Global Korea Scholarship

Benefits & funding

• Round-trip economy airfare is provided for arrival and final departure.
• The published monthly allowance is KRW 1,000,000, plus a KRW 200,000 settlement allowance on arrival.
• The published research allowance is KRW 210,000 for humanities and social sciences or KRW 240,000 for natural and mechanical sciences.
• Korean-language training is fully covered, admission fees are waived, and tuition is covered by NIIED and the university.
• The page also lists KRW 500,000–800,000 for dissertation printing based on actual cost, KRW 20,000 per month for medical insurance, and KRW 100,000 per month for scholars with TOPIK level 5 or 6.
• The standard duration is one year of Korean-language training plus two years for a master’s degree or three years for a doctorate.

Eligibility

• The applicant and both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship; the annual GKS rules govern any participating-country details.
• General applicants must be under 40 on September 1 of the invitation year. Academic professors from eligible ODA-recipient countries may apply if they are under 45 and meet the stated exception conditions.
• Master’s applicants must hold, or be due to complete, a bachelor’s degree; doctoral applicants must hold, or be due to complete, a master’s degree. For the 2026 cycle, expected graduation was required by July 31, 2026.
• The most recent degree must show an overall GPA equivalent to at least 80%; GKS scholars reapplying to the program need at least 90%.
• Korea University requires the regular primary, secondary, and higher-education pathway stated in its guide; GED, homeschooling, online courses, and language schools do not count as equivalent regular schooling.
• Department-level language rules apply. The 2026 guide requires TOPIK level 6 for specified Korean history and Korean-language education routes, TOPIK level 5 or above for Humanities and East Asian Cultural Industry, and an official English score for Business Administration and GSIS unless an exemption applies.
• No residency requirement or work-experience minimum is stated.

Application process

1. 1
   Choose either the embassy track or the university track; university-track applicants submit directly to Korea University.
2. 2
   Confirm that the chosen campus, department, degree level, teaching language, and track are available in the 2026 departments file.
3. 3
   Complete the NIIED application, personal statement, study plan, one recommendation letter, applicant agreement, medical self-assessment, and privacy consent, then add citizenship, family-relationship, graduation, and transcript evidence.
4. 4
   Obtain apostille or Korean consular authentication for the overseas academic documents required by the guide and arrange delivery to Korea University.
5. 5
   Ensure all university-track materials arrive by 17:00 KST on March 4, 2026; university-track applicants must also attend the department interview.
6. 6
   Candidates who pass the university stage proceed through NIIED review and final selection.

Program timeline

1. Korea University university-track applications opened.

   February 19, 2026, 10:00 KST

2. University-track application and document-arrival deadline.

   March 4, 2026, 17:00 KST