Studying in South Korea has become highly popular for international students, offering world-class education and a vibrant cultural experience. Numerous fully-funded scholarships, primarily targeting graduate degrees (Master's and PhD), are available through the Korean government and top universities. This guide details the eligibility and application processes for the most prestigious scholarships in South Korea for postgraduate study.
I. THE GLOBAL KOREA SCHOLARSHIP (GKS/KGSP)
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), formerly known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), is the most prestigious government-funded scholarship, managed by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). Its primary objective is to promote international education exchange and mutual friendship.
Core Eligibility Requirements (Graduate Programs)
The requirements are stringent and uniform across the programme.
Requirement Details (Graduate Programs: Master's/Doctoral)
Citizenship
The applicant and their parents (or legal guardians) must be non-Korean citizens. Dual citizenship (Korean and foreign) renders the applicant ineligible.
Age Limit
Applicants must typically be under 40 years old as of September 1st of the inviting year. An exception is made for academic professors from ODA recipients, who may be under 45.
Academic Degree
Applicants for a Master's degree must hold or expect to hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent), and applicants for a Doctoral degree must hold or expect to hold a Master's degree (or equivalent).
GPA
Applicants must have attained a minimum Cumulative GPA equivalent to or higher than 80% (or be ranked in the top 20% of their class) from their previous educational institution.
Prior Study
Individuals who have previously graduated (or expect to graduate) from a Korean high school or a degree program (Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral) at a Korean university are not eligible.
GKS Scholarship Benefits
GKS is considered a fully-funded scholarship, covering nearly every aspect of the student's academic life.
Tuition Fees: Full coverage, usually up to KRW 5 million per semester, with any excess typically covered by the host university. The admission fee is also covered by the university.
Monthly Stipend: KRW 1,000,000 to KRW 1,500,000. The yearly amount for the degree programme is KRW 15,720,000.
Airfare: A round-trip economy class flight ticket is provided (actual expense covered).
Language Training: One year of intensive Korean language training is mandatory, with fees covered (KRW 5.2 million for four quarters).
Other Allowances: Includes a settlement allowance (one-time upon arrival), medical insurance, research support, and a degree completion grant.
Korean Proficiency Grant: Scholars starting the programme with TOPIK Level 5 or 6 are exempted from the mandatory language year and receive an additional Korean Proficiency Grant.
GKS Application Tracks (Graduate)
Applicants must choose one track only: Embassy or University.
Feature Embassy Track (General Quota: 669 scholars)
University Track (Subtotal Quota: 1,100 scholars)
Application Submission
Submit application documents to the Korean Embassy in their home country.
Submit application documents directly to the Korean university.
University Choice
Can select up to three different universities.
Limited to one university and one department/programme.
Selection Process
Involves initial screening and interview by the Embassy, followed by NIIED selection, and then university review.
Involves screening by the university, which then recommends candidates to NIIED for the final decision.
Timing
Typically opens around February to March for the Fall (September) intake.
Typically opens around February to March.
II. TOP UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS (MS/PHD)
Beyond the GKS, Korea's top-tier universities offer highly competitive, fully-funded graduate scholarships, often emphasizing research and STEM fields.
1. Seoul National University (SNU) Scholarships
SNU is the most prestigious institution in South Korea.
Scholarship Target Degree & Eligibility Benefits (Graduate)
SNU President Fellowship (SPF)
Exclusively for PhD students who are faculty members in major universities in developing countries (Asia, South America, Africa) and do not already hold a Ph.D. degree.
Full tuition for up to 6 semesters. High monthly stipends (KRW 1,500,000 to KRW 2,000,000) for 3–4 years. Round-trip airfare, national health insurance, and Korean language training (evening class).
Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS)
Non-Korean applicants accepted into SNU (International Admission I) programs in designated colleges/schools. Selection is based on merit from admission documents.
Full tuition waiver for up to 4 semesters. Monthly stipend of at least KRW 500,000 per month.
SNU Global Scholarship (GS I/II)
International students enrolled (or enrolling) in graduate programmes (non-degree students excluded).
GS 1 covers full tuition waiver, a monthly stipend of KRW 1,200,000, and one-time airfare support. GS 2 covers full tuition waiver.
2. KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
KAIST is a top research university, especially strong in STEM.
• Degrees Supported: Master's, PhD, and Master's leading to PhD programs.
• Benefits: The main KAIST Scholarship is fully funded, covering full tuition for the required duration (e.g., 4 semesters for Master's, 8 for PhD), National Health Insurance premiums, and a monthly stipend (amount depends on research involvement and program, often starting around KRW 350,000–400,000, or higher, like KRW 1,000,000 for the KGPS).
• Application: Applicants are automatically considered for the standard KAIST Scholarship and the competitive KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) upon applying for admission; no separate scholarship application is needed.
3. UST (University of Science and Technology) Scholarship
UST, a group of research institutes, strongly supports graduate STEM fields.
• Degrees Supported: Master's, PhD, and Integrated Master's/PhD.
• Benefits: Full tuition coverage, University Entrance Fee, Korean language course fee, and substantial monthly stipends:
◦ Master's Degree: KRW 1,430,000 per month.
◦ PhD Degree: KRW 1,900,000 per month.
• Application: Candidates from all around the world are eligible. Applicants should use the UST Admission System online, but contacting a professor beforehand is advised as it can increase selection chances.
4. Professor-Funded (Research Assistantships)
For MS/PhD, especially in Science and Engineering fields, professor funding through research grants is a prevalent and fully-funded pathway.
• Mechanism: The professor uses money from company projects (R&D) or research grants (e.g., BK21 FOUR, NRF) to cover the student's tuition fee and living expenses.
• Application Focus: The critical step is direct communication. Applicants should identify relevant professors 6–12 months before the intended intake (Spring/March or Fall/September), send personalized emails referencing the professor's research, and seek their explicit consent to supervise and fund the studies.
• Formal Admission: Once a professor gives consent (usually via email), the student applies formally to the university, mentioning the professor's contact details in the admission documents for priority consideration.
III. APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Applying for a scholarship requires rigorous preparation, usually starting several months before the deadline. Deadlines vary, but major graduate scholarship application windows are typically February–March for fall intake and September–October for spring intake.
Required Documents Checklist
A unified set of documents is required for nearly all major Korean scholarships (GKS, KAIST, UST, SNU).
Application Forms
Application Form, Personal Statement/Essay (SOP), Study Plan, Personal Medical Assessment/Health Certificate.
SOPs should clearly state goals and potential contributions.
Academic Proof
Degree Certificate/Diploma, Academic Transcripts (from all previous degrees), Research Proposal (for MS/PhD/Research only).
Documents must be notarized or certified and typically translated into English or Korean.
Personal & Identity
Passport Copy, Proof of Nationality (Applicant and parents).
Final GKS recipients must submit notarized documents (Apostille or Consular Confirmation).
References/Supporting
Recommendation Letters (usually two), Proof of Language Proficiency (TOPIK, IELTS, TOEFL).
Letters should be from academic or professional referees. TOPIK Level 5 or 6 grants preference/waiver.
Application Tips (GKS and General)
1. Preparation is Key: Start gathering notarized documents and writing the Statement of Purpose (SOP) early.
2. Online Submission: GKS applicants must create an account and apply through the official Study in Korea website.
3. GKS Document Requirement: For the GKS Scholarship, the initial submission often requires two sets of documents (one original, one copy) arranged exactly as specified in the guidelines.
4. Language Bonus: Applicants for GKS with TOPIK Level 3 or higher automatically receive a bonus point of +10% during the evaluation process. Applying for STEM fields may also grant extra points.
5. Interviews: Successful candidates must pass an interview, which is crucial for evaluating goals and potential.
Applying for a major Korean scholarship, particularly at the graduate level, is like assembling a delicate clock: every tiny gear (document, grade, statement) must be perfectly placed and synchronised with the correct timing (deadline) to ensure the mechanism runs smoothly and successfully obtains the desired result.