How an Indian Scholar Secured the Fully Funded Global Korea Scholarship for Business Administration at Yonsei University

My name is Sara Nuruddin Panjawani, and I am from Hyderabad, India. I am currently a senior at Yonsei University, majoring in Business Administration through the Global Korea Scholarship Program. My interest in economics began in high school, where I took it as a Higher Level (HL) subject. Inspired by my mother, a beautician who manages her own business, I was drawn to the world of business and its diverse career opportunities in marketing, management, consulting, and accounting.

At Yonsei, I have been able to explore these fields through specialized courses, tailoring my studies to align with my interests. I am particularly passionate about ESG consulting, which has influenced my course selections and academic focus.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I am able to study in South Korea thanks to the GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) program, provided by NIIED. I applied for the 2021 scholarship in October 2020, received my final decision in December 2020, and arrived in Korea in February 2021.

After graduating from high school, I applied exclusively to the GKS program, and I was incredibly grateful to be accepted. However, during my high school years, I had also applied to several universities in Canada, including the University of Toronto, Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria, the University of Alberta, and York University. I was fortunate to receive multiple merit-based scholarships from these universities for my freshman year. However, despite these scholarships, they did not fully cover my expenses. Due to financial constraints, I needed a fully funded scholarship to study abroad.

GKS was my only opportunity to pursue higher education in another country without financial burden. Knowing this, I put my utmost effort into making my application as strong as possible. Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful to have been accepted, as it allowed me to study at Yonsei University while experiencing a new culture and academic environment.

Educational Background

I graduated from The Aga Khan Academy in May 2019 with an IB score of 39 and took a gap year before starting university. During this time, I tutored students, completed an internship at my high school, and worked as a teaching assistant. These experiences helped me develop valuable skills and insights that prepared me for the GKS scholarship and my future studies at Yonsei University.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the GKS Scholarship?

I started preparing for the GKS scholarship in June 2020. Although I already had an IELTS score, it had expired, and I wanted to improve it. I dedicated a month to studying and achieved a 7.5. At the same time, I began learning basic Korean through an online course provided by Hanyang Institute.

To gain insights into the application process, I reached out to past GKS recipients, seeking advice on university selection, writing personal statements and study plans, and compiling required documents. I carefully prepared all necessary materials, including recommendation letters, score sheets, and internship certificates.

For my personal statement, I went through at least ten revisions, incorporating feedback from friends to refine my writing. For my study plan, I created a detailed year-by-year outline of my university journey. I specified the courses I planned to take, the academic societies and extracurricular activities I aimed to participate in, and my strategy for improving my Korean language skills during the language year. I ensured that my goals were realistic and feasible to present a clear academic and career roadmap.

 What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe several factors contributed to making my application stand out. My gap year experiences demonstrated how I used my time productively by gaining teaching, internship, and assistantship experience, adding depth to my profile.

My essays were detailed, well-structured, and presented a clear academic and career plan, outlining my goals, motivations, and an actionable strategy. Additionally, I stepped out of my comfort zone and utilized every available resource to strengthen my application.

For my interview, I prepared by compiling a list of potential questions and structuring my answers in phrases rather than memorized sentences. This approach helped me sound natural while ensuring I was well-prepared.

What Would You Have Done Differently If You Are Going Through the Process Again?

Looking back, I feel that I gave more than 100% in my application and did everything to the best of my ability. I stepped out of my comfort zone and utilized all available resources to strengthen my application.

For the interview, I prepared extensively by creating a long list of potential questions and structuring my answers in phrases rather than fully memorized sentences. This helped me sound more natural and confident during the interview.

If I were to go through the process again, I wouldn’t change much, as I genuinely believe I put in my best effort at every stage.

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

For those planning to apply for the GKS scholarship, my biggest advice is to take the time to truly understand yourself. This is crucial for the personal statement, as you need to clearly articulate who you are, your goals, and your vision. Rather than just listing experiences, focus on reflecting on what you learned from them. Since it is a personal statement, make sure it genuinely reflects your journey and aspirations.

For the study plan and future plans, be as specific as possible. Studying in a foreign country with a different culture is never easy, so acknowledge the challenges you may face and explain how you plan to overcome them.

Start preparing at least three to four months in advance, as organizing documents takes a lot of time. Even a single missing or incorrect document can lead to disqualification, so double-check everything early on. I also highly recommend reaching out to past scholarship recipients—learning from their experiences can provide valuable insights into the application process, selecting universities, and preparing strong essays.

Finally, give your best effort. If this is something you truly want, commit to the process and put in the work. The GKS scholarship is highly competitive, but with dedication and preparation, success is absolutely possible.