Several Awards Winner, An Indonesian National Wins the Fully-Funded Global Korea Scholarship to Pursue her Master's in South Korea

Hi! My name is Alivia Kirana Hartono Putri, but you can call me Alivia. I am originally from Surabaya, Indonesia. From a young age, I have always dreamed of studying abroad, inspired by my father, who is a professor, and driven by a desire to view the world from a different perspective. I have a strong interest in both engineering and business, which led me to pursue a degree in Industrial Engineering. During my studies, I specialized in Ergonomics, Interaction Design, and Human Factors Engineering. I chose this specialization because I believe there are significant career and research opportunities in this field, particularly as our daily interactions increasingly involve machines and computers. My goal is to optimize human experiences when interacting with technology, and this specialization seemed like the perfect fit for my goal.

Scholarship Details

At first, I applied to several scholarship programs across Asia, especially in Taiwan and Korea, because I was really interested in both countries and thought I’d gain a lot from the experience. I ended up getting accepted into several fully funded scholarships, including:

• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) University Track
• National Taiwan University of Science and Technology Scholarship
• The Ministry of Education (MOE) Taiwan Scholarship
• Outstanding International Student Scholarship of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology
• Tung Hai University International Student Scholarship

After weighing my options, I decided to go with GKS because I felt it was the most challenging and exciting opportunity for me. I was honored to receive a fully funded scholarship from the Korean government for my graduate studies, starting in 2021. This incredible opportunity covered everything from round-trip airfare, tuition, monthly allowances, health insurance, and even extra allowance because I nailed the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean test) -Level 5. Before starting my master’s program, I spent a year at Cheju Halla University to improve my Korean language skills, which was a game-changer. I’m truly grateful for this preparation program offered by GKS, as it made living and studying in Korea so much easier. The whole experience was made even better by the support from the scholarship!

Educational Background

I recently graduated with a Master of Engineering from Kumoh National Institute of Technology in August 2024, fully funded by the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program. Unlike the typical scholarship recipients who often have standout academic records, I feel like my undergraduate background is pretty ordinary. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from a science and technology university in Indonesia with a GPA of 3.44/4.00, which is decent but not exceptional. Some of my grades in specific subjects were also just average. However, I worked on my undergraduate thesis in Human Factors Engineering and User Experience, which is closely related to my master’s research. This prior experience made it easier to convince professors and labs that I was capable in this area.

Other than that, I think what set me apart were the experiences I pursued outside the classroom. During my undergraduate studies, I participated in several international activities that really shaped my perspective and skills. I was selected to become one of the school representatives in a student exchange program at a university in Malaysia for a semester, joined a winter program (short course) at a university in Taiwan, and went on a study excursion to Thailand. These experiences really helped strengthen my application and showed that I was well-prepared for the challenges ahead, both academically and personally.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Scholarships and Institutions?

Even though GKS doesn’t require English or Korean language certificates for applications, I felt that having them would really strengthen my chances. So, I decided to go all out and submit language test scores to make my application stand out. I dove into studying for the IELTS while juggling a full-time job. It was definitely tough and tiring, but I kept my goal in sight. I took a private prep course for IELTS and practiced speaking with friends whenever I could. For reading and listening, I used Cambridge books, and for writing, I followed IELTS Liz to get a grip on the essay structures.

After scoring a 7.0 on the IELTS, I threw myself into researching universities, labs, and professors that fit my field. I spent about three weeks on this, really getting to know who would be the best match for my studies. I reached out to a few professors to let them know I was interested in applying through the GKS program. If you’re aiming for graduate studies in Korea, especially in fields like natural science and engineering, this step is super important!

I got some positive responses, decided to apply for the GKS through the university track, and prepared all the required documents. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find out that I didn’t have to go through an interview. The whole application process ran from February to June for the GKS Graduate Program, and when the final list of candidates was released in June, I was thrilled to see my name on it. I got accepted!

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Honestly, I don’t think I would change much because I feel like I gave my best effort throughout the entire process. However, if I were to go through it again, I might consider applying to other countries as well. This would give me a broader understanding of different application processes and maybe provide more options to choose from.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

As Benjamin Franklin said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." So, really take the time to prepare everything thoroughly and enjoy the process. It’s definitely not easy and requires a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money, but it’s all worth it in the end. For those applying for the GKS, even though they don’t require language certificates, I strongly recommend including them anyway. It shows that you’re truly committed and serious about your application. And when it comes to writing your essays, always be genuine. Authenticity really shines through and makes a big difference.