A scholarship program for graduate students who would like to study in the land of Hallyu and technology has been initiated by the Korean government.
Filipino students can study and go to the country for free through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), run by Korea’s National Institute for International Education Development (NIIED), the scholarship’s alumni association said in a virtual forum on Thursday.
“GKS is intended to provide opportunities for foreign students to study at graduate level at higher education institutions in Korea, which will promote international education cooperation and strengthen reciprocal friendship between Korea and participating countries,” the objectives of the program reported.
According to Ronel Laranjo, president of the GKS Philippines Alumni Association, “in consideration of the pandemic, the NIIED will shoulder the students’ accommodation for their mandatory isolation, which is part of the country’s COVID-19 protocols.”
Based on the experience of the GSK fellows last year, the COVID-19 testing will also be free when they arrive. However, applicants for the scholarship program can take part in the COVID-19 tests here in the Philippines.
The GKS program of the Korean government intended to welcome a total of 1,278 students globally who wanted to go to South Korea after a graduate level degree or study, a statement read from the middle of the program.
The Philippines has 28 slots reserved in the University Track scheme, which requires students to enroll at one of 64 approved educational institutions.
An applicant can select only 1 university under the track, and the individual would need to ship the specifications directly to the university.
There are 13 slots, meanwhile, allocated under the Embassy Track for the Philippines.
Scholars who wish to qualify for the Embassy Track will apply to up to three universities and send their applications to the Korean Embassy in Manila.
In a separate video, Laranjo clarified that the Korean Embassy acts as the application’s liaison, which is why the application requirements can be submitted quickly.
The scholarship is also available to those who wish to teach Korean or develop their knowledge of the language, as well as scholars involved in postdoctoral studies. After being approved as a nominee for the program, Laranjo insists that candidates learn the Korean language for a year in Korea.
To continue with their preferred master’s or doctorate degree, they have to pass the Test of Proficiency in Korean Language (TOPIK) Level 3.
“May napapauwi po dahil hindi pumapasa ng TOPIK Level 3,” Laranjo said.
(Some students were sent home after failing TOPIK Level 3)
Those involved in applying must also have a bachelor’s or master’s degree that has the following grade point average (GPA) maintained:
2.64 on a 4.0 scale
2.50 on a 1.0 scale
C on letter grade
Grades/marks/score of 80 percent out of 100 percent from the higher educational institution the person previously attended.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea also announced on Friday that the country’s Ministry of Justice had “exceptionally approved” student visa issuance for GKS students admitted last year.
The Korean Embassy will also process the applicants’ student visa applications that will be picked under the scholarship scheme.
“Students who are enrolled in the GKS program will apply for a student visa directly at the Korean Embassy in Manila with the required paperwork,” the embassy said in a statement.
GSK ALUMNI TESTIFY
Laranjo told ABS-CBN News that the scholarship helped him succeed in his career and that he learned a lot about Korean society as a result of it.
In 2014, he graduated from Korea University with a Masters in Applied Linguistics degree. He is a faculty member at UP Diliman at the moment.
“Naging daan ang GKS upang matupad ko ang mga pangarap ko kaya aktibo ko ring isinusulong ang pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon tungkol dito dahil maaaring maging daan din ito sa katuparan ng pangarap ng iba,” he said.
(Since the GKS paved the way for me to achieve my dreams, I am aggressively advocating for it because it could also assist others in achieving theirs.)
“Nakatulong din ang pag-aaral ko sa Korea upang matupad ko ang aking pangarap na makapagturo sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas,” he added.
(Studying in Korea has also helped me becoming a UP teacher, which is my dream as well.)
Source: ABS-CBN News (Job Manahan)
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