Indonesian Student Wins Global Korea Scholarship to Pursue Master’s in Commerce at Soongsil University

My name is Priscila Ferdinandus, and I was born and raised in Indonesia. I will be studying Master's in International Commerce at Soongsil University under the Global Korea Scholarship.

Educational Background

I was originally born in a small city called Banjarmasin, but in the fourth grade of elementary school, my family and I relocated to Surabaya, where I have continued to live ever since.

During high school, I was not particularly competitive in class and, admittedly, appeared as though I had lost interest in academics. However, upon entering university, I rediscovered my passion for learning and dedicated myself to my studies with renewed enthusiasm and perseverance.

For my undergraduate studies, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Management – International Class (IBM-IC) at Ciputra University, graduating with a GPA of 3.85 out of 4.00 over the course of four years. Ciputra University offers two tracks within the International Business Management major: the regular class and the international class. I chose the international class, which emphasizes internationalization, leadership, and conducts all courses in English. Having always dreamed of studying abroad, this track aligned perfectly with my aspirations.

Throughout my undergraduate years, I was fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated professors and ambitious peers, which further motivated me. However, like many students, I faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which significantly impacted opportunities for international academic experiences. Travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines made it nearly impossible to participate in overseas programs. Despite these limitations, I applied for a fully funded exchange scholarship offered by the Indonesian government in 2021. Although I did not pass the interview stage, I remained determined.

In the following year, I applied for one of my university’s exchange programs and was selected to study at INHA University in Incheon, South Korea, for the Fall 2022 semester, majoring in Business Administration. This exchange experience had a profound impact on my academic journey. Although I had never seriously considered graduate school before, being surrounded by master’s and PhD students in Korea inspired me to reconsider my path. I also had the opportunity to learn from distinguished professors whose expertise in Korean business and economic development greatly influenced me. Through their classes, I gained deeper insight into Korea’s remarkable economic transformation—how the country developed from poverty into a global economic leader in a relatively short period of time—which sparked a stronger curiosity in me to explore Korean economic studies further.

How did you prepare to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship?

This experience ultimately led me to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship for Graduate Degrees (GKS-G) in 2024. I was honored to be selected through the University Track. GKS-G is a fully funded scholarship program managed by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), under the Ministry of Education of South Korea. The scholarship aims to foster international academic exchange and mutual understanding by providing talented international students the opportunity to pursue graduate degrees at Korean universities. The program covers round-trip airfare, full tuition, monthly stipend, Korean language training, thesis support, and more.

Preparing for the GKS-G application took nearly a year. I spent a significant amount of time familiarizing myself with the program's structure, timeline, and detailed requirements. Among all the preparations, I dedicated the most effort to thoroughly understanding the GKS-G guidelines and crafting a strong personal statement, which took me approximately six months to revise and refine into a version I was truly satisfied with.

How did you prepare to take the TOPIK and TOEFL?

For the Global Korea Scholarship – Graduate Degree (GKS-G) 2024, I submitted both TOPIK and TOEFL iBT scores. To be honest, I did not undergo extensive preparation for these exams. Instead, I practiced using previous test questions and watched YouTube videos for tips and strategies. Although I had not taken any formal Korean language classes at the time, I invested time in self-studying the basics of Korean, which enabled me to achieve TOPIK Level 2.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Korean Institutions?

In my view, one of the most crucial aspects of applying for the GKS-G was thoroughly reading and understanding the official guidelines. The application process can be confusing, especially due to the existence of two different application tracks (Embassy and University). Personally, it took me several months to fully grasp the structure of the application procedure and the responsibilities of awardees.

In addition, I conducted detailed research on the universities I was interested in and tailored my personal statement accordingly. I incorporated references to current global issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how Korea effectively handled the outbreaks and maintained its GDP stability during that time. I also mentioned a professor whose research aligns with my intended thesis topic, and explained how studying at that university would provide valuable insight and academic support for my research interests.

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

In my personal opinion, thoroughly understanding the overall structure and process of the GKS-G is essential. The official guidelines are not brief—they span several pages and contain detailed information—so it may take considerable time to read and fully comprehend them. However, doing so will provide a clear understanding of the entire application process and the expectations for awardees.

Additionally, I strongly recommend starting early. Learning Korean in advance not only eases your transition once you arrive in Korea, but also strengthens your application. Submitting a TOPIK score beforehand demonstrates your level of preparation and genuine commitment to studying in Korea, which can leave a positive impression on the selection committee.