personal statement for korean studies

Tips for Writing a Good Personal Statement

Study plan for south korean universities.

When applying to study in South Korean universities, you will be required to submit a personal statement or study plan as part of your application. This is your chance to showcase your passion, experience, and goals, and convince the admissions committee that you are the right fit for their program. In this article, we will provide you with tips for writing a good personal statement/study plan for South Korean universities.

1. Be Clear and Concise 

Your personal statement/study plan should be clear and concise, and should focus on your academic and career goals. Avoid using overly technical language or jargon, and make sure that your writing is easy to understand. Use examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and make your statement more engaging.

2. Highlight Your Achievements and Experience 

South Korean universities place a strong emphasis on academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Use your personal statement/study plan to highlight your achievements and experience, and explain how they have prepared you for further study. This could include research projects, volunteer work, internships, or other relevant experiences.

3. Demonstrate Your Passion and Motivation 

South Korean universities are looking for students who are passionate and motivated about their chosen field of study. Use your personal statement/study plan to demonstrate your enthusiasm for your subject, and explain why you are interested in studying it further. Discuss your long-term goals and how your studies will help you achieve them.

4. Tailor Your Statement/Plan to the University and Program 

Each South Korean university and program is unique, and you should tailor your personal statement/study plan to the specific institution and program you are applying to. Research the university and program in advance, and highlight how your interests and goals align with their academic offerings and values.

5. Seek Feedback and Edit Your Statement/Plan 

Writing a good personal statement/study plan takes time and effort. It is important to seek feedback from friends, family, or a professional editor, and to edit your statement multiple times. Make sure that your statement is free of errors, and that it is polished and professional.

In conclusion, writing a good personal statement/study plan for South Korean universities requires careful thought and preparation. By following these tips, you can create a statement that showcases your achievements, passion, and motivation, and convinces the admissions committee that you are the right fit for their program. Good luck with your application!

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• October 5, 2022
• Education/Study

Studying at a Korean university comes with many benefits. The country is well known for its beautiful culture and lifestyle. One of the requirements needed for a Korean university is a personal statement. 

Writing a personal statement for a Korean university will most likely enhance your chances of getting into the institution. Most times, individuals from a foreign country may assume that the application process to a Korean university is impossible, but this is not true because if you know how to write a personal statement for a Korean university, your chances of getting accepted will increase.

In Korean universities, a personal statement letter is one of the top list requirements, and, that is why you should put more effort into writing a captivating one. You do not have to go to the extreme, or sound nonchalant about it. 

Instead, you must make your intentions known by stating your goals, objectives, and why getting accepted is important to you. 

However, this overview will provide more details on how to write a personal statement for a Korean university.

Table of Contents

What is a Personal Statement

A personal statement (also known as a statement of purpose) is a personal essay written by a student to a school to share details on why they should be accepted in the school. 

A personal statement is a letter that provides little but crucial details about a student to the school. 

There are many dos and don’ts of personal statements. Because a well-structured personal letter will most likely help you get selected and vice versa. 

Therefore, constructing a unique personal statement is vital.

Nonetheless, it is one of the basic requirements of a Korean university; whether you are a foreign student, or a Korean, to get into any Korean university, you must write a personal statement describing your will to learn and be part of the student committee.

Making noticeable remarks on why you want to study in the school and country will increase your chances. However, don’t write your personal statement in the booming Korean entertainment industry. But personalize it to the country’s culture and educational sector.

Why Korean Universities Request Personal Statements

Personal statements are essays describing a student’s interest in the school and course. You cannot write a personal statement letter to the school except if requested. Most of all Korean universities request a personal statement because they want to know more about the student, starting from their personal background, views, and other things aside from things they are aware of.

When a university wants to know a bit about the student applying, they often request personal statements. From the definition of a personal statement above, it is clear why you should make your personal statement more unique.

Getting accepted into any Korean university is not an easy process due to the high standards of the varsities.

This is not said to overwhelm you. Instead, it helps you note the importance of personal statements in Korean universities.

Korea Universities Personal Statement Writing Guidelines

Following the Korean universities, personal statement writing guidelines will help you avoid lots of mistakes. Most students often wonder why their applications are not accepted. 

This can be due to not following the guidelines for Korean universities. Here is a guideline for writing a personal statement for Korean universities:

1.  Write in an official language:

To write a personal statement for Korean universities, you must write in an official language. Students must write their statement of purpose in Korean or English language. 

2.  The length of the statement:

While it is crucial to write a unique personal statement, it is also vital that the length of your essay should not be too short or too long. 

At most, a personal statement should not be more than two pages. Regardless of the details, you wish to include in a personal statement ensure to fit them into two pages.

When you write a unique personal statement, your chances of getting accepted into t Korean university will increase. 

Normally, a personal statement should answer some questions that will help the university know you better than your grades and test scores. Also, you have to make your choice of words personal. Also, link your stories to these questions and answers you are providing.

1.  Your motivations:

A personal statement letter will allow you to answer the ‘what motivates you’ question. To answer this question in your easy, you should link the course/major you aspire to study with things relevant to the industry. 

This could be making mention of how you wish to improve basic things through your project or/and how studying the course will be helpful to you personally.

As an international student, you should highlight relevant things that made studying in a Korean university your first choice and things you love about the country. 

2. Your background (Family and Education):

Without being biased, your background is what most admission officers look out for in a personal statement. In this paragraph, you must describe where you were born, where you grew up, and how your environment contributed to the major/course you choose to study. 

This is also in terms of what motivates you. However, this should focus more on you and try linking them with the country and school.

3. Personal Extracurricular Activities: 

Personal extracurricular activities are vital in a personal statement. 

This is not the part where you talk about hobbies like swimming or dancing. 

Rather, you must write about your significant activities that contribute to your community, such as volunteer jobs, club activities, and others. 

4. Accomplishments/achievement:

Your accomplishments and achievements are to be added to your statement of purpose. 

With a personal statement letter, you can make the university aware of the benefits of having you as their student. Talk more about your work experiences and the accomplishments you are proud of.

You can write about what you can offer if accepted as a student. And also, on the skills that will become an added contribution to the school.

Pros and Cons of Studying in Korea

Studying in Korea comes with lots of benefits and a few disadvantages. In this overview, we will share insight on some of them.

Pros of studying in Korean universities:

1.  quality education:.

There are several universities in Korea. This is an advantage to individuals looking forward to studying in the country. 

In a scenario where you cannot meet up with the basic requirements of one university, you can opt for another. The education standard of each varsity in the country is top-notch, and they provide excellent educational systems. 

2.  Unique student life:

Studying is fun when a university provides activities that can make student life easy and fun. Korean universities provide basic social events that can contribute positively to their student’s mental health. If you choose to study in Korea, you will have the opportunity of enjoying and be part of fun activities such as cultural events, arts clubs, festivals, and many more. 

3.  Advanced facilities and structures:

Korean universities provide students with advanced facilities and well-structured buildings such as cafeterias, campuses, sports centers, parks, libraries, and many other facilities that can help improve students’ life at school. 

4.  Advanced healthcare services:

When looking for a university, the healthcare services it provides should be on your checklist. However, Korean universities provide top-notch healthcare services for emergencies also.

Cons of studying in Korean universities

1.  intense competition: .

Getting accepted into a Korean can be intense. But it does not end there. Because getting a good grade can also be highly competitive. 

2.  Language:

Language can be a barrier for an international student. Although, there are apps that can help you learn the basics of the Korean language in a few weeks.

Top 10 Universities to Study in Korea

Here are the top 10 universities in Korea:

1. Seoul National University

2. Kangwon National University

3. Konkuk University in Seoul

4. Korea University

5. Kyungdong University:

6. Kookmin University

7. Sogang University

8. Yeungnam University in Daegu

9. Yonsei University 

10. Pusan National University 

Top 5 Courses to Study in Korea

Here is a list of top courses to study in Korea:

1. Network Management and quality assurance.

2. Medical Sciences

3. environmental and civil engineering

4. Business Administration

5. Information Technology

Writing a personal statement is not as difficult as it may seem. With a personal statement, you can link your desired course to the school and the country itself. Sharing personal details on what motivates your choice of school and course will most likely enhance your chances of getting accepted. Let’s help you achieve this – Contact us today. We hope this overview is a helpful guide to your search.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Must I learn the Korean language before studying in Korea?

No. You do not have to learn the Korean language before studying in Korea. Aside from the Korean language, the English language is also an official language in the country. However, you can choose to learn the language if you only want to.

2. What do I need to study in Korea as a foreigner?

As an international student, you need to meet up with the application requirements of the school and provide the necessary documents requested by the university, such as personal statements, grades, certificates, and others.

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-personal-statement-tips-for-Seoul-National-University

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A Journey to GKS: Personal Statement

• February 06, 2024 February 10, 2022 -->
• 15 min Read

In conclusion, this is my third post on A Journey to the GKS Series. Before this one, I had written about how to fill out the GKS application forms, and I had previously written about my experience studying for the GKS application back in 2016. This time, I'll be giving tips on how to write a personal statement that is one of the essays needed for the GKS application. I spent about three months writing both of the essays while I was preparing to submit my application. I remember that I started writing as soon as I decided to apply for the scholarship in November, put it off for around a month, went back and forth to make the required changes, and finished it just a few days ago.

Personal Statement Template (2021 GKS Application)  

Find the identification of your application first. " What motivates me to apply for this program and study in Korea?" Why should I be chosen from among hundreds of candidates by the reviewer? Throughout the process of preparing my personal statement, I kept coming back to these questions. I eventually identified my application's identity as I dug deeper into the explanations; it was a concise statement that would ideally make an impression on the reviewers and accurately represent myself.

I see a Personal Statement as a stage to promote myself. It tells a story about me, my personal values, and significant events that happened in my life that led me to aspire to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. The goal is to convey my story in the most impactful way possible so that no matter how ordinary it is, the reviewer will still remember me after reading hundreds of similar or even better stories. To do this, I don’t think I can merely rely on a list of achievements and experiences I have because they probably aren’t so outstanding among other applicants. That is why I need to put an identity into my application, to make my story stronger than my own name.  

In my case, “an applicant majoring in Family Studies” is the identity that I highlighted. Given that Family Studies is not a common field of study especially in India, regardless of how important it is for our society (don’t get me started into Family Sciences 101. Lol.), I guess it was the strongest point of my application that granted me a seat for an interview in the Korean Embassy. I could be wrong, but the interviewers asked about it during the whole interview session.  

Second, make your essay hook. If you put yourself in the reviewer’s shoes who has to deal with a hundred applications, how will you sort it out? There are sure other points such as grades that are quite easy to determine. But, when it comes to essays, how will you rate it and choose from a pool of applicants? Just like its name, a Personal Statement should be personal yet interesting. Personal; it tells who the applicant is, his/her experiences, achievements, and values. Interesting; no matter how different every applicant’s life story is, the reasons to study abroad and apply for the scholarship might not be so unique, thus, the way it is written should be fascinating and impactful. That is how an essay hook will make your application stand out and assure the reviewers that you deserve one seat until the final round.

There are many ways to write an essay hook; quotation, question, strong statement, metaphor, etc. You may try many different ways before finding the one that matches the big picture of your essay. An essay hook is aimed to attract the reader from the beginning of your essay. This is also related to the whole picture of the essay and the information in the next paragraphs. As I decided to emphasize my major in Family Studies, I open my essay with a story about my own family and what values I grew up with. I also wrote about how people used to ask what my major was about and whether it really was necessary to learn about family sciences at university. I keep this point as the whole idea of my essay which helped me to explain why I had to go to a Korean university.

Third, be reflective. Reflecting is such a habit to me. You know, that tendency to lay awake in your bed and replay what has happened that day in your head and what you could’ve done to make it better, or at least, to make yourself feel better. Well, I learned that doing it isn’t always good. But, when it comes to reflecting on your past experiences and achievements in your Personal Statement, I can never stress enough how important it is. After mentioning all your precious achievements and writing how eventful your life is, you need to explain what lessons learned that you learned, what skills you learned, and how they contribute to who you are today. It might sound cliché to write about how your leadership skills have been sharpened through many organizations, but I don’t think it will do you bad to show that you have learned from your experience.

Fifth, make an outline. To me, an outline always does wonders. You might have ever practiced it for school assignments. It’s really as simple as starting from the points mentioned in the essay instruction; (1) family background, (2) latest education, (3) significant and relevant experiences (working, internship, organization, clubs), (4) motivations to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. You can write down ideas for each point and add a few sentences for the explanation. As you develop each point, you may want to write it in 1-2 paragraphs and keep it as your main idea. This will surely help your writing stay on track, lead the plot, and transition from one idea/point to another without jumbling up.

Sixth, don’t expect to finish it in one night or even one sitting and then submit it on the next day. Only after giving it some time and re-reading it a few days later, you will notice every mistake in your essay, those misspellings-wrong tenses-wrong expressions, even if you’ve been very meticulous especially when it comes to writing. Also, I can never stress enough how you should stop yourself from editing those punctuation marks or misspellings while typing because it will put your idea on hold and take much time to finish your first draft.

Finally, ask someone to proofread your essay and give feedback. I received a lot of help from my English tutor who gave valuable feedback on my essays. Having someone read your essay sort of allows you to get through the pre-review and the nerve-wracking of the application screening process. Also, your essay will look different from someone else’s perspective so it’s important to get their feedback even if it’s as simple as word choices. Especially, because a Personal Statement is an essay about ourselves, we can easily understand it but it can be hard to be objective. Your best friend will tell you some confusing parts, things that you should explain better, or simply tell whether the storytelling is interesting enough.

There are a lot more awesome tips all over the Internet on how to write a great Personal Statement essay. These are basically what I did when I wrote my own for the GKS application. I have no idea exactly which part of my application granted me the scholarship, but I believe that the Personal Statement had its big share. For another essay, Study Plan/Statement of Purpose, you can check my post about it here .  

A Journey to GKS: Application Forms

I decided to write A Journey to GKS series based on my experience as a GKS awardee in 2016. Just like other awardees, I also received a lot of chats and DMs from people asking about GKS applications. It’s not that I’m tired and annoyed by answering the same questions over and over again, that I decided to post it online, really. That is practically what I’ve been doing in the past four years which, at some points during my student life in Korea, turned out to help me cope with the situation and keep me on track as I was reminded how far I had come.

Just recently I changed my mind about writing and posting it online so anyone can read it and I can re-read it (for whatever reasons), after joining a mentorship program (supported by the Indonesian Student Association in South Korea aka Perpika ) as a mentor for the Indonesian students and graduates who are interested in studying in Korea and preparing for the scholarship application. I mentored a similar program from MITI Klaster Mahasiswa back in 2017 called Youth Connection but I guess at the time I wasn’t feeling okay enough to share it. Now that I graduated safe and sound, I guess posting it online won’t hurt. So, this is the second post of my ‘A Journey to GKS’ series, and I’ll try to post the next ones as soon as possible.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post about my journey to GKS , I decided to go for this scholarship application the second I learned about this program. One of my thoughts at the time is how simple the application looks. And it is indeed simple, at least for me who had never applied for such a program and dealt with forms in English. The guideline also states everything clearly. Of course, I got a lot of help from GKS awardees I met online who were very kind to share their experience. But, I tried to do my share as much as possible by doing my research on the Internet in advance, making sure I didn’t irritate them by asking trivial questions I could easily access on the Internet or even the application guidelines, and avoiding the questions which are more on self-preference, such as “Is it okay if my recommendation letter is folded?”

GKS-G (for graduate) and GKS-U (for undergraduate) Application Forms are all over the Internet. It can be downloaded from various sites, such as Study in Korea, Korean Embassy sites, some Korean university sites, and Topik Guide. Along with the application guideline is a separate file of the application forms (although the complete guideline includes the forms as well), University Information, and FAQs files. These are the first references and ammunition that no single applicant should ever miss. You might have your sister as a GKS awardee and you can easily ask every single detail, but really, that kind of mentality will get in your way someday. So, go get the guideline and read it! (Sorry, I’m being too enthusiastic here.)

Thankfully, the application forms have stayed pretty much the same over the years. Minor changes might have been made as well as the regulation changes. However, it does not affect that much to the application procedures, thus making it easy for the applicants to prepare the applications way earlier even before the opening period. And that’s what I did back then. I downloaded the application guidelines from the previous years and noticed that the forms stayed the same, so I started to practice filling in the forms and preparing the required documents.

The first part of the application forms includes the application checklist . Depending on the program you apply to, either Undergraduate or Graduate Degrees, the required documents are slightly different. The application checklist for the Graduate Degree Programs consists of all required documents for three different degree programs (i.e., Master’s, Doctoral, and Research Programs) so the list is a little bit longer. As for the Undergraduate application, three types of documents are required for certain documents (graduation certificate, transcripts, certificate of citizenship, and awards). I might be wrong on this since I had no experience in preparing for the undergraduate application, but here is what I understand about the difference between the original, official notarized translation, and copied documents.

The original document , like its name, is the original version of a document that can be written in many different languages depending on the country where it is issued. In case an applicant only has one copy of the original document, they can submit the certified copy version which is the copy of the original document certified/stamped by the issuing institution (e.g., school).

Since all documents have to be written in either Korean or English, here comes the second type of document to accompany the original document, official notarized translation . As for the graduation/degree certificate and transcripts, some schools might provide the English translation. Otherwise, an applicant needs to have it translated into Korean or English by a sworn translator. From here, the document has to be legalized again by the notary. In the end, the official notarized translation should be a document written in Korean or English and should have 2-3 different stamps: issuing institution, (translating institution), and notary stamps. The last is the copied document which is the photocopied version (black-and-white document).

The number of copies submitted depends on the application track. For those applying via University Track, they should send only the original/certified copy of the documents to the university of their choice. As the screening process takes place in Korea, the documents should be the very best legalized version. For countries that require an apostille version of the document such as India, some documents (degree certificates, transcripts, proof of citizenship) have to be apostilled or receive consular confirmation from the Korean Embassy in the country where the document is issued.

Notes for my Indian fellows, here is the procedure to get the documents apostilled: legalized by the notary >> Ministry of Law and Human Rights >> Ministry of Foreign Affairs (New Delhi) >> (Korean) Embassy.

If applying via the Korean Embassy, one original/certified copy document, one official notarized translation, and three photocopied documents have to be prepared. Apparently, some Korean Embassies, including the Korean Embassy in India, may apply different regulations. Korean Embassy in India requires the applicants to send only one copy of the original document and the copies will be made by the Embassy.

The next part of the application forms is the applicant’s personal information , which is considerably easy to fill in. As for the applicant’s name, some who do not have a separate family name may find it confusing at first, like in most cases of South Indians. In such cases, simply write the same as your passport name: first name and middle name (if any) as the given name and last name as a surname. For the university and major choices for graduate degrees, some confusions come from the differences between Division, Department, and Major. The best way to solve this is by referring to the University Information file, on the list of majors offered. As for the grades/GPA, use the CGPA conversion table on the guideline to convert various grading systems. If the CGPA conversion table does not apply to the grading system of the applicant’s school, the information on how to do the conversion should be attached.

Applicant’s Personal Information (above Undergraduate; below: Graduate)

For awards and published papers , I believe there is no limit number but I personally mentioned the best two. You may want to mention the rest, if they are quite significant for you, in the Personal Statement. For published papers written in a language other than Korean or English, the original title and other details (e.g., journal name) can be mentioned first, followed by the English title in parentheses.

The next forms to be filled out are the  Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose/Study Plan . Instructions have been provided clearly on each part, so I believe it comes back to the applicant’s writing ability to come up with the best way of storytelling which hopefully will impress the reviewers. I have made a post for some tips to write a  Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose/Study Plan based on my experience.

Recommendation letters are another important required document for GKS applications. An applicant should receive two recommendation letters from two recommenders. The letter template has been prepared in the application, but the recommenders may attach their own template. Just make sure that they understand what points should be included and that everything should be written in either Korean or English. This letter is confidential, so you may want to clarify beforehand as to who will translate the document if your recommender writes it in other languages.

The last is self-medical assessment/personal medical assessment which is a brief medical history of the applicant. It can be filled in independently by the applicant without going to the hospital or any healthcare center and should be filled in all honesty because you shouldn’t let any wrong information stated in the application forms get in your way in the later selection process of the medical check-up where pretty much everything will be revealed.

That is the end of the GKS application forms. This is crazily long I know, but I hope you will somehow find this post helpful. 

This post has been updated following the 2021 Application Guidelines. Please do let me know if you find incorrect information that I stated here. I strongly encourage all applicants to read the guidelines by heart as it has much more detailed information.

Tell me when it’s enough.

Tulisan ini merupakan salah satu refleksi dari sebuah drama Korea berjudul “ He Is Psychometric (사이코메트리 그녀석) ”. Yep, you read it right, I reflected on the drama that I watched and wrote it on my journal lol. Itulah salah satu aspek yang membuat saya menikmati Korean series. Selain karena jumlah episodenya yang pas (tidak terlalu panjang atau pendek) dan akting para aktornya yang luar biasa (terutama pada crying scenes ), jalan cerita dan dialognya menurut saya mengandung banyak makna dan mengajak penonton untuk mencernanya lebih dalam melalui berbagai sudut pandang. Terlebih setelah saya bisa memahami Bahasa Korea, setiap scene dan dialog menjadi semakin menarik dan berarti karena ada nuansa-nuansa tertentu yang tidak selalu bisa diterjemahkan dengan memuaskan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia ataupun English.

Singkatnya, spoiler alert , drama ini menceritakan lelaki bernama Lee Ahn yang memiliki kemampuan psychometric , yaitu melihat kenangan benda hidup dan mati melalui indra peraba. Dia mendapat kemampuan itu setelah kehilangan kedua orang tuanya pada kebakaran di apartemen tempat tinggalnya. Lee Ahn diselamatkan oleh Sungmo yang kemudian berperan sebagai kakak laki-laki angkat yang membesarkannya, dan merupakan satu-satunya orang yang tidak bisa Lee Ahn baca kenangannya. The plot twisted, Sungmo ternyata merupakan pelaku penyulut kebakaran demi menyelamatkan ibunya dari kejaran sang ayah yang menyekap keduanya di basement sampai Sungmo berusia 10 tahun. Drama ini berakhir dengan Sungmo yang menyerahkan diri ke kepolisian akibat kejahatan membakar apartemen yang dilakukannya bertahun-tahun silam dan kekerasaan terhadap ayahnya yang mencoba mengejar dan melukai ibunya lagi.

I was hooked on Lee Ahn’s line when meeting Sungmo in prison, in one of the final scenes.

“I wish someone would tell us when it’s enough. The resentment, the hatred, and the guilt.”

Saya tersadarkan bahwa dalam hidup kita terus-menerus bersinggungan dengan pertemuan dan perpisahan, memiliki dan kehilangan, melukai dan dilukai. Saya sangat setuju dengan kalimat Lee Ahn, dan nyatanya berharap hal yang sama. Ketika seseorang yang penting pergi selamanya dari kehidupan kita, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti meratapi dan merasa kehilangan. Ketika kita dilukai, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti membenci. Pun ketika kita melukai, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti merasa bersalah dan menyesali. Seandainya saja ada lampu indikator sebagai pertanda bahwa kehilangan, kebencian, dan penyesalan yang kita rasakan sudah cukup, sudah mencapai batas maksimal dan ini saatnya untuk reset.

Ada satu kesamaan di tengah rasa kehilangan, kebencian, penyesalan; lelah. Lelah jiwa raga. Jika kita membiarkan diri mengambil jeda sesaat, kita akan tersadarkan betapa melelahkannya memelihara perasaan-perasaan tersebut. Kemudian kita pun mulai bertanya, “Sampai kapan? Satu tahun lagi? Dua tahun lagi? Apa selama ini sudah cukup?” Tidak ada jawaban pasti, bahkan mungkin setelah kita bertanya di sepertiga malam pada saat pintu langit terbuka.

Oftentimes, we just get through busy days and lonely nights until, at some point in life, we sleep without tears on the bed sheet, we laugh without feeling guilty, and we remember them longingly once in a while without feeling pain in our hearts anymore. We, eventually, manage to get through those days when the loss, the hatred, and the guilt are all that mattered. But still, we never know when or how it happens. I believe that time does heal our broken hearts only when we let it so, only when we let go who has gone, keep them in our hearts, and cherish them in our memory, only when we let ourselves move and keep on living

A Journey to GKS: How I Ended Up in Korea

Everyone has at least one turning point in their life. It’s momentum when one believes that his/her life has completely changed and a new one has begun. To me, GKS is one of my turning points. I wouldn’t say that my journey to get the scholarship and my student life in Korea was full of blood and tears. Tough days were there, but there must be a bunch of heart-breaking stories other than mine. God allows us to experience things and difficulties within our ability and even though I unexpectedly had mine, I know that He had been very soft to me all the time. It was the time when I learned different versions of myself I never knew existed. And just now, months after I graduated and managed to finish the program safely I dared to share my experience.  

The Korean  Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), which has changed its name to the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), is a scholarship program from the Government of the Republic of Korea. This program provides foreigners the opportunity to continue higher education (undergraduate and graduate degree programs) in South Korea. You may click  here for more information.

Studying abroad has always been one of my dreams since high school. It turned from a mere dream into a plan once I graduated from university. Given my major is not a common one (Family Science), especially in Indonesia, I knew that I should go overseas to do my master’s degree program. I could’ve just continued my studies at the same university where I graduated, but even my advisor suggested finding some overseas universities, the most possible one is in Malaysia. At the time, Korea hadn’t been on the list as I had no idea if any universities were providing my prospective major.

I only did my research on schools in Malaysia and the US until I ran into a broadcast message about overseas scholarships for graduate programs. The list was quite long so I did a quick scan and started to dig into each based on my country's preference, and Korea happened to be one of them. Back then, my knowledge of Korea was limited to dramas that I got to watch along with my older sisters (if you have three older sisters you can hardly choose what to watch on TV) and then some bands my little sister listened to. So I’ve been a fan of the Korean entertainment industry before coming to Korea, but studying there was never in any of my imaginations because I was skeptical of the idea of learning a new language (there were days when I laughed at the Korean language and how the actors/actresses look, never imagined it would be part of myself in the future).

Surprisingly, the moment I learned about GKS, I decided to give it a go. I did calculations on time and energy that I had (I was working at the time) and knew that I could afford only one scholarship application at the time. So I wrapped up my research on other countries and scholarship programs and spent the rest of the year preparing for GKS applications, which means that I literally gave my all to my first scholarship journey. As a person who was spoiled by her parents and never had experience in scholarship application before, it was quite overwhelming. But, I tried hard to prepare everything myself despite their disapproval. It was actually my way to show them as well as God that I could do it and I would make it (what a confidence. Lol).

I sent my application to the Korean Embassy in Jakarta as I applied via Embassy Track. I learned that the competition on the first round through this track was not a joke, but I simply preferred having three university choices rather than one and I didn’t want to take the risk of having my documents lost on the way (that’s odd, I know, but I’m always more on the safe side). Thank God, I got the interview call and then had my documents sent to Korea after passing the interview process. The next round was having my documents screened by the Korean National Institute for International Education (NIIED) in Korea and once I passed this process, I had to wait for the email from my chosen universities, whether they wanted to do another interview or directly announced their decision. At this round, a lot of awardees say that you’ve already taken your first step in Korea and there will be at least one university that will accept you. The saying was such a tranquilizer for me that I even started to make my packing list (I’m not always this confident, seriously).

I got the first email from Kyungpook National University which was interested in my application and sent me a written interview. While undergoing the university selection process, applicants have to submit the medical check-up form. And it was around that time when things started to go downhill. It should be easy if you have no history of having any acute diseases. I was not a healthy kid myself so I was quite worried that something off would unveil. It turned out that the underlooked mental health checklist was the one that got in my way. I took my medical check-up in a nearby hospital which happened to be a mental hospital where the doctor couldn’t simply sign my form without doing all the tests including the mental one. So, I had to take a written test to get the psychiatrist's signature, which unfortunately turned out that she didn’t want to give.

It was probably the wrong time to take the test. I was tired and drained out after taking several tests in a day. But, I know the result wouldn’t turn out differently had I done it on another day. So, I had to respond either yes or no to 300 questions. I guess the test basically tries to reveal your mental state (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) through your fears and your response to stressful situations. Unfortunately, my result didn’t come out well. As silly as it sounds, I couldn’t hold back my tears in the counseling room when the psychiatrist showed me the result and told the story of people with similar cases to me and what happened to them. I sobbed not because she couldn’t give her recommendation, but because finally came the day when someone put my condition into words. It might sound like I was being judged and the way she frankly explained it to me was also unpleasant, but nothing was wrong with what she said which made me feel even worse.

You might think I could’ve just taken the test again in another hospital. But, I couldn’t let my money go down the drain, and asking for my parents’ money was not part of the plan. Plus, I had no ample time to do it all over again and get the results on time. More than anything, I started to doubt my decision to study abroad. I knew that the fear of living away from my parents and not being able to handle things independently had always been there all along (I don’t know if anyone at my age could relate). Not only one person pointed it out, but I kept on denying it. So, when it was brought to the surface, especially by a professional, it was painful to the point that I considered withdrawing because I couldn't even trust myself to take a risk.

Surprise-surprise, only a few days after the medical check-up I received the acceptance email from Kyungpook National University. I took it as a yes from God. I had come that far and I wouldn't trade my spot for some future events no one ever knew would really happen. So, with as much courage as I had, I took the mental health test again suggested by the kind nurse who listened to me crying in the counseling room, answered the same questions differently, and managed to receive the psychiatrist's signature to complete my medical form. Later, I got acceptance notifications from Pusan National University and Seoul National University as well, and I ended up choosing the latter for my graduate school in Korea.

Preparing for GKS applications and undergoing the selection process for months have taught me the pain of waiting and struggling. At one point, it showed me that I could push my boundaries and instead of jumping out of my comfort zone, I tried to widen it and made things that were used to be hard become part of myself. With the permission of God, I could turn myself into such an overconfident head by asking for prayers from people I know (in case my family’s prayers were not strong enough to persuade God. Lol). At another point, I was awakened to things I have been feared to deal with although I know I eventually have to. Confronting my fears wasn’t always pleasant nor that it affected me positively and became part of my comfort zone, but I did my share by trying to face it. At the end of the day, I learned Ikhlas and literally let God do the rest and decide for me. While waiting for the announcement I pictured the day I was rejected, hoping that it would ease the pain later. I also told myself a hundred times that everything would be okay even if I failed as long as the sun still rises; I would cry my eyes out for days, receive comforting words halfheartedly, and wake up one day feeling okay again. 

My journey to be part of GKS came to a beautiful end as I flew to Korea in August 2016 and started the real struggle for 3 years. Some of what the psychiatrist said back then about people with similar cases like me did happen to me too, but I finished it differently. It was a tough year and only God’s mercy and the people I spent my time with in Korea helped me to stay sane and get through it. 

Hi, I'm I-Kets

I'm David Smith, husband and father , I love Photography,travel and nature. I'm working as a writer and blogger with experience of 5 years until now.

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Personal Statement SOP Sample for Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) 2024

by Contentholic | Mar 5, 2024 | Personal Statement , SOP For Scholarship , SOP Samples , SOP Writing , Statement of Purpose , Study Plan | 11 comments

GKS Scholarships, also known as KGSP Scholarship is a very famous Korean Scholarship Program in South Korea funded by its Government to invite global talent to the country. Applying to GKS requires a Personal Statement to be submitted along with the GKS application and the academic documents of the candidate. SOP for GKS Scholarship or Personal Statement for GKS plays a very important role in the final grant of the scholarships to the candidates as it is a fully funded scholarship to the candidates and they are selected based on the GKS Study Plan they submit. We have created a comprehensive blog to give you clarity on – What is GKS, how to apply for GKS, and how to write an SOP / Essay / Personal Statement for GKS in 2024. Please read the article to the end as we have also added the GKS Personal Statement Sample and Frequently Asked Questions for the GKS or KGSP – 2024. 

Content of the article

• What is the GKS Scholarship?

Are the GKS Scholarship and KGSP Scholarship the same?

• Personal Statement Sample for GKS Scholarship
• Importance of GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement 
• Guidelines for Writing GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement 
• Tips for Writing GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement 
• How to Write GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement 
• FAQs Related to GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement

What is the GKS Scholarship? 

GKS which stands for Global Korean Scholarship is also known as The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). This is an academic scholarship program funded by the Korean Government for International Students and this is managed by the NIIED – National Institute of International Education which is under the Ministry of Education in South Korea. This program was designed for non-Korean scholars and Overseas Korean People to invite them to study in South Korea through a fully funded scholarship program at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, after completing one year of Korean language studies. This was started a long time back in 1967 to bring overseas talents to South Korea and introduce them to the Korean languages, culture, and environment. Undergraduate students are entitled to receive 800,000 KRW per month and postgraduate students are entitled to 1,000,000 KRW per month apart from other expenses like airfares, tuition, and other allowances.

How to apply for the GKS Scholarship in 2024?

The basic objective of the GKS or KGSP Scholarship program is to invite international talent in Korea and let them study in Korea and their talent can contribute towards growth and development in the country.  While applying for the scholarship, the candidate has to decide on a study program for which they are applying to any of the Korean universities that are entitled to GKS. The chosen program can not be changed later if the candidate wishes to change the program after studying Korean Language for the first year. For undergraduate degree programs at Korean Universities, it requires studying for 4 years, for master’s programs the duration is two years and doctoral studies require a minimum of 3 years. 

Sample SOP / Personal Statement for GKS Scholarship

Below is the sample personal statement for global korea scholarship south korea.

The National Liberation Day of South Korea and the Independence Day of India are a common tie between the two emerging nations as they celebrate these two events on the 15th of August. No wonder Rabindranath Tagore had called South Korea, the ‘Lamp of the East’, showcasing its noteworthy advancement in technology as the rest of the world is enlightened using products of the companies based in South Korea. This is profound in most Indian households. I remember clearly how each time I saw an advertisement for LG refrigerators and Samsung mobile phones, I jumped as these were the products that we used at home. As a child’s curiosity would have it upon finding similarities, I was always excited. In 9th grade, this excitement transformed into curiosity when my teacher informed me how South Korea is the core where reliable technology and ergonomic products are manufactured. My teacher also informed me about how South Korea invests in education so its citizens remain at the forefront of advanced technology. After listening to this, I could connect the dots, and it wasn’t a wonder that such wonderful easy-to-use products are made in South Korea. Not just expensive products, even trivial daily use products have their origin designed in South Korea, reflecting how people are scrupulous in designing. From here, my quest to perceive the exponential growth taking place in South Korea began.   

In New Delhi, the capital of India, I visited the Korean Cultural Centre which displayed the beautiful culture, language, and clothes of the people of South Korea. Immediately post this visit, I started looking for opportunities to learn more about South Korea and I embarked on this learning path by beginning to learn the language. While learning the language at SEJONG HAKDANG (KCCI) I received a 100% scholarship for the Intermediate semester for being in the top 10% of students in the beginner semester, which encouraged me more towards this stream.I started participating in essays and quiz competitions organized by the Korean Embassy in India. I also participated in Korea-India 2021 quiz competition where I qualified at the school level and participated in the state prelims quiz (KIFQ-DEL-226). Such platforms helped me learn about South Korea’s clothing and fashion, food, housing, festivals and celebrations, culture and arts, history, and the country’s remarkable growth at an exponential rate through its strong education system. During my participation in the quiz, I also encouraged my fellow students to participate as it gives me pleasure to share knowledge with my friends and also elevate my level of education. My participation naturally made me focus on South Korea’s accomplishments, development, and high-ranking universities. This motivated me to opt for my higher studies in South Korea. 

The efficacy of education was invariably known to me and my deep-rooted interest in the same stems from observing my mother. A public school teacher, my mother taught Maths, and I under her umbrella, not only gained dexterity in the subject, but also admiration for logical thinking. My family plays an important role in bringing me to this juncture where I can apply for my Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering. Witnessing my elder sister’s dedication who acquired a merit-based scholarship at a renowned University in the US and my father’s diligence to bring his children to a platform where they can choose their path, has been extremely stimulating and inspiring. The current student loan that my sister has taken for her further education will be able to help her secure a good position post the MS course and I want to follow the same path so I can help my father who works at a stationery shop be at ease. Owing to my family’s financial condition, my parents have constantly provided the luxury of a good education and that is the only thing I have to fall back on.  Hence, during my school, I was a vigilant student who scored well throughout her schooling, while also learning beyond the scope of my syllabi. I have been a consistent holder of merit certificates for academic achievements since 7th grade and secured 1st position in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade while also scoring highest in Computer Science and Math in my entire batch. I often enjoyed reading my sister’s computer Science books as I felt hinged to logical and analytical thinking. My first learning of Computer Science was in grade 9th when I learned HTML. Along with this I also learned ways to create a website where I optimally used my creative abilities, especially in coding.   In class 11th, I unraveled topics like data types and operators, conditional statements, data structures like lists, tuples, strings, and dictionaries, sorting algorithms, functions, libraries, data file handling, error and exception handling, data visualization using pylot, data representation, and boolean logic. I also learned Database concepts and Structured Query Language, along with interface Python with SQL and cyber safety. Python-SQL connectivity became the target concept for my A+ grade year-end project ”result analysis” where I created tables in SQL and modules in Python. 

I also made an Art Integrated Learning Project, to find hotels that suit the tourists’ requirements using the concepts of Data Structures and functions. Alongside these, I have opted to learn through online mediums and have attained relevant learning of various computer science-related subjects.  To enhance my personality, I participated in activities like Inter and intra-school Debate, art, and quiz competitions that evoked competitiveness in me. I have also exercised my leadership skills as I was the Executive of the student council where I  maintained the decorum of the school and also partook in activities like organizing quizzes and managing cultural and sports events. I have also been a member of the interact club where I have practiced and learned the importance of community service. Sports have also been a cardinal part of me and I have enjoyed playing badminton and basketball in which I won 1st position at the zonal level competition which enhanced my focus and made me humble as a person. 

The various exposures that I have attained so far have empowered me to choose GKS for my future studies. It ranks at the top of OECD countries for scholastic achievement and educational competitiveness while also ranking 1st for  ICT (Information and Communications Technologies).  It will be a great step to be a part of GKS and understand more about South Korea in terms of culture and of course the emphasis it lays on education. I will be able to perform well as a student and will make my country proud as moving there for education is a reflection of the friendship between my country and South Korea . 

Download PDF of Sample Personal Statement for GKS South Korea

The Global Korean Scholarship Track Qouta 2024 

Embassy Track (800) + University Track (1400) = Total (2,200) 

The GKS Scholarship for this year 2024 has been announced by the Korean Government and they have invited 2200 International Students, for which students can apply through two tracks – Embassy Track and University Track, for which you need to read the whole to understand the same in detail.

The Global Korean Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in Asia and the most sought-after South Korean Scholarship among international students which can be applied through two tracks – Embassy Track and University Track, where the difference lies in the application process. The Embassy Track has three steps – you have to apply through the Korean Embassy where the application is selected and then forwarded to NIIED for further selection and then finally it reaches the university for final vetting of the applicants. You can select three universities from the Embassy track which is a better option overall and the quota allotted to the embassy track is 800. 

Embassy Track = 3-Step Process, 

Embassy Selection > NIIED Selection > University Selection

Options to choose 3 universities 

University Track, on the other hand, is quite simple, and once the university selects the candidates it sends the application to NIIED for final selection, which is a simple two-step process. The total quota allotted to University Track is 1400 which is quite higher than the Embassy Track.

University Track = 2 Step Process

University Selection > NIIED Selection

South Korean Universities Available for GKS 2024 Programs 

The South Korean Universities for GKS are divided into two major categories – Type A and Type B and each candidate can choose up to 3 Universities from A and B types but must select at least one of the universities from the Type B list as well. 

Type A Universities for GKS 2024 Graduate

Type B Universities for GKS 2024 Graduate

Importance, Tips, Guidelines for GKS / KGSP Scholarship Program – 2024 

The Global Korean Scholarship Program or Korean Government Scholarship Program for 2024 has been announced recently and thus we are updating our blog to add more tips and guidelines for creating a stellar personal statement for GKS Scholarship 2024. It is very important to focus on the personal statement because it holds a significant value in your application. Here are the tips to help you draft a convincing SOP for the GKS Scholarship in South Korea. One should focus on the story demonstrating what made him/her plan to study in Korea as they wish to admit those candidates who are genuinely interested in Korean Culture and lifestyle. Opening the GKS Essays with a strong introduction about the inclination towards Korea can be an impressive move. Highlight some unique abilities, skills, and qualities you have that can make you stand out from the crowd. GKS Program of South Korea is majorly focused on cultural exchange, so you should also show your interest and awareness in such topics and share some important things you like about Korea and its culture. Drafting an impressive, well-written, and insightful personal statement or SOP increases your chances of being selected for the GKS / KGSP Scholarship in 2024.

FAQs Related to GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement – 2024

What are the eligibility criteria for gks scholarship in 2024.

Eligibility varies depending on the application track you choose:

• University Track: Open to applicants who are citizens of countries designated by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and recommended by a Korean university.
• Embassy Track: Open to citizens of countries designated by NIIED who are not recommended by a Korean university and apply through their home country’s Korean embassy or consulate.

Is there an age limit for the GKS scholarship?

How to apply for the gks scholarship.

You can apply for the GKS Scholarship Program through two different tracks – The University Track or the Embassy Track. Both of these tracks have their application process and deadlines which can be found on the official GKS website.

What documents do I need to submit for the GKS application?

Required documents typically include:

• Application form
• Academic transcripts
• Letter of recommendation
• Certificate of health
• Personal Statement or SOP 
• Proof of language proficiency (optional, but recommended)

Different Korean Universities may ask for more documents individually as per the program level or subject.

What are the benefits of the GKS scholarship?

The GKS Scholarship Programs 2024  covers a wide range of expenses, including:

• Tuition fees
• Monthly living allowance
• Settlement allowance
• Korean language training
• National health insurance
• Airfare and travel expenses

Do I need to maintain a specific GPA to keep receiving the scholarship?

Yes, for being eligible for the scholarship the minimum GPA is required to pass for each year or semester to remain eligible for the scholarship funding.

When can I apply for the GKS scholarship in 2024?

Application periods typically open in March or April and close in May or June.

Where can I find more information about the GKS scholarship?

What is the difference between gks and kgsp.

GKS which is the Global Korean Scholarship and KGSP – Korean Government Scholarship Program is the same, thus the program was introduced in 1967 and since then its name has been changed but both these scholarships are the same and serve the same purpose.

What is the Study Plan for the GKS Scholarship?

Study Plan refers to your objective of studying in Korea and what you plan to do after you complete your study in Korea. The study plan is demonstrated through the statement of purpose or personal statement asked for by the GKS Program.

What are the scholarship benefits for GKS graduate programs?

The benefits offered by the Korean Government in 2024 for undergraduate programs are 

• Round trip airfare 
• Settlement allowance to relocate to Korea 
• Monthly allowance at the beginning of each month 
• Language Training Fee per month 
• Tuition Fee Waiver 
• Medical Insurance Fee 
• Research Support Fee 
• Thesis Printing Fee 
• Degree Completion Grants 
• Korean Proficiency Grants – 100,000 KRW per month

What are the scholarship benefits for GKS undergraduate programs?

11 comments.

Hello sir, I found this very helpful can you perhaps help me with my personal statement and study plan am applying this year in September.

Hi Bukola, Our Personal Statement Writers have written many PS and study plan for the GKS scholarship. We have your email id from this comment. Our team will get in touch with you for further information.

I loved the sample I also want to apply for GKS Scholarship this year. I will need some assistance with my personal statement and study plan.

Hi Deborah, Thanks for liking our work. We can surely help you in creating a convincing Personal Statement and Study Plan for the Global Korean Scholarship Program – GKS 2024. Feel free to call me anytime.

Hello I find this very helpful and I would like you to help me on how to write my sop personal statement and study plan thank you as I want to apply soon

Yes, We can help you with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. Please, get in touch with our team at https://wa.me/919811040414 or email at [email protected] .

I wanna apply for u_gks this year will uh plz help me with the ps and study plan .

Hiii I want to apply for gks-u program can you help me to write my sop and study plan.

Hello, I like this sample and I was wondering if you could help me with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. I am planning to apply soon.

Hi Victor, Yes, We can help you with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. Please, get in touch with our team on +91-9811040414 or email at [email protected] .

Hello! Hello I find this very helpful and I would like you to help me on how to write my sop personal statement and study plan thank you as I want to apply soon

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Korean grad school personal statement - am I going about this correctly?

Hey y'all so I am applying for the Korean Government Scholarship (SNU political science, Korea University & Dongguk University North Korean studies). I have been procrastinating so I sat down and wrote my personal statement for the scholarship in one go, kind of stream of consciousness. The questions I am supposed to answer are:

Motivations to apply to this program

My education and experience in relation to Korea/the scholarship

Reason for studying in Korea

Aspects of my background and interests which may help to evaluate my aptitude and passion for graduate study or research.

This is the first draft so it's still kind of a mess (I also need to cut out a paragraph to fit on the form) but I am wondering if this sort of thing is the correct format and if it is structured well/if it answers the questions well etc. If you could point out major grammar errors or areas where I wrote poorly that would also be great! Just looking for general feedback I guess ^

내가 한국에서 석사를 하고자 하는 이유들

(이거는 진짜 석사 지원서를 위한 개인적인 서술문입니다... 문범/어휘같은 것도 고쳐주시고 한국문화에서 이런 서류를 쓰는법 "문화"도 알려주시길 바랍니다. 이런 포맷이 자연스럽지 않거나 이상하면 알려주시길 바랍니다 ㅠㅜ 저는 이런거 처음입니다 ㅠㅜ ㅠㅜ 잘 부탁드립니다!)

내가 한국에서 석사를 하고자 하는 이유들 각종각양이 있다.

한국과 나의 8년역사. 나는 미국나이 13살때부터 한국에 대한 관심을 기렸다. 그때 태권도의 매력에 빠졌으며 태권도의 원국에 대해 더 깊이 배우고자 구글에서 “한국문화”를 검색하였다. 그때 전에 전혀 모르던 “한강의 기적”에 대해 읽으며 깊은 인상을 받았다. 한국사회가 어떻게 70년간에 빈곤한 상태에서부터 전세계에서 제14위 제일 큰 경제가 되었을까? 이 질문의 답과 한국문화의 아름다움을 이해하고자 15살 때 미국고등학교에서 졸업하고 전주기전여자고등학교에서 일년 보내러 한국가는 비행기를 탔다. 전주에 있는 동안 북한인권과 정치에 대한 관심이 생겼다. 사실은, 대학교 지원했을 때 북한인권동아리 없는 대학교에 지원하지 않았다. 나는 15살 때 한국에서 나의 운명을 발견했다.

한국학 분야에서 나의 경력과 학력. 한국반도를 전부적으로 이해하기에 한국에서 일년만의 시간이 너무 짧았기 때문에, 조지타운대학에서 입학한 후에 한국반도에 관련된 수업 11과목 들며, 한국에 대한 특별한 내용이 없는 수업들에서도 한반도의 종교, 정치, 문화와 역사를 제출한 보고서로 분석했다. 교실 외에서도 한국이나 북한연구소에서 인턴십과 알바 9가지하고 한반도에 관련된 연구를 하는 Sejong Society의 첫 학부생 위원이 되었다. 대학교 3년 여름에 한국, 미국과 중국에서 얻은 한국에 대한 지식으로 미국 PBS방송국 프로그램 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver의 북한 핵위기 에피소드의 전문 분석가로써 고용되었다. 유투브에 따라서는, 그 에피소드는 2년간에 제일 많은 시청자들이 본 에피소드입니다. 지금까지 1330만명 유투브 시청자들이 나의 연구의 성과를 봤다.

한국의 문화와 사고방식. 미국정치의 핵심도시에 위치하는 조지타운대학교를 다니면서 훌륭한 교육을 받고 다양한 인턴 기회도 있었지만, 한국 사회와 사고방식을 더 깊이 이해하려면 한국 더 오래 생활 해야 된다는 생각 오랫동안 있었다. 2016년5월부터2017년2월까지 연세대 언더우드 스쿨에서 교환학생 프로그램을 즐겁게 참여했지만, 국제학생들과 해외에서 교육을 받은 교포학생들과 영어로 된 수업을 듣던 내가 “한국스러운” 경험을 원했다. 나의 연구와 관심은 거의 다 한국반도에 관련이 있어서 제가 연구하는 한국반도에서 생활하면서 한국 대학에서 석사를 완성하는 것이 자연스러운 선택이었다. 그러므로 한국 대학원 지원서를 제출하고 있습니다.

한국만에 있는 자료와 인재. 미국과는 달리, 한국에서의 남북자료가 풍부대채한다. 교환학생으로써 서초구 국립도서관 북한자료실과 북대의 북한자료도서관 갈 기회가 있었을 때, 미국에서 자료가 얼마나 부족한지 깨닫게 되었다. 한국에서 석사를 한다면, 필요하는 대로 마다 서울에서 구할 수 있는 자료를 대출하고 저와 비슷한 관심이 있는 정치학과/북한학과 학생들과 교수들과 함께 대화하고 분석할 수 있다. 이런 자료를 대화, 분석, 그리고 발표하는 과정으로 나는 학문적인 상황에서 쓰는 한국어 실력을 발달할 목표가 있다. 한국에 있는 동안, 한국밖에 없는 특이한 북한학 커뮤니티에 참여하고 싶다. 서울에 생활하면서 한국에 거주하는 안드레이 란코프, 최종건과 차빅터교수한테서 배울 수 있는 기회가 있다.

한국에 대한 나의 사랑. 마지막으로, 내가 한국에서 한국에 관련된 석사를 하고자 하는 이유는 한국을 사랑하기 때문이다. 연변에서 나의 쉬는 시간에도 한국어로 된 소설을 읽고, 태권도와 한국 전통 무용도 배우고, 내가 사랑하는 한국문화를 전세계께 알려주게끔 2만5천명 구독자 있는 한국문화와 언어에대한 유투브채널(SarahsSeoulSearch)도 운영한다. 석사를 완성한 후에 2016년에 제가 얻은 보렌 장학금의 조건에 따라서 미국 정부에서 일하는 공무원으로 한미관계의 개선에 역할이 있을 꿈을 가지고 있다. 2~3년동안 한국에서 생활하고 배우는 시간에 얻을 지식, 실력과 경험으로, 이 꿈을 이루어질 수 있다고 믿는다

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• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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• Undergraduate study
• Undergraduate courses
• Korean Studies

Korean Studies BA

With a complicated history and thriving cultural scene, Korea is a fascinating country to study. Our Korean Studies course will develop both your Korean language skills and your understanding of Korean culture and society. You will also spend part of your degree studying in Korea, immersing yourself in Korean society.

Key details

• A Levels ABB Other entry requirements
• UCAS code T415
• 4 years / Full-time
• Find out the course fee
• Foreign language study
• Study abroad
• View 2025-26 entry

Explore this course:

Course description.

Encounter first-hand the language and culture of Korea at Sheffield. Supported by a new Centre for Korean Studies, you can gain fluency, experience South Korea up-close, and develop a critical understanding of the peninsula and its dynamic history. Study on one of Europe's largest Korean Studies programmes with more dedicated staff than anywhere in the UK. Splitting your degree across an intensive language programme and an exploration of topics such as politics, history, music and society - together with a year spent in South Korea, you'll graduate ready to follow a wide range of career paths.

The degree gives you the skills to truly unpick every aspect of Korean culture that interests you, acquiring both critical approaches to the study of Korea, and first-hand experience of the country and its peoples.

By the end of your degree, you will have a broad set of academic skills to research a topic of your choice in your dissertation - as well as a high level of spoken and written language proficiency.

Why study this course?

• Voted number one - ranked 1st in NSS results 2023 across Asian Studies in the UK, our staff are UK leaders in supporting your studies and career goals.
• A centre of leading Korean Studies research - our new Centre for Korean Studies promotes a thriving research culture, with unparalleled opportunities to tap into national and international experiences.
• Life-changing year abroad - gain practical experience in the real world, and stretch yourself in ways you couldn’t have imagined.
• Strong emphasis on skills development, careers and employability - right from the start, you’ll be encouraged to develop and track the skills you’ll need to turn your degree into a career.

A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder .

Choose a year to see modules for a level of study:

In your first year you will begin your language learning by focusing on reading, writing, listening and speaking, working with qualified native-speaker language teachers, using specially designed course material. 

Through our Exploring East Asia module you will be provided with essential knowledge of the East Asia region, its history, politics, geography and culture. This will give you a greater understanding of Korea, what shaped it and how it may develop in the future.

Core Modules:

This module introduces students to the study of modern East Asia. Beginning by encouraging consideration of what the subject of East Asian Studies is, it then introduces the following key topics: East Asian Geography and Environment, History, Culture and Media, Economics and Business, and Political Relations. In parallel with this content, the module also introduces core academic skills as follows: independent, lecture and seminar study; reflective practice; critical information, digital and visual literacy; evidence and argument in academic writing, and appropriate examination techniques. These two elements provide a firm foundation of knowledge and abilities for higher level study. 

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Korean language. It aims to enable students to acquire basic competence in grammar, reading, writing and translation both from and into Korean. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to do something practical in Korean. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) beginners level/L1 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A1. 

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Korean. It aims to enable students to acquire basic competence in speaking and listening skills. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to communicate in Korean through a variety of activities. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) beginners level/L1 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A1. 

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Korean language. This module builds on the achievement of EAS1043 and introduces further grammatical structures of the Korean language with a view to further developing reading, writing and translation skills. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to do something practical in Korean. At the end of this level students should complete the beginner's level which is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) upper beginners level/L2 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2.

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Korean. This module is built on the achievement of EAS1044 and develop speaking and listening skills further to provide the grounding necessary for intermediate study. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to communicate in Korean through a variety of activities. At the end of this level students should complete the beginner's level which is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) upper beginners level/L2 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2.

Approved Modules: You will take one of the following modules. Each module has a humanities or social sciences focus and will look at a core text, which has played a significant role in developing an intricate, understanding of Korea. The content of these modules change regularly to ensure they are topical and make the best use of our staff expertise.

This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of Korea are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. You will develop a range of ways to express this understanding via short discussion board posts and video format, plus a written essay. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic.

.This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Korea: including how Korean society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic

Guided Modules: You will take up to 20 credits from the following East Asian Studies modules and a list of guided modules available from departments across the university. A final guided module list is made available to new students when you select your modules as part of registration.

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of China are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: In 2022-2023 we will explore the history of twentieth-century Shanghai as seen from the grassroots.

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how `area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as history, comparative literature and cultural studies. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic. We will consider how studies of Japan are built, how researchers use primary evidence in text and/or images to understand change; how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: in 2022-2023 we will explore Japanese literature in the twentieth century as a frame for understanding modern Japanese history.

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary China: including how Chinese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how ‘area studies’ research on Japan fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Japan: including how Japanese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

In your second year you will develop your understanding of Korea and begin to explore disciplines such as history, politics or culture in more detail. Your modules will help you develop disciple specific skills which may include 

• Understanding economic and business models
• Analysing policy and writing policy briefs
• Critiquing visual art such as film
• Forming and debating a coherent argument

In your language classes you will build on what you have learnt in your first year and focus on language which will help you on your year abroad. 

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Korean language at lower intermediate level. This module acts as a transition between the teacher-centred learning required for the acquisition of basic language skills, and the autonomous and self-directed learning required to progress at intermediate and advanced levels. Translation and functional reading skills are extended, with texts including annotated topical materials. Techniques for tackling unseen materials are developed and grammar knowledge is consolidated and expanded. Practical knowledge of roughly 150 Chinese characters is introduced. Students develop skills needed to make best use of the Year Abroad programme.

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Korean language at lower intermediate level. Every week students are made aware of and given the opportunity to practise spoken applications of specific themes, which is shared with the grammar and writing components. Students develop skills needed to make best use of the Year Abroad programme.

This module is focusing on receptive and written productive activities in Korean language at mid-intermediate level. This module continues to act as a transition towards the autonomous and self-directed learning required to progress at intermediate and advanced levels. Grammar knowledge is consolidated and expanded and practical knowledge of Hanja is expanded. Further functional reading skills and precise Korean-English translation skills are introduced. The use of written Korean appropriate to a variety of social contexts (i.e. life in Korea) is developed. The target level at the end of the level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) L4 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B2.

This module is focusing on oral and aural activities in Korean language at intermediate level. Every week students are made aware of and given the opportunity to practise spoken applications of specific themes, which is shared with the grammar and writing components. Students are made aware of and given the opportunity to practice spoken applications of specific situations. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) L4 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B2.

Approved Modules: You will take one of the following modules.

This module takes a transcultural approach to the study of mass culture in East Asia over the twentieth century. We will examine how mass culture, from radio and literature to art and entertainment have continuously reshaped 'national' identities and communities across East Asia

This module offers an overview of the study of gender and its connection to social, cultural, political and economic discourses across East Asia. Covering key issues related to the structures and dynamics of gender in East Asia, we learn to situate these dynamics in their historical and cultural context using case studies drawn from across the region.

This module introduces students to how digital technologies are re-shaping the way 'East Asia' is imagined and lived. From media that connect major cities in East Asia to the world, to digital Asian cultures outside of the region, we will investigate how East Asia circulates in digital form around the globe. Students will examine social media and online practices, streaming sites, games, and other digital technologies, with a focus on how Chinese-speaking, Japanese-speaking, and Korean-speaking cultures are circulated and produced in the digital era. In doing so, we will examine how new identities, communities and economies form out of the circulation and re-production of digital media. Students will learn about these issues through the application of media research methodologies with an East Asia focus.

We will examine key film directors, cinematic movements and industry developments since 1945 from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This module will introduce you to some of the key cinematic theoretical frameworks such as national and global cinemas, gender, spectatorship and will examine the ways in which selected East Asian films and directors interact with the history and culture of their respective nations. This module is designed to encourage students to critically examine both the text (the films themselves) and the context (the national environment) that surrounds any film work.

Approved Modules: Plus one of the modules listed below.

What does it mean to “understand” North Korea, and what are the potential implications of this understanding, academically and professionally? This module explores these questions through the disciplines of international relations, history, media studies and anthropology, as we cover a range of topics in the field of contemporary North Korea. These topics include post-colonialism, founding myths, nationalism, identity, ideology, human rights, international relations, and security, and covers key events and trends from the mid-1900s to the present day. The module provides a foundation for students to critically analyse how the North Korean state and society are presented to us via a variety of voices, as well as how we might respond in any capacity to engage with North Korean affairs. Lectures, instructional videos and assigned readings will provide background, case studies and theoretical approaches helpful for developing a nuanced understanding of the topics covered. Seminar classwork and the assessed portfolio will be used to learn and practice skills integral to both academic and professional activities commonly associated with studies of contemporary politics and society.

This module examines the social history of (South) Korea from the 1930s to the dawn of the millennium through the lens of popular music. The module starts with songs on gramophone records made during the Japanese colonial period and ends with Psy's 'Gangnam Style,' which achieved global popularity while satirising urban lifestyle in Seoul. Each week, students and the module lead perform a close analysis of the selected song(s), informed by relevant socio-historical contexts such as Japanese colonialism, national division, the Cold War, urban migration, state censorship, democratisation, and globalization. Secondarily, the module introduces students to issues that are relevant to the study of popular music in any national or transnational context.

Since the end of World War II, South Korea has undergone rapid modernisation and radical social transformations that have created both opportunities and challenges. Through the disciplines of history, political science, social science and anthropology, this module examines major social, political, and cultural events and issues in contemporary Korea, including the developmental state, democratisation, gender, migration and modernity, contemporary social movements and Korea’s place in the global community. This module aims to contribute to the development of students’ capacity to go beyond observing and describing phenomena they may encounter when engaging with Korea, towards exercising an informed and nuanced understanding of the underlying forces that shape Korean politics, culture, business and society today. Classes are in the format of lectures, instructional videos and readings, followed by a series of seminars during which students will engage in research sessions and skills-focused tasks to discuss the experiences of one of Asia’s most dynamic nations. The module is assessed with a portfolio of tasks designed to practice skills and deploy knowledge developed through engagement with the module’s content and activities.

Guided Modules: You will take 20 credits from the following East Asian Studies modules and a list of guided modules available from departments across the university. A final guided module list is made available to new students when you select your modules as part of registration.

This module discusses key factors shaping contemporary Japanese society. Our particular focus will be on the last twenty years as post-Bubble Japan has entered a period of economic decline, prompting a series of debates about the effects of this change on society. Weekly lectures provide analysis and explanation of each week’s theme, with a focus on cutting-edge scholarship from the fields of history, anthropology, media studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.

This module takes geographical, ecological, socio-cultural and political-economic perspectives in charting the emergence of Japan as the world's first non-Western developed country. Beginning with Japan's geological formation in pre-history and ending with a speculative enquiry into the state of Japan in 2100, the module assesses the human and ecological consequences of Japan's development within the country's Asian, Pacific, and global contexts.

This module will explore key themes in the modern history of Japan from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century, while developing core skills in reading primary sources and historical analysis. Broad themes include identity and nation-building, social and economic change, war and its practical and cultural legacies. Key sub-disciplinary approaches will be based in social and cultural history, with some excursions into other historiographical approaches. It will be delivered through weekly lectures, and seminars structured around developing primary source analysis skills and relating these to appropriate secondary literature. 

This module enables students to understand the key debates and issues in Japanese culture and society as related in literature, from pre-modern to contemporary times. Taking a chronological and thematic perspective, the module engages with critical approaches to literature and its interpretation, and through these encourages students to develop and acquire critical thinking about concepts of Japan and Japaneseness.

The objective of this module is to provide students an understanding of China's economic reform and open door policies, and the new free market orientation. While module content is academic rather than practical, this unit is designed to acquaint students with Chinese business environment and practice, and to inform them of issues and problems encountered by international businesses operating in China or doing business with the Chinese. Emphasis is on the Chinese business culture, the state-owned enterprise reform, development of the private sector and management issues of Chinese family firms, foreign direct investment and operating foreign businesses in China, human resource management, Chinese consumer behaviour, and the financial markets. An understanding of these topics is highly relevant to companies targeting the China market and essential background for graduates seeking a career in Far Eastern Business. Students are thus encouraged to develop business-related skills.

This module introduces students to different ways of thinking about Chinese society and culture. In particular, we focus on sociological, anthropological and geographical approaches to contemporary Chinese society and culture, showing why and how China is important to current theoretical debates in these disciplines.

This module examines the interdependent relationship between population and environment in China. These are vitally important questions, in China and globally, that have attracted research by scholars of contemporary China, and in the wider academic disciplines of human geography and development studies. Through your work in lectures and seminars, you will gain a deep understanding of China's population and environment and its relation to social and economic change and to local and national institutions; and you will develop transferable skills of research, writing and critical analysis.

This module will examine key themes in the histories of China’s short twentieth century, with a primary focus on interpretations of ‘modernity’ and ‘progress’, explanations of revolution, and the ways in which new approaches in scholarship have influenced our understanding of China’s recent past. While the structure of the module is loosely chronological, the emphasis is not on the detail of events but on the critical analysis of broad social and political changes, and we will examine these through recent historical writing on China and a range of primary textual and visual sources.

In this module you will explore the complex International Relations of North East Asia through the lens of International Relations theory. This module will explore topics and theories on a week to week basis, with each two weeks addressing a new theoretical perspective and a concomitant topic. Over the course of the module you will become familiar with both the politics of the region of East Asia, and common theories applied to understand these phenomena. You will be introduced to the politics of security, economic cooperation and conflict, national identity and memory, the politics of international status, as well as transnational environmental issues. You will also be introduced to the utility of limitation of realist, liberal, constructivist, critical, and environmentalist approaches to International relations theory

Your third year will be spend studying in South Korea at one of our six partner institutions where you will take intensve Korean language classes and be immersed in Korean culture and society. 

Core Module:

This year abroad programme in Korea is designed to equip students with more advanced language skills, as well as to immerse them in Korean culture, enabling them to take part in a range of structured and informal learning experiences to develop their familiarity with the Korean social, cultural and physical environments. On completion of the module they will have acquired facility in operating with confidence with a Korean language environment, and taken part in a range of structured and informal learning experiences to develop their familiarity with the Korean social, cultural and physical environments. Both of these elements are essential for progression to Level 3. Where extenuating circumstances prevent a cohort, or a large portion of a cohort, from completing a complete academic year abroad, the School of East Asian Studies will provide alternative arrangements for students to meet the language learning outcomes.

In your final year you will focus on developing your research skills through specially designed research focused modules. The content of these modules change regularly to ensure they are topical and make the best use of our staff expertise

In your language classes you will be introduced to advanced topics such as translation, interpretation and workplace language skills such as CV writing and presenting.

The East Asian dissertation requires that students produce an extended and focused study of a subject of their own choice, within the scope of their degree programme, and allows students to refine and extend their independent research, analytical and writing skills. The unit is delivered through a combination of group meetings in lecture or seminar format and through individual supervision.

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Korean language at the intermediate high level consolidating the knowledge learned during Korea Year Abroad. This module acts as a transition between the teacher-centred learning required for the acquisition of basic and intermediate language skills, and the autonomous and self-directed learning required at high advanced levels. Translation and functional reading skills are extended, with texts including annotated topical materials. Techniques for tackling unseen materials are developed and advanced grammar is consolidated and expanded. Practical knowledge of roughly 250 Chinese characters is introduced. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) intermediate high level/L4 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B2.

This module builds on skills acquired in Korean Language 5. It is divided into four sections, each one focussing on a key linguistic skill which is demanded of adult foreign users of the language. These skills are: translation into English; summarisation of information bearing texts; writing in Korean with a focus on short reports and the interpretation of data; and speaking, with a focus on group and individual presentations. Group work, with students determining their own materials for study, is a key element of the module, enabling students to develop as independent learners. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) advanced high level/L6 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) C1+.

Approved Modules: You will take one of the following.

This unit explores some of the key debates and latest empirical developments in a specific field of research currently undertaken by a member of SEAS staff in Korean Studies. It enables students to understand how research questions are formulated and answered by exploring the member of staff's disciplinary focus, the range of theoretical approaches employed, and the various methodologies available in researching this field.

Guided Modules. You will 20 credits of guided modules. This could be one of the following East Asian Studies modules or you can chose from a list of guided modules available from departments across the university.

In this module, you will work as part of a small team within a scenario set by a SEAS staff member that relates to his/her field of research as explored in EAS3043. You will answer a research question by choosing an appropriate methodology, allocating specific tasks within your team, organising your time and reflecting on the research process both individually and collectively. Specific projects will include appropriate research training provided by the module organiser and/or 301. At the end of the module you will produce a research output and display it as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences.

In Education@Sheffield students are invited to explore and evaluate the rich and diverse research taking place within the School of Education. Through a series of seminars presented by active researchers, students are encouraged to critically engage with research - and the researchers themselves - in the fields of educational and childhood studies. The Education@Sheffield module enables students to acquire a critical understanding of various themes, settings and methodologies which shape contemporary educational research.

This module considers the extent to which education might be viewed as a global context with a shared meaning. Moving outwards from the dominant concepts, principles and practices which frame 'our own' national, or regional responses to education, the module explores other possible ways of understanding difference. By examining 'other ways of seeing difference', in unfamiliar contexts, students are able to examine the implications of globalisation for education and explore the opportunities and obstacles for the social justice agendas within a range of cultural settings.

This module focuses on the global data industries, the rise of which has been accentuated by the growth of the digital economy. Platforms and digital technology corporations now double up as the data industries, especially with their focus on data accumulation, storage, management and governance. Similarly, the emergence of data annotation and labelling firms in countries in the Global South, the rise of data centres across countries, and the emergence of governance frameworks that enable or regulate these industries make them important entities to be studied. Students will acquire an understanding of datafication, its infrastructural and commercial dimensions, all of which undergird the development of the data industries. Students will be able to critically analyse the experiences of human labour and work, as well as sustainability in the context of the data industries in diverse contexts. Finally, students will be able to comprehend policy, governance and regulatory developments in relation to these industries.

The relationship between technology, digital media and ideas of 'race' is far from straightforward. Unpicking it requires us to interrogate how and why technologies are designed. It also compels us to ask how, and with what effect, race and racial difference are depicted in contemporary representational media. In this broad ranging module, we place an emphasis on literature from sociology, critical media and Science and Technology Studies and situate highly contemporary examples in a longer history of the race/technology interface. Students will be equipped with the critical tools to consider how, why and with what consequence race becomes enfolded into the technologies and media that comprise our everyday lives.

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

Learning and assessment

You'll undertake intensive Korean language training in small group classes with native speaking tutors and making use of specially designed learning materials.

To complement your language learning and ensure you gain a comprehensive understand of the country, you will also learn about Korean culture and society through, what we call, studies modules.

These modules are taught via lectures, seminars and workshops. You will get the chance to learn about Korean politics, history, media and popular culture among other topics that complement the current expertise and research interests of our staff.

We use a range of assessment methods during your course. In the language programme you will be given regular homework assignments and take exams at the end of each semester.

You will be assessed on the core skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Our assessment methods vary across our studies modules and could include taking exams, developing a portfolio, writing essays, taking part in group projects and presentations.

Programme specification

This tells you the aims and learning outcomes of this course and how these will be achieved and assessed.

Find programme specification for this course

Entry requirements

With Access Sheffield , you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible .

• Standard offer
• Access Sheffield offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are: ABB

Routes for mature students

No prior knowledge of Korean is required

Evidence of interest in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) demonstrated through the personal statement is also required

The A Level entry requirements for this course are: BBB

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

Equivalent English language qualifications

Visa and immigration requirements

Other qualifications | UK  and EU/international

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for an International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College . This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department .

Graduate careers

School of east asian studies.

Studying China, Japan or Korea prepares you for a career in the world's most dynamic region. There are also many opportunities across Europe for people with skills in Asian languages and cultures.

Our graduates work in government and diplomacy, media and the arts, non-government organisations and international business - in professions as diverse as management consultancy, accountancy, marketing, research, language teaching and translation.

My exchange year in Korea at Yonsei University was such an experience for a country boy like me

Patrick picked up skills during his degree which he still uses every day in his work at Unilever.

National Student Survey 2021

in teaching and researching East Asia

Our courses are designed to immerse you in the languages and cultures of East Asian countries. You will be taught by native speakers in Chinese, Japanese and Korean in regular small group classes using custom-made course material.

Our courses are based on world-leading research and taught by experts whose work influences policy and informs public debate. Most of our staff publish in their specialist field and many of them have written books for major publishers such as Oxford University Press, Routledge and Macmillan.

The School of East Asian Studies is located in the Jessop West building, right in the heart of campus and close to the University of Sheffield tram stop. You'll visit the department to meet with your tutors and gain any support you need. Your lectures, seminars and language classes will take place in various locations across the University of Sheffield campus.

  Number one in the Russell Group National Student Survey 2024 (based on aggregate responses)

  University of the Year and best for Student Life   Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024

  92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent Research Excellence Framework 2021

  Top 50 in the most international universities rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

  Number one Students' Union in the UK Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

  Number one for teaching quality, Students' Union and clubs/societies StudentCrowd 2023 University Awards

  A top 20 university targeted by employers The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers report

Student profiles

The department here at Sheffield is astounding

Danniella chose Korean Studies at Sheffield because of the course structure as well as the passion for teaching shown by the lecturers.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fee status help

Additional costs

The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.

Examples of what’s included and excluded

Funding your study

Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.

Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.

Additional funding

As part of this degree you'll spend a year studying in Seoul, South Korea at one of our six partner institutions including Yonsei University and Sungkyunkwan University.

All of our partner universities in Seoul are high quality institutions which will provide you with the same, high level of teaching and support that is available in Sheffield.

During your year in Korea you'll immerse yourself in this fascinating country. You'll continue to take intensive Korean language courses as well as choosing from a range of other modules.

University open days

We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.

Open days: book your place

Subject tasters

If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.

Upcoming taster sessions

Offer holder days

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

Campus tours

Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.

Campus tour: book your place

The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.

Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database .

Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

Our student protection plan

Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer

• Jeju Island
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How to Write a Self Introduction for University in Korea

When you are applying to a university in Korea, you will soon find that you need to include a self-introduction letter and study plan in your application. For some, a self-introduction letter may sound self-explanatory. However, in Korea, these letters need to contain certain information, so be sure to read this article before submitting your applications!

University Applications in Korea

Those who are applying to a university program in Korea for the first time normally need to prepare a self-introduction letter. These can be undergraduate students, graduate school students, and those switching into a regular program after attending language school.

In my experience, if you wish to apply to a program that is in English, the process is often different. Not every university will require a self-introduction letter for programs taught in English. Instead, they may require an interview and a valid English proficiency certificate.

However, if you are applying to a regular program at a Korean university that is taught in Korean, you will need to submit a self-introduction letter. And often, more competitive English programs will require them as well.

Writing a Self-Introduction Letter

University-specific format and questions.

Each school has a different question form for 자기소개서 (self-introduction) and 학습계획서 (study plan). Therefore, you need to find the specific format you will need to write in and the question you need to answer for each university you apply to. This can normally be found on the website, or with a Naver search. After you know the requirements of the university, you can begin writing your Self Introduction.

Self-introduction: Basic Information

Normally you should begin by presenting basic information about yourself. At a minimum, you should include your name, age, and hometown. It is also not uncommon to include information about your family, such as the number of siblings you have and what your parents do for work. However, the requirement to include family information has been a topic of controversy recently. As a result, many schools no longer require you to reveal details about your family history.

Self-introduction: Achievements and Experience

Next, you should discuss academic achievements. You can include anything of importance from high school, language schools, university, and graduate school. In particular, if you were outstanding in any subjects, got any awards, or participated in activities you should mention them in this section.

If you have any work experience, that should also be included. However, you will only want to include experiences that you can explain as being relevant to your field of study. Or, that demonstrates you are proficient in Korean. For example; simply stating you worked in a restaurant as a server will not be looked at favorably. However, if you worked as a server and spoke to customers in Korean, or are applying to major in hospitality or business you can highlight the relevance of the experience.

Self-introduction: Personality and Values

In this section, you need to give administrators a sense of who you are as a person. You need to answer the question; “What was remarkable about your process of growing up that affected your personality and values?”.

It is important to note that, unlike university applications in some western countries, this is not the main focus of your self-introduction letter. In addition, universities in Korea tend to lean socially conservative. With that in mind, this section should not be as deep as a letter you would typically write for a western university.

Self-introduction: Strengths and Talents

Now, this section is where many of us foreigners have the upper hand. It’s time to brag about your foreign language skills! Plus, you should mention any other strengths or talents related to your field of study. These can be soft skills like communication, being a fast learner, or being culturally conscious. Or, they can be hard skills like coding, writing, or photo editing.

Self-introduction: Why Us?

In this part of your letter, you will need to explain why you chose the university and the major you are applying for. It is a good idea to do some research on the university and cite a few specific reasons why you prefer them over other places.

Self-introduction: Plans

Finally, we come to the most important section of your self-introduction letter. First, you should explain your study plan for the entire duration of your degree. You want to be as detailed as possible. This means you should go through the list of courses in your major and include classes you want to take, if you plan to have an internship, and what your plans for research topics are.

Then, you should explain your plans for after you graduate. As a foreigner, it is best to emphasize international cooperation and contributing to the development of both Korea and your home country.

I know, it’s a lot to include in a limited self-introduction letter, right? The most important thing to focus on is presenting information concisely and truthfully. If you do that, the interviewer will be able to understand your application and see if you are suitable for the school and the field of study. I wish you success in writing and getting into your dream university in Korea!

If you are preparing to come to university in South Korea, Click Here for 4 things you should know before you enroll!

I am not old but for some reasons, i feel old. Twenty two but hard-working :)

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