How an Indonesian Student Secured a Fully Funded IISMA Mobility Scholarship at Hanyang University

안녕하세요! My name is Dhiya Iftikha from Indonesia. I am a final undergraduate student at Universitas Sebelas Maret, who is also an Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) awardee 2024 at Hanyang University. In my home university, I majored in English Literature with Media and Cultural Studies as my major. Meanwhile, at Hanyang University, I took four courses: Contemporary Korean Studies, Media Communication in Korea, Platform Revolution and Culture Industry, and Understanding K-POP Industry. I got a nano degree in K-Culture and Industry from those courses. I initially have a huge interest in K-Industry and its culture, which is what motivates me to take the offered courses. In addition, my final paper for my bachelor's degree in my home university is also about K-POP and soft masculinity, which is relevant to the offered courses.

Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards Scholarship Details

Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) is a scholarship program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia to fund Indonesian students for a one-semester mobility program at top universities and reputable industries overseas. In 2024, IISMA has three schemes, which are regular (fully funded), affirmation (fully funded), and cofunding (partially funded), for undergraduate and vocational students. I applied for the cofunding scheme, so the ministry only covered the registration and tuition fee, international flight tickets, and emergency fund. Regarding the living allowance, including dormitory, health insurance, and visa, the domestic flight tickets are not covered. Overall, I received ₩10.860.000, with  ₩4.000.000 tuition fee, at least ₩1.000.000 for the international flights, and the rest for Korean Language level 2 and internship program of Hanyang Project Entrepreneurship x OpenKnowl miniintern (HYPE).

Educational Background

I think I have mentioned it introduction and about GPA, I’ll mention it in the next question.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Hanyang University?

I knew about IISMA in my first year because one of my seniors was the first batch awardee in 2021. All of the requirements and FAQs about this program are available on the IISMA official social media and website https://iisma.kemdikbud.go.id/. The general eligibility for IISMA applicants is having at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA and a certificate of English proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, DET, and TOEIC). With a score for undergraduate, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 78, DET 100, and for vocational, IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 60, DET 95, and TOEIC 605. Only Indonesian student in their 4th or 6th semester can apply to IISMA. In my case, I used my first and last opportunity in my sixth semester to apply to IISMA. Although the minimum GPA is 3.0, I did not use it as my benchmark. I consider the previous awardee's GPA and EPT score instead, which I can access on the statistics intake on the IISMA official website. For Hanyang University, the GPA ranged from 3.32 to 4.00, and for the EPT, as I took DET, the previous range was 100-150. My GPA was 3.75/4.0, and I scored 130 for the DET.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards?

Of course, the first thing I did was gather as much information as possible about the IISMA program, including its requirements, stages, and what to expect. I also reached out to previous awardees to learn more about the courses, activities, their cultural experiences, and how they adapted. I combined all the insights I received with my own interests to decide on the country, university, courses, and activities I wanted to pursue, as well as the goals I wanted to present to IISMA.

After that, I started drafting my essay, preparing for the DET, and continued reaching out to awardees who could mentor me, especially with the essay and interview preparation. I rewrote my essay more than five times, and over ten people helped proofread it.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Well, nobody knows for sure, but I think it was my essay that made the difference. To move to the next stages, the Kebhinekaan test, which assesses our knowledge of national identity, and then the interview, you first need to pass the administrative screening.

I used the STAR and SMART methods to structure my responses in the essay. The IISMA essay consists of four questions, each with a 350-word limit. The questions can vary each year, but in 2024, they were:

1. Share your academic and non-academic accomplishments (applicable to undergraduate and vocational students) and relevant industry experience (only for vocational students). Please elaborate on the processes and skills you've acquired during your previous or ongoing degree program.
2. Outline your plans and strategies for actively participating in local and international communities throughout the IISMA program and provide concrete examples.
3. Describe a challenging situation or an obstacle you encountered during your studies and explain the steps you took to navigate it.
4. Elaborate on your current physical and mental health, including any dental or oral treatments, medical interventions, or mental health therapy or counseling.

I applied the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to questions 1, 2, and 4. For question 3, I used the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-based).

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

I would definitely do more mock interviews if I could go back. Even though I tried my best during the actual interview, deep down, I was extremely nervous and overwhelmed. Just preparing the material isn’t enough—the most important part is being mentally ready.

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

For those dreaming of studying abroad, I highly recommend applying for IISMA or similar one-semester exchange programs, especially for undergraduate students. It’s a great way to gain international exposure, experience academic and cultural diversity, and build a strong foundation, especially if you plan to pursue a master’s or PhD abroad.