Global Korea Scholarship Scholar Zuzana Benešová from Czech Republic Shares Her Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea

My name is Zuzana Benešová, most people know me as Suzy, and I come from the Czech Republic. I am a person with a long list of interests, and one of my biggest passions is traveling and languages. I decided to pursue the Business Korean degree in the Czech Republic, as Korean was not so popular years back; it was something fresh, and I did not know many people around who would speak this language. The country itself is very different from my own country, and it was really interesting to explore the differences and similarities between the two countries.

When I finished my bachelor's degree, I wanted to continue my master's and decided to keep studying Korean. Even though it is possible to study Korean in the Czech Republic, there is a big limitation to the majors, and since I wanted to head in the direction of Korean education, it was only possible to do so overseas. And of course, it makes the greatest sense to study the language in the native country, so I applied for the Global Korea Scholarship. The luck was on my side; I was one of the 2 students they chose per year, and that is how I ended up studying in Korea.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I was part of the Global Korea Scholarship, which meant I first had to finish my language year, and then I could finally focus on my master's degree for 2 years.

For the language year, I spent a year on Jeju Island – the university name was Cheju Halla University, and for my master's, I chose Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

Educational Background

Since the GKS scholarship has already given out the guidelines regarding the application, needed documentation, GPA, and such, I just tried to use all of my past experience and activities to show what I was part of. I am a person who does not want to regret, and therefore I would rather try anything that comes my way, and if it does not suit me or I do not enjoy it, I can always stop. However, I was part of many activities offered by my Czech university as well as out-of-school activities, such as shooting for Korean television, attending language courses, or helping out with social media or writing content for the Korean embassy in Prague or different organizations. Educational background and GPA are important, but you also have to love what you do and find ways to do something more than only your classes.

For checking out the scholarship, I used the internet mainly. There are many useful websites to check opportunities, and you can also use YouTube or social media to check the reviews and reality of students studying abroad. For each university, I always checked their own website, even though sometimes it is not so well-maintained, so I also looked at different sites.

I was thinking to take TOEFL or TOEIC, but in the end, I did not have enough time, as in my country, these exams do not take place so often since we have more British English exams, such as FCE and CAE. But, in the past, I had a whole 1 year of English C-1 classes, so I still had a certificate to present. I also took TOPIK (Korean language exam), as it gives you additional points for your application. In terms of language exams, the best way is to keep practicing by taking past exams or mock tests. The exams usually have their own patterns, and even if you know the language well, you will not be able to receive a great score unless you know how to solve those exact questions.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

My degree was 100% taught in Korean. It was sometimes very challenging, but for me, the point was to improve my Korean, to see what I could handle, and I am very proud of myself since I not only graduated, but also wrote my whole thesis in another language.

What Did You Pursue After the Global Korea Scholarship?

I decided to search for a job after my studies. I wanted more career experience. Studying is nice, but especially for humanities, it is often very theoretical, and once you try to find a job, you need to present some skills and experience. I also would like to make some money and be able to travel more, and so on.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Korean?

It is hard for me to judge, as my major was fully taught in Korean, but I think there are always obstacles if you do not speak the native language. Usually, there is a coordinator at each school who should be able to speak English, but knowing the language would always make your life/studying easier.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I was not trying to make my application stand out. I was trying to be myself and show everything I have done/achieved so far, and that I will continue working hard, so if I receive the scholarship, it would not be thrown away money. I would not be able to study in Korea without this scholarship, and I am very thankful for the opportunity, even though it was not an easy process and there were several times when I felt like giving up. But looking back, I am so proud of myself for enduring and finishing the degree abroad. It is not only about studying, but the whole experience of living abroad for such a long time changes you, and I believe you get to know yourself much better.

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

I am the type of person who tries everything not to regret, and I would not change anything.

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

Just be yourself and make sure that this is something you really want. Reality is always different than what you see from other people or what you imagine. If you are sure you want the scholarship, go for it.  Show the people why you are the one they should choose.