Hi, I'm Gracia Amadea
This is the story of my
Scholarship Journey.

My name is Gracia and I am from Indonesia. I studied food technology for my undergraduate studies in Indonesia and graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. During my studies, I grew an interest in the field of nutrition, which fueled me to continue my studies in food science and nutrition.

Honestly, I had never dreamed of studying abroad, but I knew that to continue my studies, I needed a scholarship. At that time, I started to see a lot of Indonesian people studying in Korea through the Global Korea Scholarship. After learning about the scholarship, I thought that it is a very interesting scholarship as it offers a one-year Korean language training program on top of the degree studies that I think will be very beneficial for my future. Therefore, I decided to apply for this scholarship and tried applying in 2023.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a scholarship from the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) of Korea. It is a fully-funded scholarship for undergraduate, master’s, or PhD studies with a one-year Korean language training program, round-trip plane tickets, and a monthly allowance. There are two tracks to apply for this scholarship, Embassy track (through the Korean Embassy in your country) and University (applying directly to the university).

I chose to apply through the university track and applied to Dong-A University in Busan. After a long process, now I am a studying in Dong-A University in the Department of Health Science majoring in Food Science and Nutrition 😊

Educational Background

I was not the best student in my university, I just tried doing my best during my undergraduate study. In my last year of study, I decided that I would try to apply for this scholarship after I graduate, so I worked hard to improve my GPA and graduated with a CGPA of 3,57 out of 4,00. I also focused on finding my research interest and attending online courses and events that are related to my desired field upon graduation.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Global Korea Scholarships and Institutions?

I first came across this scholarship through the social media of previous scholars from my country. The detailed information about the scholarship is posted on the studyinkorea.go.kr website and I started by looking for the university that has the program that suits my interest, then writing my personal statement and study plan while preparing the other required documents.

I knew a lot of people from my country were applying, and to enhance my application, I took the IELTS test and submitted the certificate although it was not required to submit a language proficiency certificate (I know that it is still not a requirement, but starting from 2024, they give extra points for applicants who submit either IELTS/TOEFL/TOPIK certificate). My IELTS band was 8, and I also believe that it helped me get this scholarship.

After sending my documents to Korea, around two months later I got invited for a phone interview and later they sent me an email saying that they would recommend me to NIIED. Finally, when NIIED posted the final announcement, I could not believe that my name was there. I really did not think that I would pass the scholarship selection in one try because I know a lot of people tried several times before finally getting accepted.

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

If I ever went through the process again, I would ask more seniors for recommendations, tips and tricks, and about the learning process and culture in Korea to make it easier to adapt to living and studying here in Korea. Personally, it was not that hard for me to adapt, but still, moving to another country to study is different from just traveling. It is better to hear our seniors’ experiences so we get a glimpse of what to expect and can enjoy our study abroad journey to the fullest.d

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

For those who are interested in applying for the Global Korea Scholarship, I think doing thorough research about the universities is very fundamental. Make sure you find the best university and major for you, which suits your interest and goal in the future. Just believe in yourself and do your best!