Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Recipient, Zainab Ummu Hasanah from Indonesia, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University, South Korea

Hi! I’m Zainab Ummu Hasanah, but you can call me Ummu. I am a 2022 GKS awardee from Indonesia. I first arrived in Korea in 2022, supported by NIIED, and attended a year-long language program at Sunmoon University before pursuing my Master’s in social welfare at Ewha Womans University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Korean Studies from Universitas Indonesia in 2019. My educational background influenced my decision to study in Korea, as I already knew the language and culture, and I wanted to deepen my understanding of Korean culture. I chose to study social welfare for my Master’s, which is different from my bachelor’s. This choice was inspired by my passion for volunteer work and my experience working in HR, a field that involves working closely with people. I believe social welfare is a well-suited interdisciplinary field for my interests.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I received a scholarship from the South Korean government through the Global Korea Scholarship program, organized by NIIED. The scholarship lasts 3 years, including 1 year of a language program and 2 years of a master’s degree program. It includes education/school fees, living expenses, and health insurance. In 2022, when I was first awarded the scholarship, I received 1,000,000 won per month, plus health insurance, and I also received a reward for my high TOPIK level, which was an additional scholarship of 100,000 won per month. However, in 2023, the system changed, and the scholarship provided students with 1,300,000 won per month, which already included health insurance. I was also very lucky because Ewha offered housing support for scholarship students. I received a dormitory discount, paying only 150,000 won per month, which was much cheaper than other housing in Seoul.

Educational Background

I completed my bachelor’s degree in the Korean Studies department at Universitas Indonesia. I earned the Cumlaude predicate with a GPA of 3.62 out of 4.00. I think my major helped me prepare well for continuing my studies in Korea, thus I can adjust well and faster than others when I first came to Korea. At first, I chose this major on my parents’ recommendation, as they knew I loved learning foreign languages and saw my interest in Korean culture. The rapidly growing Korean industry in Indonesia was also seen as a good opportunity.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Ewha Womans University?

How Did You Find Information About the GKS Scholarship and Ewha Womans University?

I knew about the scholarship as my major was Korean Studies, which many of my seniors and also professors were awardees of this scholarship. As for Ewha, Ewha itself is famous as one of the biggest all-woman university with good academic performance.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them

Yes, I did take IELTS before applying for the scholarship. I didn’t have much time to prepare for the test before, so I just found online video classes from YouTube and tried to practice using free test question samples

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the GKS Scholarship?

The GKS scholarship for graduate programs usually opens in late January or early February. Knowing the timeline, I already started preparing for everything since late October. Before GKS, I tried to apply for another scholarship program too. So since the needed documents were similar, I just needed to adjust minor things. Although I also keep adjusting my essay and checking the content with people I know. Especially since I wrote it in Korea, I also asked my colleague to check if there are any grammatical errors. I finished preparing the documents even before the application date was announced. I did my essay and also apostilled all documents needed. It took me about a month or more to prepare everything since I needed to translate some documents into English and also legalized it before sending them to be apostilled.

How Is (was) Your Experience at Ewha Womans University?

GKS itself offers many benefits to its awardees. From providing a Korean language program for a year, covering health insurance, etc. As for Ewha Womans University, I think I had a really great experience as an international student. All staff and professors always provide help anytime I need. The university also provides programs that can help students adjust to Korea. From a buddy or mentoring program to a cultural experience program for international students. A discount for the dormitory is also given to scholarship students, which helps a lot because housing in Seoul is expensive.

How Do You Rate Ewha Womans University Academically and Why?

I think Ewha Womans University has a good quality in terms of academics. From a great professor to facilities that support students. There are many opportunities given for students to explore, 24 hours library in exam period, and also access to international journals.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

My classes are mostly conducted in Korean, as most of the students are Korean. However, if any foreign students feel like it was too difficult for them to do tasks in Korean, the professors most likely will accept their task in English too.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Korean?

I think it won’t be a problem, but learning the language will certainly be beneficial. Many departments offer an English program; however, it will be more if you understand Korean in an academic environment.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Firstly, I think my application stands out because I wrote my essay in Korean, thus made me different from other applicants. Second, I think I had a well-written essay with good flow. The essay, from personal statement to future plan, I wrote it like a whole story that was connected from each part.

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

I think I will do my research about the department more deeply, what the curriculum is, etc.

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

Research the shcolarship given to know if it matches well with your needs. Knowing about the country and its culture is also important to help you prepare everything. Read the scholarship guidelines thoroughly and prepare the documents 2-3 months before the deadline.