Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship

International students are eligible to apply for the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship, a fully funded program offered by the South Korean government for bachelor’s studies.

Host Country	South Korea
Host Institute	NIIED-approved universities in South Korea
Level	Undergraduate
Eligible Nationality	International
Fellowship Type	Fully Funded
Benefits	Living allowance, airfare, tuition fee, etc.
Duration	5-7 years
Application Date	Applications will open from September to October each year

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) aims to provide international students with opportunities to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at Korean universities. This program is designed to promote international academic exchange and strengthen ties between Korea and partner countries.

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Advantages of the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship

Here are the benefits offered under the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship:

Round-trip airfare
Settlement allowance
Monthly living allowance
Language training expenses
Full tuition coverage
Medical insurance
Graduation completion grants
Korean proficiency grants – 100,000 KRW per month for students holding a valid TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) Level 5 or 6

Duration of Scholarship

Bachelor’s Degree Program: 5–7 years
- Includes 1 year of Korean language training followed by 4–6 years of undergraduate study.

Associate Degree Program: 3–4 years
- Includes 1 year of Korean language training followed by 2–3 years of academic study.

Number of Scholarships

For the 2024 GKS Scholarship, a total of 262 students worldwide will be selected for Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs. Of these, 176 candidates will be chosen through the University Track, while 86 candidates will be selected through the Embassy Track.

Eligibility Requirement

Eligibility criteria for the GKS program are as follows:

Applicants must be citizens of NIIED-designated countries invited to participate in the program.
Korean citizens and individuals with dual Korean citizenship are not eligible.
Candidates must be under 25 years of age as of March 1 of the application year.
Applicants must have completed high school.
Those who already hold a bachelor’s degree or completed high school in Korea are not eligible.
Applicants must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 80% in their previous studies.

Fields of Study Eligible

At participating Korean universities, the scholarship generally applies to a broad spectrum of disciplines, including engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts, and more.

Required Application Documents / Materials

To apply for the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship, applicants must submit the following documents:

Completed application form
Personal statement
Study plan
One letter of recommendation
GKS applicant agreement form
Personal medical assessment
Proof of citizenship
Academic transcripts and certificates
Copy of passport
Language proficiency test scores (TOPIK or English tests such as TOEFL/IELTS)

Application Deadline for the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship

Application deadlines differ by university and embassy, so applicants must check with the respective institution before submitting their application.

Application Process

Applicants may submit their applications either through Korean embassies in their home countries or directly to NIIED-designated Korean universities. Each embassy and university reviews the applications and selects candidates according to NIIED’s selection criteria.

It is strongly recommended to carefully review the application guidelines before applying for the Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship.

For further details, visit the official website.