1.

Introduce Yourself

“In advance, thank you for the time and opportunity that you have given to me. Asslamaualaikum
Wr Wb. Let me introduce myself. My name is Najib Mahfuzh.. I am 23 years old, I graduated from
the State Islamic University of Antasari Banjarmasin, majoring in Islamic economics. I have a high
interest in the economic field, especially in the field of sharia economics in Indonesia, besides being
useful for myself when doing muammalah for daily activities, it can also be useful for academic
society and the country

2. Can You Tell Me Why You Chose This Scholarship?

On this question, the examiner or interviewer will ask about your reasons for applying for the
scholarship. Here, the interviewer wants to know how deep the candidate’s knowledge is regarding
the scholarship they are participating in.

Prospective scholarship recipients can estimate the benefits or advantages they will receive later if
they receive this scholarship. In answering this question, provide rational, logical, and reasonable
reasons. Avoid answers that seem far-fetched, exaggerated, or not even per the current
phenomenon.

“I chose this scholarship because the scholarship organizers have covered all educational costs like
the tuition fees paid every semester, research costs, and others. Thus have become the focus of
attention to create a young generation who are intellectual and can contribute according to the
scientific fields chosen by prospective scholarship recipients. I will not regret choosing this
scholarship because it aligns with the organizer’s goal of creating future leaders.”

3. What Are Your Strong Points and Weak Points?

The next question is about the strong and weak points of the scholarship recipient candidates. This
question is similar to the question in the first point, where the question may be asked differently.
Everyone has a different way of asking this question.

The essence of the question is that the interviewer wants to know your weaknesses and strengths.
The only one who knows the answer to this question is yourself. Here you should be able to explain
using examples or case studies over the past few years. This is done in hopes that the interviewer can
understand your explanation.

My strong point is that I can prioritize what needs to be done today and what tasks to be done
tomorrow.

Because of this, I’m efficient with my time management and able to succeed in both lecture and
extracurricular activities.

However, my weakness is that I can usually become too focused in one task and i can forget about
an assignment or project that doesn’t require attention.

4. Why Did You Choose This Major?

"There are several reasons why I chose the Master's program in Syariah Economics and Master in
Islamic Finance and Banking. First, both programs are relevant to the issues present in Indonesia. The
problems that occur in Indonesia include the high number of borrowers in Shariah banks who default
on their payments and the lack of public interest in saving with Shariah banks, resulting in a market
share of only 7 percent. Second, I have an interest in learning about these subjects because they are
related to my undergraduate studies. Third, by choosing these two programs, I hope when i finished
study and back to my countr, i can contribute in some way to academia and society and become a
reference for solving problems in Indonesia.

"5. Tell Us About The Biggest Challenge You’ve Ever Faced

We enter into a question that is a little challenging and is often considered difficult to solve. Here the
interviewer tries to dig up a bit of the personal life of the prospective scholarship recipients by asking
them to reflect on their lives and ask, “have you ever faced the biggest challenge in your life?” Why?
Because facing hardships helps people to learn valuable life lessons.

“During my research, I received an offer from a supervisor to research water quality related to
regional economic growth. This is a challenge and a new thing for me because I am not used to
researching this topic. As a result, I started to study this topic, which was also involved in the
lecturer’s research umbrella. Moreover, the theory used is new and adapted from an international
journal, so I need time to understand it. This challenge taught me to get out of my comfort zone
where I am used to discussing environmental conservation.”

6. Can You Tell Me a Little About Your Research Plan

“My research topic is 'Strategy and Challenges of Treasury Management in the Banking Industry (A
Comparative Study of Islamic Bank of Indonesia and Islamic Maybank).' I aim to examine and
compare the Treasury management strategies of these two banks, which encompass activities such
as raising funds, investing in securities, hedging, and managing reserve accounts at the central bank.
The main focus of my research is to understand how banks can remain profitable and effectively
manage their liquidity positions by developing essential treasury management strategies.
Additionally, I will explore how banks can compete with others in the industry and devise new
treasury products to enhance liquidity and profitability. As part of my future research plans, I will also
enroll in relevant courses to complement my research.".”

7. Any Questions For Us?

In scholarship interview sessions, usually, the interviewer will give the final question before the
interviewer ends the session. This question also allows prospective candidates to ask questions
regarding dark matters regarding the guidelines for receiving scholarships. In this question, you are
also given space to talk because scholarship interviews are a two-way communication between the
interviewer and the potential candidate.

Even if you feel like you don’t have any questions, it’s best to ask. If you don’t, the interviewer will
assume you are unenthusiastic simply because you don’t have any questions.

You can ask questions such as the scheme for the next selection stage after the interview, the criteria
for prospective scholarship recipients as desired by the organizers, and so on. At least ask some
questions before leaving the interview. This shows that you are a candidate who is ready and full of
curiosity.
So, those are the questions that usually come up in scholarship interviews. Sometimes, the
scholarship organizing committee updates its regulations and questions to give to scholarship
recipient candidates during interviews. Hence, ensure you are ready for any additional questions.

In this article, we only provide a few examples and references. You can answer these questions
according to your personal conditions and experience!

So, are you ready for the scholarship interview yet? Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN) is a
private campus in Tangerang that offers various scholarship pathways for prospective students from
various backgrounds. Scholarships offered by UMN are also available for all undergraduate majors at
UMN.