South Korea · Master's · PhD · Fully funded
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) - Graduate Degrees
South Korea's government scholarship for master's and PhD study, run by NIIED, with a Korean-language year and two ways to apply.
At a glance
- Deadline
- Not yet openProjected Feb 2027
- Funding
- Fully funded
- Duration
- 2 to 4 years, including a Korean-language year
- Return home
- Not specified
01
Mission
The Global Korea Scholarship is run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under Korea's Ministry of Education. It invites international students to study in Korean universities. The graduate programme (GKS-G) covers master's and doctoral degrees.
02
What you get
GKS-G pays full tuition, a monthly living allowance of KRW 1,000,000, round-trip economy airfare, one year of Korean-language training, a settlement allowance of KRW 200,000, a research allowance and limited medical insurance. Scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6 get KRW 100,000 more a month, and dissertation printing is reimbursed up to KRW 800,000. The official pages name the benefits but the amounts sit inside the annual guidelines files. These figures come from a host university's page for the 2026 round, so check them when the 2027 call opens.
03
Who can apply
You and both of your parents must hold non-Korean citizenship, and you must be under 40 on 1 September of the year of the call (professors under 45 from ODA-recipient countries are the exception). Master's applicants need a bachelor's degree, PhD applicants need a master's. Your average grade in the latest degree must be at least 80%. Embassy guidelines list equivalents such as 2.64 out of 4.0, or a top-20% ranking. Past GKS recipients cannot apply again.
04
What they look for
Every applicant goes through two rounds of evaluation, whichever track they choose. The embassy or university runs the first round. A clear study plan and a strong academic record carry the application.
05
The fine print
Embassy-track applicants may choose up to three universities from Types A and B, with at least one Type B university. University-track applicants apply to one. You cannot apply through both tracks. Some departments add their own conditions, such as TOPIK Level 3.
06
How to apply
- 01Choose a track. The Embassy track runs through the Korean Embassy in your country, the University track goes straight to one Korean university.
- 02Create an account on the Study in Korea website and submit the online application within the window.
- 03Pass the document screening, then the interview held by the embassy or university.
- 04If shortlisted, send the apostilled or consular-confirmed originals by the stated date.
- 05Wait for university placement and final results, usually around late June.
Documents
- Online application form and study planRequired
- Original recommendation letterRequired
- Transcripts showing CGPA on an accepted scale, or a converted transcriptRequired
- Apostilled or consular-confirmed originals, for selected candidates onlyRequired
- TOPIK or other language certificates, if your department asksOptional
07
Timeline
- Guidelines publishedEarly February (2 February in 2026)
- Embassy track online application12 to 25 February 2026
- Two selection roundsDocument screening, then interview
- Final resultsAround late June
- Studies beginSeptember, after a Korean-language year if needed
08
Amounts
- 2026 places worldwideAbout 2,000 graduate scholars, 800 on the Embassy track and 1,200 on the University track
- Monthly living allowanceKRW 1,000,000
- Settlement allowanceKRW 200,000