Master’s International Development and Cooperation Student Annie Favour from Nigeria Shares Her Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master’s at Ajou University, South Korea

I am Annie Favour from Nigeria. I pursued a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Diplomacy, and my interest in world politics, history, and developmental studies intensified. Thus, I decided to further my education abroad, specifically in the Asian region, because I wanted more direct exposure to the Asian perspective on culture, politics, and world issues. I believe exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives helps one make informed decisions on certain topics, especially topics concerning the global world.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

In 2021, I received the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) to pursue my Master’s studies in International Development and Cooperation at Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea. GKS is a fully funded scholarship sponsored by the Korean Government. It covers round-trip airfare, tuition (one-year Korean training + degree programme), health insurance, and a monthly stipend.

Educational Background

I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Benson Idahosa University, Nigeria. I graduated as a First-class student with a 3.53/4.0 CGPA. International Studies is a broad course encompassing the study of major political, economic, and social issues dominating the international arena. It simply covers the various fields of the global world – history, politics, economics, climate change, trade, finance, etc. Learning about the Four Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea) during my undergraduate studies deepened my interest in Development Studies. I was quite fascinated with the Asian Tigers, specifically South Korea, and its courage in defying circumstances and achieving rapid industrialisation.

Covering topics such as globalisation, international political economy, bargaining and conflict resolution, South East Asia in the 20th century, foreign policies of the great powers up to 1945, etc., sharpened my analytical and research skills. Such a combination contributed to my seamless transition to a Master’s studies in International Development and Cooperation at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Ajou University.

Overall, my academic performance was a key factor that strengthened my eligibility for the GKS.

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

With an unshakeable interest in South Korea (after deciding on South Korea to further my education), I put on my research hat and visited various websites covering news from South Korea. I began by visiting the websites of the Korean Embassy in Nigeria and the Korean Cultural Centre (KCCN) located in Abuja. Through the aforementioned websites, I discovered the Study in Korea website packed with substantial information on how to get scholarships (not just GKS) to study in South Korea.

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

Coming from Nigeria, where the official language is English, I did not prepare or take any standardised tests like TOEFL or IELTS. Instead, I got an official letter of English proficiency from my undergraduate university, signifying I completed more than 12 years of education in English.

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

I applied for the GKS in 2020 and got rejected, but I decided to take it as a learning experience, rather than a final appraisal of my qualifications. So, I began my preparation for the 2021 GKS months ahead. I downloaded past GKS guidelines and university information from the Study in Korea website. With thorough research, including visiting each university’s website and departmental websites, I was able to make a list of universities with a Graduate School of International Studies and come up with a better strategy to win the scholarship.

Knowing how difficult it can be to get documents such as my B.A certificate and transcript authenticated at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, I decided to apply for the authentication at the aforementioned ministries months before the announcement of the 2021 GKS. In addition, I made sure to obtain recommendation letters according to the requirements of the GKS and drafted my personal statement and statement of purpose. When the 2021 GKS application opened, I revised my personal statement and SOP based on the updated guidelines.

Furthermore, I began learning Korean, especially Hangeul, to ensure that I could read, recognise basic words, and be able to introduce myself in Korean.

How Does Ajou University Support International Students?

There is a club (NUBI Ajou) run by Korean students specifically for GSIS students in Ajou University. Fun language classes and cultural field trips were organised. A buddy system was also implemented to help international students settle in comfortably.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

The GSIS programmes at Ajou University are all 100% taught in English.

What Did You Pursue After the Global Korea Scholarship?

Work

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Korean?

This is relative. If your major will be taught in 100% English, you will definitely have no problem with academic workload. However, if your major is 50% Korean & 50% English or 70% Korean & 30% English, you need a certain level of proficiency in Korean. TOPIK 3 or TOPIK 4 level. I recommend confirming the exact medium of language your major will be taught in from the university.

Moving past academic workload, my advice to anyone planning to study in South Korea – or any country where the native and official language is not English – is to learn the native language. This will save you a lot of stress, help you integrate faster, relate with the locals, and make your life easier when it comes to navigating banking, hospital visits, real estate, and visa issues. Even something as easy as going to a restaurant or convenience store and not freaking out about purchasing the wrong thing.

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

In general, my academic performance, volunteering experiences, and strong personal statement and statement of purpose. During the first screening of the GKS application where I had an interview with the then Dean of the GSIS at Ajou University, I was only asked to talk about my volunteering experiences. Some of these experiences I mentioned in my personal statement.

Put more effort in learning Korean before arriving in Korea. Additionally, aggressively seeking out events and opportunities to continue practicing Korean after the one-year language training. My advice to anyone whose major will be fully taught in English is not to stop learning Korean, especially speaking. If you plan to remain in South Korea long-term, for work or other research purposes, please take this advice seriously.

Start preparation early, a year in advance if possible. This early preparation is not limited to gathering key documents such as B.A/ M.A certificate, transcripts, personal statements, and SOPs, but also includes language preparation. Every year, GKS becomes more competitive and the TOPIK requirement for each university differs. The TOPIK requirement can cause immense stress during the one-year language programme. Thus, it is advisable to start learning Korean before arriving in Korea.

Overall, be strategic! Keep your sight fixed on the goal (GKS) and create a step-by-step plan to make your dream a reality. This can involve reaching out to past awardees you can find, consuming information from reliable sources, or reaching out to professors in your desired university.