How a Scholar from the Philippines Secured the Fully Funded Global Korea Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in International Relations at Sogang University

My name is Souljah, and I’m from a little university town called Dumaguete City, located in the Philippines. I’m currently finishing my Master’s in international relations at Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea. With the initial plans of becoming a diplomat, the Foreign Service Officers exam in the Philippines required either 2 years of work experience or an MA degree to take the exam, which is why I decided to pursue my master’s degree.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

The Global Korea Scholarship offered by the National Institute for International Education is awarded to selected students from all over the world. I applied through the embassy track, where only 14 students were selected from my country, the Philippines. Fortunately, I was one of those 14 who were given the spot in 2022.

Educational Background

I graduated with a degree in Foreign Affairs from Silliman University, with a GPA of 3.55/4.0, graduating as magna cum laude. My educational background helped my preparation for the scholarship as an indication of how passionate I am about this field of study. I chose South Korea because of its growing international image around 2021, I wanted to learn about its growing international image and how it works in diplomacy.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship?

Coming from a small city, going abroad meant a lot to me. My application started only 2 months before the scholarship application opened. I prepared the necessary requirements and essays. The vital part of my preparation was connecting with alumni and current scholarship recipients. It helped me a lot during my application process.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Asides from graduating magna cum laude in Foreign Affairs, I’ve always been passionate about Foreign Affairs and International Relations ever since my undergraduate days. I attended a total of 7 Model United Nations (MUN) programs and served as a delegate, earning awards for 3 of them, or as an executive member of the committees for 2 of the MUN conferences I attended. I also became an intern for the Department of Foreign Affairs of my country. I think that was what made my application stand out; my passion for the field started when I was an undergraduate student.

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

Honestly, I should have learned more Korean. Although we had the opportunity to learn it for a year, having advanced knowledge would have been helpful when taking the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) exam.

How was your experience with Sogang University? Is Master's in International Relations conducted in English?

Sogang University GSIS is completely in English, and I would rate it a 9/10 for academic rigor. The academic rigor in Sogang GSIS is due to the quality of faculty members. Especially during my thesis writing period, there was a lot of collaborative work between my Professors. In other aspects, the bell curve grading system challenges students to strive for the best. The emphasis on academic papers encourages students to research new ideas and perspectives.

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

Be sure with the degree you’re applying for, and be passionate about it. Passion can bring you a long way. That’s what has mattered to me from the time of my application until now.