My Seoulful Life

 Congratulations to the New GKS 2024 Successful Undergraduate Passers! See Link:  GKS 2024 UNDERGRADUATE PASSERS Sample View. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS!

Embarking on the path of academia, particularly as a foreign student in Korea pursuing a research program, is a tapestry woven with challenges, resilience, and invaluable opportunities. It's a journey marked by sleepless nights, demanding tasks, and a rigorous academic environment. But amidst the trials, lies the promise of growth, discovery, and the generous embrace of the Global Korea Scholarship program. The decision to pursue a research program in Korea might seem daunting at first, but beyond the initial trepidation lies a landscape ripe with potential. The scholarship offered is not merely monetary; it is an investment in your future, a recognition of your potential, and an opportunity to delve into an academic environment known for its excellence and innovation. Undoubtedly, the road ahead may seem arduous. The demanding nature of research work often means late nights spent in the lab, grappling with complex experiments, and navigating through uncharted academic territories....

Congratulations to the brilliant minds who have earned the prestigious title of New Global Korean Scholars for the year 2023!  Your exceptional academic achievements and unwavering dedication have set you apart, and we celebrate your success today. Your journey as scholars has been marked by countless hours of studying, researching, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Your pursuit of excellence in your respective fields has not only brought you this well-deserved recognition but has also contributed significantly to the advancement of global scholarship. As you embark on this new chapter of your academic careers, I encourage you to remember that knowledge is not just a destination but a lifelong journey. Embrace every opportunity to expand your horizons, challenge conventional wisdom, and explore uncharted territories. Keep pushing the boundaries of your knowledge, for it is through continuous learning and intellectual curiosity that you will make the greatest impact in your...

Dear Aspiring Scholars, It's now again the application time for GKS Graduate Degree (MS/PhD). I would like to re-share the information with you. Source: www.studyinkorea.go.kr Sharing with you my Google Drive for GKS Info since 2020: Time flies so fast so please CHECK IT OUT NOW! . . . . . . . . CHECK IT OUT! CHECK IT OUT! CHECK IT OUT! . . . . . . GOODLUCK TO YOUR APPLICATION! MAY THE ODDS BE IN YOUR FAVOR.

Hello, Annyeonghaseyo!!! First of all, I would like to greet you a Happy New Year!!! Start the year right, with positive mindset and attitude! Let me ask you one question, what's your dream? goal? Have you been putting off something that you knew you should've done before? You should be ready when the opportunity comes to your door!!! Don't wait any longer. If you're like me who once dreamed to study in South Korea, here's your sign, go and prepare that application! Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a fully-funded scholarship by the South Korean government. Take note, "fully-funded". This includes airfare, tuition fees, living expenses, insurance, and more! How to apply? Go to www.studyinkorea.go.kr, go to google and type "GKS notice" --- then read the previous application forms and guidelines for the previous year, or just read my blog about my application last 2020! ^^ Guidelines do change, but only a tiny bit. I hope you can get insights ...

Hello mga chingu! Annyeong haseyo, my friends! How have you been? It's been a long time, I know. Well, I became really busy. Life as a Graduate Student is never easy. But now, I want to update you of everything~ bit by bit. I entered Kangwon National University last March 2, 2022 (Spring Semester). At first, everything seemed so nice and easy. ahahahahaha! until, I felt pressured to learn everything in a short period of time. I need more TIME. Why? Because my subjects are ALL IN KOREAN . I know Korean, I can speak conversational korean, but " ACADEMIC KOREAN"?! NO!  It's my struggle. I have 수질화학 (water chemistry) course and it's all in korea. Chemistry itself is already hard plus reading it in Korean? My head just hurts!!! But by God's mergy, grace and overflowing blessings and strength, I somehow managed to pass my Spring Semester. Thank you, Lord! Pictures of Kangwon National University: KNU at night (near my laboratory) Beautiful traditional house Just me!...

Hello! You, yes YOU! Wala nang paligoy-ligoy pa. Mark your calendars on FEBRUARY 24, 2022 and prepare your questions regarding Global Korea Scholarship! Here it is: (POST from UP Korea Research Center Facebook Page) #UPKRC Korean Studies Info Session is back! Meet a Filipino scholar who is currently in Korea pursuing a graduate degree and learn more about the GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) application process and tips to live in Korea! Nicole Charis Pontanilla is a 2021 GKS Graduate Scholar set to undertake her Master's Degree at Korea University, Seoul, South Korea by the start of A.Y. 2022-2023 under the KU Department of Linguistics. Presently, she is attending Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea for her Korean language year. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics. Nicole was also an exchange student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, South Korea during the Fall Semeste...

  Hello everyone! 안녕하세요! I know you've been curious or somewhat anxious about the GKS application process and you want to know some details about it based from experiences of people who already applied and passed. Without further ado, here are some websites that could help you (from Facebook, YouTube, etc). YOUTUBE: GKS application (detailed): from my GKS batchmate and friend Justin Van Rivera. Make sure to thank him on his site for his efforts despite our busy time! :) Link:  Just In Time GKS NOTICE: Link:  Study in Korea FACEBOOK (GROUPS) Link:  KGSP Applicants ,  KGSP NIIED Scholars That's all for now. :) I also have my YT Channel but haven't made about GKS yet. It's just a compilation of my Korean Life experiences here:  Filipina sa Korea Feel free to ask questions here and will answer you as soon as possible. Fighting! Take care and be safe.

 NOTICE: GKS 2022 APPLICANTS! Dear Prospective Applicants of the 2022 GKS Graduate Program ,   Starting from 2022 GKS-G program, NIIED will only accept  apostilled or consular confirmed documents  for part of the application documents. Please refer to the attached file for further information.   This notice is to provide prospective applicants with appropriate time to prepare the required documents since we are aware that certain documents require lead time to be authenticated in some countries.   The full set of application guidelines for 2022 GKS Graduate degree program will be released in February 2022. For now, please refer to 2021 application details for the time being. 2021 Application Guidelines of Global Korea Scholarship for Graduate Degrees   The application procedures are similar every year, but there may be slight changes in the country quota, application forms, eligibility, etc., so please read the updated 2022 application guidelines very ...

Hello everyone! I am back. I was really busy for the past months because I was so focused on my studies and preparing for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) Exam. So here I am again to guide you in your journey also to becoming a future Global Korea Scholarship awardee. My question for you is - ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT THIS? It is not all about KOREA - it is about YOU , your dreams. How much do you want it and are you willing to pay the price? My story: (I am not saying that what I experienced here will be your experience too, just sharing hehe) We are now here in South Korea - ready to live the dream!!! Excited to pursue my Master's Degree but wait. . . FIRST, you need to pass the TOPIK II Exam .😅😅😅 Okay, so we are doing the Korean Language Classes. At first, it really looked sooooo exciting! - New faces, new country, new friends, new food, ALL NEW . And honestly speaking I thought the Korean language was easy. Why? because when you watch K-dramas, everything you hear is li...

Hello everyone! Annyeong! Welcome to my blog! :) As we all know, some guidelines might be confusing so we want to be sure by asking questions. See below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). AUTHENTICATED DOCUMENTS Q: Regarding the guideline that says, "When submitting notarized documents, place the original document before the notarized document.", please give us more direction.   A: If you are submitting an authenticated copy (notarized, apostilled, or Consular confirmed) in lieu of your original document, you can submit the authenticated copy only. If your document is written in a language other than English or Korean, you should submit a notarized translation of the authenticated copy and submit both of the documents. (For embassy track applicants: Make three photocopied sets of the authenticated documents, and submit a total of four sets of application documents to the embassy.) source:  https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/selectBoardArticle.do;jsessionid=nWAcOtFjqU...

  Hello everyone! Annyeong! Welcome to my blog. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) - Graduate Degree has officially started. Those who have been preparing for this, this is now your chance so better check out and read the guidelines well! :) You don't wanna get disqualified because you didn/t follow the instructions, right? GKS-G 2021 Before applying, consider which track do you want to take: Embassy vs. University Track. Taking Embassy vs University Track has many factors. First, check the QUOTA for EMB vs UNI track in your country. If UNI track has more quota, then apply for it. You have more chances than EMB track. Embassy Track Usually, people who apply for EMB Track are the ones with higher GPAs, with so many extra-curricular activities, volunteer works, and killer essays. The advantage of taking the EMB Track is that you may choose three (3) universities in your application, in case one rejects you, you still have two (2) options. *You will just send your applications to the Emba...

Hello everyone! Annyeong! Welcome to my blog! The long wait is over. GKS-G 2021 application has started! Are you ready?  For more info visit the site (studyinkorea):  GKS-G 2021 GKS 2021 Notice: Everything that you need to know is on the website. You may download the 2021 Guidelines there. Check my next blog for more detailed info about GKS-G 2021. Apparently, some guidelines were changed. Stay Tuned! Hope this helps~!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog! Congratulations on finishing your application forms. I know you spent a lot of time processing requirements and documents. So, it is time for you to finally submit it. Yehey! but....how? See below my tips on how to send your GKS application forms for both tracks. Submitting GKS forms: Embassy Track Hooray! This is the easiest compared to University Track (in most cases, except, if you are a foreigner in South Korea who lives near the University to which you are applying, haha). If you are near the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in your home country , then you may submit it personally. If you are far from the embassy, just submit it via courier of your choice. In any case, since you are just submitting to the embassy within  your country, expenses will be cheap compared to University Track. Submitting GKS forms: University Track Once you have made up your mind to that one and only one university which you want to be in, submit it via courier. ...

  Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog! :) I'll be talking about the Awards and Other Certificates part of the Global Korea Scholarship Application requirements. NOTE: That is a very tricky one, when you see the word "optional". :) In my own opinion, optional requirements are those that can either make or break you, it can be the reason why you are selected. Effort counts, my dear applicants. hehe Whatever the case, PLEASE ATTACH OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS because it will help you more in your application. Let us suppose that you and the other applicants have the same grades, same course (natural science & engineering), same everything, how will they pick you? You should have at least an edge, right? So in this blog, I will share with you some valuable optional requirements you need to attach. 1. VOLUNTEERING CERT. / PARTICIPATION     Volunteering while you are doing your Undergraduate is a great way to show them that you can multi-task, you have a work-life balance, and you ha...

  Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog. Grades are one of the qualifications scholarship programs are looking into, especially fully-funded scholarships because they want to invest in you and they want to make sure that you are qualified and worth it for their offer. In this topic, we will assess the grade qualifications by Global Scholarship Program (GKS). Q: My General Weighted Average is 70%. Can I apply for this program? A: No, because as stated in their qualifications, you should have at least 80% or above to qualify for the program. Anyone below 80% will be rejected automatically. Conversion of Grades Open new Excel file or Google Sheets. You can convert your grades by: Step 1: List down all your grades with their corresponding units Step 2: Multiply Grades with Units, then make another table for the product. Step 3: Sum up Units and Sum up Total Product. Step 4: Divide the (Sum of the Total product) with (Sum of Units) = GPA per sem. sample To get CGPA , simply do an averag...

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog! As we all know, one of the requirements in applying for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the Diploma and TOR. I will be talking about this since these documents are crucial and also will not be RETURNED  to you. DIPLOMA Your Diploma certifies that you are a graduate of that certain school and have successfully passed all the academic requirements for you to reach graduation. Now, other schools do not issue the DIPLOMA more than once - except when you lose your diploma (you will get affidavit of loss). The alternative to diploma in which GKS also accepts is the Certificate of Bachelor's Degree. This certificate states that you are a graduate of that University in the year____ and bears your school logo with seal. This document is a sample only, since I have submitted the original, I just kept a photocopy just in case. TOR Transcript of Records (TOR) is also a very important requirement. This "original" document can be requested from...

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog :) A lot of you are worried about the recommendation letter. I made this post to help you become calm and at ease. Recommendation letters are a crucial part of the scholarship application process but don't let that stress you out! Here are some information and tips on how you can prepare and complete your RLs. Recommendation Letter 1. How to Start? First, you may use the previous GKS Form for this section ONLY . This is to help you become prepared as they usually open the scholarship application around 2nd week of February and then closes about 3rd week of March. Last year, they posted February 11~March 15, 2020.  The deadline depends if you are EMBASSY TRACK (depends on the Korean Embassy in your country) and if you are UNIVERSITY TRACK (depends on the university you are applying to). Sample Recommendation Form 2. Go to your previous university - print out that form and ask your professors to fill in the details and attach additional paper for h...

Hello again, future scholars! Here we are on Part 4 of How to Apply for Scholarships. Basically, any scholarship has the same documents they need/require in order to assess you as a candidate for the scholarship. Almost all scholarships require these - your Statement of Purpose, Study Plan, and Future Plans. We will tackle all about this here :)  Statement of Purpose: Ask yourself, "Why do you want to Study in Korea?". Please do not say these things: - I love K-pop - I love K- Drama . . .It is a BIG NO! You should have a reasonable reason why you want to study in Korea (i.e., They value education a lot, state-of-the-art facilities, etc.). You can highlight what Korea has that you do not have in your home country. Also, put here why do you want to take up a Masters/Doctorate Degree and that particular major. State its significance to your home country and Korea. What's in it for them? Study Plan: Here, you should state what are you going to do actually when in Korea? Like...