Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the Korean government's scholarship, run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It funds a year of Korean language and then the full degree, and each year it selects about 280 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students.

The scholarship has two programmes, each with its own page of criteria, documents and benefits. This guide covers what the two share: application tracks, the timeline, the selection rounds, language, documents and common mistakes.

The two programmes at a glance

The all-inclusive allowance covers living costs, housing, health insurance, settlement and Korean-proficiency grants. The scholarship also pays tuition up to ₩5 million and airfare.

Two ways to apply

• Embassy Track: apply online on Study in Korea; the Korean embassy in your country of citizenship runs the first round. You choose up to 3 universities, at least one of them Type B (regional universities).
• University Track: apply directly to a participating Korean university, one university and one department only.

Never apply to two tracks or programmes at once, or your application is excluded. But if you fail the Embassy Track's first round, you can then apply through the University Track.

Some programmes are open to every nationality, even if your country has no places:

• UIC for bachelor's and associate degrees in science and engineering.
• R&D for master's and PhD in science and engineering.
• Global Network for English-taught master's with no language year.

Places for Arab countries

Embassy Track places for undergraduates come from the 2027 guidelines, and for graduates from the 2026 guidelines:

Some of these countries also have graduate places in the University Track, including Egypt (8), Algeria (4), Sudan (2) and Kuwait (1). The numbers change every year, so check the guidelines for your year.

Timeline

University Track dates are set by each university, usually running until November for undergraduates and April for graduates.

The cycle repeats the same way. For graduate study in 2027, expect the guidelines in February 2027.

The three selection rounds

1. Embassy or university: document review, often with an interview.
2. NIIED: file review, no interview.
3. Universities (Embassy Track only): each university you chose reviews your file, then you pick one of the universities that accepted you.

If you choose 3 highly competitive universities, all three may reject you even after you pass the second round. This happened to 52 to 86 graduate candidates every year from 2020 to 2024.

Language: Korean and English

• You take a Korean language year before the degree, unless you have TOPIK 5 or 6.
• Graduate students must reach TOPIK 3 before starting the degree, and some departments ask for level 4. If you don't, the scholarship is cancelled.
• A language certificate is not required to apply, but it earns points:
• TOPIK 3 or higher: 10% extra for graduates, 3–5% for undergraduates.
• IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95: 80% of the language points.
• Applying to a science or engineering department adds 5% in both programmes.

Documents: authentication first

• Certificates, transcripts and proof of citizenship need an apostille or consular confirmation. A document not in English or Korean needs a certified translation.
• You must prove your citizenship and both parents', with a birth certificate or family register. Korean dual nationals are not eligible.
• If your grades are not on a 4.0 or 100-point scale, attach a converted transcript stamped by your university.
• After acceptance, prepare several authenticated copies of your graduation certificate: you will need them for the university, the visa and immigration.

For help with references and the study plan, read the recommendation letters guide, and for language tests, IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo?.

Mistakes that sink an application

• Applying to two tracks, or two universities in the University Track, or to a department not listed in the "University Information" file.
• Choosing 3 Type A universities without a Type B one.
• Uploading unauthenticated documents, or grades without an official conversion.
• Applying as an expected graduate and not sending the final certificate on time (31 July for graduates, 31 December for undergraduates).
• Withdrawing after the final result: you cannot apply again (for three years for graduates, ever for undergraduates), and your country's quota shrinks. Withdrawing within 3 months of enrolment means repaying everything paid to you.
• Anyone who has already had a Korean government scholarship for a degree cannot apply.