The Global Korea Scholarship, still widely known by its old name KGSP, is South Korea’s flagship government scholarship for international students, and it is one of the most generous fully funded awards anywhere. It covers your tuition, flies you to Korea, gives you a year of free Korean language training, pays a monthly stipend, insures you, and even helps you settle in and finish your thesis. Best of all for many applicants, you do not need IELTS or TOEFL to apply, because the language that matters here is Korean, and the scholarship teaches you that for free.
This guide covers both the undergraduate and graduate tracks: what GKS pays for, who qualifies, the crucial choice between the Embassy Track and the University Track, and how the timeline works. Figures and dates change each cycle, so confirm the current details on the official Study in Korea portal and with the Korean embassy in your country before applying.
For the wider picture on living and studying there, see our complete guide to studying in South Korea, and for a top-tier institution look at the KAIST scholarship listing.
What is the Global Korea Scholarship?
GKS is run by the Korean government and managed by NIIED, the National Institute for International Education. Its goal is to bring talented international students to Korean universities and to build long-term friendships between Korea and participating countries. The Korean Government Scholarship Programs were rebranded as the Global Korea Scholarship in 2010, which is why you will still see both GKS and KGSP used to mean the same thing.
There are two main levels:
- GKS Undergraduate (GKS-U): for a bachelor’s or associate degree, structured as one year of Korean language training followed by your degree.
- GKS Graduate (GKS-G): for master’s, doctoral, and research study, also usually including a Korean language year.
Each year the Korean government invites a couple of thousand graduate scholars and a few hundred undergraduates from around the world, with quotas set per country. It appears in our guides to the best scholarships for Nigerian students, Indian students, and Pakistani students for good reason.
What GKS covers
GKS is fully funded in the truest sense. The package generally includes:
- Full tuition, covered by NIIED and the host university.
- Round-trip airfare for your arrival and final departure.
- A monthly living allowance, at the time of writing roughly KRW 900,000 for undergraduates and around KRW 1,000,000 for graduate scholars, with a higher rate for research students.
- A settlement allowance on arrival (around KRW 200,000).
- One year of Korean language training, funded by the scholarship.
- Medical insurance for the duration of your studies.
- A degree completion grant at the end of your program.
- Research and thesis support, including reimbursement of dissertation printing costs for graduate scholars.
- A Korean proficiency grant (around KRW 100,000 per month) for scholars who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6.
Confirm the current amounts on the official portal, since they are reviewed periodically.
Embassy Track vs University Track: the choice that defines your application
This is the most important decision in your GKS application, and you must pick one. Applying through both tracks at once leads to automatic disqualification.
Embassy Track: you apply through the Korean embassy in your home country. You can list up to three universities, and you must include at least one that is a Type B university (more on that below). Selection runs in three rounds: the embassy shortlists first, NIIED reviews next, and finally your chosen universities confirm admission. You must gain admission from at least one of your listed universities to win.
University Track: you apply directly to a single NIIED-designated Korean university, which then nominates you to NIIED. This route is often faster and can suit you if you already know exactly which university you want.
A quick note on university tiers: participating universities are split into Type A (top-ranked, highly competitive, mostly in and around Seoul) and Type B (located outside Seoul, generally less competitive). Embassy Track applicants must include at least one Type B university in their choices, which is a smart way to balance ambition with realism.
Who is eligible for GKS?
The core criteria are consistent, though exact ages shift slightly each cycle:
- Nationality: you must be a citizen of a country designated by NIIED, and neither you nor your parents may hold Korean citizenship (dual citizens with Korean nationality are not eligible).
- Age: generally under 25 for undergraduate applicants and under 40 for graduate applicants, measured against a set date in the application year.
- Academic record: typically a cumulative GPA of 80 percent or higher on a 100-point scale, or a ranking within the top 20 percent of your class, or the equivalent on a 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, or 5.0 scale.
- Health: you must be physically and mentally fit to complete the program in Korea.
- Degree: undergraduate applicants need a completed (or soon-to-be-completed) high school education; graduate applicants need the relevant prior degree.
No IELTS or TOEFL is required. What matters is Korean, and selected scholars generally need to reach at least TOPIK Level 3 during or after the language year to move into their degree, with some departments asking for Level 4.
The documents you will need
Requirements vary a little by track and level, but you will generally prepare:
- The GKS application form and applicant agreement.
- A personal statement.
- A study plan (and, for graduate applicants, a research direction).
- Recommendation letters (usually on the official form).
- Your graduation certificate or a certificate of expected graduation, plus academic transcripts.
- Proof of citizenship for you and your parents.
- A personal medical assessment.
Your personal statement and study plan carry a lot of weight, so treat them like the essays they are. The advice in our scholarship motivation letter guide and statement of purpose guide applies directly, and strong recommendation letters matter too.
GKS timeline
The two tracks run on different calendars, so plan around the one that fits you:
- GKS Undergraduate typically opens in the autumn, with embassy deadlines often falling around late September to the end of October for study starting the following year.
- GKS Graduate typically opens in late winter, with embassy deadlines often falling around late February.
- University Track deadlines are set by each university, so check the specific institution.
- Results roll out in stages through the following months. NIIED does not notify applicants individually, so you must check the Study in Korea portal yourself.
From the 2026 cycle, undergraduate applications moved to online submission through the Study in Korea website, though some embassies may still ask for apostilled hard copies afterwards. Always confirm your embassy’s exact procedure.
How the selection process works
- First round (embassy or university): your application is screened on eligibility, documents, and overall profile. Some applicants are interviewed.
- NIIED evaluation: shortlisted candidates are reviewed by the central NIIED committee.
- University admission (Embassy Track): successful candidates are forwarded to their listed universities for an admission decision. You need at least one admission to be selected.
- Final announcement: NIIED publishes the final list through the embassy or university and the Study in Korea portal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying through both tracks. This is an instant disqualification. Choose one.
- Forgetting the Type B requirement on the Embassy Track, which invalidates your university choices.
- A generic study plan or personal statement. These are heavily weighted, so make them specific to Korea, your field, and your goals.
- Missing document submission deadlines for expected-graduation applicants, which cancels your acceptance.
- Waiting for NIIED to contact you. Results are posted online, not emailed individually.
A word on scams
GKS is free to apply for. NIIED charges no application fee through either track, though you will pay small costs for documents, translation, and notarisation. If anyone asks for money to “secure” your GKS place or guarantees selection, it is a scam. Apply only through the official Study in Korea portal or the Korean embassy in your country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for GKS? No. GKS does not require English tests. Selected scholars learn Korean during a funded language year and generally need to reach TOPIK Level 3 to progress to their degree. See our guide to studying abroad without IELTS.
Is GKS fully funded? Yes: tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly stipend, a settlement allowance, insurance, a funded Korean language year, and completion and research grants.
Can I apply through both the Embassy and University Track? No. You must choose one, and applying through both leads to disqualification.
What GPA do I need? Generally 80 percent or higher on a 100-point scale, or a top 20 percent class ranking, or the equivalent on other GPA scales. If your grades are borderline, our guide on winning a scholarship with a low GPA may help you position your profile.
When are the deadlines? The undergraduate cycle usually runs in autumn and the graduate cycle in late winter, but exact dates change each year and vary by embassy and university. Confirm on the Study in Korea portal.
Do I have to speak Korean already? No. A funded Korean language year is built into the scholarship, though prior study helps and some university-track programs taught in English may have their own rules.
Decide your track, shortlist your universities (with a Type B in the mix if you go through the embassy), and start your study plan early. For everything else about living and studying there, read our complete guide to studying in South Korea, and browse more options in our list of fully funded scholarships.
