Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Studying abroad is a dream for many Indonesian students. In today's globalized era, students don't have to enroll in full-time overseas programs to experience studying abroad. Many student exchange programs, including the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA), are now offered at different levels and semesters.

IISMA is an international student exchange scholarship initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendikbud Ristek RI) in 2021. This program is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in their 4th to 6th semesters who wish to study abroad for one semester. As of December 2023, there are 1,980 scholarship recipients and 4,520 IISMA alums from various universities across Indonesia. This program has partnered with 126 host universities for applied students in 28 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

As one of the most prestigious exchange scholarships, the IISMA selection process is competitive and rigorous. So, what are the tips and tricks to pass IISMA? Here is the story of two FEB UGM students who successfully passed IISMA 2023. They are Virginia Monica, a 2021 Management student who became a 2023 IISMA Awardee at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, and Almaurfa Kara Khania, a 2020 Accounting student who became a 2023 IISMA Co-Funding Awardee at Hanyang University, South Korea.

In a recent "Kampus Merdeka" talk show on the YouTube channel - Fakultas Ekonomika dan Bisnis UGM, Virginia explained that students must thoroughly prepare when applying for the IISMA scholarship. There are many challenges at each stage of the selection process. For example, many documents must be submitted during the initial document selection stage. This became one of the biggest challenges due to the number of documents that needed to be prepared. Therefore, she emphasized the importance of knowing the document requirements and deadlines.

"The faculty itself is very supportive at this stage, as long as we don't submit late," said Virginia.

Virginia mentioned that one of the most important documents to prepare is a certificate of English proficiency, such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, depending on the requirements of the host university. For example, the requirements for studying in English-speaking countries are usually higher. Therefore, it is essential to check the English proficiency requirements of your host university before applying. More information can be found on the official IISMA website: Eligibility & Required Documents - IISMA (kemdikbud.go.id).

Alma added that students also need to prepare well for the interview stage. According to her, this stage is challenging because applicants have to use English. Therefore, she advised students to practice answering interview questions to become more prepared and comfortable.

"Several questions may come up in the interview, such as the reasons for applying to IISMA or the essay submitted. For example, if you mentioned in your essay that you want to create an environmental startup, you will be asked more about this startup idea," Virginia added.

In addition to tips on preparing documents and interviews, both advised choosing a host university in the target country. Virginia chose her host university based on climate, a foreigner-friendly environment, and ranking.

"I can't stand the cold, so I chose NTU in Singapore, which has a foreigner-friendly environment and a good ranking," she said.

Meanwhile, Alma chose the university based on the ranking and courses. "I'm interested in marketing, so I chose Hanyang, which has marketing courses," she said.

They also share tips on how to secure the IISMA scholarship. Alma shared her tips on how she passed IISMA. First, gather as much information about IISMA as possible from social media and academic sources. Second, consult the FEB academic staff if you are still having trouble. Third, seek the blessings and prayers of your parents.

"In addition, if you choose a host university in a non-English speaking country, try to learn the language, as knowing even a little of the local language will greatly help your life there," she added.

At the end of the interview, Virginia gave motivational advice to students interested in applying to IISMA. She emphasized the importance of perseverance and enthusiasm in pursuing one's dreams.

"Everyone has their destiny; the most important thing is not to let fear stop you from trying and achieving that destiny," she concluded.

Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 
Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/KPBj6fBmX2k

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