Scholarships in South Korea

Studying in South Korea with a scholarship

South Korea has become an increasingly popular destination for international students, particularly for applicants interested in engineering, technology, business, social sciences, Korean studies and the arts.

Students can find funding through the Korean Government, individual universities, foundations and exchange programmes. The best-known option is the Global Korea Scholarship, usually shortened to GKS.

GKS is administered by the National Institute for International Education, or NIIED, under the Korean Ministry of Education. It supports international students studying at designated Korean universities and can provide support for tuition, Korean-language training, airfare and living expenses.

However, GKS is not the only option. Many Korean universities offer their own scholarships, sometimes covering between 30% and 100% of tuition depending on academic performance, language proficiency and university policy.

Students should therefore compare both government and university funding rather than applying to only one programme.

Global Korea Scholarship

The Global Korea Scholarship is the Korean Government’s main scholarship programme for international students.

It has separate routes for undergraduate and graduate applicants.

The undergraduate programme can support associate and bachelor’s degrees, while the graduate programme covers master’s and doctoral study. A period of Korean-language training is also included for many GKS degree recipients before they begin the main academic programme.

The exact scholarship rules are updated each year.

This matters because eligibility, quotas, universities, departments, application methods and deadlines can change between cycles.

Students should not use a previous year’s GKS PDF simply because the general programme name is unchanged.

The 2027 GKS Undergraduate cycle is now officially announced

NIIED published the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees application guidelines on September 9, 2026.

The official announcement includes:

• the 2027 application guidelines
• application forms
• Embassy Track university information
• University Track university information
• eligible departments and participating institutions

Applicants interested in the 2027 undergraduate intake should use these newly released files rather than relying on 2026 scholarship posts or social-media summaries.

The official GKS notice specifically instructs applicants to check the attached guidelines for deadlines, required documents, schedules and procedures.

This is important because different application routes do not necessarily operate in exactly the same way.

Embassy Track and University Track

GKS degree applicants generally apply through one of two routes.

The Embassy Track involves applying through the Korean diplomatic mission connected with the applicant’s country.

The University Track involves applying through a participating GKS-designated university.

For GKS degree programmes, the Korean Government’s official guidance states that applications are submitted either through the Korean Embassy or through one of the designated universities, depending on the programme and track.

Applicants should decide which track fits their circumstances before preparing the final application.

Do not submit applications through multiple routes unless the current guidelines specifically permit it.

Nationality requirements matter

GKS is intended for international students.

The general undergraduate eligibility guidance states that both the applicant and their parents must hold non-Korean citizenship.

Applicants with dual nationality, previous Korean citizenship or unusual family circumstances should read the current guidelines carefully because additional rules may apply.

Do not assume eligibility simply because you currently live outside Korea.

The scholarship uses specific citizenship requirements.

Academic requirements

GKS is competitive.

The general undergraduate eligibility information currently states that applicants should have a cumulative academic performance equivalent to at least 80% in their most recent educational programme.

For associate-degree applicants, the relevant qualification is generally secondary-school completion.

Bachelor’s applicants normally apply using a high-school qualification or, where permitted, an associate degree.

Graduate applicants need qualifications appropriate to master’s or doctoral entry.

Students should still read the actual 2027 guideline because GKS provides detailed methods for determining whether grades, GPA or class ranking satisfy its requirements.

If your school uses a different grading scale, do not simply convert the result yourself without checking NIIED’s instructions.

Age requirements

The general GKS undergraduate programme requires applicants to be under 25 in the applicable scholarship year.

Graduate programmes normally have their own age conditions.

Applicants should always use the age requirement written in the current application guideline rather than relying on an old blog article.

This is especially important for students whose birthdays fall close to the programme’s cutoff date.

What GKS normally covers

GKS is much more comprehensive than a simple tuition discount.

The Korean Government’s official programme overview lists support including:

• airfare
• Korean-language training expenses
• tuition
• study or living allowances

The exact amounts and additional benefits are defined in the individual scholarship guidelines and can change from one cycle to another.

For that reason, scholarship pages should avoid copying a monthly allowance from an older GKS year and presenting it as permanently fixed.

Always check the current guideline before calculating your personal budget.

Korean-language training

Many GKS degree recipients complete Korean-language training before beginning their academic degree.

For the standard programme, the scholarship structure can include one year of Korean-language training followed by the degree programme.

Applicants sometimes interpret this language year as an unnecessary delay, but it has an important purpose.

Even when a degree is taught partly or completely in English, everyday life, university administration and interaction with Korean students can be much easier with Korean-language ability.

Some scholarship recipients may also be subject to specific TOPIK requirements under the current GKS rules.

The annual guidelines should be checked for exemptions, required achievement levels and what happens if the required language standard is not reached.

University admission outside GKS

International applicants who are not selected for GKS can still apply directly to Korean universities.

Admission rules vary by institution.

Study in Korea states that international undergraduate applicants are generally expected to have completed their elementary, middle and high-school education outside Korea, although universities can impose additional requirements.

Universities may consider:

• academic grades
• Korean-language ability
• English-language ability
• personal statements
• study plans
• recommendation letters
• interviews
• portfolios for creative programmes
• programme-specific qualifications

Students should check the actual university admission page before preparing documents.

Language requirements

Not every degree in Korea is taught in English.

Study in Korea notes that TOPIK Level 3 or above is generally used as an undergraduate Korean-language admission benchmark, although individual universities can set different requirements.

Some English-taught programmes instead accept English-language qualifications.

A student should check the language of instruction for the actual department, not just the university.

A university may advertise several English programmes while most of its other courses are taught in Korean.

Students who plan to study without strong Korean should investigate this carefully before applying.

University scholarships can be substantial

GKS receives the most attention online, but university scholarships should not be overlooked.

Official Study in Korea guidance notes that many Korean universities provide international-student scholarships covering approximately 30% to 100% of tuition, depending on the institution and the student’s academic performance.

Some universities offer higher tuition reductions to students with strong TOPIK scores.

Others provide scholarships based on:

• admission results
• GPA
• English proficiency
• Korean proficiency
• research performance
• faculty recommendation

These awards may have fewer benefits than GKS because they often cover tuition without providing airfare or full living expenses.

Always calculate the remaining costs.

Tuition fees in South Korea

Tuition varies according to whether a university is public or private, its location and the field of study.

Current Study in Korea figures put average annual undergraduate tuition at approximately KRW 6.82 million.

The averages are approximately:

• KRW 4.27 million at national and public universities
• KRW 7.63 million at private universities
• KRW 7.65 million in the Seoul metropolitan area
• KRW 6.32 million outside the metropolitan area

Graduate tuition averages approximately KRW 4.22 million annually.

These are averages, not fixed prices.

Medicine, arts and some technical disciplines can cost considerably more.

The university’s current tuition table should always be used for financial planning.

Living costs

South Korea can be manageable compared with some major Western study destinations, but the cost depends heavily on housing and location.

Study in Korea currently estimates average student living expenses at roughly KRW 750,000 to KRW 1,000,000 per month.

Housing is estimated at approximately KRW 500,000 to KRW 700,000 monthly, while food may cost around KRW 200,000 to KRW 300,000.

Actual costs can be considerably different.

Living in Seoul in private accommodation can cost more than living in a university dormitory in another region.

Before choosing a university, compare both the tuition and the city.

Dormitories can reduce costs

University dormitories are often one of the easiest accommodation options for newly arriving international students.

They can be cheaper and simpler than renting a private apartment because students may avoid large deposits and complicated rental arrangements.

However, dormitory availability is not unlimited.

Room type, meal plans, semester charges and residence rules vary by university.

Check accommodation separately when comparing universities rather than assuming a dormitory room is guaranteed.

D-2 student visa

International students pursuing a degree in South Korea generally use the D-2 student visa.

Official Study in Korea guidance lists documents that can include:

• passport
• passport photograph
• university registration information
• Standard Admission Letter
• proof of previous education
• proof of financial ability
• family relationship evidence when a parent’s bank account is used
• tuberculosis test where applicable

Requirements can vary according to nationality and the Korean diplomatic mission handling the application.

Scholarship selection and visa approval are separate processes.

Receiving GKS or another scholarship does not remove the need to comply with immigration procedures.

Part-time work has rules

International students should not assume that a Korean student visa provides unrestricted employment rights.

Students under eligible D-2 categories generally need appropriate approval for part-time employment, and the process can require confirmation from the university’s international-student adviser. Korean-language proficiency can also affect eligibility and permitted working conditions.

Students should therefore treat part-time work as supplementary income rather than the main financial plan for studying in Korea.

Scholarship applicants should make sure their budget works even without guaranteed employment.

GKS Exchange Students Program

Students who do not want to complete an entire degree in Korea may also find exchange opportunities.

The GKS Exchange Students Program supports eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at overseas universities that have exchange agreements with participating Korean institutions.

The current programme normally lasts one semester, approximately four months.

Study in Korea currently lists support of KRW 630,000 per month plus round-trip economy airfare for eligible recipients.

Applicants normally need at least 80% academic performance and must participate through the relevant university exchange arrangement.

This programme should not be confused with the full GKS degree scholarship.

Graduate applicants should watch for the 2027 announcement

As of September 10, 2026, NIIED has released the 2027 undergraduate GKS guidelines, but the Study in Korea scholarship notice board does not yet show a 2027 GKS Graduate Degree application call.

The latest graduate cycle shown there is the 2026 programme, whose final result was announced in July 2026.

Master’s and PhD applicants interested in the 2027 GKS cycle should therefore monitor the official GKS notice board instead of trusting websites that already claim to have confirmed 2027 graduate deadlines.

This is exactly the type of information that should be updated on The Scholarship Circle when NIIED releases the next official guideline.

Documents should be prepared carefully

GKS applications involve much more than completing an online form.

Depending on the cycle and track, applicants may need academic certificates, transcripts, recommendation documents, proof of citizenship and family relationships, personal statements and study plans.

Some official documents issued outside Korea may require authentication or other formal processing under the current guidelines.

Applicants should read the document instructions before obtaining certifications because incorrect authentication can create unnecessary costs or delays.

Names and dates should also be consistent across passports, academic records and application forms.

If there is a genuine difference, provide the documentation or explanation required by the current guideline.

Your personal statement should sound like you

Competitive scholarships such as GKS receive applications from strong students around the world.

A personal statement should explain the applicant’s actual background, experiences and reasons for choosing Korea.

Avoid filling it with sentences such as:

“South Korea is a technologically advanced country with a world-class education system.”

That information says almost nothing about the applicant.

A stronger statement explains how the chosen field connects with previous education, activities, problems the applicant has worked on and what they plan to do with the education afterward.

Specific experiences are more convincing than generic praise of Korea.

Choose universities carefully

Applicants should not choose a university only because it is famous.

The 2027 GKS announcement includes separate university information files specifically so applicants can identify the universities and departments available under their application track.

Look at:

• whether your intended programme is available
• language of instruction
• research or teaching strengths
• location
• accommodation
• living costs
• international-student support
• scholarship track
• programme-specific admission requirements

A university outside Seoul may sometimes provide a better academic fit and lower living costs.

Be careful with GKS information on social media

GKS is extremely popular online, which means outdated information spreads quickly.

Old application forms, old quotas and old deadlines are frequently reposted as though they belong to the new cycle.

For the 2027 undergraduate application, NIIED has already published the official files. Those should now take priority over previous-year YouTube videos, Telegram messages, Facebook posts or scholarship websites.

The Scholarship Circle can help applicants discover and understand GKS, but the official Study in Korea notice should remain the final source for the application.

Final advice

South Korea offers more funding opportunities than GKS alone.

GKS is an excellent option for eligible students because it combines tuition support with other substantial benefits, but competition is high. University scholarships, exchange programmes and institutional awards provide additional routes for students who are not selected for the government scholarship.

Before applying, confirm your study level, nationality, academic eligibility, application track and eligible universities.

For the 2027 undergraduate GKS cycle, use the guidelines released by NIIED on September 9, 2026. Graduate applicants should wait for the official 2027 graduate announcement before relying on any claimed deadline.

The scholarship listings below can help students find current opportunities in South Korea, but every application should be verified through NIIED, Study in Korea or the university offering the award.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026