KOICA Scholarship Recipient, Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa, Shares the Story of How She Applied for the Fully Funded Award to Pursue Her Master’s Degree in Public Health at Yonsei University

My name is Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa from Malawi. I currently hold a Master’s degree in Public Health, which I recently obtained from Yonsei University, and a Master’s in Global Health. Coming from a low-income country like Malawi, where I worked for the government for over 8 years with a Local Authority in direct contact with communities on issues of Nutrition, HIV, and AIDS, my decision to pursue an MPH was driven by my desire to create synergies between health and social issues. I believe the notion that social issues are, in fact, health issues. My interest in making informed contributions and ability to serve better both in community work and programming led me to pursue an MPH in South Korea.

KOICA Scholarship Details

I received a full scholarship from the Government of South Korea through KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) to pursue the Master of Public Health (Health Policy and Financing) at the Yonsei University Graduate School for a cohort running from August 2022 to February 2024. A scholarship that is available for developing countries for the master's and doctoral programs as part of capacity building for serving civil servants. The scholarship provides academic opportunities at some of Korea’s top universities in most of the development-related fields, such as public health, economic development, industrial policy, climate change, sustainable regional development, agriculture, water resource management, ICT, and more.

The KOICA scholarship is a fully funded program that covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, round-trip airfare, health insurance, fees, and a monthly allowance of about 999,000 KRW, and a once-off settlement allowance is included in its package. Additionally, it provides other benefits to promote and enhance the exchange of knowledge and culture; hence, it has extracurricular activities (paid and unpaid) which range from study visits, workshops, Korean language classes, and other cultural activities.

Eligibility criteria for KOICA’s master's degree programs:

Be a citizen of a KOICA partner country (mostly countries extracted from the OECD-DAC list of ODA recipients).

Be a government official and receive an official nomination at the time of application.

Preferably be under 40 years old.

Be in good health, both physically and mentally.

Have at least two years of work experience in the field of study for a Master’s Program.

Demonstrate English language proficiency.

Not have previously received a scholarship for a degree program from the Korean government.

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

Before receiving my scholarship with KOICA, I had applied for and received an Ireland Fellowship program. Through this opportunity, I studied for a Master’s in Global Health at Trinity College Dublin. This fellowship provided a crucial platform for me to deepen my passion for public health and helped shape my professional, academic, and personal journey.

Educational Background

I completed my BSc (Hons) in Social Work with a minor in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, which was attained from the Catholic University of Malawi, and a Master’s in Global Health, pursued at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland.  My shift and journey have been intentional, as I have been actively working in programming and community work. This experience has allowed me to appreciate the need to effectively address social determinants of health through advocacy and holistic approaches. Hence, my interest in engaging in a field that resonates with local populations for the ultimate basis of fostering resilience and empowerment, enabling communities to take ownership of their health and well-being, and leveraging data-driven initiatives to improve community well-being.

How Did You Find Information About the KOICA Scholarship and Yonsei University?

I have been working for the government for over 8 years, and I had indicated in the training plans that I would like to do an MPH as part of my career growth. I was familiar with KOICA and its cooperation with developing countries, mostly in building the capacity of civil servants and promoting health services. I became more familiar with KOICA when I was shortlisted after attending a national scholarship interview, as I engaged myself in further research to understand South Korea, KOICA, and Yonsei University.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests

Yes, the tests are part of the requirements, depending on the school that you have selected to pursue your program of choice. In my case by the time I was doing the scholarship interviews, I had International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certification, and I presented the same certificate for the scholarship requirements.

In preparing for my IELTS, I utilized YouTube channels frequently to guide me through all the exams. It provided me with great guidance on the expectations and requirements of the exams, which helped me to succeed.

How Did You Prepare to apply to the KOICA Scholarship?

Excelling in the national scholarship interview as a government official was the first step in my journey. After which, I was informed of my nomination for the KOICA scholarship and to study MPH at Yonsei University in South Korea. There was a series of oral and written interviews by both KOICA and the University. I ensured that I fully understood my resume and studied basic information about both KOICA and Yonsei University, as well as how it would impact both my personal and career growth. The most important stage in preparation is having a clear objective and motivation for the study, along with understanding the impact of the program on both personal and professional life after the studies.

How was Your Experience at Yonsei University?

To find one word to describe my experience at Yonsei University, I would call it enriching! I gained immensely from my time at Yonsei. I learned new concepts both academically and socially, and I also reevaluated old habits that I realized it was time to let go of.  I had no dull moment during my stay; however, I will acknowledge that my early months were challenging due to the change of environment, culture, food and language barrier, but as time passed, I grew fond of my stay in South Korea.

How Do You Rate Yonsei University Academically and Why?

I will say I have learned from the best. Yonsei University is not only one of the leading institutions in Asia but in the world. It was truly an honor to be part of such a prestigious university.

How Does Yonsei University Support International Students?

Yonsei University is very friendly to international students and has dedicated support offices for issues that may require assistance.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

The program was conducted in English. However, learning the basics of Korean is beneficial for easy communication and understanding of both academic and social circles.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically, Not Knowing Korean?

No. However, understanding the language gives you an added advantage in social activities and helps build better relationships with the local people.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My application stood out due to my clear motivation for the study and my well-crafted resume, which I dedicatedly developed to passionately reflect my experiences in public health initiatives, providing a strong foundation for a scholarship. I demonstrated a strong commitment to playing a crucial role in addressing the public health needs.

Furthermore, I illustrated how my academic background, combined with my practical experiences, equips me to contribute meaningfully to the field. I highlighted pressing public health challenges relevant to both my home country, regional, and the global context, which I believed showcased my dedication to fostering resilience and empowerment in communities. This alignment of my personal journey with the broader goals of public health initiatives elicited a strong response from the selection committee.

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

I would actively engage in networking opportunities earlier in the process, connecting with current students and alumni. This approach could provide insights into how to maximize scholarship experience and help discover additional resources or opportunities that I may have overlooked.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to apply for a similar Scholarship?

First step is to conduct thorough research on what you would like to study, and the type of scholarship to apply for. Spending time exploring program details and the universities helps to envision the future and aids in crafting your required documents.

The second step is to ensure that the preparations start early and that you are always intentional with your application. This intentionality helps in tailoring your motivation essays to reflect how your goals align with the scholarship’s mission, and it is important to be authentic in sharing your story and motivations.

Thirdly, it never hurts to maintain the existing and new relationships with professors or mentors in both academic and work realms, as they can serve as valuable references. Always ensure that such connections are aware of your goals, as this helps in easily finding guidance in critical stages of the application process, which reduces stress.

Lastly, if possible, gain relevant work experience related to your application, as it can significantly enhance your candidacy. This builds and strengthens your program area, focusing on specialization. For instance, the KOICA programs are aligned with your professional background.