Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Overview

The Global Korea Scholarship is the South Korean government's main scholarship for international students, funding undergraduate and graduate study at Korean universities. It covers tuition, a monthly living allowance, Korean language training, airfare and medical insurance, and applications run entirely through the official Study in Korea portal via embassy or university tracks.

Funding

Full tuition, a monthly stipend of about KRW 900,000-1,000,000, round-trip airfare, one year of Korean language training, health insurance, and settlement/resettlement allowances

Eligibility

• Open to non-Korean citizens whose parents are also non-Korean
• Separate undergraduate (GKS-U) and graduate (GKS-G) tracks with different age/GPA cut-offs
• Minimum academic performance (commonly top ~80% of class) required
• Good health and no prior degree from a Korean institution (for most tracks)
• Apply via Korean embassy in home country or a designated partner university

Application Deadline

GKS-Undergraduate applications generally open around September-October; GKS-Graduate applications generally open around February-April (exact dates vary by track and by embassy/university, and are increasingly managed via the Study in Korea portal). Always confirm exact dates on the official site before planning your application, since deadlines shift year to year.

How to Apply

1. Choose the Embassy Track (apply via the Korean Embassy/Consulate in your home country, up to 3 university choices) or the University Track (apply directly to one GKS-designated Korean university)
2. Register and submit required documents through the Study in Korea / GKS online application system
3. Provide transcripts, a self-introduction essay, study plan, and recommendation letters
4. Pass the first-round evaluation (embassy or university) followed by the second-round evaluation by NIIED
5. If selected, complete the mandatory Korean language program (unless exempted) before starting the degree