Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Studying in South Korea with a Full Scholarship
Published on · South Korea
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), managed by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), is one of the most complete scholarship programmes for studying in South Korea. It covers undergraduate and graduate levels (master's and doctorate) and offers immersion in an innovative university system.
What the scholarship funds
The scholarship includes in principle tuition fees, a monthly allowance, a flight ticket, medical insurance and, for most profiles, a year of Korean language. Precise amounts and conditions are published every year.
Two application routes
Embassy route
The candidate submits their file to the Korean embassy in their country, which organises the selection. Selected candidates are put forward to NIIED, which assigns them to partner universities. The calendar is generally in the first half of the year for a departure in autumn.
University route
Korean universities themselves select some scholarship holders. You must apply to the institution, generally in autumn or early winter for the following intake.
The file
- Application form, study plan and motivation letter.
- Diplomas, transcripts and recommendation letters.
- Certificate of nationality and civil status documents.
- Language certificates (English or Korean) for some programmes.
The language year
Most scholarship holders take an intensive first year of Korean before starting their programme. It is valuable for daily life and for programmes taught in Korean. Some programmes in English skip this step.
Choosing your universities
The file asks for a ranking of several universities. Study each institution's strong fields (technology, engineering, Asian studies, business) and the availability of programmes in English.
Advice
- Follow the file presentation requirements to the letter.
- Take care over the study plan: it must show a clear trajectory.
- Prepare for an interview on your motivation and your knowledge of Korea.