Korean Government KOICA Scholarship Program

The KOICA Scholarship Program is a fully-funded scholarship offered by the Korean government to international students from developing countries. The scholarship program aims to provide educational opportunities to individuals who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home countries.

KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) offers various scholarship programs for different levels of education, including undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees. The scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, accommodation, and living expenses. In addition to their studies, scholarship recipients are also expected to participate in cultural exchange activities and contribute to the development of their communities.

The application process for the KOICA Scholarship Program involves submitting academic transcripts, a personal statement, and a letter of recommendation. The selection process is competitive and based on the applicant’s academic performance, leadership potential, and commitment to development work. The scholarship is highly sought after by international students from developing countries, and provides a unique opportunity for individuals to gain a world-class education and contribute to the development of their communities.

Program Details

• Host Institution: Partner universities in South Korea (Please check the full list below).
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: Program’s normal duration.
• Target group: Full list below.

Korean Government KOICA Scholarship Benefits

The KOICA Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship program that provides the following coverage:

1. Tuition fees: Full amount required by the host university
2. Airfare
3. Accommodation
4. Monthly Allowance: KRW 999,000 per month
5. Insurance: Appoximatively KRW 79,210/Per month
6. Private Medical Insurance : Unexpected accidents or illnesses (Benefits may differ to each case)
7. Settlement Allowance :
   • Master: KRW 600,000/once
   • Doctoral: KRW 1,200,000/once
8. Scholarship completion grants :
   • Master: KRW 300,000/once
   • Doctoral: KRW 600,000/once
9. And extracurricular activities: Expenses needed for study visits, workshops, Korean language classes, and etc.

Elible Countries for KOICA Scholarship

Asia (13) : Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.

Africa (24) : Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Central & South America (18) : Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname.

Middle East & CIS & Eastern Europe (10) : Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Pacific (11) : Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea.

Participating Universities in the KOICA Scholarship

Below is the list of universities and programs offered for the KOICA scholarship Program.

All applicants can apply for only one course of the KOICA SP program. For more details on the available courses, refer to the Program Information of each course available on the KOICA website.

Korean Government KOICA Scholarship Eligibility

To qualify for this government scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria.

1. Citizenship: Be a citizen of the Scholarship Program’s target country (listed above). The list of designated countries is subject to annual changes based on the policies of the Korean government (KOICA).
2. Employee Status and Government Nomination: All applicants must be government officials and receive official nomination from their respective governments for the KOICA Scholarship program.
3. AGE: (Preferably) Be under 40 years old.
4. Health: Be in good health, both physically and mentally.
   • Those with disabilities, but in good mental and physical health, are eligible to apply.
   • Those with severe illness are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply.
5. Minimum Level of Education and Field experience:
   • Master applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of 2 years of experience
   • PhD applicants must have a master’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of experience in the field of study
   • Applicants must have obtained the required degree (minimum level of education as indicated above) by 31 01 2024. Some programs may have specific educational qualifications, which can be found in the Program Information provided by each university.
6. English Proficiency: Have a good command of both spoken and written English in order to take classes conducted entirely in English and to be able to write academic reports and thesis in English.
7. Restrictions:
   • Individuals who have previously received a scholarship for a degree program from the Korean government are NOT eligible to apply.
   • Individuals who have previously enrolled in a degree program through a Korean government-sponsored scholarship program, other than the KOICA-administered scholarship program, are NOT eligible to apply for a Doctoral course.
   • However, individuals who have received a bachelor’s degree scholarship from the Korean government are eligible to apply for a master’s course.
   • Applicants who apply to the KOICA Doctoral degree Program must be the KOICA fellows who have successfully completed the KOICA Master’s Degree Program.
   • Individuals who were previously KOICA scholars and had their scholarship cancelled after enrollment are NOT eligible to apply. Cancellation of Scholarship means that a KOICA scholarship participant either withdrew from the program or had their scholarship forfeited due to cumulative warnings, etc., during their scholarship period.

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How to Apply for the Korean Government KOICA Scholarship

To apply for this Asia scholarship, applicants must follow the steps below:

• Prepare all the required documents for your admission package and fill out the ‘Document Checklist’ (inside the application form below).
• Submit the application package (including both university and KOICA application forms and other required documents) to KOICA regional office or Korean Embassy by the submission deadline.
• Participate in an on-site interview by KOICA regional office or Korean Embassy. If an applicant lives in a country where the KOICA regional office / Embassy does not exist or lives far from the capital city, he/she can be interviewed by phone after consulting with the KOICA regional office / Embassy.

Required Documents

All documents should be sent to the regional KOICA office or the relevant government office.

KOICA Documents

1. KOICA Application Form. Please click here to download the form.
2. Recommendation letter from applicants’ governments.
3. A scanned copy of the applicant’s passport.

University Documents : University Application form with required documents for the university. Refer to Program Information on KOICA CIAT Website.

The KOICA Scholarship Program is a valuable opportunity for international students from developing countries to further their education and make a positive impact in their communities. If you meet the eligibility criteria and are passionate about contributing to the development of your home country, then this scholarship is for you. If you have any inquiries regarding the process, please send an email to [email protected].

The application deadline to submit applications to KOICA regional offices or Korean Embassy is February 29, 2024. However, this deadline may vary per receiving institution. please contact the regional KOICA office or local Korean embassy for precise dates. Please visit the official page for more details on the Korean Government KOICA Scholarship. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.