Hi, I'm Dewi Masitoh
This is the story of my
Scholarship Journey.

Hi, I’m Dewi Masitoh, but most people just call me Dewi. I graduated in Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Marine Science. I was born in Jakarta and currently live between Pekalongan and Semarang. My mother always taught me to be independent and not to rely on others, even as a woman.

At first, joining a student exchange program felt like an impossible dream—something I thought would be hard to achieve. I didn’t believe I was smart or wealthy enough to live abroad. But then, a miracle happened. I was incredibly grateful to be selected as a GKS awardee alongside five of my friends, allowing me to study Marine Bioscience at the National Korea Maritime and Ocean University.

I pursued this field because 71% of the Earth’s surface is water, and the remaining 29% is land. With most of that water being saltwater in the oceans, I feel there is so much to explore, which makes this field endlessly fascinating to me.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

The scholarship is called the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), offered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It’s designed for students who want to participate in a 6-month exchange program in South Korea. GKS also offers opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarship aims to enhance international education exchange and strengthen mutual friendship between Korea and participating countries.

The scholarship covers round-trip airfare, free tuition, language training fees, and a monthly allowance of 500,000 WON for living expenses.

Educational Background

I completed my bachelor's in Aquaculture at Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia. I graduated with a 3.87 GPA. During that time, I received other scholarships and gained organizational experience.

My educational background in Aquaculture gave me a solid foundation to explore and understand the complexities of marine ecosystems. It not only provided me with a deep understanding of the biological and environmental factors affecting aquatic life but also equipped me with the technical skills to analyze and solve real-world problems in marine science.

This background made the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) a perfect opportunity, as studying Marine Bioscience at the National Korea Maritime and Ocean University allowed me to deepen my knowledge and research in areas that align with my passion for marine sustainability. The GKS program enhanced my cross-cultural understanding, which is crucial when working on global environmental concerns.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarships and National Korea Maritime and Ocean University?

I found out about the program through one of my lecturer’s Instagram stories 😊. Even though I thought it would be tough, since I knew there were others more qualified than me, I decided to apply anyway. And BOOM! I got accepted!

It was a bit challenging at first to prepare all the documents because the recruitment process moved quickly. I started gathering everything in May and finished by mid-June, with the announcement of acceptance coming in mid-August. Luckily, I already had my TOEFL PBT certificate long before the application and achieved a score of 591 so all I had to do was compile everything. That’s one tip I’d give to anyone interested in scholarships—start preparing early, so you don’t have to rush at the last minute.

My GKS journey turned out to be pretty straightforward. I applied through the university track, which meant I just had to send my documents to my lecturer in Indonesia, who then communicated with my lecturer in Korea.

I was shocked when I received a notification that I’d been recommended to NIIED—especially since I didn’t go through an interview! I only had to go through document selection (of course there is Essay selection), which might have been due to the MOU/nonbinding agreement between my home university in Indonesia and my University in Korea

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

I wish I had started studying Korean earlier because, to be honest, it was a bit difficult when I arrived in Korea and still couldn’t read the Korean letters, which are everywhere! Overall, though, I was really happy with the recruitment process since it didn’t take long for me to get my acceptance letter.

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

Do as much research as you can and prepare well. For anyone looking to apply for GKS, I recommend learning a little bit of Hangeul. This also applies to anyone seeking opportunities in countries where English isn’t the first language. It’s not too hard, as many people in Korea do speak English, but being able to read signs and warnings (especially on the road) in Korean can be really helpful. I just wanna say, never give up on your dreams—miracles happen to those who believe in them.