Humas FH-USU: 28/08/2026 — The Master’s Program in Law, Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara, organized the Scholarship Experience Sharing Workshop on Formal and Nonformal Master’s Study Scholarships in Indonesia and Abroad on Friday, August 28, 2026. The activity served as a platform for sharing experiences, strategies, and motivation for students and participants seeking opportunities to pursue further education through various scholarship programs, both domestically and internationally.
The activity opened with remarks from the Head of the Master’s Program in Law, USU, Dr. Mahmud Mulyadi, S.H., M.Hum. In his remarks, Dr. Mahmud emphasized the importance of scholarship experience-sharing activities as a means for students to obtain firsthand information from awardees who have gone through the selection process and pursued their studies with scholarship support.
According to him, the experiences shared by the speakers were expected to encourage students to pursue various educational funding opportunities. Financial limitations should not be a reason to abandon the desire to continue one’s education, as various scholarship programs are currently available for study both in Indonesia and abroad. The opportunity to obtain a scholarship should also be accompanied by adequate preparation, personal development, and appropriate strategies.
The workshop was moderated by Nabila Afifah Salwa, S.H., M.H., a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, USU. The first speaker was Nurhadi Ahmad Juang, S.H., M.H., C.C.D., a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, USU, and a 2023 recipient of the Indonesia Education Scholarship (BPI) for domestic master’s study.
In his presentation, Nurhadi shared his journey and experience as a recipient of the Indonesia Education Scholarship in 2023. He explained that obtaining a scholarship is not an instant process. Prospective applicants need to prepare themselves even before the application period opens, as registration periods are generally relatively short, while various requirements require preparation well in advance.
He also explained the various forms of support available to BPI recipients, including tuition assistance, book allowances, monthly living allowances, research support, and other funding in accordance with the program’s provisions. This experience demonstrates that scholarships not only provide financial support but also offer recipients opportunities to focus more on completing and developing their academic pursuits.
One important topic highlighted during Nurhadi’s session was scholarship essay-writing strategies. According to him, prospective awardees need to understand the direction and objectives of the scholarship program, develop a strong writing framework, and be able to present their personal journey comprehensively. He introduced the past, present, and future approach, which describes past achievements, current activities, and future plans and contributions.
The second speaker, Riski Pardinata Berutu, S.H., M.H., an alumnus of the Master’s Program in Law, USU, and a recipient of the domestic Master’s Excellence Scholarship, also shared his experience of obtaining a scholarship for master’s-level education. His participation provided participants with insights into the Excellence Scholarship as an alternative source of funding for higher education in Indonesia.
Through the experiences shared, participants gained an understanding that success in obtaining a scholarship is strongly influenced by administrative preparedness, academic and nonacademic track records, the ability to develop a study plan, and the ability to demonstrate compelling reasons why a candidate deserves scholarship support.
Meanwhile, the third speaker, Liza Hafidzah Yusuf Rangkuti, S.H., M.H., an alumna of the Master’s Program in Law, USU, and an MEXT Scholarship awardee pursuing her studies at Kyushu University, Japan, provided perspectives on international education and scholarship opportunities. Her experience served as an inspiration that MIH USU alumni have opportunities to further their academic development in international educational environments.
The participation of three speakers with different scholarship backgrounds provided participants with a broader overview of various pathways for funding their studies. Participants not only received information about scholarship programs and their benefits but also gained an understanding of the preparation process, essay writing, study-plan development, and the importance of having a clear future orientation and plan.
The sharing session also emphasized that scholarship providers generally seek candidates with a visionary mindset. Although plans developed by prospective awardees may evolve throughout their studies, the ability to demonstrate clear objectives from the selection stage is an important aspect of building a convincing candidate profile.
Through the Scholarship Experience Sharing Workshop on Formal and Nonformal Master’s Study Scholarships in Indonesia and Abroad, the Master’s Program in Law, USU, hopes that more students and alumni will be motivated to seek and take advantage of the various scholarship opportunities available.
The activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through expanding access to information and opportunities for inclusive and quality higher education. The activity is also relevant to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions through strengthening the academic and professional capacity of human resources in the field of law, who are expected to contribute to the development of a just legal and institutional system.
The workshop is also aligned with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through strengthening networks and knowledge exchange among the study program, lecturers, alumni, scholarship recipients, and educational institutions in Indonesia and abroad. This spirit of collaboration is an important part of expanding educational opportunities and building a mutually supportive academic ecosystem.
With accurate information, thorough preparation, the courage to pursue opportunities, and strong academic networks, opportunities to obtain scholarships and pursue higher levels of education become increasingly accessible. Through this activity, MIH USU reaffirms its commitment to improving human resource quality, broadening international perspectives, and encouraging the academic community to make greater contributions to legal and societal development.