activities such as a Buddhist meditation retreat in historic Gyeongju, a trip to Jeju Island, as well as guided walking tours of historical sites, palaces, and museums.

Click here to apply today!

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Contact Us

Gregory A. Thompson
880 KMBL
(801) 422-8095
greg.a.thompson@byu.edu

PDF

Program Flyer

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
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More Information

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Courses

Students must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours during spring and summer from the following courses:

ANTHR 495R—Ethnographic Field Project
ANTHR 439—Advanced Medical/Psychological Anthropology (of Korea)

Alternative course options may be possible. A twelve-credit-hour option may be arranged for students who need to meet scholarship requirements.

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
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Cost

$7,400–7,900

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), housing, local research assistants/translators to assist students with research, in-country excursions, some group meals, and international health insurance.

Does not include airfare (typically $1,500–2,000 from US to South Korea), passport, vaccinations (if needed), most meals, personal expenses, personal travel, and additional research expenses not covered by the program.
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Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs.

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

The Anthropology Department has additional funding for students attending this field school. Preference is given to Anthropology majors and minors, but non-majors can also apply for these funds. Please consult the director to discuss this and other possible funding options.

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
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Preparation

Students are required to take the following prerequisite courses prior to departure: ANTHR 344—Korean Culture during the winter semester 2027.

Highly recommended courses:

ANTHR 101—Social/Cultural Anthropology (fulfills both the Global and Cultural Awareness and Social Science requirements)
KOREA 101—First-Year Korean 1
ANTHR 442—Ethnographic Research Design and Methods. Anthropology students wanting to use the field school experience for thesis research must take this course prior to attending the field school. All other students are strongly encouraged to take this course in order to develop their research proposal and learn principles of human subjects research.

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.
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Housing

Students will live with local host families or in a shared apartment. Home stays are recommended as it will facilitate the experience of cultural immersion.
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Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu
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Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

Complete the online application here. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2026
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Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
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Faculty

Gregory A. Thompson is the faculty director of the program. Professor Thompson teaches courses in the Department of Anthropology and has previously led field schools to Korea in 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2025.

880 KMBL
(801) 422-8095
greg.a.thompson@byu.edu
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Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
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ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.
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Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.