KAIST International Student Scholarship 2028
About this scholarship
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea’s premier science and technology university, offers full scholarships to ALL international graduate students admitted to Master’s and PhD programs. This means every international graduate student at KAIST is fully funded — there is no tuition fee whatsoever. KAIST is ranked among the top 50 universities globally for engineering and technology and is known for producing leaders in Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and South Korea’s thriving tech industry. The campus is in Daejeon, South Korea’s science hub.
Eligibility
- Open to all non-Korean nationalities
- Must hold a bachelor's degree (for Master's) or master's degree (for PhD) in a relevant STEM field or related area
- Must have strong academic records
- Must be proficient in English (TOEFL 80+, IELTS 6.5+, or a degree from an English-medium institution)
- Korean language proficiency is NOT required — all graduate courses are offered in English
- Must not have previously been dismissed from KAIST
- GRE scores not required but may strengthen applications for some departments
Benefits & Coverage
- Full tuition waiver (100% for all international graduate students)
- Monthly stipend of at least KRW 350,000 (additional research stipend from advisor typically brings total to KRW 600,000-1,000,000+)
- On-campus housing at subsidized rates
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Korean language courses
- One-time settlement allowance
- Opportunity for teaching/research assistantships with additional income
- Access to state-of-the-art research facilities
Required Documents
Completed online application form, Academic transcripts from all prior institutions, Degree certificates, Statement of purpose describing research interests and career goals (2-3 pages), CV/Resume, Two or three academic recommendation letters, English language proficiency certificate, GRE scores (optional), Published papers or research portfolio (if available), Valid passport copy
How to Apply
- Hold foreign (non-Korean) citizenship
- Apply for admission to a KAIST programme through the relevant admissions portal and select the KAIST Scholarship in the financial-resources section of the application
- Admitted international students are awarded the scholarship automatically (full tuition plus a monthly stipend and health insurance), with no separate scholarship application
- Renewal requires maintaining the minimum GPA
