How an Indonesian Management Graduate Landed the Chancellor’s International Scholarship to Study Economics at ANU

Hi! My name is Ilham Ramzy, and I’m from Indonesia. I’ve always loved economics as a subject since first studying it for the university entrance exams way back in my high school days. The ability to think about issues that affect a lot of people and livelihoods in a logical and coherent framework that one can test with data is what makes it appealing to me. I got into an undergraduate degree in management to know more about the more practical aspects of business, though fortunately, I still participated (and won!) in competitions about economic policy throughout. The combination of business and economic insight from my earlier studies brought me invaluable experience in the formulation of real-world economic policymaking, thanks to a project involving tourism infrastructure development, as well as its interactions with firms through my role as a transfer pricing advisor. All that led me to pursue a master's in economics, to deepen my foundational knowledge in the subject and pick up some useful empirical tools that will hopefully lead me to a PhD one day.

Chancellor’s International Scholarship details

I am thankful awarded the Chancellor’s International Scholarship from the Australian National University. The scholarship is not a traditional bursary, but rather takes a percentage off the per-semester tuition fee. The award comes in either 25% or 50% off the tuition fee, and which award one would ultimately be awarded depends on the selection rank when applying to the ANU, which is based on one’s undergraduate GPA and English test scores. The ANU’s master of Economics program does not require one to have an undergraduate degree in economics as it progresses (although very quickly – expect a lot of study marathons in the program just to keep up!) from absolute beginner to being able to understand and add to the literature in the field’s most prestigious journals.

Educational Background

My undergraduate degree was a joint degree awarded by Universitas Indonesia and The University of Queensland, and the program allows me to take some elective classes in economics. This made me understand what to expect in an economics degree and what to prepare beforehand (which is mathematics, as much as you can take before the program). My background helped me to both apply for the postgraduate program and succeed in it, thankfully satisfying the progression requirements for the second year of the program.

How Did I Find Information About the Scholarship?

Generally, most universities would list potential scholarships in the relevant part of their admissions website, so I would encourage potential applicants to start there. Part of how to choose the right postgraduate program for you involves finding the right match between your profile, what the institution offers in terms of academics and networking, and financing. As such, also look into what courses the university offers and look at the LinkedIn profiles of current students and alumni to get a sense of what you would get out of a program.

How to Prepare for Standardized Tests

As part of the admissions process, I had to take an IELTS test. The key thing I would advise people to do when taking an IELTS or TOEFL test is to relax and treat it as you would an everyday conversation or university reading, as it’s intended to simulate situations a student would likely encounter when studying at a university overseas. A reading habit would also help, as it would help develop the skill of approximating what words mean based on the context surrounding them when the word itself is still unfamiliar. The listening section is a bit easier, as any kind of practice listening to spoken English would be beneficial, be it from YouTube videos, online tutorials, talking to a friend, or even from video games. Both sections would give you a sense of how the English language is structured, which becomes immensely helpful for the writing and speaking sections.

What Advice Would I Offer to Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would encourage prospective students to try their hand at every opportunity they can reasonably and feasibly pursue; you’ll never know which one would ultimately become the right fit for you!