奬 Scholarship
GKS Undergraduate (Global Korea Scholarship, Bachelor’s)
◎ Government (GKS) · NIIED
Who is it for?
Full tuition (NIIED up to KRW 5M / semester + university waives the rest and admission fee), 1-year Korean language program fee (KRW 5.2M), economy-class airfare to Korea, all-inclusive monthly allowance (living costs, health insurance, TOPIK fee, settlement and degree completion grants).
- You are applying for a bachelor’s program.
- You want full-tuition funding.
- You want a monthly living allowance, not just a tuition waiver.
- You can apply from any country — no nationality limit.
Quick facts
Type
Government (GKS)
Level
Bachelor’s
Who can apply
Embassy Track: 71 designated countries
Funding period
Up to 5 years: 1-year Korean language program + bachelor’s degree (up to 4 years)
Recipients
280 total for 2026 (Embassy Track 150 + University Track 130
Intake year
2026
What you get
Benefits
Full tuition (NIIED up to KRW 5M / semester + university waives the rest and admission fee), 1-year Korean language program fee (KRW 5.2M), economy-class airfare to Korea, all-inclusive monthly allowance (living costs, health insurance, TOPIK fee, settlement and degree completion grants).
Monthly allowance
KRW 13,680,000/year during degree (KRW 12,840,000 / year during language year), all-inclusive
Funding period
Up to 5 years: 1-year Korean language program + bachelor’s degree (up to 4 years).
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Non-Korean citizens (applicant AND parents)
- under 25 (2026 round: born after March 1, 2001)
- high school graduate or expected graduate (associate degree holders may apply to bachelor’s)
- CGPA 80%+ on 100-point scale or top 20% of class (2.64 / 4.0, 2.80 / 4.3, 2.91 / 4.5, 3.23 / 5.0)
- previous GKS degree scholars cannot apply.
Nationalities
Embassy Track: 71 designated countries (per-country quota). University Track UIC program: all countries.
How to apply
Application period
- Annually, typically mid-September to end of September (Embassy Track) or end of October (University Track).
- 2026 round: Sep 15 – Sep 30, 2025 (Embassy) / Sep 15 – Oct 31, 2025 (University).
How to apply
- Online at studyinkorea.go.kr – Embassy Track (up to 3 universities, at least 1 Type B) OR University Track (1 university, 1 department).
- One track only.
Required documents
- Application form, personal statement, study plan, sealed recommendation letter, GKS agreement, medical assessment, proof of citizenship for applicant and parents (apostille / consular confirmation), high school graduation certificate and transcript (apostilled), optional TOPIK/English scores.
- See gks/04-documents-checklist.md.
Keeping the scholarship
Renewal conditions
- Must reach TOPIK level 3 to start degree (some departments require TOPIK 4).
- Withdrawal within first 3 months of enrollment = full repayment of scholarship received.
Track record. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), the Korean government’s flagship international scholarship, administered by NIIED under the Ministry of Education.
Contact & where to study
Official page
Contact
- Apply at studyinkorea.go.kr.
- Embassy Track applicants: contact the Korean Embassy/Consulate in your country.
- NIIED (GKS): [email protected].
Participating universities
- 69 universities for 2026 (Embassy Type A 30 + Type B 39) + University Track UIC 10 + Associate 3
- see gks/06-universities.md
Before you apply — verify.
- Scholarship amounts, quotas, dates, and eligibility can change every cycle — always confirm the current details with the official source before you apply.
- For GKS, country quotas, deadlines, and required documents differ by country. Confirm the specifics with the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country.
- The official notice is published in Korean only — use an official translation and double-check key dates.
Data from official sources · last updated 2026-07-03
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