Do you know that South Korean Government has a scholarship program for international students. The Global Korea Scholarship 2024 is a fully funded scholarship offered by South Korea’s National Institute for International Education to international students looking to pursue higher education in Korea. With its goal of fostering global leaders, this scholarship aims to provide financial aid and academic support to outstanding non-Korean students. Each year more than 1500 scholarships are awarded.
Under GKS Scholarship international students can study undergraduate and graduate programs at participating universities in South Korea. There are two application tracks through which international applicants can apply for Global Korea Scholarship, Embassy Track and University Track. For application through Embassy Track, applicants have to apply through South Korea embassy in there country. For application through University Track, applicants apply to the university then they will recommend the suitable candidates for the GKS Scholarship.
The Global Korea Scholarship program was established in 1994 by the Korean government. Each year, around 5,000 students from over 150 countries are awarded the Global Korea Scholarship to study at any of the 41 participating Korean universities. National Institute of International Education (NIIED) is the organizing body of Global Korea Scholarship.
Scholarship Overview
| Country | South Korea |
| Organizer | National Institute of International Education (NIIED) Korea |
| Universities | Participating Universities |
| Degree | Undergraduate, Graduate |
| Eligibility | All |
| Deadline | Different For Each Country and University |
Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
To be eligible for the Global Korea Scholarship 2024-2025, applicants must:
- Be a non-Korean citizen currently residing overseas
- Have completed at least two years of undergraduate study for master’s applicants and a bachelor’s degree for PhD applicants
- Age of undergraduate applicants must be under 25 years.
- Age of graduate applicants must be under 40 years.
- Have demonstrated excellent academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 80%.
- Obtain a letter of invitation from a participating Korean university.
- Submit all required application documents by the deadline
Scholarship Benefits
The Global Korea Scholarship provides the following benefits:
- Full tuition fees coverage
- Monthly allowance of KRW 800,000 for undergraduate, KRW 900,000 for master’s students and KRW 1,000,000 for PhD students
- Settlement allowance of KRW 200,000
- Medical insurance coverage
- Korean language training fees
- Round-trip airfare
- Research support grant
- Completion grant
Top Universities in South Korea
Some of the top universities partnered with the Global Korea Scholarship program include:
- Seoul National University
- Korea University
- Yonsei University
- POSTECH
- KAIST
- Sungkyunkwan University
Required Documents
To apply for the scholarship, you will need to submit several documents. The following are some of the documents required for the Global Korea Scholarship application:
- Application form
- Academic transcripts the transcripts should be in English or Korean, and should include your grades and credit hours.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or diploma.
- Language proficiency certificate. Acceptable certificates include TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean), KET (Korean English Translation), TOEFL, IELTS, or TEFL.
- Two Recommendation letters From Professors or Mentors.
- A Study plan
- Passport copy
- Birth certificate
- Proof of citizenship
- Medical certificate
- Police certificate that shows you have no criminal record.
- Additional documents: Depending on the university and program you are applying to, you may be required to submit additional documents such as essays, portfolios, or certificates of extracurricular activities.
Application Tracks and How to Apply
There are three tracks to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship:
Embassy Track – Apply through your country’s Korean Embassy. Deadline is usually in February.
University Track – Directly contact your chosen Korean university for their school-specific deadline.
GKS-GKS Track – For applicants living in countries without a Korean Embassy. Apply directly through NIIED between February to March.
The application involves submitting forms, documents and letters online. Fluency in Korean or English is required. Selection is based on a comprehensive review process.
The Global Korea Scholarship is a gateway for ambitious international students to access Korea’s cutting-edge education and research opportunities. With full financial support and global alumni networks, it enables students to gain intercultural exposure and skills to thrive in today’s world.
