The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS, 정부초청외국인장학생) is the Korean government’s full scholarship for foreign students. It covers tuition, a round-trip flight, a monthly allowance and one year of Korean language training. There are two separate rounds: undergraduate (GKS-U), which usually opens in September, and graduate (GKS-G), which usually opens in February.
Key facts
| Run by | National Institute for International Education (NIIED, 국립국제교육원), Ministry of Education |
| Who | Citizens of NIIED-designated countries; you and both parents must not hold Korean citizenship |
| Age | Undergraduate: under 25. Graduate: under 40 |
| Grades | Overall GPA of 80% or higher, or top 20% of your class |
| Undergraduate round | Opens in mid-September for the following March. 2027 round: embassy track Sept. 15 to 30, 2026 |
| Graduate round | Opens in February. 2026 round: embassy track Feb. 12 to 25, 2026; university track February to April |
| Where | Online at studyinkorea.go.kr, plus your Korean embassy or chosen university |
What GKS pays
The amounts below are from the official guidelines. NIIED now lists the allowance as a yearly total that includes housing, health insurance and the old settlement allowance.
| Item | Undergraduate (2027 round) | Graduate (2026 round) |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare | Round-trip economy ticket | Economy ticket, actual cost |
| Monthly allowance, language year | ₩13,560,000 per year | ₩14,400,000 per year |
| Monthly allowance, degree years | ₩14,400,000 per year | ₩16,560,000 per year (research programs ₩20,880,000) |
| Tuition | Covered | Up to ₩5 million (as stated in the guideline); the university covers the admission fee |
| Korean language training | 1 year | 1 year (₩5.2 million for four terms, paid to the institute) |
That is about ₩1.13 to ₩1.38 million a month. Amounts can change each year, so read the current guideline.
Who can apply
- Nationality. You must hold citizenship of a country NIIED invites that year. Both your parents must also be non-Korean. Anyone with Korean dual citizenship is not eligible. Some university-track programs are open to all countries.
- Age. GKS-U 2027: born after March 1, 2002. GKS-G 2026: born after September 1, 1986 (professors from ODA countries: under 45).
- Education. Undergraduate applicants need a high school diploma by the start date. Graduate applicants need a bachelor’s (for a master’s) or master’s (for a PhD).
- GPA. 80% or more on a 100-point scale, or top 20%, or at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0.
Who usually cannot apply
- Foreigners who studied in Korea. If you graduated (or will graduate) from a Korean high school, including an international school in Korea, you cannot apply for GKS-U. For GKS-G, graduates of a Korean university (including online degrees) are excluded.
- Former government scholars. Anyone who already did a degree on a Korean government scholarship is out. Past exchange-student GKS and IRTS language-program scholars can still apply for GKS-G.
- Two tracks at once. An embassy-track candidate who passed the first round cannot also apply through the university track.
If you already live in Korea on a D-2 or D-4 visa, the main GKS degree rounds are usually not for you. Look at the self-financed student scholarship and your university's own scholarships below.
Embassy track vs university track
| Embassy track | University track | |
|---|---|---|
| Apply to | Korean embassy in your country (or NIIED for some countries) | One Korean university directly |
| Universities | Up to 3 choices; at least one must be a regional “Type B” university | One university and one department |
| Selection | Embassy, then NIIED, then the university (3 rounds) | University, then NIIED (2 rounds) |
| 2027 undergraduate places | 156 scholars from 74 countries | 130 scholars |
| 2026 graduate places | 800 | 1,200 |
You may only apply through one track. Places are usually one or two per country per program, so competition is strong.
Timeline
Undergraduate (GKS-U). The 2027 round opened on September 15, 2026. University-track deadlines run to November and differ by school. Embassy-track finalists choose their university on Study in Korea by December 29, and the final results are scheduled for January 7, 2027. Scholars arrive and start Korean classes in March.
Graduate (GKS-G). In the 2026 round the embassy track took applications from February 12 to 25. Universities set their own deadlines between February and April. Final results were expected by late June, with arrival before the September semester.
Each year’s notice is posted on studyinkorea.go.kr and on your Korean embassy’s website. Dates are not fixed by law, so check the current notice before planning around them.
The Korean language rule
Every scholar starts with one year of Korean at a university language institute. You must reach TOPIK level 3 by the end of that year to move on to your degree (some departments ask for level 4). If you already hold TOPIK level 5 or 6, you skip the language year. GKS-U scholars who reach level 5 or 6 within six months can start their degree early.
GKS scholars also cannot leave Korea for more than two weeks during the semester, except in emergencies with the university’s approval.
Other scholarships to look at
GKS for Excellent Self-Financed Students (외국인 우수 자비유학생 장학금). For international undergraduates already studying in Korea at their own cost. Past notices asked for: 2nd year or above, GPA of 80% or higher, and TOPIK level 4 or higher. SNU lists it as ₩500,000 a month for 10 months, with applications around January through your university. Each university gets a limited quota, so ask your international office.
University scholarships. Most Korean universities give international students partial or full tuition waivers, often linked to TOPIK level or GPA. These are the scholarships foreigners most often receive.
For the university application itself, see applying to Korean universities. For Korean study options, see learning Korean.
Common questions
When does GKS 2027 open for graduate students?
The 2026 graduate round opened on February 12, 2026, and earlier rounds also opened in February. Expect the 2027 graduate notice around February 2027, but wait for the official notice on studyinkorea.go.kr.
Can I apply if I already live in Korea?
It depends on your past schooling, not your address. Graduates of Korean high schools or universities are excluded.
Is there an application fee?
The guidelines list none. Selection is done only by embassies, universities and NIIED, so ignore agents who promise a place.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.