Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Offered by NIIED — Government of the Republic of Korea
About this scholarship
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), run by Korea's National Institute for International Education (NIIED), is the South Korean government's flagship scholarship for international students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at Korean universities. It is comprehensive, covering full tuition, a monthly living stipend, return airfare, settlement and research allowances, medical insurance, and a one-year Korean language training course before degree study. Applicants choose one of two routes: the Embassy Track (apply through the Korean embassy in your country of citizenship) or the University Track (apply directly to a designated Korean university) — you may not use both in the same cycle. Selection requires strong academic performance (generally a GPA in the top 20% / 80%+), good health, and being within the age limits, and applicants who have previously received a Korean government scholarship or hold Korean citizenship are ineligible. Around 2,000 graduate students are invited in 2026 across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, the arts, and (for graduate study) engineering fields.
Eligibility
- Be a citizen of an eligible country (you and your parents must be non-Korean nationals)
- Have a strong academic record (generally top 20% / GPA 80%+)
- Be within the age limit (typically under 25 for undergraduate, under 40 for graduate)
- Be in good physical and mental health
- Apply via either the Embassy Track or the University Track (not both)
- Not have previously received a Korean government scholarship
This opens the official program page — look for the “Apply” button there. Always verify amounts and deadlines on the official site; they change each cycle.
Last verified by us: 2026-06-01.