The U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative Award is an open study/research award in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, part of a joint U.S.–Korea exchange initiative launched in April 2023.
Graduating seniors, graduate students and young professionals carry out an independent research project in any STEM field, including emerging technologies, at a Korean host institution they arrange themselves.
Benefits & funding
- ₩2,400,000 a month, paid every two months in KRW.
- One-off allowances: ₩2,400,000 (one month’s stipend) for settling in, excess baggage and research materials, plus about ₩2,000,000 for Korean study if you already meet the novice level.
- International travel, accident and sickness cover, 24/7 mental health line; dependent support available.
- Grantees arrange and pay for their own housing.
- 12 months of U.S. federal non-competitive hiring eligibility.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizens or nationals at the deadline; permanent residents are not eligible.
- Korean nationals, including dual U.S.–Korea citizens, are not considered; applicants of Korean heritage must prove they hold no Korean nationality before accepting.
- A bachelor’s degree before the grant starts (final-year undergraduates may apply); Ph.D. holders by the grant start date are not eligible.
- Not living in Korea now or during 2026–27 (3 months’ cumulative stay counts as residing).
- Not eligible if you lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline.
- Korean at least at novice level by the grant start; those below it attend about a month of intensive Korean from late July 2027.
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.
“Candidates who have already received a PhD degree by the grant start date are not eligible for consideration. … Anyone who has resided abroad for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the national application deadline.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residence required
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Secure a formal affiliation letter from your Korean host institution by 31 December 2026.
- 2Submit the Fulbright online application by the national deadline: 6 October 2026 for 2027–28 (closed).
- 3All grantees must enter Korea on a U.S. passport with an A-3-99 visa.
Program timeline
Application deadline (closed)
6 Oct 2026
Affiliation letter due
31 Dec 2026
Recommended / not-recommended notice
End of Jan 2027
Grant starts
24 Aug 2027
Grant ends (bachelor’s and master’s level)
22 Jun 2028