Master’s Economic Policy Student Faiza Waseem Khan from Pakistan Shares Her Journey of Studying at the University of Antwerp, Belgium

My name is Faiza Waseem Khan. Born and raised in Pakistan, my passion for education goes all the way back to the upbringing of my father, who served in the Air Force. He’s always been an advocate of working hard and pursuing your dreams.

I pursued a bachelor’s in economics with little knowledge of the field, and honestly, it was a pretty big gamble for me. Safe to say, I was happy with my decision and decided to specialize in it with a Master's.

Educational Background

I had the privilege of getting my bachelor's in one of the most reputable institutes within the country: the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

I did my bachelor's in Economics with a minor in Finance and graduated with a CGPA of 3.71. I was happy and content and tried my level best to aim for scholarships moving forward.

Master Mind Scholarship Details

That’s where I came to know about the Master-Mind Scholarship, a scholarship given by the Flemish government to talented individuals.

I got the scholarship back in 2020 for a degree in Economic Policy from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. This scholarship not only covered my entire tuition fee but also gave me a stipend of 800 euros for the entire year. In all honesty, the stipend wasn’t a lot, but it encouraged me to work a little harder and take a few odd jobs to cover all additional expenses.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Master Mind Scholarship?

Since I did have a background in Economics already, I was confident and wanted to pursue this specific degree. My experience was wonderful; I got to make great friends, learn so much from my professors, and most importantly, gain the confidence to be independent and manage everything on my own.

The requirements of the scholarship were just 2 letters of recommendation, an IELTS test (in which I scored an 8), along with a statement of purpose explaining why I needed/wanted to study this specific field.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I wouldn’t know what made my application stand out in particular, but deep down, I feel it may have to do with my statement of purpose (which I worked really hard on), along with my degree.

How Is (was) Your Experience at University of Antwerp?

The administration at the University of Antwerp was wonderful and went the extra mile in accommodating my visa application and waiting for my bachelor’s degree certificate beyond the stated deadline to ensure I was enrolled before classes.

There is a language barrier, and it is tough to make friends, but I guess that’s what pushes you to get out of your comfort zone to interact with people and learn about their culture. I did not go there with the mindset to stay or have a job, but for those who may be interested, I would highly recommend enrolling in language classes, as it is easy to manage with the Master classes (which happen thrice a week).

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

If you ask what I’d do differently today, I would definitely have stayed and taken full advantage of the work visa, which has recently been offered by the country for graduate students. I would have gained some corporate experience and stayed there for a year or two.

Moreover, I do regret not learning the language. It was a barrier to connecting with people and would have been an extra step to learn more about the culture too.

Lastly, strict social measures for COVID-19 prevented me from exploring the country and visiting historical sites as I had wanted.

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

For those who are interested in availing scholarships, there is only one thing I can advise: research. Do your utmost research on the degree you want to pursue, the colleges/universities offering it, along with any scholarships that they provide. Making a list makes it extremely easy to filter out the ones that are valuable. And the application doesn’t require a lot of effort either. The return on that effort, in my opinion, is much more, and I would highly advise students to take their due time in writing their essays and preparing for tests like the GMAT or GRE.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’d do it all over again if given the chance.