The Master’s Degree Program in Sustainable Regional Development is a 17-month KOICA-KDI School scholarship based in Sejong, South Korea. It develops public officials’ capacity to analyze regional-development and public-policy challenges.
The most recent exact cycle located was for Fall 2025. KDI School’s latest 2027 KOICA notice names a different master’s program, so this opportunity is treated as between cycles rather than currently open.
Benefits & funding
- KOICA covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, accommodation, a settlement allowance, scholarship completion grants and insurance.
- The scholarship supports a 17-month master’s program at KDI School.
- The latest exact listing stated a cohort of 15 participants.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of countries designated for that cycle by the Korean government and KOICA from the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. The designated-country list changes annually and must be confirmed with a KOICA overseas office or Korean embassy.
- Applicants must be government officials and receive an official nomination from their government.
- Applicants must be in good physical and mental health and have strong spoken and written English.
- Applicants must meet KDI School’s institutional admission and document requirements; entry to this master’s program requires bachelor-level preparation.
- Being under 40 is a preference, not a hard age limit.
- People who previously received a Korean-government degree scholarship are ineligible, except recipients of a bachelor’s-degree scholarship. Former KOICA scholarship fellows whose award was cancelled after enrollment are also ineligible.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor
Appears to have an age limit “under 40”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Confirm that the applicant’s country is designated for the cycle and obtain government nomination through the relevant KOICA overseas office or Korean embassy.
- 2Prepare the KOICA application package and all KDI School documents specified for the cycle.
- 3Submit the first-stage application to the KOICA overseas office or Korean embassy and attend its interview.
- 4If nominated, complete KDI School document screening, the local medical check, original-document submission and the institutional interview or any required written test.
- 5Successful candidates complete visa and vaccination requirements, enter South Korea, pass the in-country medical check and join orientation.
Program timeline
Most recent confirmed application period
Feb 17, 2025 to Feb 28, 2025
Document review
Mar 4, 2025 to Apr 3, 2025
Document-review result
Apr 4, 2025
Local health checks
Apr 4, 2025 to Apr 18, 2025
Interviews
Apr 21, 2025 to Apr 23, 2025
Final result expected from KOICA
Mid-May 2025
August
General KOICA schedule for entry, in-country medical check, orientation and semester start; no exact 2025 date was published