How Amelia, an Indonesian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Film Through the Global Korea Scholarship

Hello, I am Amelia from Indonesia. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Korean Studies and am currently pursuing my Master’s in Film and Digital Media with a scenario major at Dongguk University, Korea. Unlike a Film Studies major, my major is more practical. Our classes are about filming, analyzing the directing styles of various well-known movies, and even writing our own film scripts. The reason why I decided to choose this major might be very cliché: I love watching movies. Since I was a kid, film, movie, or whatever you call it, has always been a part of my life. During 2^nd grade of high school, I joined a short film competition for the first time, and my team and I got 1^st place. And then 3 years later, my friends from film school asked me to participate in two national short documentary competitions, where we got 2^nd and 3^rd place. During my undergraduate program, Korean Drama Analysis Class was my favorite. I knew various titles of Korean dramas and films, which made me decide to use it for my graduation journal.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I got the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) with the Asian Development Bank-Republic of Korea (ADB-ROK) Track in 2025. It is similar to the University Track, but only applicants from the countries and universities included on the list are eligible to apply through this track. It is a fully funded scholarship, so I get a flight ticket, tuition fee, and also a living allowance. During the Korean Language Program, I received a monthly allowance of 800,000 won (after dormitory fees are deducted), and 1,200,000 won during the graduate program (after dormitory fees are deducted). If you are planning to live outside, you will get a full monthly allowance.

Educational Background

I graduated from one of the top universities in Indonesia called Universitas Indonesia, majoring in Korean Studies, with a GPA of 3.8. Every semester, I graduated cum laude. I actively participated in external activities like a volunteering program with Korean students under the Pacific Asia Society, faculty orientation staff, film competitions, writing and video competitions, etc. I also became an assistant director of a film remake project for a Korean Drama Analysis class.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Dongguk University?

How Did You Find Information About Global Korea Scholarship and Dongguk University?

I think GKS is one of the most famous scholarship programs from Korea, so many people would know it. In my case, I asked my friend who got it the previous year, and also did my own research through YouTube. For the institution, I found the information I wanted from YouTube as well as the school website.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I already took TOPIK and TOEFL years before I decided to apply for GKS, so I didn’t have any specific preparation for that.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship?

At that time, I only had around 4 months before the application opened, so I just started by reading the guidelines as carefully as possible, searched for videos on YouTube, and asked my friend if there were any questions that I couldn’t find the answer to by myself. I prepared the documents one by one during my free time, and contacted my professor for the recommendation letter 2 months early. I was pretty sure that she gonna be very busy at that time, so I had to be agile. For my essays, I just put my relevant background and experience, and structured them in a way that felt polished and avoided unnecessary wordiness.

How is Your Experience at Dongguk University?

Honestly, at first, I found it hard to adapt, since it was my first time ever living abroad. But I feel grateful because my school is located in a strategic area near many interesting places, like Myeongdong and Dongdaemun. The school staff and GKS Representative are also helpful and respond quickly.

How Does Dongguk University Support International Students?

Dongguk University offers a buddy program for international students, so you can apply for it if you need. They also have some clubs that are open to international students as well, like the Korean Language Club, so you can practice your Korean and have fun with other students at the same time.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

All of my classes are 100% in Korean, but some majors have English classes and Chinese classes too.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Korean?

I think yes. I heard some of my friends were struggling with their studies because they only finished Korean Level 3 or 4, but their major classes were in Korean. So I strongly recommend that you at least study the basic Korean level before you apply for this scholarship, so once you pass, you can finish up to the advanced level. In my opinion, Level 5 and 6 materials are very, very useful for TOPIK and my studies.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think what made my application stand out was that I wrote my essays personally. I connected my relevant background and experiences, from competitions I participated in to my freelance work as a video translator. I also stated my goal in the future that relates to this and my major as well. And lastly, I think having a TOPIK II certificate also made me stand out.

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

If I could go through the process again, I would prepare for the interview in Korean more thoroughly. Actually, at first I passed the document selection stage of Embassy Track, but I couldn’t prepare enough for the interview because I was really nervous. They asked me in Korean, but I did nothing except answer in English. So I hope I can be more confident and calm during this stage.

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

I just want to say that please prepare for the worst. Having a high level of confidence is very good, but you have to know that there are thousands of people who apply for GKS too, and they could be more ready than you. Also, be honest, dream bigger, and try hard. Rejection may be a new direction for you. If you can’t get this scholarship, look into your documents, think about what was wrong, and fix it, so you can be a way better for the next chance!