Global Korea Scholarship Recipient from Hungary, Hanna, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Psychology at Chonnam National University, South Korea

I’m Hanna from Hungary. I just turned 25, and I recently completed my Master’s degree with the South Korean Government’s scholarship. After my BA at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, I decided to apply for a postgraduate program abroad, since it seemed like the perfect opportunity to improve my language skills and gain new experiences outside my comfort zone.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Details

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a highly competitive, fully funded scholarship for those pursuing a degree in any field, regardless of the level of education. As someone completing my BA when I applied, I was aiming for the MA program, but programs were also available for undergraduate, doctoral, and research studies.

In 2022, only 3 students were able to win this scholarship (recently it has increased to 4 people), so even the preparation and the different rounds are quite challenging.

Scholarship recipients have a full year to study the language, based on their current, or sometimes nonexistent, level of Korean. At the end, you need to achieve a certain level of proficiency according to the guidelines of the university and degree program you were accepted to.

Based on my experience, even if the highest level of language proficiency is not required, it is better to aim for it from the start.

After one year of intensive Korean classes in Busan (from 2023, awardees take language courses at their recipient university), I moved to Gwangju to start my Psychology Master’s at Chonnam National University. The scholarship fully covered the tuition fees, and the amount we received for living expenses seemed reasonable for most daily expenses after paying for general necessities such as housing and health insurance. However, individual differences are significant—whether due to the area someone is living in (Seoul dormitories are usually more expensive, and even elsewhere, rent has fluctuated upwards) or unexpected situations, for example, medical issues.

Educational Background

For applying to the GKS scholarship in 2026, a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of at least 3.23 out of 5.0 (or equivalent) is required. Although a higher GPA is certainly reassuring, it is more like a basic requirement—it doesn’t decide whether one will be accepted or not. My average GPA of the 5 semesters (I was still completing my degree then) was 4.49/5.0.

Since I studied Psychology as my Bachelor's too, there was no problem applying for the Psychology MA. Some universities listed different specializations for the fields, some did not—in that case, the professor who chooses you in the final round will define it according to their field of specialty.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Chonnam National University?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Chonnam National University?

For GKS, there were different websites with information. I mostly used the Korean Cultural Center’s website (I applied to the scholarship through the embassy, and the process was coordinated by the Cultural Center) and the official Korean websites. The requirements and quotas are different for each country, so it is better to prepare ahead.

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

Submitting supporting documents is recommended, so I enclosed my German and English proficiency test records, but these were the ones most commonly used in Europe or Hungary, not TOEFL or the above-mentioned ones.

Although language proficiency tests are optional for applying for the scholarship, certain universities or departments may require them.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Scholarship?

I read the previous year’s application requirements and studied really hard for this express purpose. As I mentioned, excellent grades aren’t the only or most important factor at all. Interest in or experiences with Korean culture or the language itself are meaningful when it comes to the interview after submitting all the necessary documents (which was the most challenging part for me personally, maybe except for waiting for the results after each round). I took classes at my university on several topics: language, literature, and cinematography. The Korean Cultural Center also offered lectures and programs featuring different cultural aspects, so I learned Korean-style painting and took traditional music classes as well.

How is (was) Your Experience at Chonnam National University? 

I was really lucky, because even though I was the only foreign student at the department, everyone, professors and classmates included, were incredibly kind and helped a lot. Academic life and submitting documents, finding things on the website, and applying for the thesis writing were the most complicated in Korean, but everyone was patient and understanding, so I faced no big problems with the administration process.

How Does Chonnam National University Support International Students?

I think Chonnam National University offers many opportunities for foreigners; the campus is beautiful, and really lively with a lot of exchange students around. University and library websites have an English version as well, but I think the Korean language is essential for everyone who plans to study in South Korea.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

According to the references and guidelines, I applied to a major where I could study in English, specifically to deepen my jargon.

Not many universities offer this option in my field, so I decided to apply. However, being the only student from abroad in my department, the classes were held in Korean. I got a lot of help; I also attended some related classes in English thanks to my professor, but my official classes and homework were in Korean. The professors were really kind, and I had some exams where I was able to answer in English if that was easier or faster.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Although I'm not sure, I believe my genuine passion and dedicated effort to deeply understand Korean culture may have played a meaningful role.

Most applicants were majoring in Korean studies, so as someone coming from a completely different academic background, I felt I needed to invest even more effort to stand out and prove my commitment.

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

I would have tried to worry less and trust the process more, but it was simply too important to me to approach it half-heartedly.

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

I went all in on this one path; it was risky, but it worked out. Still, I'd recommend exploring more options first. There are plenty of scholarships out there, and having backups can reduce stress, even if it means more work and preparation upfront.