How an Indonesian Scholar Secured the Fully Funded Global Korea Scholarship for a Master's in Food Science and Technology at Chungnam National University

I am very delighted to share my scholarship application journey to the readers. My name is Vivian Prayitno. I was born and spent my whole life and education in Indonesia. For my bachelor's degree, I graduated from University of Indonesia in Bioprocess Engineering. However, after spending some time in the food science field while writing my thesis and gaining one year of work experiences at an Indonesian food and beverage company, I realized that I am very interested in this field. I also recognized that if I really want to become an expert in one field, broadening my knowledge is necessary. Thus, I decided to pursue further education in Food Science and Technology through a master’s degree because I feel that I do not yet have enough focused knowledge in this field. Korea is a developed country that has a significant influence on other countries, especially Indonesia, in terms of food and beverages. Korea’s leading food research innovations have encouraged me to gain knowledge in this country. After spending almost 3 years in Korea, I can confidently say that I made the right decision to continue my education here, since I gained not only valuable knowledge, but also many life experiences.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I received the Global Korea Scholarship-University Track batch 2022, majoring in Food Science and Technology at Chungnam National University, Daejeon. When I had made my mind to continue my education at a higher level, I focused solely on applying for this scholarship because Korea was the only country I wanted to study at for my master’s degree. Among all other scholarship options, I was most attached to GKS since NIIED supports and provides the best benefits to all GKS awardees. I received a round-trip ticket from Indonesia to Korea at the beginning, and later, after my graduation in August 2025. I also got a considerable amount of monthly allowances and health insurance. What I like the most about this scholarship is the one-year Korean language course. I was assigned to take Korean language class in Jeju which became a precious and memorable experience for me, as I unlocked new language skill and gained new cultural experiences. While I was applying to this scholarship, I was offered another direct professor scholarship as well. However, I did not want to miss the language course opportunity provided by NIIED, so I ultimately decided to continue with my GKS application.

Educational Background

I graduated from University of Indonesia with a GPA of 3.85 out of 4.00. My major was Bioprocess Engineering which is part of the Chemical Engineering department. It is known as a broad-scope major which the graduates are qualified to work in various fields, including Food Science and Technology. I decided to switch my major because my bachelor thesis was related to functional foods, which I found very interesting while working on it. I have no trouble conducting laboratory experiments in my current major as I acquired all the necessary laboratory skills and research principles during my bachelor’s degree. There are some similarities in research methods for both majors, so changing from Bioprocess Engineering to Food Science and Technology was not a significant challenge.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Institutions?

The scholarship guideline posted on NIIED website, https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr, was perfectly written which it consists detailed information regarding the application, so I did not find any trouble in preparing for the required documents. In order to enhance my application score, I attached my TOEIC to proof my English proficiency although it was not necessary. Since I prepared this GKS application while being a full-time worker, I constantly studied for TOEIC examination on my own after working hours from book and online class.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

There are two main things that made my application stand out. First, I managed to create a substantial essay, and second, I attached my research manuscript. Before submitting my essay, I asked several experts to proofread it, as the result I received many valuable insights that made my essay clearer and more well-thought-out. Even though my manuscript has not been published yet, I still attached the draft because I wanted to show that I am fully into researching and I have a solid foundation in research knowledge.

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

I would prepare for the English proficiency test more seriously and focus because last time I was really exhausted from doing both professional work and scholarship application at the same time. I believe I could have achieved a better score that truly reflects my English skills.

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

First, reading and understanding all the instructions in the guideline is a must. Thereafter, start preparing the required documents long before the deadline, so you have more time to improve your application and revise it if there any mistakes. Attach all supporting materials related to your desired major. The most important thing is that your essay needs to be well-written and insightful, hence be sure to do several rounds of proofreading before submitting it.