Unique and Specific Course to Address My Problems: A Chevening Essay on Studying in the UK

Hello! Really appreciate your help with this essay on study plan for Chevening application. Any input is welcomed.

Thank you so much in advance for your time, contribution, and support. I really appreciate it. God bless! :)

salam,

Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please enter new information and examples here and not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form (minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)

I choose Media, Campaigning and Social Change

I still remembered the excitement when I streamed the renowned Glastonbury on Youtube and spotted Greenpeace banner on the stage. I just found out about their history at that time. I thought of how creative and innovative it is to raise awareness on important causes through an annual massive crowd event. Since then, it has been my dream to learn in the United Kingdom (UK).

My academic background on broadcasting and mass communication have equipped me with the skillset to produce high-quality communication products and develop creative campaigns. It has helped me to build my career for a decade in communication for development. I have been successful in several campaigns though it has been through trials-and-errors, observation of others Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) approach, and enrollment on relevant courses and training. For example, our project collaborated with musicians and influencers to raise awareness on diversity and highlight profiles of the marginalized communities. The numbers of target audience increased and supports were gained.

However, it is still not enough to foster real societal changes as I am lacking the theoretical ground to fully grasp the critical part of the media and the digital world. As I am currently working on an intermediary organization, I must be able to provide critical guidance for other local NGOs partner that implement the project. I need to improve my skill and knowledge to address the different needs of my current professional tasks. I must be able to think of a more strategic approach at a macro-level; and more creative and innovative approach other than the business-as-usual practices.

Hence, I choose Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA at the University of Westminster to pursue my advanced study. Provided work placements and internships is a huge advantage that will provide me with hands-on experience with the organizations that works towards societal changes in the UK. Renowned international NGOs as the advisory panel; and the course leader who focuses on the relationship between online tools, advocacy group, and social movement also are the reasons why the course is the perfect fit to address my current academic and professional needs. No other institutions provide this very specific and unique academic and vocational approach to address real challenges faced by NGOs.

If I selected as a Chevening awardee, I will be able to achieve measurable and real social changes in Indonesia. I will use and share my gained knowledge and skillset to provide technical expertise to local and grassroots NGOs and facilitate the development of an effective and strategic plan for social change campaigns. Furthermore, I will advocate for the incorporation of communication and media aspects in project planning to the development actors, including donor organisations.

I strongly believe my study will be beneficial to the development sector in Indonesia from upstream to downstream. It will contribute to the real social changes through improved capacity of local NGOs on effective campaigns. I also will influence the development practice to take into account the digital world to achieve impactful societal change.

The first paragraph is a throw away due to its irrelevance to the discussion requirements. Delete that part. You don't need word fillers, you need to immediately inform the reviewer in the hopes of holding his attention because he has hundreds more of application essays to read. Examples of your skills are not required, your undergraduate courses specific in relation to your chosen courses are needed. You are talking up the universities and course choices but, you are not explaining how the courses will be relevant to your current career and how it may help you change career paths in the future. So your information delivery doesn't work in terms of convincing the reviewer that you have a relevant potential career path in mind with regards to each course. How you will apply it in your current job is just as important as your foundational courses from college and the reasons why you chose the course and university.

@Holt
Thank you so much for your feedback and constructive inputs. I just submitted my application and fortunately deleted the first paragraph. Well noted on your comments on how the link between choices of courses and current jobs and career path. I really appreciated it. God bless. :)