Utrecht Excellence and Clarendon Scholar, Hendy Kristyanto from Indonesia, Shares His Journey of Pursuing Master’s Degrees in Cancer Genomics and Developmental Biology at Utrecht University and Integrated Immunology at the University of Oxford

I am Hendy Kristyanto, originally from Indonesia. I’ve always been fascinated by science and nature. Since I was a child, it’s been my dream to experience living in Europe/USA and to study at the top academic institutions that nurture my curiosity and enjoy the reputation as being among the best. Studying abroad is very expensive, and I don’t want to burden my family. My mother told me that I could do anything that I wanted if I studied hard, including going abroad. Therefore, I worked very hard at school to be among the best in my class and to build my curriculum vitae so I can get a competitive scholarship. I took time to look for all opportunities on the internet, got prepared, and applied for anything that interested me. I did not have any mentor, so I could only learn from the rejections I got, a lot of them, but the spirit never ceased.

I applied for scholarships to study in Singapore after junior high school and in Japan after senior high school. Both were rejected, but I learned a lot and kept my motivation. I studied medicine at the University of Indonesia, but unlike all my friends who wanted to become specialists, I wanted to become a scientist in Europe/USA with a scholarship. So I built my CV: getting straight As, joining national competitions (winning some, losing more), accumulating information on scholarships, and making strategies on when to apply and how to be a competitive applicant, e.g., doing an internship at a research institution and writing a scientific publication.

I had a very inspiring teacher who studied at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I wanted to be like her. Fortunately, the university has a scholarship scheme for international students, so I kept my eyes on it and kept searching for other opportunities. I wanted to contribute to finding a cure for cancer. One year before my medical degree finished, I applied for a master’s degree in Cancer Genomics and Developmental Biology at Utrecht University. I was grateful that, for the first time in 8 years of trying since junior high school, I won my first scholarship to study in Europe, i.e., the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship. I then won a Clarendon Scholarship to study for a master’s degree in integrated immunology at Oxford University.

Utrecht Excellence Scholarship Details

1. Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Utrecht Excellence Scholarship; approximately 50,000 Euro for 2 years of tuition and living costs.
2. Oxford University, UK; Clarendon Scholarship; approximately 48,000 pounds sterling for 1 year of tuition and living costs.
3. Oxford University, UK; Santander-IARU Global Summer Program Scholarship and Oxford University Alumni Bursary; approximately 5,000 pounds sterling to jointhe summer school at the University of Tokyo.

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP) Scholarship; approximately 48,000 pounds sterling to study at Oxford University

Educational Background

I graduated cum laude for my Bachelor of Medicine (GPA 3.89 of 4.00) and Medical Doctor (GPA 3.4 of 4.00 because I didn’t like clinical medicine). It was challenging to convince the master’s degree admission committee for a medical doctor from Indonesia to study biomedicine. However, I was prepared. I did an internship at the Stem Cell and Cancer Institute in Indonesia during summer break on my own initiative, I published a paper on genomic application in cancer therapy, and I read books on cancer biology.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Utrecht and Oxford Universities?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Utrecht and Oxford Universities?

All from the internet, just by googling and checking the website of the university I’m interested in or the country’s education board.

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

I specifically applied to Europe, not the USA, because they don’t require SAT/GRE. They do require TOEFL/IELTS, as I did not study in English back in Indonesia. I have taken English lessons since elementary school. There are also a lot of mock exams for the TOEFL. You can prepare yourself by knowing how to deal with the multiple-choice questions and how to structure your oral and writing parts.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Scholarships?

As mentioned above, it’s a long process. Start with a dream, gain information, apply, learn from rejections, stay motivated, and keep on improving and applying. Position yourself as the scholarship giver. What do you want from your candidates? Especially for an extremely competitive/prestigious scholarship, define how you can shine among thousand other applicants? Think of it as a long-term investment. Start by having a good basic: be among the best in your class. Then show why you still shine among the best in your class: join national/international competition, write a publication, etc depending on the type of degree and scholarship you want to apply. It all takes time and perseverance. For me, it’s life-changing, not only the scholarships that allow me to pursue my dream but also the characters that I built through the process.

How is (was) Your Experience at Utrecht and Oxford Universities? 

In Utrecht, it was the hardest adjustment as it was the first time that I was far from my family and friends for 2 years, the first time living abroad with a different culture, and the first time I was in a multicultural situation. I couldn’t even understand everyone’s English accent. Moreover, moving from medicine to a more biomedical field with laboratory work and journal club was very challenging. But with patience, finding friendship, and by having the character to persevere, I managed the hard time in the first months, got my scholarship extended for the 2^nd year, accepted for a competitive summer research program in Heidelberg, Germany, and graduated with a GPA of 4.00/4.00.

How Do You Rate Utrecht and Oxford Universities Academically and Why? 

Both Utrecht and Oxford Universities are some of the best universities in Europe and the world, especially Oxford Uni. The university ranking and their approach to be the forefront in science, tackling the world’s most pressing problems, reflect their reputation.

How Do Utrecht and Oxford Universities Support International Students?

Yes, but you need to be proactive as well.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Dutch?

I specifically chose a master’s program in English at Utrecht University as it offers both English and Dutch programs.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Dutch?

You can always ask your fellow local students or the international office of the university if you have difficulty with the language. You will tend to group with other international students who share the same experience/challenges as you. Feeling lonely and estranged is quite common, so find your friendship net, either through university activities or from your own country’s student association.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I made it personal (from a motivation perspective), I showed that I was not only a good student (among the best in my class) but also had won national and international awards and had the potential to learn more. I also emphasized what I wanted to become and how the scholarship will help my goal. As mentioned, I positioned myself in the shoes of the assessor. What type of excellent candidate am I looking for? In my case, what type of young person do I look for to be successful as a scientist?

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

My first try was not successful until I understood what the assessor wanted. As I had been successful in my last attempts, the key is to position yourself as if you were the assessor.

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

When you have the dream, start building your CV to be an excellent candidate that no institution can say no to. Give hard evidence of your excellence and potential.