The Korean Government GKS Scholarship 2025–2026 in South Korea is now accepting applications. Applications for the Global Korea Scholarship 2025 are open to all international students, regardless of their location. The Global Korea GKS Scholarship offers full funding for those wishing to study for a master’s or doctoral degree in South Korea. The Korean government is providing 1,278 international scholarships this year to students from 145 different countries who want to study research or earn a graduate degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Korea. The scholarship is available for the 2025–2026 school year.
The Korean government offers postgraduate degree programs at the top Korean universities in nearly every academic discipline and major. The Korean government will pay for all of the costs.
One of the top scholarships in the world, the Korean Government Scholarship enrolls a large number of students annually. For graduate degrees, the call will start in February, while for undergraduate degrees, it will open in September 2025.
Details of Korean Government GKS Scholarship
| University: | Korean Universities |
| Degree level: | Masters, PhD, Research |
| Scholarship coverage: | Fully Funded |
| Eligible nationality: | All Nationalities |
| Award country: | South Korea |
| Last Date: | different for every country |
Financial Coverage:
International students can apply for the Korean Government GKS Scholarship 2025–2026, which is fully funded. The entire cost will be covered by the Global Korea GKS Scholarship 2024. Details are provided below:
- Complete Tuition Fee
- For the length of your study program, the grant pays for your entire tuition.
- Monthly Allowance
- a KRW 1,000,000–KRW 1,500,000 monthly allowance to assist with living expenditures.
- Resettlement Allowance
- a KRW 200,000 one-time resettlement stipend to help with your initial transition.
- Medical Insurance
- KRW 20,000 in health insurance coverage to cover any necessary medical expenses.
- Research Support
- KRW 210,000 to KRW 240,000 more for research support to help with academic endeavors.
- Round Airfare Tickets
- Round-trip airfare tickets from your home country to Korea are provided.
- Language Courses
- As part of the scholarship, students will take language classes to improve their study skills and become fluent in Korean.
- Award for Excellent Korean Language Proficiency
- a unique honor given to pupils who exhibit exceptional Korean language skills.
- Printing Costs (Dissertation)
- financing for the KRW 500,000 to KRW 800,000 cost of printing a dissertation.
- Completion Grant
- at the conclusion of your program, a completion grant.
About GKS Scholarship:
To facilitate international educational exchanges and foster international friendships by giving foreign students the chance to pursue further studies in graduate programs at higher educational institutions in the Republic of Korea.
Available Study Fields
- Under the Korean government’s Global Korea Scholarship, students can pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in any academic field or major.
- The majors (fields of study) that applicants select must be those that are only included in the “University Information” file.
Korean Scholarship Duration:
- Master’s Degree: 3 years
- 1 year of the Korean language program
- 2 years of a degree program
- Doctoral Degree: 4 years
- 3 years of the regular degree program
- Research Program: 6 Months.
Eligibility Criteria for Global Korea Scholarship:
In order to be eligible for the Korean Government GKS Scholarship in Korea, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
General Criteria:
- Every applicant needs to be in good physical and mental health.
- All candidates must have maintained a CGPA that is at least as high as the following:
- CGPA: 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, 3.23/5.0, 2.64/4.0
- Age: Must rank in the top 20% of one’s class or score 80% or higher on a 100-point scale.
Nationality:
- Every candidate must be a citizen of one of the NIIED-designated nations.
- All applicants must be non-Korean, as must their parents.
- Korean nationals and dual citizens—those who have both Korean and foreign citizenship—are not permitted to apply.
- Documentation attesting to the renunciation of Korean citizenship is required of applicants and their parents who were once Korean nationals.
Age Criteria:
- must have been born after September 1, 1984, and be under 40 years old as of September 1, 2024.
- Academic instructors who were born after September 1, 1978, and who are under 45 years old as of September 1, 2024, and who are citizens of one of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients indicated in the table below, may apply.
Degree Requirements:
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in order to enroll in a master’s program, or a master’s degree in order to enroll in a doctoral program.
- Candidates for the Research Program must be enrolled at a university in Korea that has been selected by NIIED, have a degree, or be at least as educated as a Master’s degree.
- A doctorate degree or a comparable educational level is required for postdoctoral research programs.
- The certificate of projected graduation must be submitted at the time of application by applicants who are anticipated to graduate at that time.
- English language proficiency and certification requirements.
How to Apply
Each nation has its own application process for the Korean Government GKS Scholarship. Below is a link to the official webpage. We highly advise you to make sure to check the calls for 2025-26 GKS applications separately announced by relevant institutions or offices in your country.
Conclusion:
International students have a fantastic opportunity to continue their study in South Korea with complete financial support through the Korean Government GKS Scholarship. The scholarship promotes academic excellence and global collaboration by offering full money and the opportunity to attend some of the top colleges in the world. Be sure to check the application process and eligibility criteria for your country and start preparing early for a chance to study in South Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is eligible to apply for the GKS Scholarship?
In addition to having a solid academic record (top 20% of the class) and meeting the degree criteria (Bachelor’s for Master’s, Master’s for Ph.D.), applicants must be non-Korean citizens and born after September 1, 1984.
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What financial benefits are covered under the GKS Scholarship?
Among other things, the scholarship pays for tuition, medical insurance, flights, research funding, language classes, a monthly living stipend (KRW 1,000,000–1,500,000), and resettlement expenses.
