Global Korea Scholarship (South Korea)

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), formerly known as KGSP, is funded by the Korean government and run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). It supports international students at undergraduate, master's and PhD level.

What it covers

GKS is fully funded. It generally includes a round-trip airfare, tuition, a monthly allowance, a settlement allowance on arrival, medical insurance, and one year of Korean language training before your degree.

Two ways to apply

1. Embassy track. Apply through the Korean embassy in your country, which makes the first round of selection.
2. University track. Apply directly to a participating Korean university.

You can usually apply through only one track in a given year, so choose carefully.

Who can apply

General requirements include:

• Citizenship of a GKS-eligible country (neither you nor your parents can hold Korean citizenship)
• An age limit, commonly under 40 for graduate programmes
• A minimum grade average set by NIIED
• Good health

Documents you'll need

• Application form
• Personal statement
• Study plan
• Two recommendation letters
• Degree certificates and transcripts
• Language test results, if available (TOPIK or English tests can earn extra points)

Tips

A clear, realistic study plan helps a lot. Explain what you'll study, which professors or labs interest you, and what you plan to do after graduating.