A Jeonbuk National University Student from Indonesia Wins the Fully Funded Global Korea Scholarship

Hello there, Wina Oktalia Cahyadi here! Just call me Wina. I come from a small city in Bengkulu province of Indonesia called Manna. I have been living in the historical city of Jeonju in South Korea for almost two years now (The place bibimbap comes from). I have been interested in computing since I was a kid and enjoyed learning how to operate a computer. I attended a Communication and Information Technology class in middle school, my favorite subject. The teacher was very supportive and gave us a final group task. My teammates and I decided to challenge ourselves by making a simple robot. The first robot I built was a floor-cleaning machine using improvised tools and materials. This robot is functional, especially for us students who are still young at that time. We can enjoy cleaning the classroom without getting tired because we learn, play, and clean the classroom just by using a remote-controlled robot. I have always been amazed by how great technology has changed the world, and I decided to become a computer scientist in the future. So, I chose Computer Science as my undergraduate major at Jeonbuk National University.

Background and GKS Scholarship Details

After I graduated from high school, I never really considered continuing my studies in my home country. The main reason was that I found the national entrance exams too overwhelming, or at least that’s how it felt when I was a teenager. So, I decided to aim to study abroad instead, thinking the requirements would be challenging but not as intense. However, the problem was that my parents couldn’t afford to send me abroad. They told me that if I wanted to pursue that dream, I would need to find a scholarship to support my finances. To be honest, I also had a phase where I doubted myself and I am sure every scholar has that phase. Luckily, I have a very supportive environment, so I was never burdened by society even when I did my gap year because I didn't get the scholarship in my first year. After gathering information about scholarships, I decided to apply for more in my second year, and that's when I came across the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). It was my first time applying for the GKS-U, and honestly, I didn't expect much since the program had a very limited number of spots. But Alhamdulillah, I got the scholarship! The GKS is a fully-funded scholarship from the Korean government, covering everything from a monthly stipend to tuition fees, flight tickets, insurance, and a settlement allowance.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship and Jeonbuk National University?

I started preparing to study abroad even before I entered high school. I graduated from the Islamic Senior High School of Ar Risalah, where I focused on Natural Science. I chose to attend high school in a province far from home to get the best quality education in a city much more developed than where I lived. This experience helped me grow both mentally and physically. My academic achievements have been remarkable; I've consistently ranked in the Top 15 in my school and maintained an excellent grade average of 92/100. One of the ways I learn is by helping my classmates understand the material they struggle with, which allows me to reinforce the lessons while also helping others. Therefore, I have good logical thinking, as shown by good grades in Physics and Mathematics. Logical thinking is an essential skill in becoming a computer scientist. People who can think logically can analyze problems and find solutions. Learning kinetically about advanced technological equipment has strengthened my desire to take computer science at a university in South Korea.

I realized I was fully prepared when I applied for the GKS Program. I had completed my essays—both the personal statement and study plan—three months before the application even opened. I did nearly ten rounds of proofreading with various people from different backgrounds, all sharing the same goal of studying abroad. Many of them were graduate scholarship awardees, and their insights were incredibly inspiring, giving me new perspectives I hadn't considered before.

Long before I applied, I focused on preparing for the most important document requirements and standardized exams like the IELTS, for which I received a score of around 6.5 - 7.5. Although I didn’t start learning English from the basics, I knew I was not proficient enough for the IELTS. So, I took an intensive three-month IELTS course. From my experience, IELTS isn’t that difficult if you stay focused and serious, but I do regret not being as dedicated as I could have been. I spent too much time on 'self-rewards' to avoid stress instead of putting in more effort.

For me, the writing section of the IELTS was the trickiest. Reading and listening are manageable if you practice with examples, like those in Cambridge books, and for the speaking section, you can find great advice from IELTS mock tests on YouTube. However, as a beginner in IELTS, I believe it's important to have a teacher guide you through the writing section.

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

If I could turn back time, I don’t think there’s anything I would change about my GKS application. I believe the documents I submitted were the best I could prepare, and I didn’t wait until the last minute—I had everything ready well before the scholarship opened.

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

For those interested in applying for the Global Korea Scholarship Program, my advice is this: they seem to favor applicants who can speak multiple languages. If you can speak Korean, definitely take the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean). The same goes for English. If you’re proficient in both, that’s the best combination. The guidelines even mention how much having language proficiency can improve your chances. But if you speak other languages, don’t hesitate to highlight that. It shows that you’re skilled in language learning, which will make learning Korean easier if you’re selected. Good luck!