Dong-A University
Study Abroad in Busan at Dong-A University for 1 or 2 Semesters
Study in the second largest city of South Korea, Busan. Busan is built right on the coast, contains historic temples and is home to more than 3,5 million inhabitants. The city is in the southern part of the country and is considered the main tourism destinations in Korea. Busan is home to sacred mountains and is surrounded by pristine beaches that easily compete with Miami, Florida. Busan offers hot springs to explore and has a culinary culture that one can only love. Moreover, Busan is one of Asia’s main logistic hubs and home to some of the biggest logistics enterprises in the world. Dong-A university belongs to the best universities in the region and is the best private university in Busan. At Dong-A University, you will have the unique opportunity to dive into the Korean culture and to learn from some of the best professionals from the country.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
SEMESTERS
Spring (Mar – June)
Autumn (Aug – Dec)
Max. Credits
ca. 30 ECTS / 18 US credits
Program Content
Lectures, Excursions
Levels of Study
Bachelor
Fees
Study Fields
Business and Management
Dong-A University
Diverse learning support & cultural experience activities
#3
Private
university
in Busan
#1
Tourism
Destination in
Korea
Accredited by international
education quality assurance system
SEMESTER DATES
AUTUMN 2025
- Semester dates
- September 1st – December 19th, 2025
- Orientation
- TBA
- Application deadline
- June 6th, 2025
- Holiday
- TBA
SPRING 2026*
- Semester dates
- March 2nd – June 20th, 2026
- Orientation
- TBA
- Application deadline
- November 28th, 2025
- Holiday
- TBA
AUTUMN 2026*
- Semester dates
- September 1st – December 21st, 2026
- Orientation
- TBA
- Application Deadline
- June 2nd, 2026
- Holiday
- TBA
SPRING 2027*
- Semester Dates
- March 1st – June 20th, 2027
- Orientation
- TBA
- Application Deadline
- November 28th, 2026
- Holiday
- TBA
You may apply for semesters in the upcoming years already.
*) Small changes possible
Program Highlights
Boost your career prospects by studying abroad in one of Asia’s best private universities
Study in the biggest tourism destination in Korea
Enjoy the cultural diversity in the multicultural melting pot of Busan
Meet new people from all over the world and build an international network
Explore pristine beaches, historic temples, sacred mountains, unique attractions, and a flourishing art scene
Enjoy a variety of free-time activities, both in Busan and on campus
STUDYING IN DONG-A UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Dong-A University is the right choice for those who want to challenge themselves academically at a top-class private university in South Korea. The courses at DAU are diverse, intriguing, modern and based on the to-date academic standards around the world.
Studying at Dong-A University is for you if…
- You want to be able to choose among a great selection of top-notch courses
- You want to improve your English and intercultural communication skills
- You want to get to know life and culture in one of the most intriguing countries in Asia
- You want to network with people from all over the world.
COURSES
Credits
FEES
WHO CAN APPLY
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
ABOUT DONG-A UNIVERSITY
STUDENT VISA & ACCOMMODATION
OFFSET YOUR FLIGHT EMISSIONS
COURSES
Dong-A University Course Lists
As an exchange student at Dong-A University (DAU), you have plenty of options when making your course selections. You can pick your courses freely from the level (year) and the subject area most suitable and interesting for you. Asia Exchange students can choose from Business and Management Courses as listed below.
Explanatory Course list (International Business Management)
Courses offered for Spring (Syllabi)
Courses offered for Autumn (Syllabi)
Language Courses
There is an Intensive Korean language course available for international students. This is free of charge for international exchange students. The course runs for 10 weeks for 4 hours a day (Monday-Friday). If you’re planning on studying Korean, you shouldn’t take more than 2 additional courses since the Korean language courses are intensive.
Course documents
The syllabi are exemplary and available for most courses. The remaining syllabi will be handed out at the beginning of lectures at the latest. In the course schedule documents, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., refer to first-year studies, second-year studies, etc., meaning the year in which degree students are expected to take the courses.
Availability of courses
Since DAU offers no tailor-made exchange program with specific courses, students should be prepared for possible course changes. Pick some extra courses when making your initial course selection if one of your choices isn’t available. At the beginning of the semester, you can still make some changes to your course plan if needed after arriving at the destination.
Should you need to present a study plan to your home university, you may use the course lists from the previous semesters as a guide.
How to choose the courses?
Students can choose the courses 2 weeks before the semester start through a buddy program where a Korean student from Dong-A will help them register their courses because the registration website is
eCampus
In addition to the courses mentioned above, you have the chance to attend additional distance learning courses in the fields of Economics, Marketing, Sociology, and Politics. All the courses are taught from a distance and can be joined independently from place and time. This gives you the ultimate flexibility to combine your study abroad experience with various academic courses.
All information about the eCampus can be found here.
You have the chance to opt for distance learning courses during your application process. Please note that each distance learning course is worth 5 ECTS and comes at an additional charge of 199 EUR/ 297 USD.
After completing your eCampus courses, you will receive an academic transcript issued by Undiknas University. Additionally, you will receive a participation certificate for each completed distance learning course.
Credits
Students can choose as many courses as they wish, as long as their total worth doesn’t exceed 18 local credits (30 ECTS/18 US credits). As the maximum amount of credits would be highly demanding, Dong-A University recommends exchange students take max. 12-15 credits per semester. The majority of the courses are worth 3 credits. Read more about credit conversion here.
FEES
Dong-A University Fees
Part of our DNA is to keep excellent relationships with all our partners. Due to this special relationship with Dong-A University, you save approximately 500 EUR of the tuition fee compared to applying without us. On top of that, you are saving lots of your efforts and time and have the most secure way to get your study place confirmed.
Tuition fee:
Application fee:
See what’s included in the fees.
Many of our students apply for national student funding such as PROMOS, BAföG, or CSN.
Are you from North/South America & Oceania? Find out more about the fees.
Benefits when applying via Asia Exchange
- Confirmation even in one day
- Asia Exchange Guide with lots of information e.g., about studies and accommodation and Visa Guide
- Pre-departure orientation webinar
- Orientation days
- No English proficiency test required
- Save more than
compared to regular tuition fees additional discount when applying for two semesters.
WHO CAN APPLY
Who Can apply for Dong-A University
Minimum requirements
- Minimum age of 18 years (you must be 18 years old at the time of your application)
- You should be currently enrolled at an institution of higher education (university, university of applied sciences or similar)
- Sufficient English skills. You’re not required to take an official language test, however.
See the additional requirements.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Dong-A University Required Documents
- An official transcript of records of your latest semester in English.
- A copy of the identification page of your passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 12 months after arriving in Korea. If your passport expires earlier, please apply for a new one and submit it before the application deadline. Applications sent without a valid passport cannot be processed.
- A certificate of enrollment in English. This document should show that you are a current student at the institution you are studying in. See an example.
- A free form personal statement and a study plan limited to one A4 page in English (What do you want to achieve through this student exchange program?).
- Proof of insurance (in English). Dong-A University requires proof of travel and health insurance when applying. Additionally, Dong-A University recommends you check whether your insurance provider in your home country has insurance plans equivalent to the National Health Insurance in Korea to substitute the NHI for insurance from your home country.
- An official language certificate such as TOEFL, IELTS, DAAD or similar. Alternatively, you can provide a recommendation letter in English from your home university (any teacher/professor) that confirms your English skills are strong enough to study abroad. You can find an example of a statement of English Proficiency here.
- A passport size colored photo. Please attached it at the top right section of your Dong-A University application form.
- Dong-A University application form
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY to study at the Dong-A University
DOCUMENTS
Get the required documents
APPLICATION
Fill out and submit the online application form together with the required documents
CONFIRMATION
You’ll get a confirmation of your study placement within one week, at best as quickly as in one day.
- Flexible application: You can apply even if you’re not yet certain of your plans. Cancel at no extra cost up to 1 month before the program starts.
- Get access to comprehensive information materials such as an Asia Exchange Guide after you apply.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Scan all the required attachments to your computer in PDF format.
- Fill out the online application form below and submit it with the required attachments.
Uploading and submitting the attachments
- Please upload the attachments in PDF format.
- If possible, please submit all the attachments together with the application. If you’re missing some attachment(s) when you first apply, you can later send the missing document(s). However, please note that we won’t process applications without any attachments whatsoever.
- All attachments must be sent to us within 30 days of applying or by the application deadline at the very latest.
- You can submit all the documents electronically. Please don’t send anything via regular mail.
- There is a late application fee for applications or attachments submitted after the application deadline.
Confirmation, official acceptance letter and visa
You’ll get a confirmation of your study placement in 1-7 days, starting from when your application is complete with all the required documents. You’ll receive the official acceptance letter 1.5 months before the semester starts at the latest. We’ll send it to the street address you have provided in your application. Please let us know if this address changes at any point. You need the official acceptance letter to apply for a student visa.
Fees
The application fee invoice will be sent to you soon after the initial acceptance letter. This fee will be due within 10 days of receiving your confirmation. The application fee is non-refundable even if you decide to cancel (see below). You’ll receive the invoice for the tuition fee about 2.5 months before the semester starts.
Cancellation
If you’re unable to participate in the study abroad semester, you have the right to cancel your participation up to 1 month before the semester starts with no extra cost (the application fee will not be refunded, however). Let us know about your cancellation by writing us an email at info[at]asiaexchange.org. Cancellations notified via phone, SMS, or by any other means will not be considered. For more detailed information on our cancellation policy, please see the terms and conditions for cancellation. We also reserve the right to cancel your participation if any of your fees becomes overdue. For more information, please see our terms and conditions.
Travel insurance
You are required to have valid accident and health insurance for the whole duration of the program. The university may request a copy of the insurance certificate at the beginning of the semester. See our recommended travel insurance providers.
ABOUT DONG-A UNIVERSITY
ABOUT DONG-A UNIVERSITY
Established in 1946, Dong-A University is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the metropolis of Busan (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants). Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education of Korea, Dong-A University (DAU) is a large coeducational South Korean higher education institution. Dong-A University (DAU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Address: 37 Nakdong-daero 550(obaegosip)be, Hadan 2(i)-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea
University Contact Person: Mr. Brian Kay
DONG-A UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION
Accredited by International Education Quality Assurance System
STUDENT VISA & ACCOMMODATION
Student Visa and Accommodation for Dong-A University
VISA
All international students residing outside Korea will need to apply for a student visa at the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Korea. You must apply for the visa in person at your home country’s Korean embassy. Read about the visa application procedure here.
ACCOMMODATION
Dong-A University offers on-campus accommodation for international students, and they are required to stay in the dorms for the entire semester. If students choose to live off-campus, they must submit a doctor’s note.
Some students stay at hostels/hotels for the first week to get to know the other students/potential roommates during the orientation events. If this is your preferred approach, we recommend booking the accommodation for your first days via Agoda. However, we still recommend looking into your long-term accommodation well in advance before your flight. Remember, other students will also be looking for places to stay!
OFFSET YOUR FLIGHT EMISSIONS
CO2 OFFSETTING
Unfortunately, traveling by plane to study abroad increases the carbon footprint of each student. Over the past years, it has become more apparent than ever: we face a climate crisis and air transport is responsible for up to 10% of humankind’s contribution to global warming. But should students stop pursuing their dreams of studying abroad and sacrifice their future goals? We don’t think so!
We see it as our responsibility to preserve our environment, live a sustainable life, and minimize the carbon footprint of each of our students. Consequently, Asia Exchange has chosen to work with Atmosfair, a non-profit organization that actively contributes to CO₂ mitigation and offers Co2 offsetting. You can now easily donate a free amount of money to Atmosfair’s projects dedicated to offsetting Co2 emissions. During the application process for your study abroad program, you have the opportunity to donate and mitigate your flight emissions.
Simultaneously, Asia Exchange will support your efforts to reduce their carbon footprint when studying abroad by doubling your donations and contributing equally. Let’s make this world a better place!
Click here to find out more about offsetting your flight emissions
Explore virtually – interactive destination tour
Frequent asked questions
Q: What study level are the courses at Dong-A University?
A: Bachelor – level courses only.
Q: When do the exams take place?
A: Exams will be organized during the last few weeks of the semester. All courses and exams will be finished by the announced semester ending date.
Q: What type of visa do I need to have to study in South Korea?
A: You will need a D2 student visa to study in South Korea. For Summer School students, a visa may not be needed due to the length of the program. Please contact your local embassy for more details.
Q: When can I apply for my visa?
A: You can start your visa application process after receiving the official acceptance letter from the university. The letter will be sent to you at the latest one month before the start of the semester. Read our general visa instructions here.
All international students residing outside Korea will need to apply for a student visa at the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Korea. You must apply for the visa in person at your home country’s Korean embassy. Read about the visa application procedure here.
Dong-A University offers on-campus accommodation for international students, and they are required to stay in the dorms for the entire semester. If students choose to live off-campus, they must submit a doctor’s note.
Some students stay at hostels/hotels for the first week to get to know the other students/potential roommates during the orientation events. If this is your preferred approach, we recommend booking the accommodation for your first days via Agoda. However, we still recommend looking into your long-term accommodation well in advance before your flight. Remember, other students will also be looking for places to stay!
Q: Do I need to take into account any healthcare-related matters?
A: In addition to the basic vaccinations (MMR and diphtheria-tetanus), travelers are most often advised to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B. Vaccinations always depend partly on the individual, so remember to consult your physician.
Q: Do I need insurance?
A: All students are required to have valid travel insurance for the duration of the semester. See our recommended travel insurance providers here.
A: NHIS (National Health Insurance) – We were notified that all incoming exchange students staying in Korea need to acquire National Health Insurance when in Korea due to altered government policies. As this is normally an expensive option, Dong-A University recommends you check whether your insurance provider in your home country has insurance plans equivalent to the National Health Insurance in Korea in order to substitute the NHI for insurance from your home country.
Please see here for further information from Dong-A University about National Health Insurance.
Q: What kind of costs should I be prepared for?
A: In addition to tuition fees, you should be prepared to pay for the student visa, flights, accommodation and other living costs.
The cost of living in Seoul is comparable to most European countries. However, like everywhere, the cost of living highly depends on your anticipated lifestyle. Usually, our students consider Seoul as well affordable.
If you try to keep your costs as low as possible and avoid excessive spending, then the cost of living can be as low as 800,000 KRW per month.
However, most of our students spend around 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 KRW per month.
Luckily there are many options to help lower your costs while living in South Korea – goshiwons and public transport are great examples.
Q: I need to have my learning agreement/certificate of enrollment signed. What should I do?
A: Please fill out the document and send it to info@asiaexchange.org.
Q: When will I receive my Official Acceptance Letter?
The official letter of acceptance will be delivered to you 1.5 months before the semester starts at the latest. We’ll send it to the street address you have provided in your application. Please let us know if this address changes at any point.
Q: When will I receive my Transcript of Records?
A: The university prepares and sends the transcripts of records usually within 2-3 months after the end of the semester.
Q: Do I need to know any Korean beforehand?
A: It is not mandatory to know any korean beforehand. However, knowing only a few basic words and phrases in advance will already help you a lot! HUFS also offers Korean language courses at different levels through their Korean Language Center.
"The months in Korea were certainly some of the best in my life" The months in Korea were certainly some of the best in my life. In between a vivid nightlife, extraordinary food, deep conversations, a great number of wonderful friends from different cultures, a very special football club and the exchange life itself – this is what shaped me most within the last few months.
Thanks to them I have the possibility to attend a full degree program in South Korea. Really happy and satisfied.
Ask former students
Germany “Hey guys! The time in Korea was incredible! Both the educational and the personal experiences will make me never forget this beautiful country. I would be happy to help you experience the same wonderful exchange. Please don’t hesitate to ask any kind of questions.” Read more in Niklas' Blog!
