Like many of us, Zubaida Zahid Runee, coming from a humble background, dreamed of studying abroad right after completing her HSC. However, when the odds were not entirely in her favour, she chose to enrol in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) at a local university.

For many of us, that might have marked the end of our dreams. For Zubaida, however, that was only a small detour.

Despite beginning her university journey, she still refused to let go of her dreams. Fueled by determination, she continued to search for opportunities until her persistence finally paid off. She was eventually accepted into the prestigious Global Korea Scholarship and is now pursuing CSE and Brain & Cognitive Science at Korea University.

The Global Korea Scholarship is a fully funded programme by the South Korean government that supports international students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees at designated Korean universities. The programme covers a wide range of expenses, including airfare, tuition fees, language training, and monthly allowances, significantly reducing the financial barriers to studying abroad.

In this article, GKS recipient Zubaida Zahid Runee shares her journey, along with practical insights for those hoping to follow a similar path.

Eligibility

The minimum academic requirement is a cumulative GPA of 80% or higher in the most recent educational programme. However, while good grades are essential, they are not the sole determining factor.

As Zubaida explains, “GKS definitely looks beyond grades. Your interest and genuineness regarding the programme matter the most.”

Apart from grades, applicants are highly encouraged to demonstrate meaningful extracurricular activities, as well as a genuine interest in Korean culture.

For undergraduate programmes, the timeline for the GKS application window typically falls somewhere between September and October. However, starting early is crucial, not only to avoid piling up work at the last moment but also to allow enough time to respond to any unexpected hurdles.

“Given the lengthy administrative processes in Bangladesh, starting at least six months early is the safest bet,” Zubaida advises. She also emphasises the importance of tracking document validity, as some documents are only accepted within a limited period after verification.

For Zubaida, it took approximately 4 to 5 months to prepare her required documents. However, it must also be mentioned that her application took place at a time that coincided with the ongoing digitisation of numerous documents in Bangladesh. As a result, she faced occasional bureaucratic hurdles.

Regarding her personal statement, she began preparing nearly a year in advance, which allowed her ample time for refinements.

Embassy track

Now, in order to apply for GKS, candidates must choose between two application routes: the Embassy Track and the University Track. While both lead to the same scholarship benefits, the process, competition, and flexibility differ significantly.

The Embassy Track allows an individual to apply through the Korean Embassy in their home country. One major advantage of this process is flexibility, because a candidate can apply to up to 3 universities, one outside Seoul and two within Seoul. However, because of this flexibility, this route is highly competitive in nature. Not only do a large number of students apply through this track every year, but it also includes a three-tier screening process: Embassy, NIIED (National Institute for International Education), and finally the university itself.

In contrast, the University Track is less competitive and time-consuming. Applicants can directly apply to their university of choice, and if shortlisted, their application is forwarded to NIIED for final selection. As a result, the screening process consists of two stages, not three. However, the main catch of this track is that a person can apply to only one university, and their documents need to be verified by the Korean Embassy before they send in their documents via post.

It is also important to note that applicants cannot apply through both tracks simultaneously.

In Zubaida’s case, she chose to apply through the Embassy Track because of the opportunity to apply to 3 universities. However, at the time of her application, the embassy quota for Bangladesh was limited to only 1 student, making the competition even more intense.

Documentation

“I was not trying to make myself look like the best candidate. I was trying to emphasise my intentions, sincerity, and genuine interest in this scholarship and Korea itself.”

Zubaida highlights the importance of authenticity when writing personal statements. For instance, she focused on aligning her personal aspirations with the goals of the scholarship. Additionally, she incorporated Korean culture and societal norms into her personal statement and interview.

Zubaida did not face any written assessments during the selection process. There was only one interview stage, and the questions were mostly focused on personal, academic, and Korea-related plans.

Regarding this section, Zubaida recommended studying your own application repeatedly for tweaks and improvements. Furthermore, she also mentioned not exaggerating during the interview.

“You should not lie just to make yourself seem like a better candidate; judges will see through that,” she added.

Applicants are not required to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to be eligible for GKS. However, having an English proficiency certificate along with a Korean language proficiency certificate (TOPIK) can greatly enhance an application and improve the chances of selection.

Especially, having a TOPIK score gives candidates extra points during the assessment.

Major selection

While university rankings can serve as a useful point of reference, Zubaida also encourages students to look beyond rankings. She supports the importance of carefully evaluating curriculum, course structure, available opportunities, and reviews from other international students when choosing the appropriate university.

For instance, she chose Korea University for its unique opportunities to develop and work on practical projects.

Furthermore, she also pointed out that a university within Seoul does not necessarily equate to a better academic experience. In her case, the language training she received at Dongseo University was more effective than what she experienced at Korea University.

Interestingly, Zubaida was not selected on her first attempt.

“I did not dedicate much time to my application at that time and focused on superficial things like grades and ECAs,” she reflects.

However, on her second attempt, she decided to approach the process with greater depth and authenticity.

“The second time, I focused on why I really wanted the scholarship genuinely.”

As a result, she was able to present herself in a more thoughtful and relatable way, which helped her stand out among the applicants. Therefore, her journey serves as a strong reminder that setbacks are not the end of the road, but often a step towards a stronger comeback.

This article is written in partnership with Abroadmates, the all-in-one mentorship platform for study abroad.

To know more about the Global Korea Scholarship, book a session at https://www.abroadmates.com/zubaida-zahid-runee