Summer break is one of the most underused opportunities in a college student’s calendar. It is a stretch of weeks that most people fill with casual work, Netflix, and vague intentions, when it could just as easily become the most memorable and productive part of the year. A short-term summer study abroad program gives you academic credits, an international experience, a network of students from around the world, and a location that makes the whole thing feel genuinely unlike anything a regular semester can offer.
Asia Exchange offers two summer school programs specifically designed for college students who want more from their summer without committing to a full semester abroad. One is in Bali, Indonesia. One is in Seoul, South Korea. Both run from July to August. Both earn you real academic credits. And both are structured to be genuinely achievable — logistically, financially, and academically — for students at any stage of their degree.
Why do a summer program instead of a full semester?
A semester abroad is the gold standard of international study. But it is not always the right fit. Maybe your degree doesn’t have room for a full semester away. Maybe your finances only stretch to a few weeks. Maybe you are not ready to commit to three or four months in a new country, but you are genuinely curious about what it would feel like. A summer program solves all of these problems.
Summer program
2 to 4 weeks. Academic credits included. Flexible scheduling. Lower total cost. Perfect for students with limited availability or who want to test the waters before committing to a full semester abroad.
Full semester abroad
3 to 5 months. More credits, deeper immersion, stronger career signal. Best for students with the time and academic flexibility for a longer commitment.
The other advantage of a summer program that rarely gets mentioned: it is one of the best ways to figure out whether you want to do a full semester abroad. Students who do the Bali or Seoul summer programs consistently come back asking how to apply for a full semester. The experience makes the decision easy.
The two programs
Bali Summer School
The WISE program introduces students to Indonesian language, culture, tourism, and business through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on workshops and excursions. This is not a program where you sit in a lecture hall all day, you are actively out in Bali, experiencing what you are studying in real time.
The program is structured around two 2-week modules. You can join either one of the modules individually, or combine both for a full 4-week experience. Courses are offered at both bachelor’s and master’s level, meaning the program is relevant whether you are an undergraduate or a graduate student. You can take up to two courses in a 2-week module, or up to four courses across the full 4-week program.
The subject range is genuinely broad, whether your background is in business, arts, technology, social sciences, or something else entirely, there are courses that will apply to your degree. All courses are taught in English.
What Bali looks like between classes
Bali is the kind of place that is hard to fully describe until you are standing in it. Green rice terraces, Hindu temples on every corner, warm weather, extraordinary food, and beaches that sit within an hour of the campus. The pace of life on the island makes it easy to settle in quickly, and the international student community means you will be meeting people from all over the world from day one. There is a reason it consistently ranks as one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world — and living there, even for two weeks, gives you a completely different relationship with it than a tourist visit ever could.
Seoul Summer School
The HUFS International Summer Session takes place at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the most international university in South Korea, consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading institutions for language and international studies. The ISS runs from mid-July to mid-August and is particularly well suited for students interested in Korean language and culture, though the course offering goes significantly beyond that.
Course areas include Korean language, performing arts, culture, economics and business, Asian politics, contemporary Korean society, and international relations. The program attracts students from dozens of countries each summer, meaning the social experience is genuinely international from the first day. About 75% of courses are offered every year, with the final course list published around April.
One course corresponds to 50 hours of work and three Korean credits, which typically translates to 5 ECTS or 3 US credits. Optional weekly field trips are available for an additional fee, paid directly to HUFS.
What Seoul looks like between classes
Seoul is a city that rewards exploration at every turn. Ancient palaces and mountain hiking trails sit alongside rooftop bars, street food markets, world-class shopping districts, and a nightlife scene that runs 24 hours. The city’s public transport is exceptional — getting anywhere is fast, cheap, and easy — which means your evenings and weekends are genuinely open for discovery. Students who do the HUFS summer program consistently describe Seoul as one of the most exciting cities they have ever been in. The combination of studying at one of Korea’s most international universities while living in a top-10 global city is genuinely hard to beat as a summer experience.
Academic credits: how it works
One of the most common questions about summer study abroad programs is whether the credits will actually count toward your degree. The honest answer: it depends on your home institution, and you need to confirm before you go. But here is what the programs offer.
Bali (WISE)
Courses are offered at bachelor’s and master’s level and earn ECTS credits transferable within the European system and compatible with most international degree programs. You can take up to two courses in a 2-week module for 2-week students, or up to four courses across the full 4-week program.
Seoul (HUFS ISS)
One course equals 3 Korean credits, which typically converts to 5 ECTS or 3 US credits. This is a genuine and significant credit load for a 4-week program. Credit acceptance at your home institution depends on your university’s policies, confirm with your academic advisor or international office before applying.
The credit question is worth confirming with your home institution before you apply, but do not let uncertainty about credit transfer stop you from going. The skills, experience, and perspective you gain from a summer abroad have career value that goes well beyond what any transcript records.
Which program is right for you?
Choose Bali if...
You want a tropical, culturally immersive experience with a slower pace and extraordinary natural surroundings. If you are drawn to Southeast Asian culture, want flexibility (2 or 4 weeks), and are looking for a more relaxed social environment alongside serious academic content, Bali is your program.
Choose Seoul if...
You want a major global city experience with all the energy and infrastructure that comes with it. If Korean culture, language, or East Asian studies interest you, or if you want the career signal of studying at one of the most internationally recognized universities in South Korea, Seoul is your program.
And if you genuinely cannot choose? The programs run on broadly similar timelines, and some students have done both in the same summer: Bali for the first two weeks, Seoul for the following month. It is ambitious, but it is also one of the most extraordinary summers a college student can have.
What to expect practically
- Both programs run July to August — apply well before the deadline to secure your spot
- All courses are taught in English — no local language knowledge required to participate
- You will need valid health and accident insurance for the full duration of your program
- For stays under 90 days, most Western passport holders do not need a student visa for Indonesia or South Korea — check your specific nationality at your government's official travel site
- Asia Exchange handles the application and placement process — your spot can be confirmed in as little as one day
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Optional field trips are available at both programs for additional fees paid directly to the host university
Frequently asked questions
Are these programs open to all college students?
Yes. Both programs are open to undergraduate and graduate students from any country and any field of study. No specific academic background is required to apply.
Will the credits transfer to my home university?
Credits are earned at accredited partner universities and are transferable within the European ECTS system and compatible with most international degree programs. Whether your specific home institution accepts them depends on their own policies. Confirm with your academic advisor or international office before you apply.
Do I need to speak Indonesian or Korean to participate?
No. All courses at both programs are taught in English. Some courses in Korean language are available at HUFS for students who want to begin learning, but they are entirely optional.
How long are the programs exactly?
The Bali WISE program runs as either a 2-week or 4-week program, with two modules you can join separately or together. The Seoul HUFS ISS runs for approximately one month, from mid-July to mid-August.
What is the application process like?
Applications are handled through Asia Exchange online. The process is straightforward and your spot can be confirmed in as little as one day. Apply as early as possible, spots are limited and the programs fill up quickly each summer.
Ready to make this summer count? Explore both programs through Asia Exchange.