Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a scholarship program of the South Korean Government that allows foreigners to get higher education in one of the Korean universities for free. The program is funded and managed through the National Institute for the Development of International Education (NIIED). The GKS scholarship provides full coverage of expenses and applies to all types of programs: bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral degree. The training can take place in both English and Korean.
65 universities of the country participate in the program, offering programs in almost all subject areas. The exception to Global Korea Scholarship is only programs with a duration of more than 4 years. As a rule, these include medicine, pharmaceuticals and architecture.
Within the framework of the Global Korea Scholarship program, a fairly large number of scholarships are awarded annually: 170 for bachelors, 700 for masters and doctors. However, the competition for the scholarship is also high. Citizens from more than 110 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan, can receive the GKS scholarship.
*2 QUOTAS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FOR KSMA TO STUDY FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE IN THE SPECIALTY "NURSING"
The purpose of the program
Promotion of international exchange in education and achievement of the commonwealth between the countries by providing foreign students with the opportunity to study at higher educational institutions of the Republic of Korea
Training programs
- Master's and doctoral studies
Master's and Doctoral degree programs at Korean universities, Master's and doctoral degree programs with an annual tuition fee of more than 10 million won are allowed only if the university pays the remaining difference - Research work
Conducting scientific work at a research institution (university) Korea as an exchange teacher or graduate of a doctoral (postgraduate) program
Selection procedure
| Procedure | Master's degree, doctoral studies |
| Notification of recruitment and acceptance of documents | February of each year |
| 1 selection round (consulate, university) | March of each year |
| 2 selection circle (NIIED) | April of each year |
| 3 selection circle (university) - only for those who submitted documents through the consulate | May of each year |
| Announcement of results (NIIED) | June of each year |
| Arrival of scholarship holders in Korea |
August of each year |
Scholarship payment amounts
| The amount | |
|
Flight |
Amount paid |
|
Settlement |
200 thousand won (1 time) |
|
Accommodation |
900 thousands - 1 million. won per month |
| Medical insurance |
20 thousand won per month |
|
Language courses |
800 thousand wonv quarter |
|
Training |
Max. 5 million per semester |
|
High level of knowledge of Korean |
100 thousand per semester |
|
Researches |
210-240 thousands per semester |
|
Printing of the thesis |
500~800 thousand won |
|
Returning home |
100 thousand won (1 time) |
Requirements for candidates for the GKS Scholarship
Applicants applying for the Global Korea Scholarship Program must:
- Be a citizen of the participating country of the program and not be Korean by nationality;
- Meet the age limit: persons under 25 years of age are accepted for bachelor's degree programs, for master's and doctoral programs – no older than 40 years;
- Have a bachelor's degree (admission to the master's program) or a master's degree (for those entering the doctoral program);
- Have a good GPA – at least 80% GPA;
- Have a high level of English and/or Korean.
Finalists must take Korean language courses within 1 year at a language institution located on the territory of the country's universities.
Finalists who have a TOPIK language certificate confirming the level of proficiency in Korean above level 5 are exempt from this requirement.
Method of submission of documents
- Bachelor, Master, Doctor: Apply to the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in the student's country or directly to one of the Korean universities
- Research: apply to one of the Korean universities
*Notes
Please specify the necessary documents and detailed information in the recruitment notice published on the website annually (Scholarships - GKS Alerts)
Contacts: kgspniied@korea.kr
Detailed information on quotas, documents and deadlines is here.