Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

Applications are now open for the Korean Government Scholarship for undergraduate students. Integrated and branded as Global Korean Scholarship (GKS), the Korean Government Scholarship aims to provide support for international students from eligible countries to undertake Undergraduate studies at Higher Educational Institutions in South Korea. The GKS program aims to promote international exchanges in education and mutual friendship between countries. Selected candidates are required to attend a one-year Korean language course in Korea, prior to their major studies. Those who have attained a Korean language fluency score higher than level 5 in TOPIK are exempt from this requirement.

The Global Korea Scholarship – University-Industry Cooperation (UIC) Program is fully funded and will be awarded to 262 International Students, willing to study an undergraduate degree program in Korea under the Korean Global Korean Scholarship 2024. You will need 5 years to complete a bachelor’s degree (1 year of Korean language program + 4 years of major courses), 3 or 4 years to complete an Associate degree (1 year of Korean language program + 2~3 years of Associate degree), and 5~6 years for some Bachelor’s degree programs such as Architecture, Medicine, etc.

This government scholarship has 2 Tracks: the embassy track and the university track. A total of 119 students will be selected through the university track to study in any academic field or major in South Korea. Please note that this call is only for undergraduate applicants. Please click on the Korean Government Scholarship for Masters and Ph.D. degree students if you’re a graduate student.

Program Details

• Host institutions: Partner universities in South Korea.
• Fields of Study: Disciplines available at participating universities.
• Number of Awards: 262 (More details in the table below).
• Duration : 1 year of Korean language program, 2~3 years for Associate degree and 4~6 years for Bachelor’s degree (5~6 years for some programs e.g., Architecture, Medicine).
• Eligible countries: Open for all countries in the world.

Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate Students Benefits

The Korean Government Scholarship (GKS) will provide selected candidates with the following benefits:

1. Round trip economy class flight ticket between GKS scholar’s home country and Korea;
2. Resettlement Allowance: 200,000 KW;
3. Monthly Allowance: 900,000 KRW per month
4. Korean Proficiency Grants: 100,000 KRW per month
5. Degree Completion Grants: 100,000 KRW (offered once);
6. 1-Year Korean Language Training Fee: NIIED (1,300,000 KRW), University (amount that exceeds 1,300,000 KRW);
7. National Health Insurance fee;
8. Tuition Fees: up to 5,000,000 KRW;

Notice

• Entry airfare will NOT be provided to newly selected scholars who are residing in Korea at the time of final announcement. Any domestic travel fees within a scholar’s home country and any international travel insurance for the trip to Korea will NOT be covered.
• Entry airfare or visa application support will NOT be provided to scholars who enter Korea from a country other than the scholar’s own country of citizenship.
• If a GKS scholar withdraws from the scholarship within the first 3 months after enrollment to their university, one MUST return the full scholarship amount that he or she has received after being selected as a GKS scholar.

Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate Students Eligibility

To apply for the Global Korean Scholarship (GKS), applicants must meet criteria below:

Nationality

• This program is available for NIIED designated countries that are invited to take part in the GKS program.
• All applicants and their parents must NOT hold Korean citizenship. If an applicant or his/her parent(s) hold dual citizenship (one who has Korean citizenship and citizenship of another country), he/she is NOT eligible to apply.
• Applicants and their parents who had previously held Korean citizenship must submit documentation that proves their renunciation of Korean citizenship.

Level of Education

Applicants who:

• graduated (or are expected to graduate) from a high school can apply for a Bachelor’s degree program or an Associate degree program.
• graduated (or are expected to graduate) from an associate degree program can only apply for a Bachelor’s degree program.
• are expected to graduate must first submit a certificate of expected graduation at the time of application. If such applicants pass the final round of selection, they must submit a graduation certificate (or a degree certificate) by December 31, 2023
• are projected to graduate by March 31, 2024, are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Please ensure that you provide a certificate of expected graduation with your application. If accepted, you must submit your final transcript and graduation certificate by March 31, 2024. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your acceptance.
• have a bachelor’s degree cannot apply.

Grades

• All applicants must have maintained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) equivalent to or higher than any ONE of the following from their previous degree program.
• Applicants for Associate Degree: High School program Applicants for Bachelor’s Degree: High School program or Associate Degree
  • CGPA must be equal to or above 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0
  • Score percentile should be 80% or above on a 100-point scale or be ranked within the top 20% within one’s class

Age

Must be under 25 years of age (born after March 1, 1999).

All applicants must have no grounds for disqualification (e.g., criminal history) for overseas travel.

Health

• All applicants must be in good health, both mentally and physically, to study in Korea for the full duration of the program.
  • If an applicant is tested positive on drug tests or has a serious illness that prevents him or her to study abroad for a long period of time, such applicant will be excluded from evaluations or be disqualified from the scholarship
  • If a GKS scholar is found to have a serious illness at the final medical examination, arranged by NIIED after arriving in Korea, he or she will be disqualified from the program
• Applicants who pass the 2nd round of selection must receive a comprehensive medical checkup and submit an Official Medical Examination issued by a medical doctor or a licensed hospital. After arriving in Korea, all GKS scholars will be subject to a medical examination administered by NIIED. If a GKS scholar is found to have a serious illness from the medical examination after arriving in Korea, he or she will be disqualified from their GKS scholarship.
• Applicants must check additional restriction or eligibility set by each university

Duplicate Application for the Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate

• Embassy track applicants who passed the first round of selection (including backup candidates) cannot apply again through a university track
• Embassy track applicants must apply to only one program between the General program and Overseas Koreans program
• University track applicants must apply to only one program among UIC, Regional University, and Associate Degree programs. Each applicant must apply to ONE university and a single department.

Available Universities for the Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate

Below is the list of universities where selected applicants can study with this scholarship. Applicants can only apply to universities listed here.

Embassy Track

Type A (24 institutions): Ajou UniversityChung-Ang University, Dongguk University (Seoul), Duksung Women’s University, Ewha Womans University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hanyang University (Seoul), Inha University, Konkuk University, Kookmin University, Korea University, Kyung Hee University, Seokyeong University,

Seoul National University, SeoulTech (Seoul National University of Science and Technology), Shinhan University, Sogang University, Sookmyung Women’s University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sungshin Women’s University, Tech University of Korea, UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology), University of Seoul, Yonsei University.

Type B (30 institutions): Busan University of Foreign Studies, Chonnam National University, Chungbuk National University, Chungnam National University, Daegu University, Daejeon University, Dong-A University, Dongseo University, Gyeongsang National University, Hannam University, Hoseo University, Inje University, Jeju National University, Jeonbuk National University, Kangwon National University, Keimyung University,

Kongju National University, Konyang University, KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology and Education), Kyungpook National University, National Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Pai Chai University, Pukyong National University, Pusan National University, Semyung University, Silla University, Soonchunhyang University, Sun Moon University, Sunchon National University, Yeungnam University.

University Track

UIC (10 institutions): Bachelor’s Degree Program: Ajou University, Konyang University, Kookmin University, KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology and Education), Pusan National University, Sogang University, Soonchunhyang University, Tech University of Korea.

Associate Degree Program: Kyungbok University, Yeungjin University.

Regional (30 institutions): Busan University of Foreign Studies, Chonnam National University, Chungbuk National University, Chungnam National University, Daegu University, Daejeon University, Dong-A University, Dongseo University, Gyeongsang National University, Hannam University, Hoseo University, Inje University, Jeju National University, Jeonbuk National University, Kangwon National University,

Keimyung University, Kongju National University, Konyang University, KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology and Education), Kyungpook National University, National Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Pai Chai University, Pukyong National University, Pusan National University, Semyung University, Silla University, Soonchunhyang University, Sun Moon University, Sunchon National University, Yeungnam University.

Associate (3 institutions) : Kyungbok University, Osan University, Yeungjin University.

University and departments open for the UIC Program

Below is the list of universities with departments where candidates can study as bachelor or associate degree students in South Korea through the UIC (University-Industry Cooperation) Program. UIC program is open for applicants from all countries in the world.

Bachelor’s Degree (8 Universities)

1. Ajou University: Software Engineering
2. Konyang University
   • Department of Cyber Security
   • Department of Medical Artificial Intelligent
3. Kookmin University
   • School of Software
   • School of Artificial Intelligence
4. Tech University of Korea (Korea Polytechnic University) : Department of Mechatronics Engineering
5. Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) :
   • School of Mechanical Engineering
   • School of Computer Science and Engineering
6. Pusan National University :
   • Mechanical Engineering
   • Industrial Engineering
   • Computer Science and Engineering
   • Nano energy Engineering
   • Nanomechatronics Engineering
   • Optics and Mechatronics Engineering
   • Biological Sciences
7. Sogang University :
   • Electronic Engineering
   • Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
8. Soonchunhyang University :
   • AI and Big Data
   • Internet of Things
   • Computer Software Engineering
   • Information Security Engineering
   • Medical IT Engineering

Associate Degree (2 Universities)

• Kyungbok University : Big Data
• Yeungjin University :
  • Computer Information
  • AI Convergence Mechanical Engineering

Similar opportunities

1. UK Government Chevening Scholarships for Foreign Students;
2. University of Lausanne Master’s Scholarship for Foreign Students;
3. Doha Institute For Graduate Studies Scholarship.

How to Apply for the Korean Government Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

Those who would like to apply for this scholarship to study in Asia should follow given instructions below.

• Applicants MUST check the deadline with the institution they intend to submit their application to.
• NIIED receives applications from Korean Embassies or domestic universities that recommend potential candidates. Therefore, applicants must submit their applications with all required documents to either embassies or partner universities in Korea.

Required Documents

1. Applicant Form (Form 1). Please click here to download All Forms (form 1 to form 6);
2. Personal Statement (Form 2);
3. Study Plan (Form 3);
4. Single letter of Recommendation (Form 4);
5. GKS Applicant Agreement (Form 5);
6. Personal Medical Assessment (Form 6);
7. Proof of citizenship (applicant and parents) and proof of family relationship
8. High School Graduation Certificate (or certificate of expected graduation)
9. Academic transcript of high school curriculum
10. Graduation certificate (or certificate of expected graduation) of associate degree program
11. Academic transcript of associate degree
12. Proof of Overseas Korean: Prove with supporting documents such as family register or birth certificate (Only for Korean applicants);
13. Proof of Korean Citizenship Renunciation Document: Certificate that are officially issued by the government (Only for Korean applicants);
14. Proof of Korean War Veteran’s Descendant: Certificate that are officially issued by the government and additional document that proves the family relationship with an applicant (Only for descendants of Korean War Veterans);
15. Certificate of valid TOPIK score or certificate of valid English Proficiency Test such as TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, etc. (Optional).
16. Awards and other certificates (Optional);
17. Applicant’s Passport (copy)

Please note that this application call is only for undergraduate applicants. Those who wish to apply for master, PhD, and research programs should Please click on the Korean Government Scholarship for Masters and Ph.D. degree students.

Application deadlines are set by each embassy / university. Applicants should contact respective embassies or universities for the fixed deadline. To know more about the Korean Government Scholarship (GKS), please visit the official page To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.