How a Ugandan Student Received THE Fully Funded Professor Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Web3 and Information Security at Kumoh National Institute of Technology in South Korea

My name is Nakayiza Hope Leticia, I’m from Mukono, Uganda. I am currently a master's research student at Kumoh National Institute of Technology in South Korea. My research focuses on the Internet of Vehicles, Blockchain, and the Metaverse. I did my primary and high school in Uganda, and I came to Korea in 2018 to pursue my undergraduate degree, after which I decided to start my master’s degree this year, 2024, in March.

Scholarship Details

For my undergraduate degree, I received the Shimjeon Foundation Scholarship which catered for my tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, and flight tickets from Uganda for the first time, and also after graduation. Unfortunately, this scholarship is not available anymore.

For my master’s degree, I received the “professor scholarship” as this is how it is normally termed in South Korea. This means that you are recruited into a research laboratory by a professor who funds your education. My current scholarship benefits include tuition, health insurance, and a monthly stipend.

Educational Background

I moved to South Korea in 2018 when I received my bachelor's degree scholarship. The scholarship I received was called the “Shimjeon Foundation Scholarship,” and it was hosted only at my former university, Kangnam University. I came to pursue a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering, and I was excited to study in Korea as it is one of the countries leading in the tech industry. However, since my studies were conducted in the Korean language, I had to take a one-year Korean language course prior to starting my four-year degree. I graduated in 2023.

In March 2024, I received another scholarship and started my master’s degree at Kumoh National Institute of Technology. Since I had an interest in information security, I was able to apply to my current research laboratory, which specializes in Web3 technologies and it is in my interest to research more about how to ensure that security and privacy are maintained when utilizing these technologies. Web3 is the future, so I am very happy that I am doing my research in such cutting-edge technology.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Scholarships and Institutions?

Before applying for my master’s scholarship, I had to first of all choose some research areas of interest, I came up with around three. I then went on to find different research laboratories in different universities that were carrying out research in my fields of interest. Once I found a research laboratory I wanted to join, I took a look at their publications to learn more about their work. I then emailed different professors to inform them about my research interests and possible contributions to the laboratory once recruited.

To be employed as a research student in Korea, it is important to take into account different benefits such as tuition, health insurance, stipend, laboratory space, support for conferences and journal publications, and more. I mainly applied to science and technology-specific institutes and universities in Korea because they participate in many real-world projects with most of them funded by the government. I wanted to gain maximum experience working on various projects, and that is how I settled on my current research laboratory at my university, which is a national research and business development university in South Korea.

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

When I first started my master’s application journey, I applied to many universities in Seoul, some of which were private and most probably didn’t have a lot of funding. For that case or other reasons, I never heard back from some of the professors I contacted. If I was to do it again, I would look at different schools out of Seoul that are recruiting students because many universities out of Seoul actually have funds but few students since most students want to study and live in the capital, Seoul. I therefore, wish I had spent my time exploring opportunities in other cities. However, I am more than satisfied with my current university and all that I am learning here.

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

If anyone wants to be a researcher in South Korea, I would advise them to do a lot of research about the connection between their research interest and the research laboratory they are applying to because they will have to work in line with what the laboratory deals with. I would also advise them to tailor their application to meet the specific requirements of a specific laboratory, highlighting their skills and possible contributions, just like they would when applying to different jobs.

As a researcher, you will be tasked with different projects, some out of your expertise, so I think that it is important to have a good learning attitude and also be a team player as you will be working with other people. I would also advise that future researchers work on as many projects as they can or take on some internships before they graduate from their undergraduate degree, as all that knowledge will come in handy later.

Also, grades are very important so it’s crucial to work on your grades when doing your undergraduate degree as they will help you meet the required criteria. Some universities require a 3.25/ 4.5 GPA and above, which I think is quite fair. However, some science and technology universities require 4/4.5 and above. Also, learning the Korean language and embracing the Korean culture will smoothen your experience while living and studying in Korea.