2026 May Term in South Korea

Description

In collaboration with local partners and insitutions, the May Term in South Korea offers exemplary students the opportunity to gain a firsthand understanding of the U.S. alliances in Korea and Japan, as well as the historical relationships between these countries and their neighbors. The program, conducted in South Korea, includes visits to significant landmarks in Korean history and culture, meetings with practitioners, and private events with senior policymakers and historians.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Korea and Japan were shaped by regional powers and global dynamics, while the post-World War II era saw the United States establish crucial alliances in the region, particularly from the 1950s onward. This course, held in South Korea as a May Term, will delve into the diplomatic and military history of the U.S. alliances in South Korea and Japan, examining how these relationships have evolved and influenced the region’s security policies and visions of international order. Classroom sessions will feature guest instructors from the esteemed Korean university’s faculty, supplemented by regular field visits to historic sites across South Korea. The program also includes trips to Hiroshima and Okinawa to explore their historical significance.

Students will engage with various touchstones of Korean history, including meetings with North Korean defectors and visits to local military bases on the peninsula. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive credit through the Department of History. The course is also approved for the Certificate in Security Studies.

The course fee is $3,000 and includes airfare, housing, a transportation pass, all program related excursion expenses, and most meals. Scholarships are available and students will not be turned away based on financial need. Note: The fee DOES NOT include overseas health insurance, the Study Abroad Office’s fee, a refundable housing damage deposit, personal travel, and some meals.

Maymester 2026 program dates: May 5- June 03, 2026

Applications are due November 14, 2025 by 10:59pm Central Time. 

Qualifications

• Any UT undergraduate student
• Must have over a 3.0 grade point average
• Availability for an in-person pre-departure orientation in spring 2026

Application Instructions

Please complete the Application Form and submit a resume, 400-500 word personal statement that clearly states why this particular program would be beneficial to your academic/professional goals and interests, non official transcript/grade report, and names of two references. 

*To receive a tuition waiver for this program, students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours of coursework in spring 2026*

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.