It's all because of this thing called the Korean Government Scholarship Program, or KGSP for short. This is a wonderful opportunity to be living in the country that has been rising steadily and rapidly to bring about such radical change to itself and the entire world. Amidst all the amazing conglomerates that have been built here, it's one of the more exciting places to be in this age.
The website that you can get all the information from is on: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/main.do
So, if you're interested in coming to Korea for your studies in one of the top universities, or just to experience the culture while getting a degree, here's your opportunity to sign up. First thing you should know is that they offer both Undergraduate (5 years/starts in Spring) and Graduate (3 years/ starts in Autumn) scholarships. I'll be running through the steps that you need to take (in Singapore) that I have experienced and I hope this will help you in applying.
Note: In Singapore, the Graduate Scholarship is highly competed for, so be very prepared.
Go to the link I provided above, then click on GKS -> Korean Government Scholarship Program/Resources and then you need to sign up an account before being able to access all the information inside.
1. Getting the PDF File
First things first, you will need the entire PDF file. Just a heads up, when I was looking for the PDF file, I had an amazingly hard time getting it because I did not know where to start, and all I could do was search online and I had to go through numerous amounts of links before I finally found it, and it was for the previous year's scholarship (2013). So at the end, I managed to create an account and downloaded the 2014 scholarship PDF from the website that I provided above.
It's a pretty thick PDF file, so make sure you read through everything.
(They also have English and Korean versions)
But just to make things easy for you, I'll run through it page by page so you'll know how to get by doing it. This is the main thing you need because it consists of all the information you need to know AND the application is at the back of the file.
If you require this file, please feel free to contact me via e-mail (Link on the left) and I'll gladly send this to you. But please be courteous and introduce yourself and make known your intention so that I won't be shocked at the sudden demand. Thank you! Since this is easily available via the website, you can get it there too.
2. Understanding all the Information
Here you see on the first page is the quota available for scholarship students every intake from the receiving countries (if your country is not listed there, I'm sorry). Now, every year the number changes so don't take this screenshot too seriously. It was accurate as of the time I applied. As you can see, the objective of the scholarship is to provide international students with an opportunity to conduct studies in Korea to promote international exchanges in education and mutual friendship between the countries. I have had a LOT of people questioning the motives of this scholarship because it sounds like it's too good to be true.
I'm sorry that the scholarships in Singapore all have a bond, but this is 100% bond-free and you're even encouraged to return to your country after you have completed your years of study. So firstly, for Undergraduates, it's a total of 5 years (1 year language, 4 years degree) and for Graduates, it's a total of 3 years (1 year language, 2 years Masters/Phd). After that year of language studies, you're supposed to get TOPIK (Test in Proficiency in Korean) Level 3 at least [Levels 1-6]. Considering the fact that 1-2 is Beginner, 3-4 is Intermediate and 5-6 is Advanced, there's a high probability of passing as long as you put in the effort to study hard within that 1 year.
However, during that year if you are unable to attain at least a level 3, you are allowed another 6 months of stay to get your level 3. If you still fail to get it after those 18 months, you will be sent back to your country. There's a good catch, if you have been studying Korean in your country/Singapore and have already attained a TOPIK Level 5, then you can skip that year of study and head on straight to the university of your choice.
Page 1
The second page shows all the available universities under this scholarship that you can apply to. For more information on courses provided by the various universities, you can check out the university itself or through the studyinkorea.go.kr website. (I believe if you're applying for a scholarship, you should know how to google and find stuff, right?) You have to pick your major and universities WHILE applying for this scholarship, so make your choices well and gather as much information about universities as you can.
If you know about Korea, the top 3 universities that people usually talk about are S.K.Y - Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University, however there're other great schools too like KAIST, who's more towards a different field of study. So at the end of the day it's up to you and hopefully that school will accept you too.
Next: Qualifications. Not only you have to be citizens of your country, your parents also have to be citizens, and if your parents happen to have Korean citizenship, you're automatically disqualified from this scholarship. Anyone above the age of 25 while applying, I'm sorry, you won't be able to get in. Of course for any scholarship, or even school, you have to be physically and mentally healthy.
Your C.G.P.A (Cumulative Grade Point Average) upon graduation has to be at least 80% (I have provided a conversion table further into this post) or within the 20% in the rank of your entire high school graduating level. Another thing would be that the scholarship lasts for exactly 5 years, so if you repeat that extra 6 months during your language, the last 6 months of your university costs will be on you.
Page 2
Now I'll talk about the benefits.. This scholarship, to me, is already so generous that I don't know where to begin expressing my gratitude. It provides airfare for your 1st trip to Korea, and your last trip returning back to your country. The monthly allowance that you get is 800,000W per month (Roughly around SGD $1000) and when you arrive, they give you 200,000W extra to settle in and when you complete all your 5 years, they give you an extra 100,000W. All your tuition is paid for, from the language courses all the way up till the completion of the degree.
Medical insurance is also provided, in case you need to visit the doctor, or do a check-up. (You have to check with your respective schools, but from my knowledge it's around $20/month). Here's the big catch that's making me study hard: If you attain TOPIK Level 5/6 you will get an EXTRA 100,000W per month! So it totals up to 900,000W per month for the next 4 years after you complete the language course.
On to the required documents: You have to make sure you make copies of everything because you need to submit more than 1 set of the copies and you also need your original pieces to show when you go for the interview. There're a total of 7 forms (I will go through them in the next section below) and some other things that you require are your graduation certificate from high school (polytechnic/junior college), your grade transcripts (showing all your grades and CGPA), birth certificate/passport photocopies of you and your parents (proof of citizenship), and as for certification in Korean/English, if you have TOPIK then you can show it too, but as for English, since English is our 1st language, we need not show any proof.
For starters, 1 set of original documents needs to be showed, and 3 sets of photocopied ones needs to be placed in separate envelopes and recommendation letters should be put into a separate envelope and sealed with the school's seal. What I did to make sure I did everything was to use this PDF as a checklist, and everytime I finished something I'd cross it out so that I won't have to look back and wonder if I completed it or not.
Another thing to make sure of: Your passport has to have a travel availability long enough so that you do not have to go back to your country to extend, or else you will have a lot of trouble making your Korean VISA.
Page 3
You have to also make sure that all the information that you provide are accurate and the same across all boards because should there be any complications, you're going to have a bad time amending and all.. When you submit the form, also submit it in chronological order, with Form 1 being on top. Simple stuff, administration matters, just make sure you read it thoroughly when you're preparing your documents for submission. I will go through this again in the other sections ahead.
Another important thing, your school's transcripts should also show a grading system there. Eg. 90 - A, 95 - Distinction. From what I know, Temasek Polytechnic had that on the back of my transcripts so that was no problem. If you do not have it, please request it from your respective schools.
The starting of submissions is usually around September period, where you submit your documents to the embassy, and await their notification around September - October. This is where it gets a little bit more tense. your documents have done the talking for you and they have selected you for interview. How you present yourself makes or breaks this chance that has been presented to you. More on that in the later parts of this post.
If you get selected from the interview, all you have to do next, is to sit back and wait because they will submit your documents to Korea - NIIED (National Institute for International Education) and the second round of selection will be there. The announcement will appear on the website so you will have to go there to see your results. If it has been confirmed, the final confirmation is from the university of your choice, on whether they accept you. Although there's a slight chance that all 3 universities reject you and the scholarship is forfeited, but more often than not, the moment a scholarship accepts you, the schools are bound to accept you too.
When the notification from the school arrives, you are supposed to submit your choice of school via e-mail and when it's all confirmed, notice regarding your entering of Korea will be sent to you, and all you have to do then, is to pack... and wait for the day to come.
Page 4
As mentioned before, in the forms you will be able to pick a total of 3 universities with the major of your choice. You should have thoroughly researched and decided on the major and universities you want before actually applying for the scholarship. If there are some documents that are still required by the various universities, you have to single-handedly send it to them yourself, so make sure all adequate information demanded by your embassy is given to them to save yourself the trouble in future.
Page 5
The rest of the information here is for your own knowledge, and will be reiterated to you once again when you have stepped into Korea during the orientation. However these are some things that might render your disqualification of the scholarship so just make sure to read through and not make any of these faults. The contact information is also at the bottom of this page so if you have any inquiries you can contact them directly.
Information of KGSP on the NIIED Website is here: http://www.niied.go.kr/eng/contents.do?contentsNo=78&menuNo=349
Page 6
These are the information of the various Korean embassies in respective countries, their contact numbers and fax numbers.
Page 7 (Embassies)
Page 8 (Embassies)
Here are the contact details and websites of the universities available and if you need to contact them in any case, their telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses too.
Page 9 (Korean Universities)
Page 10 (Korean Universities)
This is the Cumulative Grade Point Average Conversion Table that I mentioned earlier. Please take a look at your CGPA and compare to see if you make the cut, and if you do, I wish you the best of luck in your applications and I hope you get it!
Cumulative Grade Point Average Conversion Table
3. Filling up the Form
Filling up the form is easy enough, because there's English instructions amidst the Korean one. The basic stuff, your name, nationality, birth-date. The structure and placement of names and dates are different in Korea so please change your ways to cater to the requests of the form. The rest requires information about the school and major that you want to apply to, so just make sure you got all the names of the faculties correct.
They're even nice enough to add in a checklist for the submission of your documents just to make things a little more organized and to help you be sure.
Form 1 - Application
The next part is all about your personal information, photo, address, date of birth, phone numbers, passport numbers and such. You will also require a language proficiency certificate, if applicable. For Singaporeans, since our native language is English, most probably the ones you'd have are GCE 'O' Levels or 'A' Levels.
Now this is where you list your CGPA as per that conversion chart that I showed previously. You will also need to find out your rank from your polytechnic if you don't know it yet. I had to go through my form teacher through my course coordinator to get it. You will also need to fill in your parents' details, your previous visits to Korea and finally, your list of recommenders (teachers, lecturers, bosses, managers)
You will also need to sign a pledge, so take the time to read through before signing.
Form 2 - Pledge
This is your personal statement and self-introduction. It's where you write things about yourself, why you want to study in Korea and the reasons for applying for this program. Write more on good, solid experiences that have shaped and molded you into the person you are today. If you are the president or a significant position holder in any clubs or activities during your extra curricular activities back in school, it'd be good to list them down too. In other words, sell yourself well while writing this, make sure that after reading, the decision makers will feel that they would definitely lose out of they do not pick you.
Form 3 - Personal Statement
This form is your study plan: What you plan to do during your 5 years here. For Part A, it is your study plan for improving your foreign language (Korean) and how you're going to make sure you're definitely going to get at least a TOPIK Level 3 for studying in the University.
In Part B, it is a little more difficult. It's all about the major and university that you have picked. No, "studying hard" would not be applicable here because it's expected of you as a scholarship student. Instead, this should be a list of what achievements you can attain WHILST studying your degree. You will need to specify your short and long term goals and plans that you have and how and when you are going to achieve them. You will also need to specify your future plans after completion of your studies.
As a university student, there are many things that are expected of you. Just following the schedule and learning what you are taught isn't enough. Taking part in different extra activities could earn you the extra credit that you require to be the cream of the crop. Writing research papers could help improve your knowledge and be a good form of exposure to give you a jump start you might need in your career. In fact, any good article or project that you uptake can be used as a portfolio in your future. Talk about the things you'd like to achieve and make sure they're realistic as much as you want them to be special.
This form is the Letter of Recommendation. You are required to have 2. Speak to any teachers, lecturers, bosses or managers that you may have had while taking on any jobs or while studying in the past. The best would be to get lecturers from your colleges or polytechnics, particularly teachers that have been in contact with you directly before, because you need them to put a good word for you, and the only way they can do that is if they know you well enough to be able to write something realistic about you.
I got my recommendations from 2 of my lecturers whom I have good rapport with and have been people who has shown good concern over my life. Another point is that these letters of recommendations require quite an extensive report on you so the teachers you're asking help from should be ones that you have been talking with before on a comfortable level.
Form 5 - Letter of Recommendation
As you can see, it's pretty lengthy and they need to write a probable paragraph regarding comments about your performance record, qualities that they believe would be helpful in the consideration of your application.
This is a personal medication assessment on your own health, just take the time and fill it in based on your own knowledge of your health. Please take note that this scholarship will not be given to you should you have any critical illness or diseases that might or might not require you to have medical attention be it frequently or not.
Form 6 - Personal Medical Assessment
This, to me, is the most troublesome and expensive one because it requires you to go to a medical center to do a full health check based on this form provided below. The only good thing about this is that you don't have to submit this until you get through the 2nd round, which more or less means you get the scholarship. So the money and time spent to get this done would not be to waste.
For those residing in Singapore, you have to go down to one of the five medical centers that SATA CommHealth has. Website here: http://www.sata.com.sg/
It would be good for you to book an appointment before going down and if you need to know the locations, telephone numbers and such you can take a look here: http://www.sata.com.sg/contact-us/ The health screening for me cost around $125 and it had a series of tests ranging from eye checks, x-rays, urine and stool samples, heart and blood tests.
Form 7
After this, you're all DONE! Now you have to worry about all the other stuff... Moving on!
4. Submitting the Documents
Now that you're all done with the forms, you need to submit them to the Embassy. Here is a little something that I've learned.... If you send this via mail, you're putting your hopes and your dreams into the hands of someone that may or may not lose this mail. Another thing would be, the mail box will DEFINITELY be full of other applicants' submissions as well, who's to say yours drops out or gets thrown away by others who went there to put theirs in...?
Just a little personal experience because when I went to SMU (Singapore Management University) to submit my documents once, I saw someone pulling out other people's applications, putting in hers and throwing the others away. As disgusted as I am with behavior like that, you don't want to have done so much just to have your chance thrown away right..?
SIMPLE! Head down to the Embassy yourself and make sure you give it to the person in charge of the Korean Government Scholarship Program. The website of the Korean Embassy in Singapore is: http://sgp.mofa.go.kr/english/as/sgp/main/index.jsp
The address is:
47 Scotts Road #08-00 Goldbell Tower Singapore 228233
+65 65-6256-1188
Monday - Friday 09:00-12:30, 14:00-17:00
It's VERY near town area, so you can take a train down to Newton MRT Station, and come out on the side of Sheraton Towers. It's 2 buildings before Sheraton Towers and on the 8th and 11th Floor. You will need to exchange passes upon entry into the building so take note of that and bring personal identification.
It's good for you to be familiar with getting there because you'd be going down a lot more if you manage to get the scholarship (Interview, making of VISA, etc.)
If you're really busy or hella bent on sending your documents via mail, here's the posting address:
Korean Government Scholarship Program
Korean Embassy in Singapore
47 Scotts Road #08-00 Goldbell Tower
Singapore 228233
I'm not too sure about the postage costs as I sent mine personally and because of the bulk of papers since you need 3 copies to be sent, it's better to have it checked at your local post office so as to not delay your postage.
5. Waiting for the Results of Selection
Now it's just waiting... Go about your usual business, maybe in school or working part-time, or maybe even just enjoying yourself and not doing anything while waiting. For the undergraduates, the submission deadline is around mid-September so you'll get your notification between end-September to mid-October to go down for the interview. Make sure your phone is always turned on and always check your e-mails daily too. I got my call around 10am in the morning.
6. Preparing/Going for the Interview
One of the things that I've always upheld and learned is dressing well. Koreans, as far as I know, always dress to the nines when going for an interview, even if it's a small one. As the people who would be interviewing you may be Korean, it's best to follow their culture. I wore a full suit, complete with a tie and blazer in the sweltering heat of Singapore, all the way down to the embassy and sat there waiting for my turn.
Near me I managed to see another 3 JC students (in their uniforms) and around 2-3 polytechnic students (girls, who were wearing shorts, leggings, t-shirts etc) I'm not saying that it's bad, but that is not proper dressing to an interview, not even the slightest. Dressing well gives people a good impression of you the moment you step in.
For men, at least a button down shirt, tie, pants and shoes. You can go the extra mile and follow my dress code of a blazer as well because that's what Koreans do.
For ladies, a nice clean colored blouse with a matching skirt or pants with heels would do very nicely and it also makes you look professional.
Next, when entering the room, greet all of them, shake hands if possible and always maintain eye contact. Smile and nod when being asked a question, it shows that you are listening. Take your time to answer and always make sure you don't lie, and don't end up saying something you'll regret after you leave the interview.
Prepare well. Find out a few common questions that people ask during the interview and self-prep your answers (not memorize). There're a lot of questions that will obviously come out such as:
- Why do you want to study in Korea?
- What can you bring from Singapore to Korea?
- How can Korea benefit you?
- How do you think you can make a change after you complete the degree?
Having an opinion could make or break your chances, but if it makes it, it'll work very very well. I was very straightforward when asked why I chose to study in polytechnic instead of junior college when usually people would opt for junior college. I mentioned that I feel that the education system is very vertical and rather than being a person who mostly memorized from the textbooks and regurgitated them in examinations (not saying all are like that), I'd rather be a person who's more hands-on, work with companies during projects and having a more open-minded approach to learning.
Always make sure you're sincere.
The last thing which you have control over is this interview, because after this, everything else is within the hands of NIIED and the university of your choice. Make the things you can control right, and have no regrets when you step out of that interview room, because there's only so much you can do.
7. Waiting for the Results of Second Round
After the interview, the only thing you can do next is wait. If you're from another country, you will need to regularly check the website: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/main.do regularly when the date of results draw nearer. If you're from Singapore, the person in charge is a very nice lady, and she will update you when the results appear.
When you've gotten the results, you can jump for joy and then start preparing your next 2 documents which is a photocopy of your passport and the health certificate which you need completed from a certified medical center in your country.
Once you've got those done, submit them to the embassy.
And more waiting....
8. Waiting for the Results of Third Round
As I've mentioned before, once you've gotten the results of the second round, more or less you'd have gotten the scholarship, so now you're just waiting for the university's reply on whether you get in. Out of the 3, at least 1 will definitely accept you. Once you've got all the acceptance e-mails, it's time to pick your university. Send your choice to your embassy and just wait for all the information to get processed.
While you're getting your results of your schools, you will receive your Certificate (like the photo below) which you have to bring to the Embassy to have your VISA made. Bring along your passport, VISA application form (which you can download from their website) and all your original documents in case the person needs to verify.
Please take note that even though the embassy is open from 09:00am to 05:00pm, VISA matters are only in the morning from 09:00am to 11:30am so you have to be there early in the morning. By this time, you should already know the names of the others from your country who got this scholarship as well (unless you're the only one) so you can make plans with them to go together so that you can forge some friendships before going into an all new unknown world.
9. Preparation for Entering Korea
Once everything else is settled, it's just the waiting for all the information, your flight ticket and which school you will be attending for your language course. Sadly, you cannot pick the language institution that you will be attending, so if you get located in a place outside of Seoul (like I am) then I'm sorry, you will have a hard time traveling and will spend a lot (money and time) on transportation to Seoul.
From Singapore, the embassy was very nice enough to have organized a dinner with me after I got the scholarship with some of the past students so that I can ask questions to be a little bit more prepared when I went over. Not only that, I also had a friend who was under this scholarship 5 years ago, so I was able to be a little bit more prepared than usual. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
Once that's all done, you should be entering Korea in late February, so there's adequate time to say goodbye to all your family and friends.
That said, I wish you all the best in your application, and I hope whatever I've written here will be of help to you in your application.
Korean Government Scholarship Program 2015, Korean Government Scholarship Program 2014, KGSP 2014, KGSP 2015, Korean Govern Scholarship Program Application, Korean Government Scholarship Program for Undergraduate Students 2015, Korean Government Scholarship Program Application Form
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Hello there,
ReplyDeleteI managed to chance upon your post as I was looking for application periods for the 2015. Would you by any chance know what the application period is? And for undergraduate scholarships, are they only for the Spring intake? May I also apply for the Fall intake if I want to?
Grateful for your advice!
Anne
Hey Anne,
DeleteTo what I remember last year when I applied, the final week to apply was this week. However they might have changed it so it would be better to contact your own Korean embassy to check with them!
For the undergraduate scholarships, it is only for spring intake, because the fall intake is for graduate students.
Hope the information helps! :)
Hi!! can i just ask how long were the interview? also, did they only choose 5-6 ppl to interview in one day or was it done over a few days?
ReplyDeletethanks :D
Hi! I have no idea about the interview details, even when I asked. I guess it's confidential, but from my experience there was around 7 on my day of interview and I was told to pick from 3 days.. So maybe you're right!
Deleteoh!! sorry.. i also wanted to ask how many different language institutes can you possibly be sent to?
ReplyDeleteTons! It depends on the intake of that year. My batch intake was small, so we were split across 3 different language institutes: kyunghee, ewha and sunmoon. The graduate batch, which was around 3x our number was split over 15-20 schools depending on their size.
Deleteahh can you write a post on orientation? :D so curious to know..
Deletehttp://sanguineseoul.blogspot.kr/2014/02/niied-orientation.html?m=1
DeleteIt's nothing much, really. The orientation was informative, but didn't have much games and stuff. You need to wait for the university's orientations.
oh you'be already done it? thanks! so basically you have to attend 2 orientations?
DeleteWell, first there's the scholarship's orientation, then your language school's and finally your university's so technically, 3!
Deletewow so many!!! do they take you around Korea? or just around seoul? btw, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!!
DeleteHaha sorry to disappoint you but orientations don't do things like that. It's more about the information they give you and integrating you into the school/community. The exploring has to be done yourself. No problem!
Deletehave you tried taking the subway? i heard its very confusing.. or is the bus better. also is your accommodationclose to your language institute?
DeleteYes I have. As an undergraduate student you're supposed to be finding out these things yourself. Confusion depends on your ability. It's not that difficult. Anyway we stay in dormitories, so yes it's near.
Deletehow many interviewers were there and did you know what position they hold?
DeleteDoes the information you require have anything to do with application of the scholarship? I'm sorry but you're going to find those out yourself when you go for the interview. I can provide information to aid you in your applications but the ones you're asking me are something you will need to experience yourself.
Deleteno dont worry im just wondering coz ive heard a lot of different variation in how the interviews are conducted.. coz im in australia so im wodering if they can just do like a phone interview or do we actually have to go to the embassy in our country..
DeleteDue to it being a scholarship, I highly doubt they will do phone interviews. And even if that were possible, I think a phone interview would highly discredit your chances.
DeleteHi actually I'm also from TP and planning to apply for this. Just curious if you don't mind what's your GPA?
DeleteHi, I apologize for the late reply because I was having exams. My GPA wasn't excellent, but above 3.4. But by the date that you wrote this, I think the application period is already over.. Maybe next year?
DeleteHi, I'm also a TP student, set to graduate this april. Just wanna ask, did you apply after NS? Is it possible to apply now and ask for deferment of the scholarship?
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance!
Hey so sorry about the late reply, there was no notification for me. Anyway, I applied after NS. It is definitely not allowed to do your degree before serving the nation. I hope you got it all settled!
DeleteDid you get deferred from NS?
ReplyDeleteHey, I completed my 2 years of National Service before coming over to Korea.
DeleteHello, Do I have to register online on NIIED website after I got selected for the interview?
ReplyDeleteYes you have to register!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I applied for this year KGSP and Also got accepted for the interview.. But unfortunately I couldn't get into accepted applicants in 2nd round...^_^
ReplyDeleteNow I want to ask that what Should I do for my next year challenge? Is there any advice that you can give me? Thank you so much..
If you did not get accepted for the interview round, it's because your documents weren't good enough to secure you to the next round. If that's the case, you need to either pull up your grades, or you have to add more achievements and boost up the things you write, such as the study plan etc.
DeleteSorry but do you mind sharing your grades? I was wondering if I had a chance in Korea University with my grades.
ReplyDeleteI graduated with a GPA higher than 3.41. I hope that answers your question!
DeleteCould you share your chronological PDF list of the procedure for the scholarship. Pleaseeeeeeeee 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by chronological PDF list?
DeleteHi, can I please check with you if they did inform you after the interview that you were through to the 3rd selection (NIIED) or you only knew after NIIED posted the list? If they informed you, approximately how long did it took? Thank you very much in advance for your reply.
ReplyDeleteI only knew after they posted the list. From what I heard, if you pass the interview, you most likely pass the 3rd selection as well. Good luck!
DeleteHello, I want to ask regards embassy applications.
ReplyDeletei applied via embassy and the quota of my country is only student , today the embassy told me that i have been pre-selected to be on the Waiting List for those who passed through the 1st round of selection for the Program.
so could you please tell me the next process and if i have still chance to get the scholarship?
Thanks
If you have been pre-selected to be on the waiting list, it means that you would only get the scholarship if the people who were selected get "kicked off" either by getting rejected in the 3rd second or third round or if they give up the scholarship.
DeleteHi there I already read all your blog and I have some doubts:
ReplyDelete1. in the vacation period, u continue receiving money if you dont travel outside korea?
2. when the dormitory fee is deducted from the stinpend the money you have is enought to eat and transport or you need a lot of economic help from your parents?
hope you can help me with my doubts.
thanks a lot for put all this information here
Hello!
DeleteDuring the vacation period you're allowed to travel outside of the country, and if that exceeds 30 days, they start to deduct your allowance for every extra day that you're out of the country.
After the dormitory fee is deducted you definitely have more than enough to eat and travel around. On top of that you can do part-time work as well as join different programs that give extra cash as well. You just need to manage your money well.
Good luck!
Hi Jonathan
ReplyDeleteChanced upon your blog and it's very informative. One thing i need to clarify is this: If an applicant wasn't selected to receive the KGSP, can he admitted as a student and apply for the university scholarship? OR he has to do a fresh application direct to the university.
Thanks
Mrs Yeo
Hello, I apologize for the late reply! If an applicant wasn't selected to receive KGSP, he or she has to do a fresh application direct to the university. If the applicant wasn't selected the application does not go to the University at all. I believe it would have to be done simultaneously though, since the application periods clash. Good luck!
DeleteThis post is really helpful! Thank you so much :) Do you know if applying directly through a university for a Graduate program differs? Also, do we have to submit the same documents?
ReplyDeleteThank you in advance!
I believe applying directly through a university would mean you only need to submit 1 set of documents directly to the university and also the selection process is a little bit different. There's more information on the studyinkorea webpage so you can take a look there!
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ReplyDeleteHey Jonathan ! You said - 100% bond-free and you're even encouraged to return to your country after you have completed your years of study. What does this mean ? If i get applied for KGSP and finish my 5 years of studies i am obligated to return to my home country no matter what ? Couldn't i try to get applied for permament job in Korea and get a working visa ?
ReplyDeleteHey, well they encourage you to go back and "share what you've learned in Korea" with your own country however it's also possible to get a permanent job with a working visa here as well. It's definitely up to you when you've graduated.
DeleteHi, I just completed my 5th semester in Polytechnic. I have national service next year, am i supposed to apply for this now, and have this scholarship to take place in 3 years, after my mandatory stint? When did you apply for it?
ReplyDeleteHey! I only applied for it in before I ORD. So you probably have to apply for it after!
DeleteHi! I applied this year for kgsp, however, I don't have too many expectations. If I don't get the scholarship I'll try again next year. What do you recommend so I can improve my profile? :) I already have the TOEFL and I'm graduating from highschool soon. Also, do you know anyone who's studying with KGSP (undergraduate) and is older than their classmates? thank you!
ReplyDeleteA great example would be me.. When I entered university I was 24 while everyone else was 20. Hahaha it'll be fine though. Anyway, to be honest I did not have a lot of qualifications. I believe I got it because of my inerview. Brush up on that and make them believe that you're the one and that should be fine! Good luck.
DeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteWould you recommend applying under the Undergraduate or Graduate Degree program? How and why is the Graduate Degree program more competitive? Were you able to meet any scholars from the Graduate Degree program of KGSP? Thank you!
Um the undergraduate program would definitely be cheaper and if you're confident in getting into the graduate it would be better to save kgsp for the graduate. However, there's no reason stopping you from doing both together! I met quite a lot of scholars from the graduate degree program! I guess maybe it's because doing a masters or phd is more expensive than the undergraduate degree..
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI understand that there seems to be a strong emphasis on the age culture in S.Korea. Do you ever feel any inconvenience/ differences in the way you interact with your university mates, TAs and professors (or vice versa) due to the age gap you have with other undergrads?
Thank you for your time in replying.
Hey.. I guess at times this will always be an issue for me since I'm much older than my peers. I guess in terms of university mates I don't really have issues, and since age isn't a huge thing for me (I'm not Korean) it really doesn't matter even if TAs are younger than me. As long as they have the authority, it doesn't really matter how old they are. One of the inconveniences that I would feel being someone older is that many of my peers feel like it's difficult to talk to me or they would find it hard to befriend me seeing as I'm much older. Though others who are of the same age find it easier to open up. Good luck!
DeleteHi Jonathan! Thank you for this post it's really helpful and informative especially coming from someone who actually received the scholarship, kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to ask if proficiency in Korean language will give you an edge/higher chance of being selected? I personally have worked free-lance jobs for korean-english interpretation and teaching to students, and am also working/have worked in companies that require korean language in the job scope. I am planning towards applying for KGSP in Sept this year for undergraduate program (I'm 22 this year) but feeling rather iffy about it since it seems like only 1 Singaporean is selected every year ;;
Thank you for your time!!
Hello Denise!
DeleteHmm.. I'm actually not totally sure whether a proficiency in Korean gives you a higher chance in being selected. However, it is one of the things that they ask when you're applying for the programme. I'm not sure whether this information helps but all I knew how to do was to read Korean words but did not know how to speak at all and that's what I told them when they asked. I guess at the end of the day, since the scholarship covers a year of language education, I'd bet that the proficiency wouldn't be that much of a deciding factor in selecting a candidate. Your documents, and thereafter the interview would play a bigger part, I believe.
Good luck!
Thank you for replying! So, correct me if I'm wrong, I will leave that aside and just prepare towards applying for it in September this year. Download the latest version of the PDF, prepare all the required documents and submit it to the Korean Embassy in Singapore when the application opens. I understand that there will be interview(s) conducted, any chance they will need us to fly to Korea for any part of the interview?
DeleteThe interview is conducted in Singapore, at the Korean embassy. You wouldn't be flying to Korea for the interview. The first round is your document screening at the Korean embassy, then the interview at the Korean embassy (I think here, they will decide who they "nominate") and then the 3rd round is where NIIED screens the documents of the nominees and also comments from the judges I'd bet. I feel that if you get selected for the second round you're most probably passing on since NIIED can't really judge from just the documents, unless something bad surfaces from your background checks and such..
DeleteGood luck!
Hey Jonathan! Hope you've been well for the last 6 months since my last comment!
DeleteYeap thank you for replying and I will definitely prepare myself well before for the upcoming application for this year! Just got a few questions I hope you can help with!
I wanted to ask you about the workload and stress level of studying at Yonsei, considering its the Y of the prestige SKY universities in Korea. I was from TP and AMS's curriculum was manageable for me, while I asked my korean friends about SKY and they all say its stressful as heck. Wanted to know your opinion as a fellow Singaporean student!
Also, will KGSP scholars be allowed to work part time during your time there? I'm currently working at an international gaming company that also has an office in Seoul, was hoping I could continue with them part-time even if (so fortunately) get the KGSP award.
Thank you so so much!
Hello Denise,
DeleteI personally find it manageable in Yonsei, but it really depends on people and how they manage their time. I have friends who are stressed out in Korea/Seoul University and friends who aren't. As much as Yonsei is concerned, I've had semesters where everything was so piled up that I had to work nights, and some semesters where it was almost like a breeze and I enjoyed it every bit. It's a step up from Polytechnic definitely, though. It definitely can get a little stressful come 3rd month of the semester where you feel like you deserve a break after mid-terms, but all the project deadlines are coming up and the moment you're done with your projects, you have to take your finals and therefore juggling group work with studying can be a challenge.
KGSP scholars can apply to work part time during their time here, but that is subject to your reason and whether they would give you a student work permit (usually don't think it's an issue) and also you will have a weekly limit of hours to work. However, you can also work illegally (which I would advise against) or just teach English on the sidelines. Like Singapore, tuition isn't seen as "work" so there usually isn't a problem when it comes to that.
Hope it helps!
Good luck :)
Hey Jonathan! Thanks for always replying so speedily.
DeleteThat's true I guess, everyone's stress management and handling is different! But that you so much for your input so I can at least gauge what to expect.
As for the part time job part I think I'll just need to work it out with my company later on!
Wanted to check with you on the High School Grades portion, the GPA do you write it as 3.XX / 4.00 and then the converted percentile 8X for the /100 portion?
As for ranking, is it written like 84th/200 students for the indiv fields and converted again for the percentile portion?
On the part of "recommendation letters should be put into a separate envelope and sealed with the school's seal." so the two recommendation letters (originals) should be in separate envelopes from the rest of the documents and stamped/signed with school's seal.
Correct me if I'm wrong, since the lecturers are supposed to sign and make 3 copies of the original letter, you should be getting 4 individual sealed envelopes from each of the 2 lecturers? Also, can the recommendation letters be typed out then signed? Or do they need to be handwritten?
I feel really indebted to you as your blog is what been helping me clear many doubts and fears I've had about applying for KGSP. So thank you so so much!
Hello Denise, I just got back from China (where everything google related doesn't work), so apologies for the late reply.
DeleteFor the high school grades portion, you can write it in the percentile way I think. The conversion table is there just to help people who have their grades shown in a different way. I left my ranking blank since I wasn't able to get it from my lecturer so I'm not too sure about that.
For the recommendation letters, yes, they should be in separate envelopes and stamped with the school's seal. Honestly speaking, I'm not even sure whether my lecturer provided 1 original and 3 copies. If I remember correctly, I just received 1 envelope each from each lecturer. I don't even know if they typed it out or wrote it by hand since I've never opened it and looked at it. I guess you can call the embassy to see what's required. I believe since it's a recommendation it should be fine. They might open it and print copies if need be.
No problem, and I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Jonathan!
DeleteHope you had a great time in China!
Yeah I figured cos I called TP too and they werent able to give me my ranking information either.
I'm in the midst of preparing my documents and the KE has posted the notice for KGSP 2018 today!!! Really really super excited and keeping my fingers/toes crossed for the next half a year.
Thank you for everything once again, I really hope to be able to update you on good news later this year.
Cheers, stay healthy!!
Wishing you the best of luck, and hope to see you in Korea next year! ^^
DeleteHi Jonathan! Thanks for such a detailed and helpful explanation of the process!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of studying a graduate programme in Korea starting this year. just want to ask about the two tracks for applying. From what I've researched, the application period for the university track to SNU opens around Feb and the application period for the Embassy track in Singapore opens around September. Does this mean that I can apply for the university track to SNU this coming Feb and if I fail this track I will be able to apply for the Embassy track in September?
From what I've read, the Embassy track is slightly more advantageous in some areas but that would mean having to wait another year which is not really desirable for me.
I'd appreciate any comments you have! Thanks!
You're welcome!
DeleteIf you're doing the graduate program it starts in the Fall rather than in Spring so the application for University track should be in August whereas the Embassy track should be in March or so.. I'm not too sure so you'd need to check again. For the University track, from what I've heard, you would already have to be in Korea for it to work, whereas for the Embassy track you would have to apply for it from Singapore. For both these tracks I would be assuming you're talking about KGSP.
If you fail the application for KGSP, you can always apply for the school and when you're already studying there, you can apply for scholarships directly from the school (non-KGSP) as well. There are also many scholarship programs which offer expense grants and one-off scholarship grants.
I've never actually done or heard from anyone who's done the university track so I'm not too sure. Sorry I can't be of more help here.
Good luck!
hi dear, nice work you have done here. its really informative. pls clarify something for me. presently iam not in my country but i will be going bck to my country in less than a month,can i apply through the Korean Embassy in the country that iam now and then follow up the interviews at the embassy in my country? also in the page, there is no link to apply to the participating universities direct,does it mean i have to apply the each university of my choice individually? and about the forms,after printing the pdf is it the same ones that i will submit or it jus for guidance. will be happy for your kind explanatory response.
ReplyDeleteHello! You're very welcome. I hope the information here helps. Yes you can apply for it as long as you're back in your country for your interview. I think they might make a few phone calls as well so be sure to pick up. As long as you're applying through the Korean Embassy of YOUR country then you'll be fine.
DeleteAnother thing is that the universities will automatically be applied for you on your behalf through the scholarship application because there's a section where you will write the schools and major you want to apply for. You need to download the pdf from the website because the ones that I have are outdated. You will submit the back part which is the application and not the entire pdf.
Good luck!
Hi Jonathan, thank you for the informative post.
ReplyDeleteWould you be able to help me with my eligibility situation.. I have a Korean father and a Filipino mother. They are long divorced. My citizenship is the same as my legal parent (mother). Would you know someone with the same situation that got in in KGSP? Am i still eligible? Thanks :)
Hello Min Sung! Sorry for the late reply.
DeleteI believe that as long as you're not a Korean citizen you should be eligible for the scholarship. I have friends who are of Korean descent but do not have a Korean citizenship who have gotten other scholarships meant for foreigners (non-Koreans). But just to be a 100% sure, you should call the Korean embassy in your country to check with them. I hope you are eligible. Good luck!
Hi Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteI have a question about the GPA requirements. I studied in the U.K. which uses the first class/second upper class grading system. They will not be able to convert my grades to a GPA or to a percentage (for the top 20% requirement). I know that the application guidelines say that if the grades are difficult to convert, the school has to provide an official document explaining the "evaluation system as well as the candidate's academic achievement".
Do you have any advice on this? Like will a grading scale at the back of the transcript suffice (70- first class, 60-60- second upper class) be sufficient? Or if you know someone who had a similar issue and what he/she did?
Thank you for your time!
Hey,
DeleteI believe that the grading scale at the back of the transcript will suffice. As long as it shows you are in a certain percentile range, they will be able to gauge where you are at. That being said, it's always better to call the Korean embassy in your country just to double confirm if it's allowed. They do speak English so it's not difficult to communicate. I do not know of any friends who has had a similar issue but it's definitely better to reconfirm with the embassy on what they accept. I know for a fact that even though it's the same scholarship, the system somewhat differs from different embassies across different countries. Good luck!!
Hey Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I was just wondering where you got your two sets of recommendation letters from? I'm from Singapore Polytechnic so i do not know whom i should approach for. Please do advise me.
Thank you!
Hey Will!
DeleteYou're very welcome. I got my recommendation letters from two of my lecturers in Temasek Polytechnic. You can choose to get the head lecturer in your department, or go for two lecturers whom you had better relationships with (in other words, they remember you and have a good impression of you). I wwnt for the latter! Good luck.
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ReplyDeleteHey there RT, apologies for the late reply. You're very welcome!
DeleteI believe I sent all my documents in black and white and photocopied versions are fine. As for the sealed documents I remember only submitting one of each. I received my recommendation letters one each from my lecturers and submitted them as they are. Hmm.. now that you mentioned it I can't really recall whether I got my lecturers to make copies and separate them. But nevertheless I think it would be better to call the embassy to check with them straight. (Just in case I'm wrong). It's alright to be confused. Good luck and I hope you got everything settled. Was pretty busy with school lately and didn't check this space.
This was way too helpful, thank you for taking the time in writing all of these. My first lenguage is spanish and my contry is nowhere near Singapore but it doesn't matter at the end.
ReplyDeleteI have a question that is bothering me, does the papers need to be issued within a certain time? Because my high school Certificate was issued in february 2017 and by september it will be 8 months old. It matters? Or you recomend to obtain another with my School when the date for the application for the schoolarship is nearer.
Apologies for the late reply. You're very welcome. I believe it doesn't matter when it was issued since they want your latest qualifications. But you should still make a call to the Korean embassy to inquire in case I'm wrong. Good luck! ^^
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm taking Business in Yonsei University.
Indeed they do prefer those in the engineering or science. I have some friends who are also in the arts and are under the scholarship. Never hurts to try!
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DeleteHello, you're very welcome!
DeleteI believe the people who applied together with me submitted their prelim grades and then finally submitted their A' Level grades. I'm not too sure about that though since I went to polytechnic. It would be better to call the embassy to check if things have changed since I do not want to provide outdated information.
The ultra tickets were won from a facebook contest! So it wasn't because I am a KGSP scholar ^^
I believe you should be able to attach SAT scores if you have done SATs but it's not really required I guess. I think KAIST is pretty difficult to get into unless you have a lot of experience in the IT/design or engineering field. But it never hurts to put that as your first choice and see what happens. I hope this helps! Good luck.
Hi Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the information regarding this.
I am currently studying in ITE and I am planning to study in korea after my Poly.
but I would like to ask if it is possible to apply for the scholarship and reserve a slot while i complete my national service?
Hey, no problem. You wouldn't be able yo hold a spot while completing your national service so you'd have to apply in your final year of NS if it fits the timing to fly in Feb (spring) OR you'd have to wait for a full year if you miss the date. This was the case when I applied in 2013. You may want to contact the embassy and check whether it still applies. Good luck!
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ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the details. I actually have quite a few questions I'm hoping you don't mind answering (sorry!) (1) I'm in a school that does the IB diploma program and was wondering if this would be accepted? (2) Does this scholarship require me to apply to the schools I'm interested in myself or do I just do so through the scholarship application? (3) Is it possible to major in medicine under the KGSP? and lastly (just out of curiosity), (4) what made you interested to study in Korea? Sorry again for so many questions and thank you so much!
Hi Natalie! I believe that IB is accepted as well as long as you can convert it into GPA. But maybe you should give the embassy a call just to double-confirm this! You would also be applying to the schools through the scholarship application and it's applied for you on your behalf! Thirdly, it's not possible to major in medicine and the arts under KGSP. Lastly, I really loved Korean culture when I came here for holidays and therefore I chose to come here since there was a good opportunity for a scholarship. Good luck!!
DeleteHello! I'm from the Philippines and I would like to ask if what is your email? I would like to have a copy of PDF File for scholarship. I would like to apply for undergraduate scholarship. Thank you very much! You could just the PDF in my email address: cnbluerockmail@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHello Denise! My email address is findjonlee@hotmail.com. However, I'd think it would be better to get the more recent pdf file from the studyinkorea website: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/main.do. Mine's the 2014 version and I think you would do better with the 2016/2017 one! Good luck!
DeleteHi Jonathan, thank you so much for sharing the details of your experience.
ReplyDeleteI really want to apply for the undergraduate programs, but the website states that a qualified applicant should be under 25 years of age at the date of entrance. By the time I apply for the program, I will be exactly 25, does that mean I'm disqualified?
This is my only concern. Could you give me some of your thoughts on this matter? Thank you so much for your time.
Hello!
DeleteI believe you should give a call to the embassy to check with them. When I came to Korea, I was 23 and I had a friend who was 25, but he mentioned that he was 24 when he applied. So I'm not too sure how they settle that. It depends on how they decide whether you're eligible or not I guess. Good luck!!
Hi Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThis has been really helpful for me! I'll be applying this year, but I'm having a hard time with the grades. My grades from school are in a 100 scale, do I have too convert all my grades to a 5.0 scale to get my C.G.P.A? If yes, how can I do it? I've only found ways of changing it to a 4.0 scale. I would really appreciate the help!! Also, do the copies of the original documents need to be certified too?
Thanks!
Claire.
Hello! You're very welcome.
DeleteIf they're in a 100 scale it should be fine. If you look at the application, it shows a 100 scale as well as a 4.5 GPA scale. On the topic of whether the copies of the original documents need to be certified, you would need to check with the embassy. For me, my original documents came from Temasek Polytechnic and therefore they were fine. I believe I did not have to receive any other forms of official stamps. Good luck Claire.
Hey Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if CCAs and community service efforts were very important in their judging criteria. Were you able to include that in your essay?
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteI would go out on a limb here and just say that you should include everything that goes in your favor in your essay. I doubt those would be as important as your prior education results per se, but it will still be a contributing factor in terms of, let's say, your character or your personality. Anything that would help in understanding the kind of person you are would surely help, especially since the only things they see of you in the first round are pretty two dimensional. Good luck!! ^^
Hey Jonathan,
DeleteThanks for the quick response! Hmm, I do not have CCA that i had great achievements within, so that might be an issue for me. Would you say that the Polytechnic / A Levels results are the main focus in their judgement?
No problem, taking a (long) break from studying anyway..
DeleteDon't worry too much about it I think. I believe their main focus would be Polytechnic and/or A Levels results yeah. The rest would maybe help but wouldn't be as important. Just try to sell yourself well in the essays and it'll be fine. All the best!!
Ahh okay, that might have reassured me! :) I'm also in a dilemma because I'm applied to a local uni that starts in August next year, but the next application is in September, and the result will only be out in November. Should I just go ahead with the uni first or just delay a year for the result to be released. I really want to study in Korea!! Sorry to sidetrack off the main topic.
ReplyDeleteI guess you could start off with a local university first, and if you get it then you can quit and come to Korea. At least you know for a fact that if you don't get it, you've already started school instead of delaying another year right? (Since we already lose 2 years due to NS)
DeleteAhh, i guess you're right. Thank you so much!! Yeah man, what a waste of 2 long years :/
DeleteHello Jonathon
ReplyDeleteDo I have to write why I want to study the department I am applying to in my personal statement or should I mention it in my study plan?I'll be so glad if you reply as soon as possible .Thank you so much
Hello, I guess you could write it both in your study plan and your personal statement? Personal statement being your motivation and thereafter the steps you'll take in your study plan. Good luck!
Deletehello, i have a question, there a rule u must have at least 2.64 right ? i have a little bit more 2.84 so, in % this is not 80 % but they need more then 80 % . so what does it mean ??
ReplyDeleteHello, I can't remember a rule of at least 2.64 gpa. Um you should not just be converting based on 2.84/4 but rather using the conversion chart available I think. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteconversion chart is something what they call on guideline appendix A right?
Deleteif so, i have every right to apply, i just can't understand what the matter with 2,64 which is in percentage 71 % not 80 but its clearly written on the rules on web site and on guideline.
2.64 is not the 71% out of 4. You can't just take 2.64/4 x 100 because that's not how it works. A C would usually mean a 70/100 and it gives a GPA of ~2.5 so yeah. Follow the chart and if 2.64 is within the range for 80 means you're eligible to apply.
DeleteIF the recommendee write the recommendation letter deos he or she need to write on the application form? OR should he or she write it only on the application form.....
ReplyDeleteABOUT MY PARENTS CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE,SHOULD I GET THE COPY OR THE ORIGINAL
ReplyDeleteI think it would be better for you to call the embassy and ask ^^ Good luck!
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ReplyDeleteHmm if that's the case I think you should ask the Korean embassy in Nepal. If the guidelines strictly say that you need an 80, and you don't have an 80 then I guess it pretty much means you're not eligible. However things might be different in your country, so just check with the embassy. Good luck!
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ReplyDeleteHey thanks Melvin, glad it helps.
DeleteIt's definitely possible to survive just on the scholarship money if you stay in the dorm and manage your money well. Another possibility is to do a little part time work on the side that gets you that extra cash you might need to move out of the dorms and into your own little one-room. (Or with the help of dad & mum haha). But otherwise it's definitely manageable to live comfortably with the scholarship money. On top of that, there are many different scholarship programs and internships offered by many companies which you can apply for that gives you the extra income.
Hope it helps.
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DeleteIt depends on the university and major that you pick. You would have to look through the courses available for each university and major, or ask people who have gone through or are currently in the courses to give you a feedback based on what they have experienced. You can also check online as I'm sure there are many sources available. It'll surely be a struggle to study in another language, especially only after 1 year of language course, but it's definitely manageable as I've seen what some of my friends have accomplished.
DeleteGood luck!
hello sir, i have to admit that out of all the blogs, yours has been the most informative. i am applying for the undergraduate program this year.
ReplyDeletei wished to inquire that are there any important engineering streams that one should optfor that are prominent in korea and have a really good scope. i mean is there any stream that maximum applicants apply because it promises good placements and has a scope.
your advice would be appreciated
I'm glad the blog post helps you!
DeleteHmm.. I'm not in an engineering field so I'm really not too sure what are the prominent ones.. I have a lot of friends in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. I'm from Business so I'm not really in a place to help you with Engineering. Hopefully you'll have more luck with information from the internet. Good luck!!
hello sir,
ReplyDeletethank you for you response. actually i am from india and there aren't really blogs and posts of any indian, so i dont have any such source. is there a way i can find out the universities which i can get within my GPA. i 12th percentage is 92 and i just wanted to know if i could get any of the SKY universities if i apply.
your views will be appreciated.
You can get into any of the universities you wish as long as you get KGSP. I believe your grades are well enough to applying to any of the universities and any courses. Good luck!
Deletehello, thank you for your help.
ReplyDeletei wanted to ask one last thing. how are the placements of universities after undergraduate. in case you could tell me the average package it will mean the world to me. if not, can you please recommend someone whom i can ask queries related to engineering? thank you again.
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ReplyDeleteHello Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that found your blog, very detailed and informative!
But I have a question regarding to the grades. My grades from school are in a 100 point scale and we do not use GPA, but on the transcript does have an explanation of the school's grading system (A is 90%-100% B is 75%-89%). So do i still have to submit an additional certificate from the school that my academic achievement meet the requirements?
Since I don't have GPA do I leave the table that we have to fill in our grades and rank blank? What did you do for your grades and how did you fill out the GPA and CGPA section? Please let me know I would really much appreciate! Thank you in advanced :)
Hey Mark,
DeleteI'm glad you found it helpful.
As for me, my grades were in GPA so I just put it in as it was. Since the chart is a conversion table, you can use the table to convert your 100 point scale grade into GPA I guess? Frankly speaking it's just how I think, and it might be wrong so I think it would be a better option to contact and check with the Korean embassy in your country instead.
Good luck!
Alright i'll try contacting the embassy, thank you very much for your advice.
DeleteOne last question I have is about writing the study plan B section, where they ask to include the timeline for specific plans did you have them paragraphed in the middle of the essay like this?
First year (20xx-20xx)
I'll do this
Second year (20xx-20xx)
I would like to do this
Then conclude with an explanation of future plan?
Yes I wrote them in a timeline for specific things I would have liked to achieve by a certain time. That sounds pretty much right. Good luck!
DeleteHey Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all this information. I'm applying for KGSP this year, but I'm finishing the 3rd year of high school and my high school grades are in a 10 scale. So in the GPA table, I converted my grades to a 4 scale and fill in the spaces of 1st and 2nd year. Should I leave the 3rd year part and the total part in blank? I'm really confused because the Korean Embassy said that I can participate since I'll have a diploma till March 2018, but they do not explain how to fill the spaces and they do not answer my e-mails.
Please help me!
Matthew
I have another question. The interview that you mentioned is in english?
DeleteHey Matthew,
DeleteYou're very welcome! Your high school only has 3 years? You should be able to leave those parts blank and then submit your latest results (even if preliminary) as soon as possible. However, if you'll be receiving your final year results and diploma only in March, I doubt that would make much of a difference by then. If your embassy said that you can participate then it should be fine to leave those parts blank however do state there that you'd be receiving your diploma in March so they remember that they said that to you. Just be as clear as possible in your application so there would be no discrepancies.
As for the interview, I'm not too sure which country you're from so it may or may not be different however it was held in English in Singapore.
Best of luck!
Hi Jonathan! I was wondering about how to fill up the form for the grades sections? Did you put your poly grades for each year separated by semester. Eg. "Year 1 Sem 1/Year 1 Sem 2"? Or did you just put the cumulative GPA for each year?
ReplyDeleteAlso, did you submit the original transcripts for your poly results and the original graduation cert? Or did you just photocopy 4 sets and had your poly authenticate them?
Thank you for your help! (:
Hello!
DeleteI believe I just put the cumulative GPA for each year.
I photocopied 4 sets and had them authenticate the copies. Thereafter for the interview, I brought the original documents down to be checked again.
Good luck!
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ReplyDeleteHai. I am a muslim. My names Adibah Athirah Binti Azman which is the same as the name in my passport. How do i fill up the form?
ReplyDeleteHi. I guess you'd fill in the form just like how you'd fill in any form?
DeleteHi. I saw this and it's very helpful! Although, I still need some clarifications regarding the requirements especially the recommendation letter. We are supposed to have the recommendation sealed and signed by the recommendators and place it in an envelope that is also sealed and signed? Moreover, do I need to put the two letters in a separate envelopes or it's okay to put the both of them in a single envelope? I hope for your response. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteAnd about the grades needed to be written on the form, should it be on CGPA format or is it fine to write in percentile like my average grade is 93? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello,
DeleteFor mine, I believe I had all 4 written and sealed in the same envelope for them to open. Grades wise, I think you can just write it in the way that they requested for (I believe it's the 100 point scale). Good luck.
For the personal statement, do you think I should write that I got rejected by local universities? :o
ReplyDeleteAnd also, for the entry and graduation date of schools, must I be very accurate about the dates? Are the infos found in the PSLE and O level certs? Because I can't remember exactly when I entered and graduated..
I can't really tell you what to write and what not to write so it's up to what you wish to tell the entity you're sending your application to. I believe the month and year you entered school and graduated would be good enough. Good luck!
DeleteHi, thank you very much for the information it was very helpful. But i have question to ask, for your study plan where you have to explain why you choose the universities. Did you explain about each of the three universities separately, or did you wrote it in a more generally way?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the information helps you. My study plan was just what I planned to do for my 5 years stay here, regardless of which university I get into. I believe it depends more on the major that you get into and what you wish to do with the time you have related to your major, than the university you get into, yes? Good luck!
DeleteHi! Thank you for answering my question last time. I would like to ask what is your grade in 100 percentile scale, if you wouldn't mind. Also, are you an active participant of events and organizations? Do you think being part of an organization will help me be more desirable for the scholarship? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy grade was above 90 in the 100 percentile scale, if that helps. I have been actively participating in events and programs here in Korea, however not before that in my country. I believe everything that helps to boost your resume would help your chances to get the scholarship. Good luck!
DeleteThank you very much! Sorry for bothering you, but I'm still not sure what the "sealed envelope: means? Is it with the school's seal? Or is sealed as in closed or the flap is pasted at the body? Or both? Thank you. One last thing, about the high grade description? What kind of description did you submitted? Because I asked my teacher from our high school and said that we don't have that since we are already in percentile base.
DeleteThank you in advance.
Also, about the rank, it says that I should be on top 20% of the batch. But my transcript was written with "1st" since I am first in our class which is the top class in our batch. Should I just say 1st?
DeleteSealed just means an envelope that's closed, and that you are not able to see/edit it in any way. You could also have a school's seal just to ensure that it's legitimate. I don't understand your question about the high grade description. With regards to certain things like that I feel it would be better for you to contact the Korean embassy in your country and check with them because it may be different from my year. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOhh okay. Thanks! Actually, I am having a hard time communicating with our embassy. They are not very responsive :( Anw, do you have awards? It's optional but did you include yours? My high school adviser lost my portfolio of certificates so I can't attach it to my applications and I feel like it will be a great help.
DeleteI can't really remember whether I attached any. But nevertheless if the awards are not really related I doubt it would have that much effect on your application. But of course, you're free to attach whatever you think might help you in your chances. Good luck!
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ReplyDeleteHi. It's me again. I just wanna if how long did you wait for the announcement of passed applicants after the deadline date? And if you passed the screening, it doesn't really mean that you passed the first selection process until you're finished with the interview? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe first selection is done after the interview. As for how long I waited, I honestly can't remember since it was more than 4 years ago... Just be patient and wait, and if not you can always check with the embassy when they would release the results. Good luck.
DeleteI would like to know how long did you wait for the call for interview from the embassy?
ReplyDeleteI can't remember.
DeleteHi! I got a call for interview :) can I get your email so that I can ask about some tips for the interview?
DeleteCongratulations!
DeleteI have written regarding what things to take note of and do for the interview here in this post. I hope you have read it all through.
If you have any more questions that are not answered here you can contact me at findjonlee@hotmail.com
hi I am omaima from morocco i just wanna ask if I can get any information about getting a scholarship for the 2018.2019 i mean the next year so that i can prepare all the documents on time
DeleteHey for the proficiency test would I need to provide any supporting documents or just state whatever results I have attained?
ReplyDeleteHello. Proficiency as in your Korean Language Proficiency? If that is so, there's only one certificate that counts and that's the TOPIK Exam. Good luck!
DeletePlease who applied for the kgsp 2018 to Keimyung university and have you been called up for an interview.
ReplyDeleteI applied but haven't received anything yet .
Hi Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your super informative post! I'm planning on applying this year (graduating in May batch from Singapore Polytechnic) and I was hoping to clarify some questions with you in regards to the English proficiency. I saw that you mentioned submitting GCE 'A'/'O'-level certificates as proof of language proficiency. Did they require you to submit anything else?
In addition, I would like to ask if you had only conducted the health check after passing the first round of selections or if it was done way before?
Thank you!!!!
Jesslyn
Hello Jesslyn!
DeleteThey did not require me to submit anything else as proof of language proficiency! (Unless it's Korean, then yes)
I only went for the health check after I passed the first round of selections!
All the best to you!
Sincerely,
Jonathan Lee
Hello Jonathan!
DeleteThanks for your help last time. I got through the first round and have been shortlisted for the interview. I was hoping you could help me answer some more queries I have regarding the health check-up if that’s fine with you.
I was wondering how long do they give you in between the end of round two and round three to submit the photocopy of your passport and Form 7 (the health screening results)? Would you recommend taking the health screening after the interview is over or after the results of round two is out? In addition, I noticed that the site you linked for the helath check-up offers health screening packages. Did you take a specific health screening package or did you consult them regarding what to be tested specifically to the requirements of Form 7?
Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. I look forward to hearing a response from you soon and once again, thanks for your help!
Yours sincerely
Jesslyn Lau
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ReplyDeleteHello Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all i just wanna tell you that you're my fav i love loveee your work and such an inspiration how you get better & better in ur videos also your blog is the most informative/helpful out there so ty for that xD and keep up the good work cuz you deserve it :).
Secondly, im already in uni but im applying for kgsp-U so my question is regarding the recommendation letters can i get 1 from my highschool teacher and the other from my professor in uni or both should be from my highschool teachers? also if my teach doesnt have a stamp to seal the envelope is it okay if she just signs it from outside or what
Thanks in advance^^,
Hello!!
DeleteThank you for your kind words of encouragement ^_^ It definitely made my day.
I believe it should be possible to get recommendation letter from your professor and your high school teachers as well. I think it would be better to have a stamp to seal the envelope. I guess even with tape and a signature it would suffice but an official school stamp would be better in my opinion.
All the best!!
okay got it :), Thank you sooo much & wish you all the best ^^
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DeleteHi there! Thank you for publishing this, it is really helpful. I have a few questions.
ReplyDeleteI have an IB diploma and got a score of 39/45, which is roughly around 3.7 GPA. I have a lot of awards as well, but most are for sports. I also have IELTS. How good are my chances of getting accepted for undergraduate KGSP?
Do you recommend taking the university or embassy track?
To add to that: do you have any tips for the interview?
DeleteThx n advance :)
Hello.....Thank you so much for explaining about the process..It's been really helpful.. :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteI want to apply to one of the SKY universities...and I was thinking what would be my chances of getting accepted into Korea university with a 95+percentage in highschool..? Could you also recommend two other good universities with a good chance of getting accepted..? Thankyou...
Hello, I apologize for the late reply. Haven't been checking this place.
DeleteI really have not much idea about the other universities, coupled with your desired selection of courses. It would be better to consult the internet and other students who are studying in the various universities. Good luck!
Hello Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteFirst I'd like to thank you for being so informative in your initial blog post, and still able to respond about this topic 4 years later lol. If you don't mind, I was just wondering if you had any extraordinary achievements/accomplishments as part of your resume when you were applying? I am interested in applying for the next round, but I am worried about what extra embellishments they would expect in the applications. I look forward to your reply!
Thanks,
Rachel
I plan to apply KGSP graduate program for coming year. What I want to know is about recommendation letter.
ReplyDeleteIs is alright to ask one letter from my director and another one from my manager of the department where I am currently working for?
Could you please give me some advice on that?
Good day Jonathan. I really appreciate you for you patience, kindness and time for helping us out. Please, I would like to ask for some tips on how to write the study plan because I don't really know what they want especially when they include "with timeline". I'll be looking forward to your reply. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your amazing post, it helped me a lot.
I am the only Canadian who have been accepted to the 2nd round and I am currently in the process of the 3rd round. It was dumb but I applied to all the SKY universities.
You said that there's at least one university that will accept me but is it possible to still get rejected by all the universities?
Sorry about my English as it's not my first language.
Thank you so much once again for your kindness for helping us out, it's really appreciated
dgdg
ReplyDeletedfefe
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Please guid me for GKS undergraduate 2020schlorship about documentation pls
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm entering poly next year and i've already started planning ahead and setting this scholarship as a goal for my future. Thank you for this very informative post! I've read the 2020 application document to understand the requirements and criterias but i can't seem to understand it very well.. so Thank you so much for this!! :)
ReplyDelete