How to get a Scholarship in Abroad: My experience with FGLS in Indonesia
I had that dreamed of studying abroad as a way to achieve my goals of being independent, seeing the world, and experiencing different cultures for a long time. The thought thrilled me, but I realized that securing a scholarship was the only way to make it happen. My journey, nevertheless, was more difficult than I had thought. I imagined that if I worked hard to look for and apply for scholarships, no matter how modest, I would undoubtedly be awarded one. However, reality was very different.
Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It provide access to a high-quality education, and it also broadens your vision, offers new perspectives, and gain personal growth. It exposes you to experiences and challenges that you wouldn’t experience in your home country, making it truly unique.
I started looking for scholarships while I was still in school, but I only began applying during my gap year. I applied to more than thirteen scholarships, got accepted for only one, and never heard back from most of the others. I spent days researching trustworthy scholarships, dealing with complicated application requirements, and filling out long forms. These little disappointments made me feel like applying for more scholarships was a waste of time. Looking back now, I see that my lack of understanding about the scholarship process made it more difficult than it had to be.
I was so thrilled and excited when I got the acceptance email from Universitas Islam Indonesia. It felt unbelievable after the hard work and frustration. I made my sister read it out loud to make sure I’m not dreaming. The happiness I felt at that moment was worth every effort and the time taken to get there.
If you want to make your application process goes smoother, here are a few tips :
- Identify scholarships that goes with your interests and eligibility.
- Start your applications early
- Prepare thoroughly for interviews and application process.
- Don’t hesitate to look out for guidance if you feel unsure.
Remember to give your best effort in every step of the application process.
I’d like to share some information about the scholarship that I received. It is called the Future Global Leaders Scholarship from Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). It offers a wide range of International Program (IP), and opens applications once a year. Students who are accepted are required to take a one-month Bahasa Indonesia (BIPA) class before the academic year begins. Be sure to check the link below for more details on this opportunity.
It is, therefore, without doubt that getting a scholarship to study abroad is always a hard process but the outcome, the personal and academic gains all make it worthwhile. Do not let challenges deter you, instead let the challenges be the very reason you push forward to achieve your goals.
More information:
https://pmb.uii.ac.id/international/scholarships/
Written by: Thrya Abdulraheem Motea Al-aqab
Edited by: Meigitaria Sanita
