KOICA funded this doctorate in its 2024 second scholarship round: three places for a 36-month, English-taught Global Education Leadership degree at KNUE in Cheongju, for education-sector officials from partner countries.
Coursework covers research methods, international education and the Korean education system, ending in a thesis on a home-country topic. The doctorate is not listed in KOICA’s 2025-1, 2025-2, 2026-1 or 2027 guidelines; the KNUE master’s track continued through 2026-1.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition, a university dormitory and one economy round-trip airfare (actual cost).
- KRW 999,000 a month in the 2024 round; KOICA’s 2026 and 2027 guidelines list KRW 1,200,000.
- Doctoral settlement allowance of KRW 1,200,000 and completion grant of KRW 600,000, each paid once.
- Health insurance (about KRW 79,210 a month in 2024) plus private medical cover.
- Selection costs (document authentication, local medical check, visa) are not reimbursed.
Eligibility
- Citizen of a country on KOICA’s 2024 list: Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Uganda, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Niger, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, Benin, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Angola, Zambia, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Togo, South Sudan, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Belize, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Laos, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, Palau, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Jordan, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan.
- A government official with an official nomination from your government.
- Completed the KOICA master’s program, with the master’s degree held by 29 February 2024.
- Barred: anyone who studied for a degree on a non-KOICA Korean government scholarship, or whose KOICA scholarship was cancelled.
- Strong spoken and written English; good mental and physical health for the full course (severe illness bars).
- Preferred, not required: under 40; three years’ field experience after the KOICA master’s; government employment during and after study.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Eligible nationalities
Ghana · Nigeria · Rwanda · Morocco · Mozambique · Senegal · Algeria · Egypt · Uganda · Cameroon · Côte d'Ivoire · Kenya
+ 79 more
Tanzania · Tunisia · DR Congo · Gabon · Gambia · Niger · Lesotho · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mauritius · Burkina Faso · Benin · Burundi · Sierra Leone · Angola · Zambia · Central African Republic · Zimbabwe · Togo · South Sudan · Liberia · Mali · Mauritania · São Tomé and Príncipe · Comoros · Guatemala · Dominican Republic · Bolivia · Ecuador · El Salvador · Colombia · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Honduras · Jamaica · Costa Rica · Guyana · Grenada · Dominica · Belize · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Nepal · Timor-Leste · Laos · Mongolia · Bangladesh · Vietnam · Sri Lanka · India · Indonesia · Cambodia · Thailand · Pakistan · Philippines · Palau · Fiji · Nauru · Niue · Marshall Islands · Vanuatu · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Kiribati · Tonga · Tuvalu · Papua New Guinea · Jordan · Iraq · Azerbaijan · Uzbekistan · Kyrgyzstan · Tajikistan · Ukraine · Georgia · Kazakhstan · Turkmenistan
Education required
Master
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Application process
- 1Get your government’s recommendation letter and confirm your country’s deadline with the KOICA office or Korean embassy.
- 2Email the KOICA application forms, the recommendation letter and a passport scan to that office.
- 3Attend the office or embassy interview.
- 4If you pass, apply to KNUE: document screening, a local medical check at your own cost, and a university interview or test.
Program timeline
1–29 March 2024
KOICA round; local deadlines may be earlier.
interview results due at KOICA HQ.
5 April 2024
KNUE screening, medical check, interview.
April–May 2024
admission notice.
July 2024
arrival and course start.
August 2024