Syrian Scholar Wins Global Korea Scholarship to Study Data Science at KAIST

My name is Mhd Anas Al Saidi. You can call me Anas. I come from Damascus, Syria. In 2021, I was selected as a scholar in the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program for graduate students, formerly known as KGSP. I hold an undergraduate degree from Damascus University in software engineering and decided to pursue a master’s degree in data science at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). My working experience as a software engineer specializing in ERP systems, as well as my international experience as a research intern (did research in sentiment analysis) in India were the main reasons I chose to continue my studies in data science.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

GKS awardees are given a very generous set of benefits. They get full tuition support from the Korean government to complete a one-year program in Korean before proceeding to the degree program. In addition, GKS awardees are given roundtrip airfare from their home countries to Korea and a living allowance of 1 million Korean Won. Up until March 2024, the Korean government provided other benefits such as national health insurance support, relocation support, research allowance, and thesis printing support. However, these benefits were replaced by increasing the living allowance to a little bit over 1.3 million Korean won. Master’s students receive this allowance for a maximum of 3 years (1 year of Korean language training + 2 years of degree program), whereas PhD. Students receive the allowance for up to 4 years (1 year of Korean language training + 3 years of degree program). However, the Korean government still supports tuition for a maximum of 2 extra semesters.

Educational Background

I graduated top of my class in the software engineering department at Damascus University. GPA is a hard requirement that applicants must satisfy to be eligible to apply. One must either have at least 80% (or equivalent) GPA or be in the top 20% in their class. That said, GPA is only one aspect of an applicant’s application, and there are other aspects to prepare. Most important, in my opinion, is the essays to write such as the personal statement, study plan, and future plan. But then again, the essays also represent one aspect of an application, and there are other things to consider such as academic experience, work experience, and extracurricular activities to name a few.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

I applied through GKS’s embassy track. In this track, an applicant sends their application to the embassy in their home country (or in a neighboring country in my case) and can apply to three universities where they must be admitted to at least one of them. Upon admission, the applicant must select only one of the universities where they were admitted. The embassy track makes it a little bit tricky for the applicant to justify their choice in their essays since an essay can only get so long. There is a predefined format to follow by the applicant where they must, among other things, justify why they chose each of the three universities.

There is also the university track. In the university track, the applicant sends their application directly to their desired university but can only apply to one university. As you can see, both embassy and university tracks have their pros and cons, and one must weigh the differences between them and choose what suits them best. Nevertheless, I was only eligible to apply through the embassy track, since the quota of my country only permits applicants to apply through the embassy track.

Did you need Standardized Tests? How did you prepare for the TOEFL?

At the time of my application, having standardized test scores was not a hard requirement to apply, but the official application guideline says it gives you “extra points” when competing with other applicants. I took the TOEFL in January 2021, having prepared for it several months prior. Although I considered myself fluent in English, I still attended a preparation course where I learned TOEFL test-taking tips and tricks, which I assume, are very similar to tips and tricks other standardized tests have. I think having a good score in TOEFL helped boost my application, and I would highly recommend any future applications to take an English or Korean proficiency test (TOPIK).

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the GKS Scholarship?

I had learned about GKS around 1 year before finishing my undergraduate degree. I read through the previous guidelines and took my time to be ready to apply when the application opens (normally in late February or early March). I followed previous years’ guidelines and prepared all required documents but had to adjust a little bit when the real guidelines came out before submitting my application. I took good care in writing high-quality essays that could potentially make my application stand out and had friends and experts read and give me feedback on them.

How was Your Experience at the Institution?

Mostly positive. KAIST is one of the best universities in Korea. It produces a very large number of research papers at top-tier conferences and journals every year. KAIST also takes internationalization very seriously and has a very sizable minority of international students and faculty. This, however, puts a great amount of pressure on students to meet the institution’s high standards. I could not quite keep up with KAIST’s pace and had to graduate one semester later than I should have. This is not to say that I had experience, not at all, in fact, my advisor, labmates, and other professors whose courses I attended were not only smart, and professionally capable, but also very kind human beings.

How Does KAIST Do to Support International Students?

KAIST strives to attract international students and scholars. Academically speaking, almost all courses offered at KAIST are taught in English. Many advisors encourage their students to conduct lab meetings in English. The International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) and KAIST International Students Association (KISA) are two offices that help students navigate through their lives in Korea. For example, they offer orientations, visa support, and club support, and ensure international students’ rights and welfare.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or in Korean? 

Almost all classes at KAIST are conducted in English. There are, however, a small number of courses offered in Korean, but I did not have to attend any of them. However, most universities in Korea offer their programs in Korean, so it is always a good idea to refer to the university/department website for more information on their curriculum.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Korean?

Absolutely. Although I did not have to take non-English courses, most universities in Korea only offer their courses in Korean. In addition, Knowing Korean is essential for those who want to stay in Korea, and I could not have a gotten a job in Korea had I not known Korean.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My work experience (international and domestic), my decent TOEFL score, graduating top of class, and presenting them in a well-organized manner in my essays are what made my application stand out. In other words, it is not one single thing an applicant should focus on more than the other, but rather how to combine all their strengths and present them well to have the strongest possible application.

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

I would inform myself about the industries in Korea and how my research can help them improve. My research was mostly on using AI in the livestock industry, but I would have made myself more knowledgeable in the livestock industry or any other industry more deeply and explored in a more specific manner.

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

Read and be informed. Understand the application guidelines in detail. Read thoroughly about your universities of choice and the programs you chose. This can greatly help you pinpoint why chose them, and what you plan to do in the future. This also helps you be ready to prepare your application when it starts.