Global Korea Scholarship Recipient, Karina Aletheia from Indonesia, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in International Business at Ajou University, South Korea

My name is Karina Aletheia. I am from Indonesia and an awardee of GKS-G 2024. Currently, I am studying International Business at Ajou University, and I applied through the University Track. My undergraduate major was Communication Science & Media. However, as I studied this major through various theories and projects, I discovered my passion specifically in the field of marketing and business, as my university has an entrepreneurship-based curriculum. Therefore, after graduating, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in International Business to fill the knowledge gap I had in business and marketing.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I received the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2024 from NIIED. It is a fully funded scholarship that covers airplane tickets, tuition fees, one year of language program, and living costs.

Educational Background

My undergraduate major was Communication Science & Media, and my overall GPA was 3.93 out of 4.00. During my undergraduate studies, I learned various types of communication, such as public relations, marketing, film, advertising, radio, and television. However, the field that attracted me the most was marketing, especially when creating creative content as part of a company’s or brand’s digital marketing strategy. Therefore, I want to enhance my knowledge in both marketing and business, which are closely related, by pursuing a master’s degree.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Ajou University?

I did a lot of research on the internet. For instance, I watched many GKS awardees’ journey videos on YouTube. I also joined several online webinars about the scholarship and studying in South Korea. For the required documents, I followed the GKS guidelines.

How Did You Find Information About the Global Korea Scholarship and Ajou University?

I  searched for the information on the internet. GKS is also well known in Indonesia as a 100% funded scholarship that you can apply for even without work experience.

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

I took the IELTS test one month before applying for the scholarship. For preparation, I took online private courses to improve my writing and speaking skills. Meanwhile, for the reading and listening sections, I mostly studied using YouTube and the IELTS official website.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Global Korea Scholarship?

First, I researched fully funded scholarships for social science majors. After that, I tried to deeply understand each scholarship, including the benefits and opportunities. I found several scholarships, but ultimately chose GKS as my top priority.

The GKS guidelines provided a list of universities, so I researched universities that offered my major and then chose the one most suitable for my background and future goals.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

My classes are conducted 100% in English.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Korean?

I think academically, they would not face major problems in class. However, living in Korea without knowing Korean can be difficult, as most people speak and expect you to speak Korean, unless you are only an exchange student.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think it is very important to fully understand yourself, your background, what you are currently doing, what you plan to study, and your future goals. Without understanding these points, it is difficult to write a strong personal statement and study plan.

Additionally, make sure to include your personal story that is related to the major you are applying for. Proofreading by previous awardees can also help a lot.

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

I mightchoose the Korean track instead of the English track so that I could become fluent in Korean. However, I know it would be much more challenging to study in a program conducted 100% in Korean

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

Do not be lazy because nothing comes instantly. I also share my scholarship journey on TikTok (@karinaaaa._k), but I often find that many people do not read or watch the videos carefully and immediately ask questions that have already been answered. This shows how important it is to understand that the scholarship journey is not easy and requires serious effort.