How a Scholar Secured a Fully Funded Master’s at NTU Through the RSIS Lee Foundation Scholarship

Oftobkhon Akhadjonova, 24 years old, from Uzbekistan.

Work experience: Intern at the Centre for Professional and Lifelong Education at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Intern at EY Uzbekistan, Administrative contractor (project facilitator) at UNOPS, Intern at UNODC ROCA.

After earning a bachelor's degree in Economics with Finance in 2024, I decided to pursue a master's in Development Economics at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany (QS top100 in Development Economics), because I understood that, in the interconnected world of economics, the starting point for progress was development. After finishing it this year, I recently started my second master’s in International Relations at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU, QS ranking #12 in the world), which will fill the gap in the necessary skills/knowledge I was looking for to further improve international development relations in transition countries.

DAAD ERP and Rsis Lee Foundation Scholarships Details

For my studies in Germany, I received the DAAD ERP Scholarship in 2024, which covered travel costs, insurance, a language course, and a monthly stipend equivalent to the minimum wage in Germany for 2 years. The selection was competitive, with around 12 students being selected that year. DAAD requires submission of a diploma, and no other requirements are imposed.

For my studies in Singapore, I received an RSIS Lee Foundation scholarship, a competitive scholarship with a 2-3% chance. It covers the full tuition fee (around $SGD 34.500), travel costs, insurance, university fees/expenses, and a monthly stipend. Scholarship holders work as Research Assistants during their studies, and there is no employment bond attached to the scholarship after graduation.

Educational Background

I am a graduate of Westminster International University in Tashkent, majoring in Economics with Finance, with first-class honours. Throughout my studies, I maintained an average GPA of 4.0. Apart from my studies, I was a socially active student, founding the Typing Club, serving as the Secretary General of the Tashkent International Model United Nations Society, Students’ Union Education & Welfare Executive, organising events, and others. Also, I did internships during my studies at the university itself, then in an international company and UN offices. During my bachelor’s studies, I came across the field of development economics that really appealed to me and made me choose to further study this field.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Nanyang Technological University (NTU)?

How Did You Find Information About Rsis Lee Foundation Scholarship and Nanyang Technological University (NTU)?

I got to know about DAAD from my university mentor, who also won DAAD, and she introduced me to this scholarship. Then I got more information from the DAAD website and started preparing. It is important and very helpful to get advice from previous winners, which will make the application process way easier and more accurate. I had several contacts of winners, from whom I asked questions about filling out the application form and further tips about interview preparation.

Regarding finding institutions, I just searched the internet and made a list of universities that I was eligible to apply to. I provided DAAD with three universities that I was going to apply to, but I got an acceptance letter from Georg August University Göttingen before the usual admission period in Germany, so I did not apply to other universities.

Regarding NTU, I got information from the university website.

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

Yes, I took IELTS a month before the DAAD application deadline, even though my bachelor’s studies were fully in English. It is better to have it even if it is not required in the case of English-language instruction in your previous institution. I could not prepare for it because of the time constraint, but it was not a big issue as my bachelor’s studies were in English.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the DAAD and Rsis Lee Foundation Scholarships?

First, I made a checklist of the necessary documents to collect. As I was still a student, I got all the possible documents from the university just to make sure that nothing was missing (proof of study, university language instructions, university marking structure, document of expected end of studies). I also registered for the IELTS exam and started working on my motivation letter. What the selection committee looks for in a motivation letter is precision, clear reasons for further studies, purpose, and further plans after graduation. I asked myself, “Why should they give me this scholarship? Why do I think I am a good candidate? What will I do after?” and so on, which helped me to construct my motivation letter, alongside with advice from previous winners. The required recommendation letter to be submitted was from a university professor, which I obtained from my dissertation supervisor, who was also a dean (it is important to take it from a prof. who knows you personally and preferably has a certain position at the university rather than just a lecturer). Coming to the additional recommendation letters, I obtained them from my workplace (EY Uzbekistan) and from UN offices for my social activities/projects (UNODC). Even if they were not specifically listed in the requirements, it is necessary to include anything that can support the application.

For NTU, my documents were ready after the DAAD application, so I just updated my information, wrote additional motivation for the scholarship, and submitted it with my university application. When I was invited to the interview, I found an alumna on LinkedIn, contacted her to ask for advice and what to expect.

Was the Institution That You Studied at Free? if You Had to Pay Semester Fees, How Much Was IT?

Yes, there was no tuition fee for my program, and most of the public universities in Germany are free. There is only a semester fee, which was around 460 euros (it varies depending on the university). It is not covered by DAAD, so students should manage their finances and save to pay semester fees twice per year.

NTU has tuition fees, but they are covered by a scholarship.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or German?

My program was in English, and there are many more master’s programs in Germany that are offered in English. Moreover, the university (and other public universities) offers free German language courses that students can take for their own daily use, but it is not a requirement.

In Singapore, English is one of the official languages, so the classes are also held in English, but other asian languages are offered for free for students of the International Studies program.

What Did You Pursue After the Rsis Lee Foundation Scholarship?

After graduating from the Development Economics program, I started a second master’s in International Relations in Singapore, as mentioned above. After this master’s, I am considering international organisations and continuing my professional career.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing German?

There is no academic problem because of not knowing the native language in Germany. However, it is really difficult in daily life without knowing German: shops, public transport, streets, and service providers mostly speak German, and at least an elementary level of language is necessary to live there.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think, first of all, submitting all the required documents made me pass the first selection process, and then excellent educational, social, and professional performance, clearly stated reasons and purpose in my motivation letter as well as during the interview, made me stand out among other applicants. A strong educational background is not enough in such a competitive pool of applications, so having extracurricular activities strongly supports the application. Same with the Lee Foundation scholarship: a strong application with clear reasons for pursuing the second MSc degree and getting a scholarship, and strong relevant recommendation letters.

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

If I were going through the process again, I would start my preparation as early as possible, because I started less than a month before, which put me under stress and pressure and would have affected my application. Also, I would start learning German earlier so that it wouldn’t be difficult at the beginning of my life in Germany.

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

DAAD:

1. start as early as possible;
2. do proper research about DAAD scholarship types that fit you and universities yourself before asking others;
3. find previous winners and ask for advice;
4. make a clear list of necessary documents and double-check with successful applicants;
5. pay attention to the required documents and make sure you are getting the right documents with the necessary details;
6. collect all possible additional/relevant documents from the university/workplace to make sure you do not miss anything important;
7. list all social projects/activities with proofs that would support your application;
8. do proper research about the universities and list the ones for which you are eligible to apply;
9. update your CV and match it to your further aspirations;
10. Do not write your motivation letter in one day; work on it longer and get a peer review;
11. Be careful when filling out application form details and triple-check all the documents listed.

For the interview:

• Make sure that what you say is consistent with your motivation letter;
• Be ready for unexpected questions and do not lose yourself; search for basic information and current events about the city, university, and country (in this case, Germany) you are applying to.
• Get prepared for the subject-specific questions related to your major and your bachelor’s thesis (if relevant).
• Interviewers are very nice people, so do not worry/afraid and be open and positive.

For the Lee Foundation:

1. have a strong application profile;
2. write a motivation letter with strong arguments and reasons for getting the scholarship;
3. get prepared for the interview based on the motivation letter and advice from an alumna (if possible).

Overall advice: try to combine social/professional activities with academic life by maintaining excellent academic performance. Improve your networks and be active in the social life of the university/community. All of these will definitely support any application profile.