Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Guide
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the Korean government's flagship scholarship for international students, run by NIIED. It's widely described as fully funded, which is why it's so competitive. This is an honest overview of what it covers, who can apply, and how the process works — but the precise amounts, eligible countries, and deadlines are set fresh each year, so the official announcement is always the final word.
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Book a 1-on-1 Korean trial lesson on italkiWhat GKS typically covers
Benefits are set each year by NIIED, but the program is commonly described as covering:
- Tuition — covered, with universities often making up any excess above the program's tuition cap.
- Monthly living allowance — in recent cycles about 900,000 KRW/month for undergraduate scholars and 1,000,000 KRW/month for graduate scholars (the exact figure is set each year).
- Round-trip airfare — an economy-class flight to and from Korea.
- Settlement & completion grants — a one-time settlement allowance on arrival (recently around 200,000 KRW) and a scholarship-completion grant when you finish.
- Korean language training — about one year of intensive Korean before degree study.
- Medical insurance — for the duration of the scholarship.
- Research/thesis support — for graduate scholars, a research allowance (recently around 210,000–240,000 KRW per semester by field) plus thesis-printing aid.
Figures above reflect the most recent GKS cycles and are shown to give you a realistic sense of scale — NIIED sets the official amounts fresh each year, so always confirm against the current announcement.
When applications typically open
Exact dates shift each year, but the windows are fairly stable, so plan around them:
| Track | Typical application window |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (embassy & university tracks) | Around September–October (e.g. the 2026 cycle ran mid-September to end of October) |
| Graduate — embassy track | Around February of the intake year |
| Graduate — university track | Around February–March of the intake year |
Deadlines are strict and vary by country and university — confirm your exact cutoff on the official announcement before you rely on these windows.
Who tends to be eligible
- Citizenship. You must generally be a citizen of an eligible country and not hold Korean citizenship (dual citizens including Korean are typically excluded).
- Age. Commonly cited limits are under 25 for undergraduate applicants and under 40 for graduate applicants, with exact birthdate cutoffs announced each cycle.
- Academics. A minimum standard is usually required — often cited as a GPA around 80% or higher (or equivalent).
- Health. Applicants generally must be in good enough health to complete the program.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose your track. The embassy track applies through the Korean embassy in your home country; the university track applies directly through a designated Korean university.
- Watch for the annual announcement. NIIED publishes the call for applications with that year's eligible countries, deadlines, and benefit amounts.
- Register on the Study in Korea portal. Create an account on the official Study in Korea site.
- Prepare your documents. Application forms, study plan, self-introduction, transcripts, diplomas, recommendation letters, and a health checklist.
- Submit before the deadline. Each track and country has its own cutoff — deadlines are strict.
- Pass the selection rounds. Selection typically happens in stages (institution, then NIIED), sometimes with an interview.
- Complete health and final checks. A medical exam confirms eligibility after selection.
- Begin language training, then your degree. Most scholars start with the Korean language year before entering their program.
Interactive GKS application checklist
Use this to track your GKS preparation — ticks are saved in this browser. Eligible countries, benefit amounts, and deadlines are set fresh each year, so always confirm against the current announcement on studyinkorea.go.kr.
Want to build Korean before applying or before the language year? Book a low-cost 1-on-1 trial lesson on italki before you commit — italki has a money-back guarantee on unsatisfactory trial lessons, so there's little risk in trying a tutor first.
Book a 1-on-1 Korean trial lesson on italkiFrequently asked questions
What is the Global Korea Scholarship?
GKS is a scholarship funded by the Korean government and administered by NIIED. It supports international students for undergraduate and graduate study in Korea and is widely described as fully funded. Details are published each year on the official Study in Korea site.
What does GKS cover?
It is commonly described as covering tuition, a monthly living allowance, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, and one year of Korean language training, plus additional support such as a settlement allowance. Exact amounts are set each year by NIIED.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must generally be citizens of an eligible country (and not hold Korean citizenship), meet age limits (commonly under 25 for undergraduate and under 40 for graduate), and meet a minimum academic standard (often cited as a GPA around 80%+). Exact criteria vary by cycle and track.
How do I apply?
There are two tracks: the embassy track (through the Korean embassy in your country) and the university track (through a designated Korean university). You apply via the official Study in Korea portal within the announced window.
Do I need to speak Korean to apply?
Not necessarily. GKS typically includes a year of Korean language training before degree study, so applicants without Korean can still apply, though some tracks and programs have language requirements.
Last reviewed July 2026.